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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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
