Two young aspirants from Jaipur have brought laurels to the city by securing top national ranks in the Chartered Accountancy (CA) Final Examination, the results of which were announced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on Thursday. Pranav Dhoot secured All India Rank (AIR) 7, while Harshika Khandelwal achieved AIR 28, placing them among the country's highest-performing candidates in one of India's most challenging professional examinations.
For 22-year-old Pranav Dhoot, the achievement is more than an academic milestone. Scoring an impressive 457 out of 600 marks, he has become the first chartered accountant in his immediate family, fulfilling a dream cherished by his grandfather.
"This achievement is special because I have fulfilled my grandfather's dream," Dhoot said after the results were declared.
Dhoot attributed his success to a disciplined study routine built around careful planning, regular revisions and consistent practice through mock tests. According to him, setting realistic goals and meeting them consistently played a crucial role in his preparation strategy.
"The key was hitting my targets with consistency and discipline," he said.
He also highlighted the importance of mental resilience during the demanding preparation period. The six-month study leave before the examination, he said, often felt isolating and required self-motivation and accountability.
"The preparation phase can get lonely. There are times when you need to motivate yourself, remain accountable and maintain a positive mindset," he added.
Despite being confident about his preparation, Dhoot admitted that securing a national rank exceeded his expectations.
"This is the best day for my family and me. I never expected to get a rank, let alone AIR 7," he said.
Looking ahead, Dhoot plans to explore entrepreneurship, drawing inspiration from his father, who is a businessman.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Harshika Khandelwal continued her record of academic excellence by securing AIR 28 in the CA Final Examination. Her success follows an earlier achievement of AIR 16 in the CA Intermediate examination, which strengthened her confidence and motivated her to aim for a national rank in the final stage of the course.
Khandelwal followed a highly structured preparation strategy during her articleship period, focusing on multiple revisions of the syllabus. She aimed to revise the entire course four to five times and intensified her efforts during the final six months before the examination.
During this period, she studied for nearly 12 hours a day, significantly reduced social media usage and consciously avoided social gatherings to maintain focus on her goal.
The daughter of a grocery shop owner and a homemaker, Khandelwal credited her family, particularly her father, for guiding her career choices and supporting her throughout the challenging journey.
"I once wanted to become an engineer, but my father's advice to choose commerce in Class 11 put me on this path. My family's support kept me grounded and motivated throughout the journey," she said.
Interestingly, Khandelwal said she was uncertain about her performance after the examination, especially in the Advanced Financial Management paper.
"I wasn't expecting this result. It has only strengthened my belief in consistent hard work," she said.
The achievements of Dhoot and Khandelwal stand as inspiring examples of perseverance, discipline and determination, reflecting the dedication required to excel in one of India's most competitive professional qualifications.
