ICAI Mandates e-diary for CA articleship from Jan 2026

• ICAI makes E-Diary mandatory for CA articleship from Jan 2026
• Fortnightly submissions via SSP portal; principal approval required
• Tracks attendance, tasks, stipend; promotes transparency & skills

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has decided to implement a compulsory digital platform for all CA students who start their articleship or industrial training from January 1, 2026 onwards. This platform is a Digital Practical Training Diary (E, Diary) and it represents a significant step by ICAI to bring uniformity, transparency, and digital monitoring to articled training by scrapping traditional manual diaries and replacing them with a structured online system.

To access the E, Diary students need to use their Self, Service Portal (SSP) login credentials on the ICAI website. Through the E, Diary students may maintain records of their daily attendance, the jobs done, and other details in real time.

Some of the major functionalities are the provision for looking up previous entries, modifying or deleting entries before submission, and checking the approval status. The stipend details (once paid) are automatically reflected during the first fortnight. Submissions have to be sent every two weeks.

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The system checks the submissions automatically for completeness only (any missing parts will be signaled). Principals scrutinize the submissions, request changes if any, and the trainee is required to make the changes and submit again within seven days. Principals are given another seven days to approve; if they do not approve within that time, it is considered approved. Thus, this timely audit and compliance are assured.

The E, Diary is connected with other ICAI processes, e.g., Form 109 for termination (if applicable), and is consistent with training guidelines. It facilitates skill mapping, helps to determine the areas where the trainee lacks knowledge, permits a secondment for new areas, and decreases the amount of paperwork for both the trainee and the principal.

ICAI President CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda revealed: the practical experience of an articled trainee will be digitally approved and authenticated through the E, Diary. This digital platform will not only save valuable man-hours. But also brings greater transparency, timely approvals and helps identify new and emerging areas of training." reflected the ICAI President CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda.