CA Intermediate — Complete Guide

What is CA Intermediate?

CA Intermediate is the second level of the Chartered Accountancy qualification from ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India). After clearing Foundation (or through direct entry with Commerce graduates), students appear for Intermediate before the final CA exams.

CA Exam Structure — Full Path

CA FOUNDATION (4 papers, 400 marks)
    ↓ (Clear + 8 months articleship OR direct entry)
CA INTERMEDIATE (8 papers, 800 marks)
    ↓ (Clear Group I or both + 2 years articleship)
CA FINAL (6 papers, 600 marks)
    ↓
CA (CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT)

Direct Entry Route: Commerce graduates with 55%+ (other graduates 60%+) can skip Foundation and register directly for Intermediate. Must complete 8 months of articled training before appearing for Intermediate exams.

CA Intermediate Syllabus (New Course — effective 2023)

Group I (4 Papers)

Paper 1: Advanced Accounting (100 marks)

•Accounting Standards (AS 1–29) — India GAAP

•Ind AS overview (IFRS-converged standards)

•Accounting for partnership firms — goodwill, dissolution, amalgamation

•Branch accounting, consignment accounts

•Hire purchase, lease accounting

•Company accounts — issue/forfeiture of shares, debentures, final accounts

•Consolidated financial statements (basic)

•Insurance claims

Paper 2: Corporate & Other Laws (100 marks)

•Companies Act 2013 — Incorporation, Memorandum, Articles, Directors, Meetings, Dividends, Accounts, Audit

•Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016 (basic)

•Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (basic)

•Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA)

•SEBI Regulations (basic — Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements)

•Business Law: Indian Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Negotiable Instruments Act, Consumer Protection Act

Paper 3: Taxation (100 marks)

•Income Tax:

- Heads of income — salary, HP, PGBP, CG, OS

- Deductions under Chapter VIA (80C, 80D, 80G, etc.)

- Assessment procedure, advance tax, TDS

- Appeals and rectification

•GST:

- Supply, levy, exemptions, place of supply

- Input tax credit, registrations

- Returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9)

- Valuation, demand and recovery

Paper 4: Cost and Management Accounting (100 marks)

•Cost concepts: material, labour, overhead

•Costing methods: Job, Process, Contract, Batch, Activity-Based

•Marginal costing and CVP analysis

•Standard costing and variance analysis

•Budget and budgetary control

•Management accounting tools: ratio analysis, fund flow, cash flow

Group II (4 Papers)

**Paper 5: Advan