UGC terms CA, CS, ICWA qualification equivalent to postgraduate degree

UGC has stated that candidates will be treated as postgraduate degree holders if they qualify for the CA, CS, or ICWA examination, which is conducted by ICAI.

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UGC has stated that CA, CS and ICWA qualification will be equivalent to a postgraduate degree. (Photo Credits- PTI)

In Short

• Now, CA, CS and ICWA qualification will be equivalent to a postgraduate degree.
• This will help CAs across the country opt for higher education.
• This move will also leverage the CS profession across the globe, said ICSI.

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.

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 official order issued by UGC states, “The UGC had received requests from the 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 the -- CA, CS, and ICWA, equivalent to post-graduation degrees.”

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.

The University Grants Commission @ugc_india has resolved that CA Qualification will be treated equivalent to PG Degree based on requests submitted from @theicai. This will not only help CA’s for pursuing higher studies but will also facilitate the mobility of Indian CAs globally pic.twitter.com/rYKvCVOD1t — Institute of Chartered Accountants of India - ICAI (@theicai) March 15, 2021

The ICSI, in a release, said, “This recognition will leverage the company secretary profession across the globe, giving the members of the institute an opportunity to pursue Ph.D. in Commerce and Allied Disciplines.”