The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) plans to establish an advanced forensic auditing lab in Hyderabad, aimed at supporting small and medium chartered accountant firms that lack forensic audit capabilities. ICAI President Prasanna Kumar D announced that this lab will be a pay-and-use facility, providing specific tools for forensic auditing assignments. Set to launch within the next 2-3 months at the Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, the initiative reflects ICAI's commitment to enhance the professional capabilities of its over five lakh members. Additionally, ICAI is adapting its curriculum to include artificial intelligence and data analytics, responding to the rapid technological advancements in the accounting profession. This move is part of a broader strategy to foster the growth of large domestic accounting firms that can compete on a global scale, following the introduction of global networking guidelines in February. The establishment of the lab and curriculum updates are expected to significantly benefit the thousands of students enrolled in ICAI's chartered accountant program.