CA Foundation Syllabus for May 2026 Attempt: Subjects & Paper Pattern

Explore the latest CA Foundation Syllabus for the May 2026 attempt with updated subjects, ICAI exam structure, and guidelines for smart preparation to attempt the exam.

The ICAI has prescribed the CA Foundation syllabus for May 2026. All subjects about accounting, economics, mathematics, and business law are covered in the CA syllabus 2026 for the Foundation course.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India holds the CA Foundation exam. CA Foundation, CA Inter, and CA Final are three levels of the CA course. In order to enable the students to adjust their study patterns, students of CA Foundation must familiarize themselves with the recent exam pattern and syllabus.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) specifies the ICAI CA Foundation syllabus. The CA 2026 syllabus for the Foundation course is a detailed covering of all the subjects related to taxation, auditing, and law of business. Candidates have to clear all the CA Foundation papers in order to be able to proceed to the CA Intermediate level.

All levels of exams are difficult, but if compared to one another, the CA Foundation syllabus is the easiest and the CA Final syllabus is the most difficult. There are a total of four papers in the CA Foundation course. Every paper consists of various topics. In this article, you will get to know everything about the CA Foundation syllabus.

Highlights of the CA Foundation Exam Syllabus

The below table provides the candidates with a concise description of the CA Foundation syllabus 2026. According to the current CA Foundation 2026 exam pattern, there are four papers for which candidates must keep their focus during the CA Foundation May 2026 exam preparation. Each of the papers will consist of 100 marks. Details are given in the table below:

CA Foundation Syllabus 2026 Highlights
Particulars Details
Examination name CA Foundation exam, earlier known as CA CPT (Common Proficiency Test)
Exam-conducting body The Institute Of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Exam mode Pen-paper-based or offline
Exam frequency Thrice a year January, May/June, or September
Exam Level National Level
Exam difficulty Easy to moderate
Number of paper 4
Paper names Paper 1: Principles and Practice of Accounting Paper, 2: Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting, Paper 3: Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics, Paper 4: Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge
Exam duration 3 hours for Paper 1 and Paper 22 hours for Paper 3 and Paper 4.
Maximum marks for each paper 100
Total marks for all 4 papers 400
Marking scheme There will be no negative marking in Papers 1 and 2, as questions will be descriptive. However, ¼ mark will be deducted for every wrong answer in Paper 3 and Paper 4, as questions will be multiple-choice.
Medium of exam English/Hindi except section B for Paper 2

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CA Foundation New Syllabus Paper 2026

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) released its new syllabus for CA Foundation on 1st July 2023. The first CA Foundation exam after the introduction of the new curriculum will take place in Jan 2025.

CA Foundation New Syllabus
Sl. No Paper Name Marks Type of Questions
Paper 1 Accounting 100 Marks Objective
Paper 2 Business Laws 100 Marks Objective
Paper 3 Quantitative Aptitude:
Part A: Business Mathematics
Part B: Logical Reasoning
Part C: Statistics		 100 Marks
Part A: 40 Marks
Part B: 20 Marks
Part C: 40 Marks		 Subjective
Paper 4 Business Economics 100 Marks Subjective

CA Foundation Syllabus: Paper-Wise 2026

Learn about Principles and Practice of Accounting, Business Laws and Business Correspondence, Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning, and Statistics, the four papers that make up the May 2026 CA Foundation syllabus.

Paper 1: Accounting 

To properly construct financial statements and solve simple accounting problems, Paper 1 attempts to assist you in understanding the basic concepts and principles of accounting.

