71-year-old retired man from Jaipur clears CA final, proves age is no barrier for learning: Report
Jaipur: In a remarkable feat, 71-year-old Tarachand Agarwal from Jaipur has successfully cleared the Chartered Accountancy (CA) final examination, proving that age is no obstacle to academic achievement.
Agarwal cracked one of India’s most challenging professional exams after retiring from the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (now SBI), where he served for 38 years before retiring as an Assistant General Manager in 2014, as reported by The New Indian Express on Sunday.
His name stood out on July 6, when the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) declared the results of the CA final exam. Among thousands of young aspirants, Agarwal’s accomplishment as a septuagenarian quickly gained attention and admiration.
Hailing from Sangaria in Hanumangarh district, Agarwal faced a personal setback in 2020 when he lost his wife, Darshana, during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We used to spend almost 21 hours a day together. When she left, I was completely shattered,” he expressed.
Struggling with grief and depression, he turned to spiritual reading to cope with the loss. It was during this period of introspection that a new idea emerged. Encouraged by his sons — Lalit, a chartered accountant, and Amit, a tax consultant — along with his granddaughter Ankika, Agarwal set his sights on the CA course.
He enrolled in the CA program in July 2021 and followed a strict daily routine that included early mornings, yoga, and 10 to 12 hours of study — four of which were dedicated to writing practice. Notably, he did not enrol in any paid coaching course. “The study material from ICAI is enough,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
He cleared the foundation exam in May 2022, the intermediate in January 2023, and sat for the final in May 2024. However, the last leg of his journey came with physical challenges: both of his shoulders developed a frozen condition, making it difficult to write. “My body was failing, but my spirit stayed strong,” he recalled.
In May 2025, he achieved what many thought impossible — passing the CA final at the age of 71. Photos of him holding his result sheet, beaming with pride, soon went viral on social media with the caption: “71-year-old uncle becomes a CA.”
Agarwal credits his success to the support of his family. His granddaughter Ankika, also preparing for the CA exams, shared study sessions with him. “We prepared together for the intermediate. Studying with him felt like learning with a friend,” TNIE quoted her as saying.
For Agarwal, this milestone is more than personal triumph — it’s a message of hope. “Most people believe life ends at retirement, especially after losing a partner. But I want to tell them that it’s never too late. You can still dream, learn and grow,” he shared.
As for what’s next, he’s leaving the door open. “If the younger ones in my family say, ‘Dada, try this,’ I will,” he said.
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West Bengal exit polls: People’s Pulse projects TMC lead, others predict BJP surge
Kolkata: Exit polls for the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 have shown different projections, with some surveys indicating a lead for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), while others suggest an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to People’s Pulse, the TMC+ alliance is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
The BJP is estimated to secure between 95 and 110 seats, while the Left Front+ is predicted to win up to one seat. The Congress (INC) is likely to get between one and three seats, and others are projected to win between one and two seats.
Matrize projections indicate a different trend, with the BJP projected to win between 146 and 161 seats, crossing the majority mark of 148, with a vote share of 42.5 per cent. The TMC is estimated to win between 125 and 140 seats with a vote share of 40.8 per cent.
P-MARQ has also projected a BJP lead, estimating the party to win between 150 and 175 seats, while the TMC+ alliance is expected to secure between 118 and 138 seats. The same survey projects Congress to win between 2 and 6 seats.
Poll Diary estimates suggest the BJP may win between 142 and 171 seats, while the TMC could secure between 99 and 127 seats. Other parties are projected to win between 5 and 9 seats.
Chanakya Strategies has projected the BJP to win between 150 and 160 seats, while the TMC is estimated to get between 130 and 140 seats. Others are expected to secure between 6 and 10 seats, while Congress and Left are projected at zero.
ABP projections estimate the BJP to win between 146 and 161 seats, while the TMC is expected to secure between 125 and 140 seats. Others are projected to win between 6 and 10 seats.
Polls in the state were held in two phases on April 23 and 29, and the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
