Future of CA profession is bright, given the growing demand for the professionals, say experts

Experts highlight the bright future for chartered accountants in India, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and diverse skills.

The future for chartered accountants (CA) appears bright, given the growing demand for these professionals amid the changing business landscape in the country, according to experts.

Ramanathan Krishnan, senior programme convener, Department of Commerce at Shiv Nadar University (SNU), Chennai, said, “India is a $4 trillion economy expected to grow to $30 trillion by 2047; this will trigger a requirement of at least 30 lakh CAs. At present, India has only 4,09,000 practising CAs as against a need for 10 lakh.”

Speaking at The Hindu Education Plus webinar titled ‘Why Choose Commerce? A roadmap for CA aspirants’, he noted, “The CA syllabus is vast, and the competitive examination has a low pass rate of 10% to 15%. Academic institutions are recognising this problem and attempting to address the issue by providing enhanced learning experiences in undergraduate Commerce courses.”

Mr. Krishnan also provided an overview of the various commerce programmes available and offered insight into selecting the appropriate one based on an individual’s aptitude for professional accounting.

The webinar was presented by SNU Chennai as part of The Hindu’s Career Counselling series.

Chella Krishna G., a partner at the Chennai-based firm SRSV and Associates, said students should understand that commerce is not merely a subject but a way to understand the world, and that CA is not just a qualification but a gateway to business leadership.

He elaborated that the role of chartered accountants has evolved beyond filing tax returns and managing balance sheets; they are now instrumental in advising on business growth and shaping financial strategies. “Aspirants should be prepared to adapt to the enhanced business landscape and equip themselves adequately. The leap is from being number crunchers to independent growth consultants, risk managers, financial advisers and CFOs,” Mr. Krishna added.