ICAI Releases GST Study Guidelines for CA Intermediate May 2026 Exams

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has officially issued the Study Guidelines for CA Intermediate May 2026 Examination (Paper 3B - Goods and Services Tax), providing clarity on applicable provisions, amendments, and topic-wise exclusions.

GST Law Applicability for May 2026 Exams

As per the latest notification, students will be tested on provisions under the CGST Act, 2017 and IGST Act, 2017, including all amendments made through the Finance Act, 2025, which have come into effect up to October 31, 2025.

This means that:

• All notified amendments till the cutoff date are fully applicable
• Students must rely on updated study material and statutory updates issued for May 2026

Major GST Syllabus Exclusions Announced

To streamline preparation, ICAI has specified clear exclusions across key topics:

1. Charge of Tax (Including Reverse Charge)

• Tax rates for goods and services excluded
• Reverse charge categories under Section 9(3) and 5(3) excluded

2. Exemptions

• Exemptions related to supply of goods removed from syllabus

3. Place of Supply

• Imports and exports of goods
• Cross-border service transactions
• OIDAR services provisions
• Refund to tourists and special actionable claims

4. Time of Supply

• Provisions relating to change in tax rates

5. Value of Supply

• Valuation rules (Rules 27–35) under CGST Rules excluded

6. Input Tax Credit (ITC)

Major exclusions include:

• Banking and financial institution ITC rules
• ITC reversal provisions (Rules 42 & 43)
• Job work ITC provisions
• Input Service Distributor (ISD) related provisions
• Recovery and special ITC rules (e.g., gold dore bar)

Important Clarification for Students

ICAI has emphasized that:

• Only select provisions of GST law are included, not the entire Act
• Any provisions related to excluded topics are automatically excluded across the syllabus
• Students should strictly follow the July 2025 Study Material and Statutory Updates

What This Means for CA Aspirants

These guidelines are crucial for CA Intermediate students as they:

• Help avoid unnecessary topics
• Focus preparation on exam-relevant provisions
• Reduce confusion around recent GST amendments

Click here to view/download the official copy of the announcement