ICAI Doctoral Scholarship Scheme 2026 for ICAI Members pursuing full-time Ph.D. in Auditing, Taxation, Commerce, Management, Accounting & allied areas.
Scholarship: ₹75,000 per month
Up to 36 months
Last Date: 15th June 2026
Here are some suggested topics below:
- Career progression for CAs
- Digitalization of finance world
- Transformation from compliance requirements to Stakeholder’s expectations
- Outsourcing Services: A unique opportunities for CAs
- How India can become $30 trillion economy
- Broadening tax base for government revenue (Central/State/Union Territory)
- CA as Multi-Disciplinary Partner with other professionals
- Research on the Development of hilly states
- Research on growth of Indian origin CA firms vis-à-vis models of other developing countries specifically China
- Research on digitalization in AI in education
- Success rate of various initiatives taken by the government
- Any other innovative research ideas, relevant for profession and subject to approval of the Shortlisting Committee
Contents
hide
Procedure for The Award Of Scholarship
- Applications are initially scrutinized by the Research Committee Secretariat.
- Thereafter, Shortlisting Committee will short-list the meritorious proposals from the eligible applications.
- Such applicants may also be invited for a presentation before Shortlisting Committee.
- The recommendations of the Shortlisting Committee will then be placed before the Research Committee for its final approval.
Joining & Release of Scholars
- The scholar must join the scholarship within four weeks of the date of the award letter by submitting the required documents through the affiliating/administering institution. This may be extended by the ICAI up to six months in deserving cases.
- The sanction of the scholarship will be issued initially for a period of one year, effective from the date of joining of the scholar in the scholarship. The renewal of the scholarship for the subsequent year shall be subject to the receipt of satisfactory annual progress report and at least one research paper in International Journal of repute and one in ICAI Journal.
Monitoring
- Regular monitoring of scholarship is done based on quarterly and annual progress report submitted by the scholar and duly forwarded by the supervisor.
- The scholarship may be discontinued if research progress is found unsatisfactory or any ICAI rules are violated.
- During the scholarship, the scholars are required to publish yearly at least one research paper in International Journal of repute and one in ICAI Journal on the theme of the research undertaken and submit a copy of these to ICAI.
- The ICAI may ask for annual presentation/mid-term appraisal of the research work.
Eligibility
- Member of ICAI
- Age should be less than 40 years on the date of application
- Candidate shall be Full Time Student at the University/College/ Institution while pursuing Ph.D
- Candidates shall not avail any other scholarship for the same
How to apply ?
- Applications are invited on or before 15-06-2026.
- The applications along with relevant enclosures as mentioned in it and research proposal and abstract (3000 and 300 words respectively) must be sent to Research Committee at the below mentioned address before 15-06-2026 duly signed and stamped by the Ph.D. registered institution.
- Research Committee
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
3rd Floor, Main Building ICAI Bhawan, Post Box No. 7100, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi – 110002
Format of Research Proposal
- Other than the mandatory information accompanying each application, candidates should submit their research proposal in two parts:
- a) Abstract of the research proposal (about 300 words).
- b) Detailed research proposal (about 3000 words) an indicative outline for the detailed research proposal is given below:
Title
- The research proposal should have a clear, meaningful and concise title reflecting the scope of the investigation.
Introduction
- The research proposal should begin by clearly stating the research problem to be investigated in the light of its theoretical and/or empirical context in the relevant area.
Objectives of the study
- The general aim of the study as well as its specific objectives should be clearly stated in the proposal.
Research questions or hypothesis
- Given the conceptual framework and the specification of dimension, the specific questions to be answered through the proposed research should be sharply formulated.
- In the case of an explanatory research design, specification of variables and positing of relationship among them through specific hypothesis must form a part of the research proposal.
Review of literature (National & International)
- The proposal should summarize the current status of research in the area and major findings, including the researcher’s own work in the area.
- Existing empirical findings may also be discussed.
- The overview should clearly demonstrate the relevance as well as inadequacy of existing findings or approaches and provide a rationale for the proposed study.
Research Methodology
The researcher must describe in detail :
- The scope and coverage of her/his study; and
- Approach and methodology with adequate justification. Emphasis should be given to bringing out innovativeness in approaches proposed to be followed. The detailing of the methodology may include research design, data to be collected and empirical and analytical methods to be used. The description of the methodology must be clearly linked to the aims of the research and the research questions/hypothesis of the study.
Relevence and anticipated outcomes
- The proposal should include a statement on the relevance of the study and the anticipated outcomes.
- It should bring out the significance of the research problem, the contribution which the proposed study is expected to make to theory and to methodology as well as its practical importance to society and policy making. It should also describe the proposed outputs from the study (books, research papers, occasional papers with themes etc.)
Tentative Chapterisation
- Detailed chapterisation should be clearly spelt out in the research proposal.
Bibliography
- Bibliography should be prepared in Chicago manual style.
Other Criteria for Shortlisting of Application
- Application shall be forwarded by Supervisor of the candidate for Ph.D. or any other competent signing authority of the University/College/Institution.
- Candidates are advised to apply only if they are pursuing Ph.D. in the relevant and contemporary topic considering the current economic scenario matching with ICAI mandate, intent to add value to the society, scalable and having global relevance.