## Standards Framework — Hierarchy of Pronouncements

All auditing and assurance pronouncements are issued by the Auditing & Assurance Standards Board (AASB) under the authority of the Council of ICAI.

### Broad Categories

```

Pronouncements of AASB

├── Assurance Services

│ └── Governed by Framework for Assurance Engagements

│ ├── Audit & Review of Historical Financial Information

│ │ ├── Standards on Auditing (SAs) → 100–999

│ │ └── Standards on Review Engagements (SREs) → 2000–2699

│ └── Other Assurance Engagements

│ └── Standards on Assurance Engagements (SAEs) → 3000–3699

└── Related Services

└── Standards on Related Services (SRSs) → 4000–4699

```

### SQC-1 — Quality Control at Firm Level

Full name: Quality Control for Firms that perform Audits & Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance & Related Services Engagements.
Applies at the firm level — governs the firm's overall system of quality control.
Distinct from SA 220, which governs quality control within a specific audit engagement.

### CA Intermediate Syllabus Coverage

27 Standards are included in the CA Intermediate syllabus as announced by ICAI.
Several SAs are excluded (e.g., SA 260, SA 265, SA 330, SA 402, SA 450, SA 540, SA 600, SA 620, SA 720).
SA 700, 701, 705, 706 are studied under Audit Report & CARO, not this chapter.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example: A CA firm accepts three engagements simultaneously:

Statutory audit of a company → governed by SAs (100–999)
Review of quarterly financial statements → governed by SREs (2000–2699)
Compilation of financial statements (no assurance given) → governed by SRSs (4000–4699)

The firm's overall quality control system (partner assignment, ethics policies, CPD) is governed by SQC-1. The quality control procedures within the statutory audit engagement are governed by SA 220.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

Confusing SQC-1 (firm-level QC) with SA 220 (engagement-level QC for a specific audit).
Thinking SAs (100–999) cover all professional services — related services have their own SRSs (4000–4699).
Mixing up number ranges: SAs are 100–999; SREs are 2000–2699; SAEs are 3000–3699; SRSs are 4000–4699.
Assuming all 27 SAs in the Intermediate syllabus are equally examinable — some are excluded and should not be answered if the question specifies a covered SA.

Reference:

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Standards Framework — Hierarchy and Types of Standards (SQC-1 Overview)

Worked example

⚠️ Common exam mistakes