AIBE Books 2026: Reference Guides, Bare Acts for AIBE (21) Exam Preparation, Solved Papers

All India Bar Examination 2025 ( AIBE )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 11 Feb '26 - 30 Apr '26

Anupama Mehra
Updated on Jan 15, 2026 12:44 IST

By Anupama Mehra, Assistant Manager – Content

The Bar Council of India (BCI) is all set to conduct the All India Bar Examination (AIBE 21) on June 7, 2026. Candidates who are looking forward to appearing in the bar exam must select the best books for AIBE 21 Exam 2026 to ace it. The All India bar examination is no longer an open-book examination. Candidates must ensure that they choose the best books for AIBE 21 Preparation. AIBE 21 (XXI) Exam 2026 is conducted to issue Certification of Practice to lawyers. 

Candidates must ensure that they include the AIBE Exam Bare Act Books 2026 in their preparation. Candidates will be allowed to carry only the bare acts to the exam hall. Good books for AIBE Examination help in knowing the landmark judgments, practicing past year question papers, covering all important topics etc.  But getting best books for AIBE examination can become a challenging as the syllabus is vast. Therefore, Shiksha has brought here the list of AIBE 2026 best books and reference material for better AIBE preparation. 

Also Read: 

 

Table of contents
  • AIBE 21 Exam Pattern 2026
  • AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026
  • AIBE 2026 Bare Acts
  • AIBE 21 (XXI) 2026 Best Books
  • How to Prepare for AIBE 2025?
  • Previous Years' AIBE Qualifier Tips
  • AIBE 21 Exam 2026 Frequently Asked Questions
View More
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AIBE 21 Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates should avoid referring to sub-standard study material for the bar examination. Before shortlisting the books for the AIBE Exam, candidates must understand AIBE 21 Exam Pattern 2026. Check out the pattern of AIBE 21 here

AIBE Exam Features

Details

Purpose of the exam

AIBE qualification is considered as a minimum benchmark for the practice of law.

Difficulty level

MODERATE.

  • The exam tests the basic skills required to become a lawyer. 
  • The topics included in the AIBE syllabus are similar to ones taught at 3-year and 5-year LLB programs.  

Skills tested

  • Analytical ability
  • Understanding and basic knowledge of the law.

Exam mode

Offline, pen-and-paper exam

Exam type

Certification exam

  • Candidates who qualify in the exam are issued the Certificate of Practice (COP).
  • The COP is mandatory for practicing in a court of law.

Exam duration

3 hours (20 minutes extra provided to candidates with more than 50% disability)

Subjects

19 law subjects

Total questions

100 questions

Type of questions

MCQs

Marking Scheme

One mark per question

No negative marking in case of wrong attempts

Language options

The candidate can choose from any of the following language options:

  1. English
  2. Assamese,
  3. Bengali,
  4. Gujarati,
  5. Hindi,
  6. Kannada, 
  7. Kashmiri 
  8. Konkani,
  9. Malayalam,
  10. Manipuri,
  11. Marathi,
  12. Nepali
  13. Oriya,
  14. Punjabi,
  15. Sanskrit,
  16. Sindhi,
  17. Tamil,
  18. Telugu,
  19. Urdu
  20. Bodo,
  21. Santhali,
  22. Maithili
  23. Dogri

How to choose AIBE 2025 best reference book?

To identify the best reference material, candidates should check: 

  1. AIBE Reference material is free of grammatical errors 
  2. Legal concepts are explained clearly 
  3. All illustrations, examples, and other such representations are accurate 
  4. The reference book for AIBE is reviewed by law experts
  5. It has contained case-laws for a better understanding
  6. It is based on AIBE syllabus only

Also Read: Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan Case

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When will AIBE notification release?
A: 

The AIBE Notification is the notice released by the BCI to make an announcement about all the important events. It has details about date, application process, syllabus and other important information. Aspirants must check the notification properly to avoid any miss later. The AIBE 21 Notification has been released. AIBE 21 Exam will be held on June 7, 2026.

Q:   Who conducts AIBE 21 exam?
A: 

AIBE is a national-level exam. It is conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI) in offline mode. It is held for law graduates who wants to practice law in the country. 

View list of Books
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AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026

The AIBE 21 question paper 2026 will contain total 100 objective-type questions of 100 marks. Questions in the exam will be asked from total 19 subjects/topics as mentioned below:

AIBE Subjects/Syllabus

No. of Questions

Constitutional Law

10

Indian Penal Code (IPC)

8

Criminal Procedure Code

10

Code of Civil Procedure

10

Evidence Act

8

Alternate Dispute Redressal Including Arbitration Act

4

Family Law

8

Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

4

Administrative Law

3

Professional Ethics and Cases of Professional Misconduct under BCI Rules

4

Company Law

2

Environmental Law

2

Cyber Law

2

Labour and Industrial Laws

4

Law of Tort, including Motor Vehicles Act and Consumer Protection Law

5

Law of Contract, Specific Relief, Property Laws, Negotiable Instrument Act

8

Law Related to Taxation 

4

Land Acquisition Act

2

Intellectual Property Laws

2

Total

100

 

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Who can apply for Certificate of Practice by BCI?
A: 

The candidates whose names appears on the Roll of Advocates maintained by a State Bar Council can apply for the CoP. These candidates must be enrolled advocates who have passed the All India Bar Examination.

