CMA Foundation December 2026
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI)
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Overview
CMA Foundation is the entry-level exam of the CMA course conducted by ICMAI; the December 2026 exam is on 13 December 2026. The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) is a statutory body that functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Its 2025 prospectus reports more than 6,00,000 students, more than 1,00,000 qualified members, 112 chapters and 11 overseas centres. Foundation, Intermediate and Final are each held twice a year, in the June and December terms, and a Foundation pass leads to registration for the Intermediate course.
CMA Foundation at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) |
| Level | Foundation, the first of three exam stages (Foundation, Intermediate, Final) |
| Purpose | Entry stage of the CMA course; a Foundation pass opens registration for the Intermediate course |
| Mode | Offline, centre-based; multiple-choice questions answered on OMR sheets |
| Frequency | Twice a year, in the June and December terms |
| Papers and marks | Four papers of 100 marks each, 400 marks in all |
| Duration | Two sessions of 2 hours on one day: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm IST |
| Exam fee | Rs 1,500 for inland candidates; US$ 100 for overseas candidates; late fee Rs 500 |
| Exam centres | Centres across India and overseas at Bahrain, Dubai and Muscat; the full list is in the time table |
| Official website | icmai.in |
Important dates (December 2026 term)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | Not announced yet |
| Last date without late fee | 14 October 2026 |
| Last date with late fee (Rs 500) | 21 October 2026 |
| Correction window | Not announced yet |
| Admit card | Not announced yet |
| Exam: Papers 1 and 2 (10:00 am to 12:00 noon), Papers 3 and 4 (2:00 pm to 4:00 pm) | 13 December 2026 |
| Result | By 7 January 2027 at the latest |
Passing and next step
- A candidate passes Foundation with at least 40% marks in each paper and 50% of the total marks. Exemption in a paper or carry-forward of marks is not available in Foundation.
- After a Foundation pass, registration for the Intermediate course is open; it must be completed at least four months before the exam, with a cut-off of 31 July for the December term and 31 January for the June term.
Sources: Foundation Course Examination time table and programme, December 2026; CMA Prospectus 2025; ICMAI online application for examination. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Conducting Body
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI)
Category
Government
Level
National
Important Dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | Not announced yet | Awaiting official notice |
| Application closes | 15 days to go | |
| Exam date | 68 days to go |
Eligibility Criteria
The rules below are from the CMA Prospectus 2025, the latest edition linked on ICMAI's student pages; the December 2026 time table adds no new conditions.
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Admission to the Foundation course | Class 10 or equivalent passed from a recognised board or institution; a Class 12 (10+2) pass or a National Diploma in Commerce also qualifies |
| Appearing in the exam | The prospectus flow chart shows a Class 12 pass as the step before a candidate is eligible to appear in the Foundation exam |
| Registration | Admission completed at least four months before the exam; cut-off 31 July for the December term and 31 January for the June term |
| Identification number | Issued on admission and valid for 3 years; a valid number is needed to sit the exam |
| Other conditions | Not debarred from the Foundation exam; exam form and fee submitted within the specified time |
- Provisional admission is allowed; the candidate has 36 months to convert it to regular status.
- Candidates who qualify for direct admission to Intermediate, for example graduates, are exempt from Foundation; the qualifying list is Annexure VIII of the prospectus.
Source: CMA Prospectus 2025 (2025 edition, the latest linked for the December 2026 term).
Exam Pattern
The December 2026 Foundation exam is a multiple-choice exam held on one day, 13 December 2026, in two sessions. The details are from ICMAI's December 2026 time table and the Syllabus 2022.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Session (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication | 50 MCQs | 100 | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon |
| 2 | Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting | 50 MCQs | 100 | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon |
| 3 | Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics | 50 MCQs | 100 | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm |
| 4 | Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management | 50 MCQs | 100 | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm |
| Total | 200 MCQs | 400 |
- Mode: offline, centre-based; answers are marked on OMR sheets.
- Marking: 2 marks per question; there is no negative marking.
- Each session carries 100 MCQs for 200 marks (two papers together).
- Passing: at least 40% marks in each paper and 50% of the total marks; no exemption or carry-forward of marks in Foundation.
- Detailed instructions are provided along with the admit card.
Source: Foundation time table, December 2026; CMA Prospectus 2025; CMA Syllabus 2022.
