AIBE Exam: BCI To Reduce AIBE Exam Fees? Check What Supreme Court Said

During the hearing, BCI’s counsel submitted that following the Court’s July 30 ruling, revenue sources for the BCI have been significantly constrained, affecting its ability to discharge various responsibilities. He argued that the INR 3,500 charged for AIBE is relatively modest when compared to fees charged in other competitive exams. It was also noted that most candidates appear for AIBE within two years of joining the legal profession.

AIBE Exam: BCI To Reduce AIBE Exam Fees? Check What Supreme Court Said

The Supreme Court has asked the Bar Council of India (BCI) to consider framing a policy for fee exemptions under the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) for candidates who are financially unable to pay the existing INR 3,500 fee. A bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar was hearing a writ petition challenging the current AIBE fee structure, which was argued to be exorbitant and in violation of the Court’s earlier judgment dated July 30, 2024.

In that judgment, a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had ruled that enrolment fees charged by State Bar Councils must be capped at INR 750 for general category candidates and INR 125 for SC/ST candidates.

During the hearing, BCI’s counsel submitted that following the Court’s July 30 ruling, revenue sources for the BCI have been significantly constrained, affecting its ability to discharge various responsibilities. He argued that the INR 3,500 charged for AIBE is relatively modest when compared to fees charged in other competitive exams. It was also noted that most candidates appear for AIBE within two years of joining the legal profession.

Justice Narasimha, however, expressed concern over the impact of such fees on economically disadvantaged candidates. “The cost of legal education itself is rising NLU fees, private law school fees are already high. Many take loans, struggle, work part-time and then enter the profession. INR 3,500 might not be much in metropolitan circles, but for someone practising in a district court, it is a significant burden,” he observed.

He further added, “We respect the BCI and its obligations, but please assess the possibility of reviewing the AIBE fee structure. We don’t want to become the regulator, but this is something you must reflect on, considering the economic diversity across the profession.”

Highlighting the broader socio-economic implications, Justice Narasimha remarked that while INR 3,500 may be negligible in cities like Delhi, where such an amount “just evaporates over lunch,” the same could be prohibitive in rural or semi-urban areas. “We cannot apply a uniform standard. There are different segments within the Bar,” he said.

The bench was also apprised of the number of AIBE candidates in recent years:

• AIBE 19 (Dec 2024): 2.29 lakh candidates
• AIBE 18 (Dec 2023): 1.44 lakh candidates
• AIBE 17 (Feb 2022): 1.71 lakh candidates

In light of these figures, the Court encouraged BCI to explore the creation of a special fund or scheme to assist those who genuinely cannot afford the examination fee. “Is there any such scheme? If someone applies for exemption, can you consider it? You must have some provision like that,” Justice Narasimha said in an oral remark. The matter is likely to be taken up again after the BCI assesses the feasibility of such an exemption policy.