Q:   When will AIBE notification release?
A: 

The AIBE Notification is the notice released by the BCI to make an announcement about all the important events. It has details about date, application process, syllabus and other important information. Aspirants must check the notification properly to avoid any miss later. The AIBE 21 Notification has been released. AIBE 21 Exam will be held on June 7, 2026.

View Syllabus
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AIBE 2026 Bare Acts

Candidates appearing for the bar examination must prepare with Bare Acts without comments. The Bare Acts to be used while preparing for AIBE are:

  1. Indian Penal Code, 1860
  2. Indian Contract Act, 1872
  3. Indian Evidence Act, 1872
  4. The Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881
  5. The Transfer of Property Act, 1882
  6. The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
  7. The Constitution of India, 1950
  8. The Advocates Act, 1961
  9. The Companies Act, 1963
  10. Specific Relief Act, 1963
  11. The Limitation Act, 1963
  12. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
  13. The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988
  14. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
  15. The Information Technology Act, 2000
  16. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013
  17. The Consumer Proctection Act, 2019
  18. Environment Laws
  19. Family Laws
  20. Intellectual Property Laws
  21. Labour Laws and Industrial Laws
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Where can I check AIBE Syllabus?
A: 

You can check the AIBE syllabus on the official Bar Council of India (BCI) website, allindiabarexamination.com, where they release the PDF, or on educational portals like Shiksha that provide direct download links and subject-wise weightage for subjects like Constitutional Law, IPC, CPC, and Evidence Act. 

Q:   What is AIBE exam syllabus?
A: 

AIBE 20 exam question paper had questions from 19 subjects. Each of the topics carried a different weightage. There was questions from Company Law, Constitutional Law and more.

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AIBE 21 (XXI) 2026 Best Books

Candidates must note that while knowing the books to refer is must it is also crucial to know the author too. Given below are suggestions for AIBE Preparatory Materials and AIBE 21 Preparation Books

AIBE Books

Author/Publication

Civil Practice and Procedure Manual

Sarkar’s 

Criminal Manual

Universal’s

Other Bare Acts 

Universal Law Publishing Co Pvt Ltd.

Constitution of India

Durga DasBasu

Company Law and Practice

AK Majumdar/Dr GK Kapoor

Civil Procedure with Limitation Act

CK Takwani

Guide to All India Bar Examination

Universal’s

Sure Success AIBE & JCJ

DV Rao

All India Bar Examination Guide

Shambhu Prasad Choudhary

The Constitution of India Bare Act with short notes

Universal’s

Public International Law

VK Ahuja

Human Rights

HO Agarwal

Law Exam Times

PK Pandey

Central Law Agency All India Bar Examination (AIBE) Guide

SM Ranjan and PK Jain

AIBE Solved papers (2011-2021)

Lovedeep Bangia

AIBE – Previous years solved papers

Thakral Law Publications

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is AIBE exam pattern revised?
A: 

No, the exam pattern of AIBE did not face changes this year. The exam will be held for 3 hours duration. Candidates will be asked 100 MCQ based questions. 

Q:   How to download AIBE past year papers?
A: 

Aspirants can download the AIBE question papers of past years online. The sample papers are available on Shiksha website. You can also access it through the BCI website.

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How to Prepare for AIBE 2025?

Candidates must note that preparing for AIBE Exam is not easy. But still it can be cleared with correct approach and strategy. Check out some of the tips below

  • Create a study plan - Once you have a plan, follow it without fail. 
  • Consult the updated syllabus and pattern - Exam officials from time to time update the exam syllabus, so you need to follow only the current syllabus; ditto for the exam pattern.
  • Take notes during the study - This habit will make you more attentive apart from helping you jot down all the key and difficult points that you can quickly revise.
  • Mind the weightage carried by various topics - If you look at the AIBE syllabus, you will see that the weightage is not the same for all the topics. Some topics carry as much as 10 per cent weightage, while others only carry 2 per cent weightage. This means you can't spend disproportionate time preparing for a topic that carries just 2 per cent weightage.
  • Complete the easy portion first - You may find some topics difficult and time-consuming. If such topics are not essential to understanding the subsequent topic, you may skip the chapter for now and come back to it once you are done with the easier topics. 
  • Develop your reasoning and analytical abilities - These abilities will not only help you crack the AIBE 20 exam but also serve you well in your career as a lawyer.  
  • What else: Apart from studying the recommended books, keep a track of all the recent law cases and judgments

You may also go through exam preparation tips by AIBE qualified candidates. These tips will give you insights into how these candidates approached their preparation, the strategies they adopted and other such nuggets that you may like to incorporate in your preparation.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I appear for AIBE Exam if I have not completed the syllabus?
A: 

Yes you can appear for the All India Bar Examination even if you have not fully completed your syllabus. But only if you are a final year student with no backlogs. You can also appear if you have passed but are waiting your degree.

