The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will introduce the revised curriculum for the chartered accountancy course from 2016 and this change will be in accordance with the developments in the global economy, said K Raghu, president, ICAI.

"There are many new areas of accountancy in the changed economy and we have taken all these things into consideration in reworking on the curriculum," he told reporters while addressing a press conference here on Saturday after the foundation laying ceremony of the Kannur branch of the ICAI. The curriculum change is happening after 10 years and the draft scheme has already been approved.

The ICAI is a globally recognized establishment and Indian chartered accountants are in huge demand all over the world, including the US, Europe and the Gulf countries, he said. "Since India is fast emerging in many areas, especially in sectors like medical tourism, there is vast opportunity here as well and in last year's campus recruitment the passed out students got very good offer."

The Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) certificate course by the ICAI is also well received in among the students and the chartered accountancy is fast gaining popularity as the most affordable professional course with great career prospects, said the ICAI president. As of now nearly 8.52 lakh students are undergoing the course in the country. In Kerala there are around 10000 CA students, of which around 1050 are from Kannur, said K Raghu.

The Kannur branch, which now functions from a rented premise, will have the permanent set up within one year and once this is ready ,facilities like reading room and library will be there to help the young professionals, said Babu Abraham Kallivayalil, central council member of ICAI.

Ministers K C Joseph and K P Mohanan also attended the foundation laying ceremony.