Syllabus
Paper 1: Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication
- Section A, Business Laws (80%): introduction (10%); Indian Contracts Act, 1872 (30%); Sale of Goods Act, 1930 (20%); Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (20%)
- Section B, Business Communication (20%)
Paper 2: Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting
- Section A, Financial Accounting (70%): accounting fundamentals (30%); accounting for special transactions (15%); preparation of final accounts (25%)
- Section B, Cost Accounting (30%)
Paper 3: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics
- Section A, Business Mathematics (40%): arithmetic (15%); algebra (20%); calculus and its business applications (5%)
- Section B, Business Statistics (60%): statistical representation of data (5%); central tendency and dispersion (15%); correlation and regression (15%); probability (15%); index numbers and time series (10%)
Paper 4: Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management
- Section A, Business Economics (70%): basic concepts (15%); forms of market (20%); money and banking (20%); economic and business environment (15%)
- Section B, Management (30%)
Source: CMA Syllabus 2022 (in force from the June 2023 term); section weights are as printed in the syllabus.
How to Apply for CMA Foundation December 2026
- Open the online exam application at examicmai.in (on icmai.in: Students, Examination, Online Application for Examination).
- Enter the current registration number and click through to the Online Examination Application form.
- Fill in the student details, choose the exam centre carefully and submit; the email id and mobile number entered are used for all exam correspondence.
- Upload the photograph and signature (.jpg, .jpeg or .bmp, each under 40 KB); check them before paying, because they print on the admit card.
- Choose the payment mode and pay online. Offline forms and demand drafts are not accepted.
- Check the application status after three working days. If money was debited but the status shows incomplete, wait three working days before paying again and email exam.helpdesk@icmai.in with proof of payment.
| Candidate | Exam fee |
|---|---|
| Inland candidates | Rs 1,500 |
| Overseas candidates | US$ 100 |
- Last date without late fee: 14 October 2026; from 15 to 21 October 2026 with a late fee of Rs 500.
- Needed: current registration number, photograph, signature, email id and mobile number.
Source: ICMAI online application for examination; Foundation time table, December 2026 (December 2026 term).
Apply online on the official portal: https://examicmai.in/emsweb/examappl/e_mainexam.aspx
Frequently Asked Questions
When is CMA Foundation December 2026?
CMA Foundation December 2026 is scheduled for 13 December 2026.
When can I apply for CMA Foundation December 2026?
The last date to apply is 21 October 2026.
Who conducts CMA Foundation December 2026?
CMA Foundation December 2026 is conducted by The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI).
What is the eligibility for CMA Foundation December 2026?
The rules below are from the CMA Prospectus 2025 , the latest edition linked on ICMAI's student pages; the December 2026 time table adds no new conditions. Criterion Requirement Admission to the Foundation course Class 10 or equivalent passed from a recognised board or institution; a Class 12 (10+2) pass or a National Diploma in Commerce also qualifies Appearing in the exam The prospectus flow chart shows a Class 12 pass as the step before a candidate is eligible to appear in the Foundation…
What is the exam pattern of CMA Foundation December 2026?
The December 2026 Foundation exam is a multiple-choice exam held on one day, 13 December 2026, in two sessions. The details are from ICMAI's December 2026 time table and the Syllabus 2022. Paper Subject Questions Marks Session (IST) 1 Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication 50 MCQs 100 10:00 am to 12:00 noon 2 Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting 50 MCQs 100 10:00 am to 12:00 noon 3 Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics 50 MCQs 100 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm 4…
What is the syllabus of CMA Foundation December 2026?
Paper 1: Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication Section A, Business Laws (80%): introduction (10%); Indian Contracts Act, 1872 (30%); Sale of Goods Act, 1930 (20%); Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (20%) Section B, Business Communication (20%) Paper 2: Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting Section A, Financial Accounting (70%): accounting fundamentals (30%); accounting for special transactions (15%); preparation of final accounts (25%) Section B, Cost Accounting (30%)…
How do I apply for CMA Foundation December 2026?
Open the online exam application at examicmai.in (on icmai.in: Students, Examination, Online Application for Examination). Enter the current registration number and click through to the Online Examination Application form. Fill in the student details, choose the exam centre carefully and submit; the email id and mobile number entered are used for all exam correspondence. Upload the photograph and signature (.jpg, .jpeg or .bmp, each under 40 KB); check them before paying, because they print on…
What is the official website of CMA Foundation December 2026?
The official website is https://icmai.in/.