Difference Between AIBE and Judiciary Exams for Law Aspirants
All India Bar Examination 2026 ( AIBE )
Registration - 11 Feb '26 - 30 Apr '26
The AIBE and Judiciary Exams might both come after law school, but honestly, they are super different. Not only in what they test, but also what they lead to. AIBE is kinda like your entry ticket to the real legal world. You have to clear it before you can even start representing people in court. Read further to know about AIBE vs Judiciary Exams.
AIBE Vs Judicial Services Exam
Law in India offers multiple career paths that allow you to not only argue cases in court, but also a chance to become a legal advisor, teach, or even become a judge. Two important milestones that young law graduates come across are the AIBE (All India Bar Exam) and the Judiciary Exams. While they both test your legal knowledge, they're not at all the same thing.
Let’s start with what the AIBE Exam is. This exam is conducted for law graduates who want to practice law in court. Once you pass the AIBE, you get a “Certificate of Practice,” and that gives you the license to appear in court as an advocate.
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- What is the the difference between AIBE and Judiciary Exams?
- AIBE vs Judiciary Exam: Eligibility Criteria
- AIBE Syllabus 2025
- AIBE Exam Pattern
- Judiciary Exam Syllabus
- Judiciary Exam Pattern
- AIBE vs Judiciary Exam: Marking Scheme
- AIBE Vs Judiciary Exam: Fees
- AIBE Vs Judiciary Exam: Preparation Tips
What is the the difference between AIBE and Judiciary Exams?
| Feature |
AIBE |
Judiciary Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose |
To get license to practice in courts |
To recruit civil judges |
| Conducted by |
Bar Council of India (BCI) |
State High Courts / PSCs |
| Level |
National |
State-wise |
| Career Path |
Lawyer / Advocate |
Judge in Lower Courts |
Also Read: AIBE 20 Exam Date 2025: Upcoming All India Bar Exam 2025 Schedule, Latest Update
AIBE vs Judiciary Exam: Eligibility Criteria
Before deciding how want to pursue your career in law, it is best, to understand both exams eligibility crtieria.
| Criteria |
AIBE |
Judiciary |
|---|---|---|
| Law Degree |
Required |
Required |
| Bar Enrollment |
Mandatory |
Not earlier, but now 3 years of practice mandatory |
| Age Limit |
No limit |
21 to 35 (differs state-wise)
|
| Experience Required |
None |
Minimum 3 years of practice in courts |
Also Read: AIBE 20 (XX) 2025: परीक्षा तिथि, पंजीकरण, कार्यक्रम, परीक्षा पैटर्न और पाठ्यक्रम
AIBE Syllabus 2025
AIBE is not too tough, but knowing the AIBE Syllabus will help you to prepare well and improve your chances of clearing the AIBE Exam.
Core Subjects in AIBE Exam:
Take a look at the complete AIBE Syllabus and each topic weightage below for reference:
| AIBE Subjects/Syllabus |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| 10 marks |
|
| Cr. P. C. (Criminal Procedure Code) & (New) |
10 marks |
| Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) |
10 marks |
| I. P. C. (Indian Penal Code) & (New) |
8 marks |
| Law of Contract, Specific Relief, Property Laws, Negotiable Instrument Act |
8 marks |
| 8 marks |
|
| Evidence Act & (New) Bharatiya Sakshya |
8 marks |
| Law of Tort, including Motor Vehicles Act and Consumer Protection Law |
5 marks |
| Labour and Industrial Laws |
4 marks |
| Alternate Dispute Redressal Including Arbitration Act |
4 marks |
| Law Related to Taxation |
4 marks |
| Public Interest Litigation (PIL) |
4 marks |
| Professional Ethics and Cases of Professional Misconduct under BCI Rules |
4 marks |
| Administrative Law |
3 marks |
| Company Law |
2 marks |
| 2 marks |
|
| Cyber Law |
2 marks |
| Land Acquisition Act |
2 marks |
| Intellectual Property Laws |
2 marks |
| Total |
100 marks |
AIBE Exam Pattern
Candidates can check AIBE Exam Pattern below:
- Type of Paper: Objective (MCQs)
- of Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 3 Hours 30 Minutes
- Pass Marks: 40 per cent for Gen, 35 per cent for SC/ST
- Negative Marking: Nope
- Open Book: No! But you can carry bare acts with short notes
- Mode: Offline (pen & paper based)
- Languages: Available in 20+ languages, including Hindi & English
Also Read: AIBE 20 Syllabus: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita VS Indian Penal Code
Judiciary Exam Syllabus
This one is more serious. If you are aiming to be a judge, you will need a solid understanding of substantive law, procedural law, state laws, general knowledge, and even judgment writing.
| Subject | Topics |
| Substantive Law |
|
| Procedural Law |
|
| Other Areas |
|
Judiciary Exam Pattern
Almost every state follows this 3-stage structure, but the difficulty varies a LOT.
- Prelims (Objective):
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Questions from GK, Constitution, IPC, CPC, CrPC, etc.
