The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), through its Board of Studies (Academic), organised a two-day Global Education Summit in Commerce and Accountancy (GES-CA) 2026 in New Delhi. The theme “Rising Together – Transforming Commerce Learning into Leadership” underscored how sustained collaboration between ICAI, universities and colleges can drive meaningful transformation and societal impact.

The summit brought together Vice Chancellors, Policy makers, Industry Leaders, Directors, Principals, Deans, Professors and distinguished professionals across the country specializing in Commerce and Accountancy. The focus was on sharing insights to enhance the employability of Commerce graduates through upskilling initiatives.

The summit was inaugurated by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Former Union Minister and Founding Chancellor of Rishihood University while, the second day featured a powerful special address by Shri Arun Singh Ji, Hon’ble Member of Parliament. The event was graced by CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI; CA. Hans Raj Chugh, Chairman, Board of Studies (Academic); CA. Purushottamlal Khandelwal, Vice-Chairman, Board of Studies (Academic); other Central Council Members, Regional Council team and Government Nominees, along with CA. (Dr.) Jai Kumar Batra, Secretary, ICAI.

The GES-CA 2026 features participation from 20 Vice-Chancellors of various universities, along with 160 representatives from top universities and autonomous colleges across the country. Additionally, the summit witnessed the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 15 universities/colleges including, National Law University Delhi; Central University of Himachal Pradesh; Chandigarh University; Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra; D. Y. Patil Education Society Deemed to be University Kolhapur and many more.

Further, in order to bridge the gap between academic curricula and professional requirements, ICAI launched the “ICAI Model Curriculum for Commerce and Accountancy Education” in alignment with the transformative vision of the National Education Policy 2020. With an objective to have a unified contemporary curriculum to streamline the syllabi of commerce education at Secondary and Senior Secondary level and commerce undergraduate courses offered by various universities/colleges across the country.

In his inaugural address, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister and Founding Chancellor of Rishihood University, highlighted the vital role of Chartered Accountants in India’s sustainable growth. He commended ICAI’s robust academic framework and the holistic curriculum developed by the Board of Studies (Academic), emphasising that a strong educational foundation is crucial for preparing globally competent professionals who contribute meaningfully to nation-building. He emphasized education as a foundation of the economic development and congratulated ICAI for taking a leadership role in spreading financial literacy across the country.

Shri Arun Singh, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, during his special address on the second day, highlighted India’s strong economic momentum and the pivotal role of education and professional institutions in nation-building. Emphasising the vision of Viksit Bharat, he called for inclusive, people-centric growth, with skills development, education, innovation and research as key drivers of long-term progress. He also underscored the importance of internationalisation of higher education, curriculum collaboration and promoting education in regional languages to ensure global competitiveness and wider access.

On this occasion, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI, emphasised that strengthening commerce education is key to nurturing visionary national leaders. He emphasised introducing commerce education from the secondary level to build early financial literacy, business acumen and ethical awareness, while stressing the need to move beyond rote learning and align curricula closely with industry expectations and real-world professional demands.

CA. Hans Raj Chugh, Chairman, Board of Studies (Academic) emphasized that education is the most powerful instrument for national transformation, with the ability to reshape the academic ecosystem, drive economic growth, strengthen institutions and develop holistic social development.

The two-day Summit deliberated on a wide range of contemporary themes, including AI and automation and their opportunities for the next generation of accounting professionals, recent trends and developments in trade and tariffs and the future of transparency in financial statement presentation. Discussions also focused on challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship in the 21st century, work–life balance and the importance of sustainability and ethical decision-making. A panel discussion examined the impact of globalisation on education, while sessions on tax transparency highlighted the need for a clear strategy, strong commitment and effective action in the evolving economic environment.

The summit featured thought-provoking sessions and panel discussions, reflecting ICAI’s commitment to nurturing young talent and developing the next generation of accountants. GES-CA 2026 reinforced the harmonisation of university education with professional accountancy education through commerce syllabus support, faculty development programmes and a strong emphasis on hands-on learning.

The summit has concluded by CA. Purushottamlal Khandelwal, Vice Chairman, Board of Studies (Academic), with his concluding remarks and vote of thanks to all the dignitaries and delegates.