From a science-stream ‘misfit’ to AIR 3: How Sohan Manjarekar conquered the CA Finals

A Dombivli student’s journey from academic disappointment to national merit highlights the shifting landscape of professional examinations in India.

The results of the ICAI CA Final exams are often a high-stakes turning point for thousands, but for 23-year-old Sohan Manjarekar, the announcement on June 19 felt like the final piece of a long-standing family puzzle. The Dombivli resident secured All-India Rank 3, a triumph that was years in the making. While national headlines have been dominated by the success of Noor Singla—who clinched the top spot with 499 marks—Sohan’s story is rooted in the gritty, persistent reality of the Mumbai commerce student.

A shift in direction

Sohan’s entry into the world of commerce was born out of perceived failure. After a Class 12 performance that kept him out of his preferred science colleges, he pivoted to the Mulund College of Commerce (MCC). "In the field of commerce, CA is considered a top course, so I had to pursue it," he said. What began as a redirection became a mission to fulfill his father’s long-held dream, one that had been cut short decades earlier due to the family's financial constraints.

The path was anything but linear. Sohan cleared all three levels of the ICAI exam in his first attempt, a rarity in a field where the pass percentage for this cycle stood at a razor-thin 14.07 percent. Out of 23,776 candidates who sat for the final, only 3,345 managed to cross the finish line. Beyond the textbooks, Sohan’s routine included short bike rides to manage the immense pressure, a necessary outlet for a student who balanced the rigorous two-year articleship with the demands of the final syllabus.

The bigger picture

The success of candidates like Sohan and the broader performance trends in the 2026 exams underscore a critical evolution in how students approach professional certifications. With the introduction of updated, AI-driven question paper patterns, the threshold for excellence has shifted. It is no longer just about rote learning; it is about adapting to structural changes in testing.

For the thousands of students currently tracking the ca inter result may 2026, the takeaway is clear: the ICAI ecosystem is becoming increasingly competitive, rewarding those who can synthesize conceptual clarity with agility. While Sohan plans to prioritize job security over immediate practice—acknowledging the high capital requirements of starting a firm—his journey serves as a benchmark for the next cohort of aspiring accountants navigating this demanding qualification.