CA Foundation Syllabus 2026: Principles and Practice of Accounting
Topics Sub-Topics
Theoretical Framework (i) Meaning and Scope of Accounting
(ii) Accounting Concepts, Principles and Conventions
(iii) Accounting Terminology—Glossary
(iv) Capital and revenue expenditure, Capital and revenue receipts, Contingent assets, and contingent liabilities
(v) Accounting Policies
(vi) Accounting as a Measurement Discipline—Valuation Principles, Accounting Estimates
(vii) Accounting Standards—Concepts and Objectives
(viii) Indian Accounting Standards—Concepts and Objectives
Accounting Process (i) Books of Accounts
(ii) Preparation of Trial Balance
(iii) Rectification of Errors
Bank Reconciliation Statement Introduction, reasons, preparation of bank reconciliation statement
Inventories Cost of inventory, Net realizable value, Basis, and technique of inventory valuation and record keeping
Concept and Accounting of Depreciation Concepts, Methods of computation and accounting treatment of depreciation, Change in depreciation methods
Accounting for Special Transactions (i) Bills of exchange and promissory notes—meaning of bills of exchange and promissory notes and their accounting treatment; accommodation bills. 
(ii) Sale of goods on an approval or return basis—Meaning of goods sent on an approval or return basis and accounting treatment. 
(iii) Consignments—Meaning and Features of Consignment Business, Difference Between Sale and Consignment, Accounting Treatments for Consignment Transactions and Events in the Books of Consignor and Consignee. 
(iv) Average Due Date—Meaning and Calculating of Average Due Date in Various Situations.
(v) Account Current—Meaning of Account Current, Methods of preparing Account Current
Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors Elements of financial statements, Closing Adjustment Entries, trading accounts, Profit and loss accounts, and balance sheets of Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing entities
Partnership Accounts (i) Final Accounts of Partnership Firms 
(ii) Admission, Retirement, and Death of a Partner including Treatment of Goodwill 
(iii) Introduction to LLPs and Distinction of LLPs from Partnership
Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations Significance of Receipt and Payment Account, Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet, Difference between Profit and Loss Account and Income and Expenditure Account. Preparation of Receipt and Payment Account, Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet
Introduction to Company Accounts (i) Definition of shares and debentures
(ii) Issue of shares and debentures, forfeiture of shares, re-issue of forfeited shares
(iii) Statement of Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet as per Schedule III to the Companies Act, 2013.

Paper 2: Business Law

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) released its revised syllabus for the CA Foundation course on July 1, 2023. The first CA Foundation exam after the new course will be conducted in Jan 2025.

CA Foundation Syllabus 2026: Business Laws
Topics Laws Covered Key Points
Indian Regulatory Framework    
The Indian Contract Act, 1872 General Nature of the Contract Overview of contract basics
  Consideration Understanding what makes a contract valid
  Other essential elements of a valid contract Elements necessary for a contract to be legally binding
  Performance of a contract How contracts are fulfilled and obligations met
  Breach of contract What happens when one party fails to uphold their end of the contract
  Contingent and Quasi Contract Special types of contracts with unique characteristics
The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 Formation of the contract of sale How contracts for the sale of goods are created
  Conditions and Warranties Types of assurances and guarantees in sale contracts
  Transfer of ownership and delivery of goods The process of transferring ownership and delivering goods in a sale
  Unpaid seller and his rights Rights and remedies available to sellers in case of non-payment by the buyer
The Indian Partnership Act, 1932 General Nature of Partnership Basics of forming and operating a partnership business
  Rights and duties of partners Responsibilities and entitlements of partners in a partnership
  Reconstitution of firms Changes that can occur within a partnership, such as the admission or retirement of partners
  Registration and dissolution of a firm The process of registering and dissolving a partnership firm
The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 Introduction (Nature and Scope) Understanding the concept and scope of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
  Essential features Key characteristics that distinguish LLPs from other business structures
  Characteristics of LLP Specific traits and advantages of LLPs
  Incorporation and differences with other forms How to establish an LLP and how it differs from other types of organizations
The Companies Act, 2013 Essential features of a company Fundamental aspects of a company, such as legal personality
  Corporate veil theory The concept of separating a company’s legal identity from its members
  Classes of companies Different categories of companies based on size and ownership
  Types of share capital Variations in company’s share capital structures
  Incorporation of a company Process of registering and creating a company
  Memorandum of Association A document outlining the company’s constitution and powers
  Articles of Association Regulations governing a company’s internal affairs
  Doctrine of Indoor Management The principle that protects outsiders dealing with a company based on internal authority
The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881    

Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude

The third paper of the CA Foundation course is Quantitative Aptitude. Paper 3, Quantitative Aptitude, contains three sections: Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics. This topic will enable you to verify your calculation skills to do better in higher levels of the CA course.

