The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is expected to make its professional networking portal for around 96,000 CA firms functional by February 2026, a senior ICAI official told ETCFO on the sidelines of the Institute’s residential media meet in Goa.
The digital platform is being developed to transform the way CA firms collaborate, merge, and expand. It will allow small and mid-sized firms to explore tie-ups, pool resources, and strengthen their capabilities, with the broader aim of creating large home-grown firms capable of competing with the Big Four (EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC).
“The networking portal will be a crucial step in facilitating the creation of large home-grown firms akin to the Big Four, in sync with the government’s vision,” ICAI President Charanjot Singh Nanda told ETCFO.
Key Features
Professional Networking Connect with fellow Chartered Accountants across India.
Opportunities for Practitioners: Post work referrals, expand into new geographies, and explore mergers and alliances.
Opportunities for Industry Members: Post projects and collaborate with practising members for mutually beneficial partnerships.
Verified Centralised Data: Access reliable, up-to-date information on CA members and firms.
Support for Remote Members: Knowledge resources, content subscriptions, and 24×7 accessibility to bridge geographic gaps.
Strategic Importance
The stakes are high. The Big Four, along with Grant Thornton and BDO, currently audit 326 of the 486 Nifty-500 companies. Meanwhile, India has around 96,000 CA firms, most of them small and independent, struggling to compete at scale.
In June 2025, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das flagged the urgency of strengthening domestic firms, saying, “Indian firms must be capable of tapping into the $240-billion global audit and consulting market.”
By facilitating collaboration, mergers, and consolidation, ICAI’s networking portal aims to strengthen domestic firms, help them scale efficiently, and enhance India’s competitiveness in audit and consulting globally.
“This initiative is about creating a knowledge-driven ecosystem that allows our members to grow, scale, and compete effectively,” the senior ICAI official added.
