Bar Council of India (practicing lawyers)
AIBE 2026
Important Dates
Eligibility
LLB graduates (3-year or 5-year) from BCI-recognised colleges; final-year LLB students (last semester, no backlogs) also eligible
Syllabus
Constitutional Law, IPC, CrPC, CPC, Indian Evidence Act, Law of Contract, Law of Torts, Family Law I & II, Public Interest Litigation, Professional Ethics, Company Law, Labour Law, Arbitration & ADR, Environmental Law, Cyber Laws, IP Law, Human Rights & International Law, Administrative Law, Law of Crimes (Special Acts)
Official Links
What AIBE Is
AIBE — All India Bar Examination — is the test you must pass to legally practice law in India. Once you have your LLB degree, you cannot appear in court as an advocate until you clear AIBE and receive your Certificate of Practice (CoP) from the Bar Council of India (BCI).
It's not a competitive exam in the usual sense — there's no merit list, no ranking, no seats. It's a pass/fail qualification test. Pass it, get your CoP. That's it.
The current edition is AIBE XXI (21st edition). The exam was scheduled for June 7, 2026, with admit cards released on 22 May 2026.
Who Can Appear
- Any LLB graduate (3-year or 5-year integrated) from a BCI-recognised college
- Final-year LLB students (last semester, no active backlogs) can also appear
- Candidates who have already enrolled with a State Bar Council
- Candidates who enrolled but later surrendered their enrolment can re-appear
- AIBE XX candidates who did not pass (repeat candidates) — separate registration link
You cannot appear if you still have backlogs in previous semesters.
Key Dates (AIBE XXI)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration (Fresh Candidates) | February 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | April 30 – May 3, 2026 |
| Admit Card Released | May 22, 2026 |
| Exam Date | June 7, 2026 |
| Result | To be announced |
Application and enrolment certificate upload deadlines are managed on the official portal: allindiabarexamination.com
Exam Structure
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline (pen and paper) |
| Duration | 3.5 hours (210 minutes) |
| Questions | 100 (MCQ) |
| Marks | 100 (1 mark each) |
| Negative marking | None |
| Type | Open book |
Open book means you can bring your bare acts and legal books into the exam hall. You cannot bring annotated guides or books with notes written in them — only clean, un-annotated printed copies of statutes.
Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum to Pass |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | 45% (45 out of 100) |
| SC / ST / PwD | 40% (40 out of 100) |
Syllabus — 20 Subjects
AIBE tests your understanding across the core subjects of law practice. All 20 are tested:
| # | Subject |
|---|---|
| 1 | Constitutional Law |
| 2 | Indian Penal Code (IPC) |
| 3 | Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) |
| 4 | Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) |
| 5 | Indian Evidence Act |
| 6 | Law of Contract |
| 7 | Law of Torts including MV Accidents & Consumer Protection |
| 8 | Family Law I (Hindu Law) |
| 9 | Family Law II (Muslim Law) |
| 10 | Public Interest Litigation |
| 11 | Professional Ethics & Advocacy Skills |
| 12 | Company Law |
| 13 | Labour Law |
| 14 | Arbitration, Conciliation & ADR |
| 15 | Environmental Law |
| 16 | Cyber Laws |
| 17 | Intellectual Property Law |
| 18 | Human Rights & International Law |
| 19 | Administrative Law |
| 20 | Law of Crimes (Special Acts) |
How to Prepare
The open-book format changes how you prepare. You don't need to memorise section numbers — you need to know where to find them fast. Here's what actually helps:
Index your bare acts. Colour-code your statutes or add sticky tabs for major sections — e.g., Section 302 IPC (murder), Section 420 (cheating), Section 138 NI Act (dishonoured cheque). During the exam, you're racing against 3.5 hours for 100 questions.
Focus on frequently tested subjects. Constitutional Law, IPC, CPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act together account for roughly 35–45 questions depending on the year. Don't spread yourself too thin across all 20 subjects equally.
AIBE XX (previous year) paper. Solving previous AIBE papers is the most effective prep. The BCI releases answer keys on the official portal after each exam. Identify which subjects had the most questions and calibrate accordingly.
Professional Ethics is easy marks. Most candidates underestimate the Professional Ethics paper — it's straightforward if you've read the Bar Council of India Rules on Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette.
After Passing AIBE
Once the result is declared and you pass:
- BCI issues your Certificate of Practice (CoP)
- You upload your Enrolment Certificate from your State Bar Council (if not already submitted)
- CoP activates your right to practice as an advocate before any court in India
If you fail, you can re-appear in the next AIBE without any restriction. There's no cap on attempts.
Common Questions
I passed my LLB in 2023 but never appeared for AIBE — can I still appear now? Yes. There is no time limit on when you must appear after your LLB. You can appear in any upcoming AIBE.
Can I use annotated books or guides in the exam? No. Only clean, un-annotated bare acts and statutes. Handwritten notes in books are not allowed.
I'm enrolled with a State Bar Council but haven't cleared AIBE — can I appear in court? Technically no — you need a valid CoP. However, BCI has allowed enrolled advocates to continue until AIBE is cleared, subject to ongoing policy.
Is AIBE conducted once or twice a year? Typically once a year, though BCI has occasionally held special editions for repeat candidates.
Official Links
| AIBE Portal | allindiabarexamination.com |
| Admit Card / Result | allindiabarexamination.com |