"It’s not as difficult as made out to be,” says Yagya Lalit Chandak, CA Inter Topper - AIR 2

"It’s not as difficult as made out to be,” says Yagya Lalit Chandak, CA Inter Topper - AIR 2

Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 12 Jul 2024, 12:39 PM IST

Yagya Lalit Chandak from Bhayander, Mumbai has secured the second rank in the recently concluded CA Inter May 2024 exam. Coming from a middle-class family, he believes in the importance of hard work which is bound to bring success. Careers360 spoke to Yagya about his recent success. Read the full interview here.

Yagya Lalit Chandak, CA Inter Topper - AIR 2

1. Congratulations on securing a top rank in the CA Inter exam. Were you expecting this rank?

Thank you so much. Well, after taking the exams I was sure that I would pass and score decent marks but I did not expect that I would secure the second rank in the whole of India. Securing rank was a cherry on the cake for me so I am really happy and enjoying the moment.

2. Can you tell us briefly about your background; about your education and family?

I come from a middle-class Marwari family. I did my schooling from Bhayander and did my 12th from H.R. College, Mumbai. I am currently pursuing B.Com from H.R. College. We are a family of four. My father is a salesman at a jewellery shop in Bhayander. My mother is a homemaker and my brother is currently pursuing CA Final, along with his articleship at Singhi and Co.

3. What made you decide to go for Chartered Accountancy?

Right from childhood, I have seen qualified Chartered Accountants in my extended family and I have seen the respect they get because of being a CA. So I decided to go for Chartered Accountancy which would bring me a reputation as well as bring me pecuniary benefits.

4. What was your preparation strategy for the exam?

I focused on conceptual clarity and revising as many times as possible. In the last three and a half months, I did my first revision in approximately 50 days and then ticked all the questions that I had to revise for the next revision. Then I did my second revision and attempted mock test as well. After that, I did my final revision in April giving 2.5 days for each subject. So the strategy was simple, I needed to cover the entire course and not leave anything out to be able to aim for a rank.

5. Was there any daily study timetable that you followed during your preparation?

I used to study three subjects a day and the daily effective output used to be of 8 to 10 hours. I had a simple plan to complete each subject within a particular stipulated day and then put all my energy into it.

6. How did you cope with exam stress and pressure that CA aspirants usually go through during their preparation?

Whenever I used to feel stressed out or low, sometimes I talked to my mother and brother about it. They always used to console me that it was quite normal to feel this way. Whenever I used to feel low, I always imagined my parents in my mind which motivated me a lot.

7. What is your opinion about the new ICAI scheme of education and training? Did you feel any difference in the CA Inter exam under the new scheme as compared to the old scheme?

I feel the new ICAI scheme is very much favorable for the students as the number of papers has been reduced. Pressure on students also becomes a bit light. In my opinion, the new scheme has become more favorable for the students and the course has also become more doable as compared to the old scheme.

8. Where do you plan to do your practical training?

I have not thought about it much but I am planning to apply in Big 4’s for practical training to get the best experience and corporate exposure.

9. Can you tell us about your future career plans?

I have a keen interest in Finance, Private Equity, and Investment Banking. So I am also planning to do CFA in the future and hope to make a career in this vast field.

10. What are your favorite pastimes? Any hobbies?

I am a binge-watcher. So I like to watch movies, web shows, and series.

11. What message would you like to give to CA aspirants preparing for their exams?

I would just say that this course is not as difficult as it is made out to be by the social media hype. If we study daily and do parallel revisions, nobody can stop us from passing and coming out with flying colors. I always believe in the philosophy that HARD WORK IS THE ONLY SMART WORK. We all must work hard and success is bound and destined to be ours.
You may also check - CA Inter Toppers List

Articles
|
Upcoming Finance Exams
Upcoming Dates
Application Date

10 Oct'25 - 10 Oct'25 (Online)

Upcoming Dates
Exam Date

22 Dec'25 - 22 Dec'25 (Offline)

Upcoming Dates
Exam Date

22 Dec'25 - 22 Dec'25 (Offline)

Certifications By Top Providers
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Introduction to Accounting-Part 1 Basics of Financial Statements
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Direct Tax Laws and Practice
Via Tezpur University, Tezpur
Accounting and Finance
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Adaptive Markets Financial Market Dynamics and Human Behavior
Via Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Financial Reporting and Corporate Governance
Via Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Udemy
 192 courses
Edx
 174 courses
Vskills
 52 courses
Swayam
 49 courses
Coursera
 47 courses
Futurelearn
 40 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to CA Intermediate Exam

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CA Intermediate Exam ?