Part A: Business Mathematics

CA Foundation Syllabus 2026: Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning and Statistics
Part: A. Business Mathematics
Topics Sub-Topics
Chapter 1: Ratio and Proportion, Indices and Logarithms Ratio and Proportion (Business Applications Related to Ratio and Proportion), Laws of Indices, Exponents, Logarithms, and Anti Logarithms.
Chapter 2: Equations Simultaneous linear equations up to three variables, Quadratic and Cubic equations in one variable
Chapter 3: Linear Inequalities
Chapter 4: Mathematics of Finance (i) Simple Interest
(ii) Compound interest
(iii) Depreciation
(iv) Effective Rate of Interest
(v) Present Value
(vi) Net Present Value
(vii) Future Value
(viii) Perpetuity
(ix) Annuities
(x) Sinking Funds
(xi) Valuation of Bonds
(xii) Calculating of EMI
(xiii) Calculations of Returns:
        a) Nominal Rate of Return
        b) Effective Rate of Return
        c) Compound Annual growth rate (CAGR)
Chapter 5: Permutations and Combinations Basic concepts of permutations and combinations: introduction, the factorial, permutations, results, circular permutations, permutations with restrictions, and combinations with standard results.
Chapter 6: Sequence and Series Introduction Sequences, Series, Arithmetic and Geometric Progression, Relationship between AM and GM and Sum of n terms of special series
Chapter 7: Sets, Relations and Functions
Chapter 8: Basic Applications of Differential and Integral Calculus (Excluding the trigonometric applications), Differential Calculus (B), Integral Calculus

Part B: Logical Reasoning (20 Marks)

Several logical thinking concepts that frequently come up in competitive exams will be covered in this section. Among these subjects are:

Chapters Topics
Chapter 9 Number Series, Coding and Decoding, and Odd Man Out
Chapter 10 Direction Tests
Chapter 11 Seating Arrangements
Chapters 12 Blood Relations

Part C: Statistics (40 Marks)

Topics Sub-Topics
Chapter 13: Statistical Representation of Data Diagrammatic representation of data Frequency distribution Graphical representation of frequency distribution—histogram, Frequency Polygon, Ogive, Pie chart
Chapter 14: Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion Median, Mode Mean Deviation Quartiles and Quartile Deviation Standard Deviation Coefficient of Variation Coefficient of Quartile Deviation.
Chapter 15: Probability Independent and dependent events; mutually exclusive events and compound probability and mathematical expectation.
Chapter 16: Theoretical Distributions Binomial Distribution Poisson distribution—basic application and normal distribution—basic applications
Chapter 17: Correlation and Regression Correlation and Regression: Scatter diagram Karl Pearson’s Coefficient of Correlation Rank Correlation Probable Error and Probable limits Regression lines, Regression equations, Regression coefficients
Chapter 18: Index Numbers Uses of Index Numbers Problems involved in the construction of Index Numbers Methods of construction of Index Numbers

Paper 4: Business Economics 

In Paper 4 of the CA Foundation exam, we are studying business economics. The prime aim here is to make you understand the essential concepts and theories in business economics and know how to apply them to solve real-life problems.

