The Bar Council of India (BCI): AIBE 20 Exam, Eligibility, Legal Regulations & Latest News
All India Bar Examination 2026 ( AIBE )
Registration - 11 Feb '26 - 30 Apr '26
The Bar Council of India prescribes the code of conduct for the state bar councils, advocates as well as, regulates legal education standards in India. Know all about BCI in this article below.
In India, Legal education and practice is regulated and managed by an authority known as the Bar Council of India (BCI). The BCI conducted the AIBE 20 Exam 2025. The Bar Council of India (BCI), Delhi, is a constitutional body formed under the Advocates Act, 1961. BCI regulates legal education and professional standards in India including directing the state bar councils, standardising law education and course framework at the universities and law colleges in India as well as conducting the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to grant 'Certificate of Practice' to advocates practicing law in India. In this article, we have mentioned features of BCI, the latest news, the bar examination - AIBE, and other details.
Latest Update:
- [Soon] AIBE 20 Exam Analysis 2025 Live- Check Difficulty Level, Questions Paper, Review & Cutoff
- [PDF] AIBE 20 Answer Key 2025 Live: Provisional Answer Key Download Link @allindiabarexamination.com
Also Read: Lowest Weightage Topics for AIBE Syllabus: No. of Questions, Best Books & More
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- What is BCI?
- What are the powers of Bar Council of India?
- Bar Council of India News (Latest in 2025 - 2026)
- Functions of the BCI
- Eligibility for Enrollment of Advocates to the BCI
- All India Bar Examination
- Important FAQs regarding Bar Council of India
What is BCI?
BCI also funds welfare schemes for economically weaker and physically handicapped advocates. The law graduates have to enroll with their state's bar council on payment of INR 600 and INR 1500 to the BCI.
The enrolment committee of BCI verifies the application forms of the candidates for the 'Certificate of Enrolment.' BCI comprises members chosen from the law fraternity in India.
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.
Candidates must note that as per the rules set by the BCI you need to clear AIBE Exam to practice in court. Once you pass the exam, the BCI will issue COP which is mandatory for anyone who wants to practice.
What are the powers of Bar Council of India?
Some of the important functions and powers of BCI are:
- Regulation of legal education (in consultation with universities and law colleges).
- Recognition of law degrees for enrollment.
- Framing rules on professional conduct and ethics.
- Conducting the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) for fresh graduates.
- Disciplinary jurisdiction over advocates.
Bar Council of India News (Latest in 2025 - 2026)
Here are the latest news and updates related to the Bar Council of India:
- [LIVE] AIBE 20 Notification 2025: Exam Date, Registration, and Latest News
- AIBE Exam: SC Rejects Plea Against INR 3,500 AIBE Fee Charged by BCI
- AIBE Exam: BCI To Reduce AIBE Exam Fees? Check What Supreme Court Said
- BCI Should Scrap AIBE Exam and Issue CoP Based on Graduation Marks: Shiksha Poll
- AIBE 19 Certificate of Practice: Know how to get AIBE 19 COP from Bar Council of India
Functions of the BCI
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The role of the Bar Council of India as a legal education and professional standards regulatory body is vast. As mentioned in Section 7 of the Advocates Act, 1961, the functions of BCI are:
- Establishing professional standards and propriety for advocates
- Setting up procedures to be followed by disciplinary committees for legal education and practice
- Protecting the rights, interests, and privileges of advocates
- Promoting and supporting legal reforms in India
- Dealing and disposing matters of State Bar Council (SBC)
- Promoting and setting up standards for legal education in India
- Determining universities for offering law degrees for enrolling as an advocate
- Conducting seminars on legal subjects, publishing papers and legal journals by renowned jurists of India
- Organising and providing legal assistance to below proverty line citizens
- Recognising foreign law degree equivalence for admission as an advocate in India
- Managing investments of BCI funds
- Providing for electing members to manage and administer the State Bar Councils in India
- Organising and providing legal assistance to the reserved and minority categories in India
Eligibility for Enrollment of Advocates to the BCI
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.