Hello,


CMA or Cost and Management Accounting is a certificate course providing CMA designation to the qualifiers. CMA has both descriptive and objective questions. CMA foundation is a mixture of questions. It is a three hour long exam conducted by ICMAI and it is a paper based on mainly class 12th concepts.

CMA examination has a mixture of objective and descriptive questions.


I hope this helps,


All the best

Hello Aspirant,

Hope you are doing great.  A common course that covers accounting, taxation, financial analysis, and financial economics is called chartered accountancy, or CA. The three-level CA course offered in India is in high demand both domestically and internationally. Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad are a few of the most well-known Indian cities for studying accounting. Students frequently see each other studying B.Com and CA at the same time. Students from Nepal are also seen travelling to India to enroll in a CA programme in addition to students from India.

In India, CA programmes are typically offered by private and semi-government institutions. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) considers the students certified and qualified Chartered Accountants after they complete this course (CAs).

Top CA Colleges in India:

  • Vista Academy, Dehradun
  • ETEN CA, Guwahati
  • PIRON Scholl of Business and Finance, Mumbai
  • Siddhartha Academy, Thane
  • Navkar Institute, Ahmedabad
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Noida
  • Indian Institute of Finance and Accounts, Pune
  • Pearn Accountants, International Accountants and Business Consultants, Kochi
  • Zell Education Mumbai
  • CMS For CA, Hyderabad
  • PIRON School of Business and Finance, Bangalore
  • International School of Financial Studies, Secunderabad

ALL THE BEST

Hi,

For being eligible for the direct entry route in CA i.e for giving CA Intermediate exam directly without apppearing for the CA foundation exam you need to atleast complete your graduation. Since you have just completed your second semester exam you are not eligible for the direct entry route as you have not completed your graduation. Hence, you must prepare for your CA foundation exam first . Only when you clear CA foundation you will be eligibe for appearing for your CA intermediate exam.

Hope this helps

Thanks

Hi

To become a CA one needs to go through given 4 levels, listed below :-

1) ca foundation

2 ) ca intermediate

3) articleship Training

4 )ca final

>>>>>>>>> Class 12th pass students need to start with foundation

>>>>>>>>>>> while graduates

  • commerce graduates with at least 55%

  • and non commerce graduate with at least 60% in their graduation

don't have to go through CA Foundation, they can start directly start from level 2 i. e CA Intermediate through direct scheme.

As you are a BA i. e non- commerce graduate with 71 %  i. e more than 60 % , so yes, you can definitely  directly start with CA Intermediate through direct entry scheme   .

To register you need to visit the  official website i. e icai.org (http://icai.org/) . And after registration you need at least 8 months of study to appear  for CA intermediate examination.

Each level you need to go through is described below briefly :-

----------------)  2. CA Intermediate

In your CA Intermediate, you have 2 groups with 4 papers or subjects in each group

>>>>>CA Intermediate Group 1:-  You have following subjects :-

*accounting

* cost and management accounting

*corporate and Other laws

* taxation


>>>>>CA Intermediate Group 2:-  You have following subjects :-

*advanced accounting

*enterprise information systems & strategic management

*auditing and assurance

*financial management & economics for finance

In oder to clear CA intermediate , you need at least 40% marks  individually in each  subjects and at least 50% in overall aggregate .


----------------) 3.  Articleship Training

You can register for articleship after 1 or  both groups of CA Intermediate. Articleship Training is of 3 years. During the last 2 years of your Articleship Training you  have to complete your AICITSS i. e Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills

----------------) 4. CA Final Group

After qualifying both groups of CA Intermediate, you become eligible for CA Final registration. And can appear in CA final examinations either after completion of your Articleship Training or when you are in the last 6 months of your articleship training.

There are 2 groups with 4 subjects in each which are given below:-

>>>>>CA Final Group 1:

*financial reporting

*advanced auditing and professional ethics

*strategic financial management

*corporate and allied Laws


>>>>>CA Final Group 2:


*advanced Management Accounting

*direct Tax Laws

*indirect Tax Laws

*information Systems Control and Audit

After the completion of articleship training and clearing CA Final , you become eligible for applying for the membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India after which become a CA.

For detailed information visit

https://finance.careers360.com/articles/how-to-become-a-ca-in-india

Thank you


Hello,

The last date to register for CA Intermediate 2022 November is March 1, 2022. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) keeps the registration for CA Intermediate open throughout the year.  To register for CA Intermediate course, candidates have two options - admission through direct entry route or after clearing CA Foundation exam. There is no upper age limit for CA Intermediate registration. Candidates who are in their final year of graduation can also register for the CA Intermediate course on a provisional basis.