Only 19.23% Cleared CA Foundation Jan 2026 — Result Breakdown, Toppers & May 2026 Plan
CA Foundation
January 2026 — Result Analysis
Pass Percentage · Toppers · 6-Session Trend · May 2026 Strategy
| Gender | Appeared | Passed | Pass % — Jan 2026 | Pass % — Sep 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 57,238 | 11,523 | 20.13% | 15.74% | ▲ +4.39% |
| Female | 52,456 | 9,576 | 18.26% | 13.76% | ▲ +4.50% |
| Total | 1,09,694 | 21,099 | 19.23% | 14.78% | ▲ +4.45% |
Every gender category improved meaningfully. Male pass rate up from 15.74% → 20.13%. Female from 13.76% → 18.26%. This is a genuine recovery, not noise. Female enrolment (52,456) is now nearly equal to male (57,238) — the CA pipeline is gender-balanced.
| Rank | Name | City | Marks / 400 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR 1 | Logapriya P P | Madurai, Tamil Nadu | 366 | 91.50% |
| AIR 2 | Khushi Sikaria | Midnapore, West Bengal | 365 | 91.25% |
| AIR 3 | Hiba P | Kannur, Kerala | 361 | 90.25% |
| AIR 3 | Suman Karki | Kathmandu, Nepal | 361 | 90.25% |
| AIR 3 | Raghav Naresh Gupta | Surat, Gujarat | 361 | 90.25% |
The pass mark is 200. The topper scored 366. The gap between "barely passing" and "topping the country" is 166 marks — built over months of structured preparation, not in the final sprint. Logapriya P P scored 91.50% in an exam where only 1 in 5 students cleared.
| Session | Appeared | Passed | Male % | Female % | Overall % | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2024 | 91,900 | 13,749 | 15.66% | 14.14% | 14.96% | 🔴 Low |
| Sep 2024 | 70,437 | 13,858 | 20.47% | 18.76% | 19.67% | 🟡 Mid |
| Jan 2025 | 1,10,887 | 23,861 | 21.74% | 21.27% | 21.52% | 🟢 High |
| May 2025 | 82,662 | 12,474 | 16.26% | 13.80% | 15.09% | 🔴 Drop |
| Sep 2025 | 98,827 | 14,069 | 15.74% | 13.76% | 14.78% | 🔴 Low |
| Jan 2026 ★ | 1,09,694 | 21,099 | 20.13% | 18.26% | 19.23% | 🟢 Recovery |
| Requirement | Rule | Marks Needed | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Paper Floor | Every paper, independently | 40 out of 100 each | Scoring 39 in one paper fails attempt |
| Aggregate Total | All 4 papers combined | 200 out of 400 (50%) | High scores elsewhere cannot compensate |
| Pass with Distinction | Aggregate across all papers | 280 out of 400 (70%+) | No distinction if any paper below 40 |
| Carry-Forward | Not available in Foundation | — | Every paper must be cleared each attempt |
Generic re-study without diagnosis is how students fail the same exam twice on the same root cause. Identify your failure mode first.
| Your Result | What Happened | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Below 40 in one paper | Floor failure — subject-specific | Targeted deep work on that subject only |
| All papers 40+ but aggregate below 200 | Aggregate miss — flat spread | Lift weakest 1–2 papers by 15+ marks each |
| Below 40 in MCQ paper (P3 or P4) | Negative marking destroyed score | Build skip-rule discipline + topic-wise MCQ work |
| Below 40 in multiple papers | Preparation gap across the board | Full structured restart with faculty-led course |
- MCQ negative marking is not a small detail — it is a primary score driver. Build a skip-and-return discipline before exam day, not on it.
- Accounting is your highest-leverage subject — 10 extra marks here does more than anywhere else. Put your best preparation hours here.
- Business Laws needs a floor strategy — you don't need to top it, you need 40+. Focused ICAI study material reading is sufficient.
- January sessions are kinder to well-prepared students than May or September. The 19.23% confirms it — use the full 10-week window.
- Don't aim for passing — aim for 220+. Targeting well above the pass bar gives you buffer if one paper underperforms on exam day.
Madurai · 366/400 (91.50%)
Ellenabad, Haryana · 508/600 (84.67%)
Karnal, Haryana · 486/600 (81.00%)
The CA ladder gets progressively harder — 19.23% at Foundation → 9.39% at Inter → 10.97% at Final. But every level was cleared this session by real students who prepared with the right material. The 19.23% is not a ceiling — it is a filter.
How Zeroinfy Can Help You Crack May 2026
Zeroinfy works with India's leading CA Foundation faculties. Our focus: exam-aligned practice + updated material + structured execution.
📞 Purchase Enquiry: 8100 800 600 | 8100 800 601
💬 Support (10 AM – 7:30 PM): 9674 400 605
🌐 Website: zeroinfy.in
January 2026 was a median-difficulty session — 19.23% is above the recent scheme average of ~17.5%. The 80.77% who did not clear did not face an impossible paper. They fell short on one of three predictable, fixable root causes: MCQ discipline, aggregate strategy, or one underprepared paper. All three are correctable in 10 weeks.
Congratulations to every student who cleared today. For everyone who didn't — May 2026 is 10 weeks away, and the Foundation exam rewards structured preparation more reliably than almost any other professional exam in India.
This article is intended for educational guidance and strategic analysis based on the official ICAI result release dated March 8, 2026. Data sourced from ICAI official press release and merit list. Zeroinfy Academic Research Desk.