The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently decided that candidates who qualify for the Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, or Cost and Works Accountant exams will now be considered equivalent to postgraduate degree holders. University Grants Commission in an office order issued on Monday said: “UGC had received requests from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, to consider the qualification being awarded by them–CA, CS, and ICWA, equivalent to post-graduation degrees,” UGC said in official order.

“To consider this a committee was constituted by UGC. The commission considered the recommendation of the expert committee and resolved that CA, CS, and ICWA qualification be considered equivalent to PG degrees,” it added.

The decision by UGC has been made on request by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which holds the examinations for CA, CS, and ICWA. As per UGC, this move will help the students pursue higher education with ease.

The order further added, “To consider this, a committee was constituted by the UGC. The commission considered a recommendation of the expert committee and resolved that CA, CS, and ICWA qualification be considered equivalent to PG degrees.”

Helping CAs pursue higher education

After UGCs decision, ICAI tweeted the following while welcoming the decision, “The University Grants Commission @ugc_india has resolved that CA Qualification will be treated equivalent to PG Degree based on requests submitted from @theicai.”

The institute further added, “This will not only help CAs for pursuing higher studies but will also facilitate the mobility of Indian CAs globally.” This move was suggested by ICAI after many CAs said that they were facing difficulties applying for higher education with their qualifications.