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 |
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.
The Advocates Act, 1961, Section 24, states the qualifications of an individual permitted to enrol in the BCI. This section stipulates that conditional on the Act’s provisions and the rules framed, an individual shall be qualified and fulfill AIBE Eligibility Criteria to be enrolled as an advocate on a State roll if he/she meets the prerequisites as below
- They should be an Indian citizen; a resident of any other nation can be permitted as an advocate on a State roll provided Indian citizens who are duly qualified, are authorized to practice law in the other nation, subject to other limitations.
- They should be a minimum of 21 years.
- They have obtained a law degree after completing three years of law courses from any university within India that is recognised for the objective and intent of the Act by the BCI. In a few cases, an advocate who has gained a degree from any University outside India, and if the degree is recognised for the objective and intent of this Act by the BCI, may be admitted.
- They must satisfy such other prerequisites as stipulated in the rules made by BCI
At present, an individual who desires to get enrolled as an advocate has to first clear the BCI exam. Subsequently, the person can enroll himself/ herself under any State Bar Council (SBC). Eligible individuals are admitted as advocates on the rolls of the SBCs. The Advocates Act empowers SBCs to formulate their own rules concerning the enrolment of advocates. The Council’s enrolment committee will examine a candidate’s application. Different SBCs have framed their own rules concerning enrolment as an advocate. Nevertheless, many of the SBCs require candidates to apply together with their law degree and mark sheets along with a judicial stamp paper and necessary fees.
The candidates have to send the application fee for enrollment with SBC and BCI through the separate Demand Drafts to each.
Those admitted as advocates by any SBC are eligible to take the AIBE that is conducted by the BCI. Passing the AIBE grant state-enrolled advocates with a Certificate of Practice (COP) that facilitates them in practising law as an advocate in any lower court and High Court within the Indian territory.
Also read:
- How to get Enrolled with State Bar Councils for AIBE exam?
- Bar Council of Delhi: Registration, Eligibility and Fees
- Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh: Registration, Eligibility, Fees
- Bar Council of Gujarat: Registration, Eligibility, Fees
All India Bar Examination
AIBE is a national-level exam that is organised by the BCI and has been designed to fulfill the objective of assessing the capability of advocates who have a strong desire to practice law in India. This examination is conducted semi-annually and tests advocates on procedural and substantive law. The AIBE will appraise skills at a fundamental level and fix a minimum benchmark for admission to practice law. After passing the examination, the candidate will be awarded the Certificate of Practice (CoP) by the BCI, and they will become eligible to practice law in India.
Related articles:
| AIBE Important Dates | AIBE Exam Pattern | AIBE Preparation Tips |
| AIBE Question Papers - Past Years | AIBE Syllabus | Best AIBE Books |
The eligibility perquisites for the AIBE are set by the BCI. If the BCI feels that an applicant is unqualified, then their application will be disqualified. Therefore, candidates must check the AIBE eligibility perquisites before filling the form. The eligibility criteria that candidates must know before applying for the AIBE exam are
- Only Indian resident candidates are eligible
- Must have completed their three-year or five-year LLB degree program from any recognized university
- Candidates must be enrolled with any SBC (under Section 24 of the Advocates Act 1961)
- He/she should have an advocate ID Card/enrollment card issued by the State Bar Council
Some of the other essential points to remember are:
- There is no age limit to appear for the exam
- There is no limit to the number of attempts
- There are no minimum marks prescribed in the qualifying exam
Important FAQs regarding Bar Council of India
Q: What is BCI?
A: BCI is a constitutional body that regulates legal education and professional standards in India.
Q: What is the fullform of BCI?
A: BCI stands for the Bar Council of India.
Q: What is BCI certificate?
A: The BCI certificate or the Certificate of Practice (CoP) is allotted to candidates when they pass the AIBE exam. Post obtaining the BCI CoP, candidates get eligible to practice legal profession in India.
