The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is preparing to reshape its chartered accountancy (CA) syllabus to cope with changes in technology and professional practice, the Press Trust of India reported.
ICAI president Prasanna Kumar D told the news agency that with digital tools now central to business, AI and data analytics will be added into the course structure.
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The institute has set up a Committee for Review of Education and Training (CRET) to steer this overhaul.
The panel is examining what should change in both the syllabus and training framework.
Kumar was quoted as saying: “We have formed the CRET. It is working to review the entire curriculum, like what syllabus and subject need to be changed and training (articleship).”
At present, topics such as AI, data analytics, environmental, social and governance (ESG), and sustainability are outside the formal CA course.
“For an engineer, AI is a separate subject, but for us, AI is not a subject but without AI, no chartered accountant can survive. Be it in employment or in practice, AI is a must,” added Kumar, who took over as president in February this year.
The move comes amid a broader shift in the accounting field, with more attention on non-financial reporting, ESG-related disclosures, technology-led analysis and forensic audit work.
According to the ICAI, the CRET’s task is to fold these emerging areas into the curriculum in a structured way. It is expected to complete its work by December.
The updated CA curriculum is set to be implemented from 2028.
Earlier this month, the Kuwait Chapter of the ICAI hosted a webinar on ‘Unlocking the Power of Claude AI in Accounting & Reporting’. The webinar saw participation from more than 280 members.
