
Sakshi Chandak of Nasik has secured the All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) in the CA Intermediate September 2026 examination, jointly with Neel Rajesh Shah of Mumbai. Both scored 502 out of 600 marks (83.67%). The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) declared the results on 22 October.

Chandak, who also topped her school in Class 10 with 97.4% and stood fourth in Nasik in Class 12 with 94.33%, said she studied 12 hours daily, rising to 14 hours near the exams. She credited her family and teachers for support. She used artificial intelligence tools to clarify complex concepts and case laws.
A total of 14,818 candidates passed the exam in 2026. The pass percentage was 23.14% for Group 1, 18.92% for Group 2, and 13.21% for both groups together. Candidates can check their scorecards on the official website caresults.icai.org.
Chandak’s story highlights how a disciplined routine and family backing drove a top rank, but the AI tool use she described points to a broader shift in CA preparation methods. ICAI’s pass rates remain low, 13.21% for both groups, meaning most candidates still fall short. The next step for Chandak is completing her B.Com from Pune University while preparing for the CA Final.
Source: aajtak.in
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