Under the global network, the constituents within the Network share any part of professional resources including but not limited to common systems, partners and staff, common technical resources, audit methodology or audit manuals, training courses, facilities or any resources.
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Amid concerns from stakeholders, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has decided to put its guidelines on global networking in abeyance. These guidelines were considered as one important step for desi accounts and audit firms to become big and compete with big global four.“It is hereby informed that further implementation of the ICAI (Global Networking) Guidelines, 2025, notified vide Notification No. 3-CACAF/GN-F/2026 dated 11th February 2026 and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, dated 17th February 2026, is kept in abeyance until further orders,” a notification by ICAI dated July 13, but put on the government portal late on Tuesday.The guidelines aimed to expedient to create an enabling framework in India to develop professional networks for the chartered accountancy profession. These were intended to augment and strengthen the professional avenues in the emerging trade order; domestically and internationally for Domestic entities registered with ICAI. It was said that these guidelines would enable a level playing field to foster culture of innovation and competition and to make provision for ICAI ‘s Domestic Entities to collaborate with Global Networks domestically and internationally.These guidelines meant to bring the working of Global Networks of Chartered accountants (or equivalent in respective jurisdictions) under the regulatory jurisdiction of ICAI in so far as their Indian operations are concerned and to further strengthen the quality of professional services in accordance with the best global practices. It was expected that these guidelines would help to further enhance and synergise the capacity of domestic Chartered Accountants firms registered with ICAI by enabling exposure to best global practices through provision of latent and emerging knowledge and technology sharing including tools and processes. The effort was to further enhance the capacities and capabilities of the profession.These guidelines include provisions for the network’s name, registration, changes in its constitution, and the filing of annual returns. Each overseas network will need to designate a member as a Nodal Officer or contact point. This person will be responsible for ensuring that the network’s operations within India comply with the guidelines for all ICAI-registered CA firms. Domestic entities that are part of an overseas network will be subject to the ethical standards required for such a network. It was also stated that the operation of any overseas network in India must comply with all local laws.According to the guidelines, now put in abeyance, Global Network means a Network or arrangement by whatever name called between Domestic Entity and an Overseas Entity, registered under these guidelines. Such a mechanism is aimed at cost sharing among the constituents within the structure or the constituents within the structure share common quality control policies and procedures, which are designed, implemented and monitored across the Network. The constituents within the Network share a common operational strategy or the constituents within the Network share a common brand name, common initials or a common name, logo or insignia.Under the global network, the constituents within the Network share any part of professional resources including but not limited to common systems, partners and staff, common technical resources, audit methodology or audit manuals, training courses, facilities or any resources.Published on July 15, 2026
