CA Students Voice Travel Challenges Amidst Exam Clash with Lok Sabha Elections

CA Inter and CA Final exams are scheduled from May 2nd to May 17th, 2024, with the International Taxation - Assessment Test set for May 14th and 16th, 2024.

As the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) gears up for its upcoming exams, CA students across the country are grappling with travel-related hurdles amidst the Lok Sabha Elections. With exam centers often located far from their homes, students are facing daunting journeys that could impact their ability to participate in both the exams and the democratic process.

Expressing frustration, one CA exam candidate took to X (formerly Twitter), sarcastically commenting, "Finally Admit Card Out #ICAI Distance between Hometown to Exam center is only 140km one way..Special thanks to our Institute #ICAI #icaiexams." This sentiment reflects the exasperation felt by many students who find themselves facing lengthy commutes to their exam centers.

While the exam dates themselves might not directly clash with the elections, the logistical challenges posed by the distance between home and exam center are significant. Ashish Anand, another candidate, highlighted this issue, stating, "My colleagues in Bihar are getting exam centers 40-60km far, which is normal! But in Delhi, this time my center is 13km far.. 13 metro stations & 3 interchanges."

The scorching heat adds another layer of difficulty, with one X user, Charlie, expressing concern for students traveling long distances in such conditions. "May God give strength to all those students who have to Travel more than 5 km to reach the exam center in such scorching heat. But who cares, because those CCM'S have AC car and sit in AC cabins," they tweeted.

Shakney, detailing his travel challenges during the Lok Sabha elections, shared on X, "Just for the sake of knowledge of ICAI. My Exam Centre is 156 KMS Away From my Home and Requires 3 hours of transport through CAR & 4 Hours from Bus. Thank you @theicai FOR SMOOTH CONDUCT OF #MAY2024 EXAMS."

CA Exam schedule

Despite these obstacles, the CA Exam schedule remains unchanged. CA Inter and CA Final exams are scheduled from May 2nd to May 17th, 2024, with the International Taxation - Assessment Test set for May 14th and 16th, 2024. Efforts to postpone the exams have been extensive, with students, experts, and student bodies pursuing legal avenues and appealing to Prime Minister Modi and relevant authorities.

However, the ICAI has shown no inclination to postpone the exams, prompting concerns from students about the overlap between exam dates and the crucial period of democratic participation coinciding with the elections from May 19th to June 4th. Students argue that this conflict not only presents logistical challenges but also infringes upon their fundamental right to vote.

As CA students continue to grapple with these challenges, their plea for exam postponement remains unanswered, highlighting the ongoing tension between academic commitments and democratic rights.