In pursuance of sub Section 5B of Section 18 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, a copy of the audited accounts and the Report of Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

5965 GI/2026 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India EXTRAORDINARY PART III—Section 4 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 486] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026/SHRAVAN 9, 1948 CG-DL-E-05082026-275220 THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA (Set up by an act of Parliament) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 31st July, 2026 No. 1-CA(5)/77/2026.—In pursuance of sub-Section (5B) of Section 18 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, a copy of the audited accounts and the Report of Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the year ended 31st March 2026 is hereby published for general information. 77th Annual Report Transforming Profession: Building Trust, Embracing Innovation, Strengthening Nation Building Trust The story of India’s rise as a leading global economy is not merely a story of economic expansion; it is a story of trust, innovation, and institutional strength. At every stage of this journey, the accountancy profession has served as a vital enabler, providing the credibility, transparency, and confidence necessary for sustainable progress. As the nation advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) continues to play a transformative role by nurturing a profession that combines integrity with innovation and expertise with public purpose. Trust remains the cornerstone of economic development. Investors, businesses, governments, and citizens rely on accurate and transparent financial information to make informed decisions. Chartered Accountants have long been the custodians of this trust, ensuring that financial reporting, and governance frameworks operate with the highest standards of professionalism and accountability. Through their commitment to ethics and public interest, they strengthen the foundations of markets, reinforce confidence in institutions, and contribute to a stable and resilient economic ecosystem. As economic activities become increasingly interconnected across borders, trust must extend beyond national boundaries. Indian businesses today operate in a global environment where comparability, consistency, and credibility of financial information are indispensable. ICAI has actively facilitated this transition by aligning professional standards with international best practices, promoting global partnerships, and strengthening the international mobility of Indian professionals. These efforts have enhanced the reputation of the Indian accountancy profession and positioned Chartered Accountants as trusted contributors to the global economy. Embracing Innovation The profession is simultaneously undergoing a profound transformation driven by technology. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, data analytics, and automation are redefining how financial information is generated, analysed, and assured. Rather than viewing these developments as disruptions, ICAI has embraced them as opportunities to elevate professional value. By equipping members with future-oriented skills and encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies, the Institute is enabling a shift from traditional compliance-driven functions towards strategic advisory, predictive insights, and value creation. Innovation within the profession extends beyond technology. It encompasses new approaches to governance, risk management, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Modern enterprises are increasingly evaluated not only by financial performance but also by their environmental and social impact. Recognising this evolution, ICAI has been at the forefront of developing professional capabilities in sustainability reporting, ESG assurance, integrated reporting, and responsible business practices. By enhancing the reliability of non-financial disclosures, the profession is helping organisations build long term stakeholder confidence while contributing to national and global sustainability goals. A future-ready profession also requires continuous learning and adaptability. ICAI has consistently invested in capacity building through education, research, professional development, and specialised training initiatives. These efforts empower members to navigate emerging areas such as digital finance, cybersecurity, forensic accounting, valuation, public financial management, and sustainability assurance. By fostering a culture of lifelong learning, the Institute ensures that the profession remains relevant in an era of rapid economic and technological change. Strengthening Nation Beyond corporate enterprises, Chartered Accountants contribute significantly to nation building through their involvement in public finance, tax literacy, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship development, and governance reforms. Their expertise supports efficient utilisation of public resources, strengthens accountability mechanisms, and promotes transparency in both public and private sectors. Whether advising start-ups, supporting MSMEs, facilitating infrastructure development, or contributing to policy implementation, the profession plays an important role in advancing inclusive and sustainable growth. Global collaboration further amplifies the profession's impact. Through active engagement with international standard-setting bodies, professional organisations, and regulatory institutions, ICAI contributes Indian perspectives to global discussions while bringing international best practices to domestic stakeholders. This exchange of knowledge strengthens professional excellence and reinforces India's emergence as a trusted participant in the global financial architecture. As the profession transforms, its core values remain unchanged. Ethics, independence, objectivity, and commitment to the public interest continue to define the identity of Chartered Accountants. These principles provide the foundation upon which innovation can flourish responsibly and growth can be sustained with confidence. The future belongs to professions that can combine trust with technology, expertise with adaptability, and innovation with integrity. Guided by this vision, ICAI is shaping a new generation of professionals equipped to address emerging challenges and seize new opportunities. Through its unwavering commitment to excellence, the Institute continues to strengthen institutions, support economic progress, and contribute meaningfully to India’s development journey. In transforming the profession, ICAI is not merely preparing Chartered Accountants for the future; it is helping shape a future where