Q: Is there a bar exam in India?
A: Yes, BCI conducts the All India Bar Exam (AIBE) bi-annually to award shortlisted candidates the Certificate of Practice.
Q: How can I enroll myself as an advocate?
A: To become an advocate you first need to enroll yourself in your respective state bar council. Thereafter, you need to clear the AIBE exam. After passing the Bar exam, you will be enrolled as a certified advocate.
Q: What are the passing marks for AIBE?
A: Candidates need to secure minimum 40 per cent (35 per cent for SC/ST) aggregate in order to qualify the AIBE exam.
Q: Is the Bar Council exam hard?
A: The difficuty level of the Bar Council exam, AIBE, is usually moderate. Click on AIBE exam analysis to get complete details on the difficulty level of AIBE paper.
Q: How can I apply for the Bar Council exam?
A: You can apply online for the All India Bar Examination on the official website of the exam.
Q: Why is the AIBE exam referred to as the Bar exam?
A: Bar is basically the partition that separates the seating of the judges and magistrates fro the rest of the hall. Becoming a lawyer implies 'being called to the bar'.
Q: Can one practice Law without passing the Bar exam?
A: No, candidates are not legally eligible to practice Law in India without passing the Bar exam.
Q: What happens if I fail the Bar examination?
A: In case you fail the Bar examination (AIBE exam), you need to re-appear for it till the time you crack it. It may be noted that there is no limit on the number of attempts for the exam.
She has over 10 years of experience in the education and publishing sectors. She specialises in exam coverage and content creation. At Shiksha, she writes, analyses, and presents information for students preparing f
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 20 hours ago
The AIBE 20 CoP has not been released yet. Candidates must note that Bar Council of India is likely to publish the AIBE CoP in next few weeks.
P
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 21 hours ago
AIBE Result is not released in offline mode. Candidates will have to visit allindiabarexamination.com. Candidates will have to enter their login details to check the result.
B
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 21 hours ago
To download the AIBE 21 answer key-
Visit the BCI website.
Login using your registered email address and password.
Now, click on the AIBE XXI Answer Key tab.
D
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 21 hours ago
BCI will release the AIBE provisional and final answer key online. Candidates can use their registered email address and password to access the answer key.
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 21 hours ago
No, you can not appear for AIBE Exam if you don't have a hall ticket. AIBE Exam is conducted in pen-and-paper mode. Candidates can not appear in any other mode. Candidates can print the admit card by visiting allindiabarexamination.com in case they loose their hall ticket.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 22 hours ago
The Bar Council of India conducts the All India Bar Examination. The exam is held to award the Certificate of Practice to law graduates. The BCI handles all aspects of the exam, including the syllabus, exam pattern, and registration, which is available on allindiabarexamination.com.
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 22 hours ago
The AIBE syllabus is considered moderate in difficulty, focusing on fundamental legal concepts rather than complex, specialised knowledge. However, since it is no more the open-book exam, candidates have huge syllabus to cover.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 22 hours ago
No. As per the BCI rules, candidates can not practice in the court of law until they have a certificate of practice. The CoP will be issued only to those who clear the AIBE Exam.
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 22 hours ago
While filling the AIBE Application Form, candidates will have an option to select the language they wish to appear in. The AIBE Exam will be held in 23 languages, including English. Candidates can select the language as per their choice before the application process is over.
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 22 hours ago
The AIBE exam includes 100 objective-type, multiple-choice questions on 19 subjects. The exam is split into Category-I and Category-II (allied, low-weightage) areas. Key sections include Constitutional Law, IPC/BNS, CrPC/BNSS, CPC, Evidence Act/BSA, Family Law, Professional Ethics, and Environmenta
N
Contributor-Level 8
AIBE Notifications
The BCI conducts the AIBE Exam in 11 languages. One of the language is hindi too. Hence, candidates have an option to appear for the exam in hindi too.