- Just qualifying — scores not added in final merit
- Mains (Written/Descriptive):
- Long answers (no MCQs)
- Multiple papers like:
Civil Law Paper
Criminal Law Paper
Language Paper (Essay, Precis, Grammar)
- Judgment Writing
Marks from here are added in final merit
- Interview / Viva:
- Personality check + legal knowledge test
- 25–100 marks depending on the state
Also Read: AIBE 20 Notification 2025: Important Dates, Notification PDF, Exam Date, Registration
AIBE vs Judiciary Exam: Marking Scheme
| Feature | AIBE | Judiciary Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Question Type | Objective (MCQs) | Prelims: Objective (MCQs) Mains: Descriptive |
| Total Marks | 100 marks | Prelims: 100–450 marks (varies by state) Mains: 800–1200 marks (varies by state) Interview: 50–150 marks |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct answer No negative marking |
Prelims: +1 or +2 (varies by state) Negative marking in some states (–0.25 or –0.33) Mains & Interview: Marks vary by paper |
| Qualifying Marks | 40% for General/OBC 35% for SC/ST |
Prelims: 40–50% cutoff (varies) Mains: 40–50% minimum per paper (varies) Final merit = Mains + Interview |
AIBE Vs Judiciary Exam: Fees
Candidates must understand the AIBE Exam Fees and Judiciary Exam Fees before appearing for any of them.
| Exam |
General Category Fees (in INR) |
SC/ST Category Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| AIBE |
3,500 |
2,500 |
| Judiciary (Avg) |
500–1,200 |
100-400 |
Note: Judiciary fees depend on which state you apply in. The fee is a small part, but make sure you’re financially and mentally ready for a long prep process, especially for the judiciary.
Also Read: AIBE 20 (XX) 2025: Exam Date, Notification, Application Process, Exam Pattern & Syllabus
AIBE Vs Judiciary Exam: Preparation Tips
Candidates looking forward to appearing in the AIBE or Judiciary Exam are advised to check the preparation tips below:
AIBE Preparation Tips:
- Focus on bare acts, especially the Constitution, IPC, CPC, etc.
- Don’t ignore legal ethics and advocate conduct rules.
- Practice past years’ MCQs.
- Learn how to navigate your books quickly — it’s open book, not open brain!
Judiciary Exam Preparation Tips:
- Build strong conceptual clarity in procedural and substantive laws.
- Regularly write answers and judgments for practice.
- Remain updated with current affairs and legal developments.
- Use state-specific preparation material if applying for a particular High Court.
AIBE is something you can prep in 1-2 months. Judiciary needs commitment, maybe 1-2 years depending on your background.
Also Read: Landmark Judgements & Important Cases for AIBE 20 Preparation 2025
The AIBE and Judiciary Exams may both be post-law school exams, but they’re wildly different in goals and difficulty. AIBE is now your gateway to legal practice. You must pass it before starting in court. And if your goal is to become a judge, you now have to practice law for three years first, as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2025.
This means that every judge will now be someone who’s seen the courtroom from the advocate’s side a move that many believe will improve the overall quality of justice delivery in India. So if you’re stepping into law, start with AIBE. And if you're aiming for the bench, be ready for the long game.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
The AIBE 21 result will be released online on the AIBE website. The candidates can access their results using the AIBE Login credentials created during the registration.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
The AIBE Admit Card 2026 will be released on May 22, 2026. Candidates must note that the AIBE Hall Ticket will not be released in offline mode.
P
Contributor-Level 8
Answered Yesterday
No, there is no provision to fill the AIBE Application Form in offline mode. Candidates will have to visit official portal; i.e. allindiabarexamination.com to complete the AIBE Registration.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
The AIBE Application Process has begun. Candidates can apply by visiting allindiabarexamination.com. Candidates must note that the AIBE Application Process is online only.
D
Contributor-Level 8
Answered Yesterday
From this year onwards, AIBE Exam will be conducted twice a year. Candidates must note that there is no age gap and also no limitation on number of attempts.
B
Contributor-Level 8
Answered Yesterday
The BCI changed the AIBE Eligibility Criteria 2026. From this year onwards, candidates in 3-year or 5-year law programmes without a back log are eligible to apply. Also, candidates who have enrolled with BCI can also apply.
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered Yesterday
Candidates can check the AIBE Eligibility Criteria below
Parameter | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
Qualifying exam | Candidates who have passed a three-year LLB or five-year LLB degree are eligible to appear for the AIBE exam. Therefore, the academic qualifying exam for AIBE candidates is
|
Minimum marks in qualifying exam | The BCI mentions no minimum marks are required for appearing in the AIBE exam. However, a candidate must secure a minimum percentage or grades in their law degree as prescribed by universities for further education. |
Age limit for AIBE exam | There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in the All India Bar Examination. |
State Bar Council Registration/Enrollment | A candidate must be registered with their State Bar Councils as an Advocate. As State Bar Council enrollment is mandatory for AIBE eligibility. Candidates not enrolled as an advocate with the SBC, will not be able to apply for AIBE XXI 2026-27 |
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
The Bar Council of India has released the AIBE Application Form. Candidates will be able to fill the application form of AIBE Exam until April 30, 2026.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered Yesterday
Check the list of items prohibited inside the AIBE test centre-
All electronic items, including mobile phones
Jewellery or any other valuable
Text books or study material
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered Yesterday
AIBE 21 Cutoff will be based on the qualifying criteria of the exam. The final cutoff will depend on the number of questions to be considered after AIBE provisional answer key objection process.
N
Contributor-Level 7
AIBE Notifications
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