Topics Sub-Topics
Chapter 1: Nature & Scope of Business Economics (i) Meaning and scope of Business Economics
(ii) Basic Problems of an Economy and Role of Price Mechanism.
Chapter 2: Theory of Demand and Supply (i) Meaning and determinants of demand, Law of demand, and Elasticity of demand—price, income, and cross elasticity
(ii) Theory of consumer behavior—Marshallian approach and Indifference curve approach
(iii) Meaning and determinants of supply, law of supply, and elasticity of supply.
(iv) Demand Forecasting
Chapter 3: Theory of Production and Cost (i) Meaning and Factors of Production
(ii) Laws of Production—The Law of Variable proportions and Laws of Returns to Scale, Producer’s equilibrium
(iii) Concepts of Costs—Short-run and long-run costs, average and marginal costs, total, fixed, and variable costs.
Chapter 4: Price Determination in Different Markets (i) Various forms of markets—perfect competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, and Oligopoly
(ii) Price determination in these markets
Chapter 5: Business Cycles (i) Meaning
(ii) Phases
(iii) Features
(iv) Causes behind these Cycles
Chapter 6: Determination of National Income (i) National Income Accounting
(ii) The Keynesian Theory of Determination of National Income
Chapter 7: Public Finance (i) Fiscal Functions: An Overview, Centre and State Finance
(ii) Market Failure/Government intervention to correct Market Failure
The Process of Budget Making: Sources of Revenue, Expenditure Management and Management of Public Debt
Fiscal Policy
Chapter 8: Money Market The Concept of Money Demand: Important Theories
The Concept of Money Supply
Monetary Policy
Chapter 9: International Trade Theories of International Trade
The Instruments of Trade Policy
Trade Negotiations
Exchange Rate and Its Economic Effects
International Capital Movements
Chapter 10: Indian Economy –

CA Foundation Syllabus Preparation Tips May 2026 

The following are the guidelines to prepare for the CA Foundation Syllabus 2026:

  • Know the Syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the CA Foundation syllabus. Go deeper into each subject to know what is included and what is excluded. This enables you to concentrate your study efforts accordingly.
  • Start Early: Don't delay! Start preparing for CA Foundation exams as early as possible. Starting early provides you with plenty of time for extensive revision and practice.
  • Use Proper Study Material: Make use of study material supplied by ICAI on their official website. It's specially made for the exam. Apart from that, take help from genuine books to improve your hold over CA Foundation subject matters.
  • Practice Through Mock Tests: Utilize mock tests to practice in the actual exam scenario. ICAI provides mock tests on their official website, allowing you to assess your preparedness and better your performance.

Summary

You may have been motivated by the success of a chartered accountant, and for that reason, you are opting to acquire the knowledge of CA-Foundation subjects.

It should be noted that he did not arrive there by magic but through sheer hard work, sacrifice, and determination. He determined to give it his best shot, which earned him the title. With five years of hard work, you could be where he is now!

FAQs

What is the CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026?

The CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026 includes four papers: Accounting, Business Laws, Quantitative Aptitude, and Business Economics as defined by ICAI’s New Scheme of Education and Training.

When is the CA Foundation May 2026 exam scheduled?

The CA Foundation May 2026 exams will be held on 14, 16, 18, and 20 May 2026 in offline mode as per ICAI’s exam calendar.

How many papers are in the CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026?

The CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026 consists of four papers, each carrying 100 marks and covering core commerce and analytical topics.

Does the CA Foundation May 2026 include both objective and subjective questions?

Under the new syllabus, Paper 1 and Paper 2 focus more on descriptive answers, while Papers 3 and 4 often include objective-based or analytical questions.

Is the CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026 based on ICAI’s new scheme?

Yes, the CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026 follows the New Scheme of Education and Training introduced by ICAI for the 2026 exams.

How should students plan to study the CA Foundation syllabus May 2026?

Candidates should begin with the core concepts of each paper, follow the ICAI study material, practice MCQs and subjective answers, and revise regularly to cover all parts of the May 2026 syllabus.

How important is understanding the entire CA Foundation syllabus May 2026?

Complete understanding is crucial as each paper tests different skills: accounting analysis, legal interpretation, numerical problem solving, and economic reasoning for May 2026.

Are the question patterns similar across all papers in CA Foundation May 2026?

No, Papers 1 and 2 involve more descriptive questions, while Papers 3 and 4 often test application and objective-type skills in the May 2026 attempt.

Where can I find the detailed CA Foundation Syllabus May 2026 PDF?

The detailed syllabus PDF is available on ICAI’s official website, outlining all chapters for Accounting, Business Laws, Quantitative Aptitude, and Business Economics.

Does the CA Foundation May 2026 require separate preparation for the objective and subjective sections?

Yes, students should prepare descriptive theory thoroughly for Papers 1 and 2 while practicing objective and analytical questions for Papers 3 and 4.