trust drives progress, innovation creates opportunity, and professional excellence strengthens the nation. Professional Excellence in Service of Nation Building As the accounting profession navigates an increasingly dynamic global environment, the ICAI continues to advance a vision anchored in trust, professional excellence, innovation, and nation building. Through sustained emphasis on ethical conduct, technological advancement, sustainability, capacity building, and thought leadership, the Institute remains committed to strengthening the profession's relevance and contribution to society. The Institute established under an Act of Parliament, occupies a unique position in India’s economic and institutional framework. As the regulator of the accountancy profession, a premier knowledge institution, a standard-setting body, and a trusted partner in public policy and governance, ICAI continues to contribute significantly towards strengthening India’s financial architecture and supporting the nation’s journey to becoming a developed economy. During the year, the Institute further strengthened its role as a catalyst for professional excellence, economic growth, public accountability, technological innovation, sustainability, and global engagement. Through a combination of regulatory leadership, capacity building, strategic collaborations, policy advocacy, educational reforms, and outreach initiatives, ICAI continued to uphold the highest standards of professionalism while responding proactively to emerging national and global developments. By encouraging prudent savings habits, informed investment decisions, and greater participation in the formal financial system, ICAI is helping transform individual financial well-being into a powerful driver of national prosperity, exemplifying how a premier professional institution can become an important partner in advancing inclusive economic growth and realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. As part of its commitment to financial inclusion, ICAI conducted financial and tax literacy sessions for Northen East States such as self-help groups in the Khasi and Garo regions and tribal communities in remote areas of Meghalaya, and women-led self-help groups in Mizoram and self-help groups Sikkim, thereby promoting financial awareness and empowerment at the grassroots level. ICAI established a World Record by conducting over 190 Financial and Tax Literacy Programs across India within nine months (March–November 2025), recognised by the World Book of Records, London. Strengthening Financial Reporting, Auditing and Regulatory Frameworks As the statutory regulator of the accountancy profession, ICAI continued to play a pivotal role in strengthening India's financial reporting and regulatory architecture. During the year, the Institute actively engaged with policymakers on several landmark reforms, including the Income-tax Bill, 2025. Through a dedicated expert group, ICAI submitted extensive recommendations aimed at simplifying the proposed legislation, including rationalisation of provisions and simplification of legal language. Significantly, more than 90 suggestions submitted by the Institute were subsequently reflected in the final Income-tax Act, 2025, underscoring ICAI's role as a trusted technical advisor in tax policy formulation. The Institute also continued its contribution to indirect tax reforms by providing recommendations on GST Annual Return (GSTR-9) and Reconciliation Statement (GSTR-9C), facilitating simplification, standardisation and ease of compliance for taxpayers. The profession's commitment to trust and transparency was reflected in the remarkable achievement of crossing 10 crore Unique Document Identification Numbers (UDINs) during the year. The migration of the UDIN platform to ICAI DigiCA further strengthened security, accessibility and real-time verification capabilities, enhancing confidence in professional certifications across the financial ecosystem. Transforming Professional Education and Developing Future-Ready Talent ICAI continued to advance and modernise professional education in line with evolving business and societal needs. To further improve the examination process, the facility of exam centre selection was introduced, reducing logistical challenges and enabling students to focus more effectively on their preparation. Additionally, the e-Diary was made mandatory for students commencing practical training on or after 1st January 2026, thereby enhancing transparency, standardisation and real-time monitoring of practical training. Recognising the global standing of the qualification, ICAI successfully secured international benchmarking through ECCTIS, which assessed the Chartered Accountant qualification as comparable to a Master's degree under several international frameworks. This recognition is expected to substantially enhance global mobility and international career opportunities for Indian Chartered Accountants. The Institute also demonstrated its commitment to youth development through nationwide skill-building initiatives. World Youth Skills Day 2025 was celebrated across more than 130 cities through over 130 programmes focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, communication and digital competencies. Additionally, ICAI achieved a Guinness World Record through its Career in Accounting and Finance for Youth programme, which reached over 7,400 students, teachers and principals in a single career guidance session. Capacity Building and Strengthening Public Financial Management As a key institution supporting governance and public sector reforms, ICAI expanded its contribution to capacity building across government institutions and public sector entities. Pursuant to its Memorandum of Understanding with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, ICAI successfully conducted a 32-day residential capacity-building programme for 50 C&AG officers at its Centre of Excellence, Hyderabad. The Institute continued to provide faculty support and technical expertise to various state governments and public institutions, including the Panchayati Raj Department of Bihar, the Treasuries and Accounts Department of Tamil Nadu, and Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Chennai. ICAI's Accounting Research Foundation further strengthened public sector financial reforms through its continuing partnership with Indian Railways. Since 2014, the Foundation has served as technical partner for railway accounting reforms and has successfully prepared accrual-based financial statements for six consecutive financial years from 2017-18 to 2022-23. Now the project for preparation of Accrual Based Financial Statements of Indian Railways for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 has been awarded to ICA