CA Inter result September 2026: 13.21% clear both groups; two share AIR 1

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) declared the results of the CA Intermediate examination held in September 2026 on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Only 13.21% of candidates who appeared for both groups passed both, while the pass rate was 23.14% for Group I alone and 18.92% for Group II alone, according to the figures reported. Neel Rajesh Shah of Mumbai and Chandak Sakshi of Nashik shared All India Rank 1 with 502 marks out of 600.

The CA Intermediate exam is the second of three stages on the path to becoming a chartered accountant, after the Foundation and before the Final. It is known as a demanding exam, and the pass rates show why. Fewer than one in seven candidates who sat both groups this time cleared both, even though that was an improvement on some earlier sessions.

For students, the group-wise numbers matter. Many candidates take one group at a time, and Group I's pass rate more than doubled from May, which may encourage those who plan to write the groups separately. ICAI held Intermediate sessions in January, May and September in 2026, so candidates who did not pass have more than one chance a year to try again.

The results also show the scale of the profession's pipeline. More than one lakh candidates appeared for Group I alone, and 68,400 for Group II, while 38,339 attempted both groups together in the same session. Each of these groups of candidates now faces a different next step, depending on whether they cleared one group, both, or neither. Those who clear both groups move closer to the CA Final and to careers in audit, tax and corporate finance. For comparison, ICAI's January 2026 Intermediate results were reported with a pass rate of 9.39%, so the September session's numbers, while still low, are better for many candidates.

What to do next: candidates should download their scorecard from ICAI's official results website and check marks in each paper. Those who passed should follow ICAI's instructions on registering for practical training and CA Final. Those who did not pass should look at their paper-wise marks to decide which group to retake, check the next exam schedule and registration dates on ICAI's website, and avoid unofficial websites that ask for payment to "check results".

Short-term: Successful candidates can move on to practical training and CA Final preparation; others will begin preparing for the next attempt.

Long-term: Higher pass rates in some groups, if sustained, could add more qualified accountants to the workforce over the coming years.

Who is affected: CA students and their families, coaching institutes, audit and accounting firms that hire trainees, and employers looking for finance professionals.

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