ICAI Postpones CA Exams in Kathmandu Amid Nepal Protests: Fresh Dates Awaited

ICAI Confirms Postponement in Kathmandu Only

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has officially postponed two key Chartered Accountancy examinations scheduled for September 9 and 10 at its Kathmandu, Nepal, centre. The affected papers include the CA Intermediate Group 1, Paper 1 (September 9) and the CA Final Group 1, Paper 1 (September 10).

As per ICAI’s notice, these exams will not be held on the scheduled dates, and revised dates will be announced once the situation stabilises in Nepal. The postponement applies only to the Kathmandu centre, while examinations at all other centres in India and abroad are continuing as per schedule.

ICAI President Explains Decision

Speaking about the development, ICAI President clarified that the institute only defers examinations when conducting them becomes unfeasible on the ground. He reassured students that rescheduling would happen at the earliest possible time.

“Wherever there are disturbances, we defer the exam. Once the atmosphere becomes peaceful, we are very keen to conduct our exam in the possible time frame,” he said, underlining ICAI’s commitment to completing the exam cycle without compromising student safety.

Students outside Kathmandu have been instructed to report at their respective centres on time as per their admit cards, with no changes to their examination schedules.

Background: Why Were the Exams Postponed?

The postponement is directly linked to the ongoing protests in Nepal, which began after the government temporarily banned 26 popular social media platforms under new regulations citing registration issues.

Dubbed the ‘Gen Z protests’, these demonstrations quickly escalated beyond anger at the ban. The youth-led movement has highlighted deeper frustrations, including corruption, nepotism, and widening inequality. What began as peaceful resistance soon spiralled into violent clashes, including incidents of arson targeting government establishments.

The unrest has since taken a significant political turn. On September 9, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, followed by several ministers and Members of Parliament from major political parties. The uncertainty and volatility created by these protests made it unsafe for ICAI to proceed with exams in Kathmandu.

Second ICAI Disruption This Month

This is not the first time ICAI exams have faced disruption in September 2025. Earlier this month, examinations scheduled on September 2 and 3 in Punjab were postponed due to severe flooding across multiple districts.

The exams in Punjab resumed smoothly from September 6, but revised dates for the missed papers are still pending. Now, with the Kathmandu postponement, ICAI has two sets of papers awaiting rescheduling — one in Punjab and the other in Nepal.

The institute has assured candidates that revised schedules for both regions will be notified promptly, taking into account local conditions and logistical feasibility.

ICAI’s Exam Conduct Policy During Emergencies

ICAI conducts its CA exams across India and several global centres. The institute’s policy prioritises candidate safety and examination integrity, making it flexible in response to emergencies such as natural disasters, political unrest, or law-and-order concerns.

The Kathmandu decision underscores this approach — the exams were not cancelled, only deferred, ensuring students will still get a fair chance to appear without risk to their safety. Similarly, in Punjab, the flooding led to deferment but not cancellation, reinforcing ICAI’s commitment to holding exams under conducive conditions.

What Students Should Know

For students affected by the Kathmandu postponement, ICAI has advised the following:

• Revised dates will be announced soon on ICAI’s official website and through official notifications.
• Other centres are unaffected, so candidates outside Kathmandu should follow their existing schedules.
• Students should regularly check ICAI’s official channels to avoid misinformation or confusion.

The institute’s focus remains on minimising uncertainty while balancing exam continuity with safety.

Nepal’s Political Context and Its Impact

The ICAI decision cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of Nepal’s ongoing turmoil. The Gen Z protests, initially triggered by the social media ban, have grown into one of the largest youth uprisings in the country’s recent history.

While the government cited regulatory issues as the reason for banning platforms, the move was widely perceived as authoritarian. For Nepalese youth — heavily reliant on social media for communication, education, and expression — the ban became a flashpoint.

The protests rapidly widened in scope, voicing frustrations over unemployment, systemic corruption, and lack of opportunities. The situation deteriorated further as violent incidents broke out, compelling ICAI to postpone the exams out of concern for student safety.

Looking Ahead: When Will New Dates Be Announced?

While ICAI has not given a specific timeframe for rescheduled exams in Kathmandu, the institute’s swift action in Punjab suggests that once conditions normalise, revised dates will follow promptly.

Given the scale of the protests and the recent resignation of Nepal’s Prime Minister, stability in Kathmandu may take time to return. Until then, ICAI’s approach remains cautious, ensuring that exams are conducted only when safety is guaranteed.

Conclusion

The postponement of CA exams in Kathmandu highlights the unpredictable challenges professional examination bodies face in a volatile global environment. ICAI’s handling of the situation — postponing rather than cancelling — reflects its commitment to fairness, safety, and timely completion of exams.

For candidates in Nepal, patience and vigilance are key, while those in other centres can proceed as scheduled without concern. With over two disruptions this month — first in Punjab due to flooding and now in Kathmandu due to political unrest — ICAI has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in ensuring that aspiring chartered accountants can still pursue their professional journey, albeit with some delays.

As Nepal navigates its political crisis, ICAI remains poised to provide revised dates at the earliest possible time, ensuring no student is left behind in their pursuit of a career in accountancy.