Q:   What are the best books to prepare for AIBE Exam?
A: 

For the AIBE exam, the best books are bare acts (without comments) for core subjects like the new BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, and others, alongside comprehensive guides like Universal's or Taxmann's publications, and subject-specific texts like Durga Das Basu for the Constitution or C.K. Takwani for CPC, focusing on recent editions with the latest legal changes. 

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Previous Years' AIBE Qualifier Tips

One of the best ways to prepare for AIBE is also by going through the preparation strategy of previous years' qualifiers. Click on the links below to know how AIBE exam qualifiers of previous year prepared for the law exam:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to choose AIBE 2025 best reference book?
A: 

To identify the best reference material, candidates should check: 

AIBE Reference material is free of grammatical errors 
Legal concepts are explained clearly 
All illustrations, examples, and other such representations are accurate 
The reference book for AIBE is reviewed by law experts
It has contained case-laws for a better understanding
It is based on AIBE 20 syllabus only

Q:   How to download AIBE past year papers?
A: 

Aspirants can download the AIBE question papers of past years online. The sample papers are available on Shiksha website. You can also access it through the BCI website.

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AIBE 21 Exam 2026 Frequently Asked Questions

Candidates can check Frequently Asked Question on AIBE Exam below:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the details required for AIBE registration form?
A: 

Following details will be required to be filled in the AIBE application form-

  • Personal details.
  • Academic qualification details.
  • State Bar Council Enrollment details.
  • Preferred test cities for taking AIBE exam.
  • Preferred test medium from 22 languages. 
Q:   What is the AIBE application fee?
A: 

Candidates muct check the AIBE Application Fee before applying for the exam. The AIBE 21 registration fee is as under-

Category

Application Fee (in INR)

General/OBC

INR 3,500 (plus transaction charges)

Gen-PWD/ OBC-PWD

INR 3,500 (plus transaction charges)

SC/ST/

INR 2,500 (plus transaction charges)

SC-PWD/ST-PWD categories

INR 2,500 (plus transaction charges)

EWS/ Women

INR 3,500 (plus transaction charges)

Q:   Can I fill AIBE Application Form 2026 offline?
A: 

No, there is no such way to fill the AIBE Application Form offline. Candidates will have to visit allindiabarexamination.com to complete filling the application form. 

Q:   Who can apply for Certificate of Practice by BCI?
A: 

The candidates whose names appears on the Roll of Advocates maintained by a State Bar Council can apply for the CoP. These candidates must be enrolled advocates who have passed the All India Bar Examination.

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AIBE Exam

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 4 days ago

An incomplete AIBE application will cause disqualification from appearing in the exam. If you have not filled the form completely, your form will not be considered complete. 

M

Mohit Dhawan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 days ago

No, there is no negative marking in the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).  For each correct answer, one marks will be given. But for wrong or unattempted question no marks will be deducted.

P

Priya Peter

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 days ago

The AIBE Exam is no longer conducted in open-book format. Candidates will be allowed to carry only bare acts without notes. 

B

Bhumika Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 days ago

Candidates can register for AIBE 21 Exam 2026 until April 30, 2026. Candidates must note that the application process can be completed by visiting allindiabarexamination.com.

D

Divya Surbhi

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 4 days ago

Yes, final-year and final-semester LLB students can apply for AIBE 21. Eligible students must have no backlogs and be in their final year of a 3-year or 5-year LLB course from a BCI-recognized university. 

M

Manisha Gard

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

To identify the best reference material, candidates should check: 

AIBE Reference material is free of grammatical errors 
Legal concepts are explained clearly 
All illustrations, examples, and other such representations are accurate 
The reference book for AIBE is reviewed by law experts
It has contained

...Read more

M

Mukul Singh

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

For the AIBE exam, the best books are bare acts (without comments) for core subjects like the new BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, and others, alongside comprehensive guides like Universal's or Taxmann's publications, and subject-specific texts like Durga Das Basu for the Constitution or C.K. Takwani for CPC, f

...Read more

78547772
Anupama Mehra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

No candidates can actually prepare for AIBE Exam along with their class 12th exam. They just need to take out time to prepare for the entrance exam. 

A

Akanksha

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

If you have topped while pursuing law there is still some chance. But if you were an average student who have not prepared even once for the exam, it is next to impossible to prepare for the exam in one month. 

N

Nitesh Srivastava

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

The AIBE 21 Exam will be held in pen-and-paper mode. No notification mentioning that it will be held in online mode has been released by the council yet.

C

Chanchal Patra

Contributor-Level 7

1 Institutes accepting AIBE

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