All India Bar Examination (AIBE): Eligibility, Paper Pattern, Subjects & Key Updates
The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is a qualifying exam conducted annually by the Bar Council of India (BCI). Clearing this exam is mandatory for law graduates to be recognized as permanent advocates, granting them the right to practice law across all courts in India.
Who is Eligible to Appear for AIBE?
- Until 2023, only those law graduates who had enrolled with a State Bar Council and obtained a provisional enrollment number were eligible to appear for the AIBE.
- However, in 2024, a major update followed the Supreme Court’s interim order in the case of Nilay Rai v. Bar Council of India. Based on this, the BCI released a new notification expanding the eligibility criteria. Now, the following categories of candidates can also appear for the AIBE:
- Final-year law students (in their final semester) without any backlogs.
- Law graduates who have not yet received their degree.
- Graduates who have not yet registered with a State Bar Council.
- Lawyers who had previously enrolled but relinquished their registration
Important:
- These candidates must submit an undertaking (as per BCI format) while filling out the application form. This undertaking is available via BCI and should be submitted as part of the registration process.
Additional Criteria:
- The candidate must have pursued their law degree from a BCI-recognized institution.
- There is no age limit for appearing in the AIBE.
AIBE Paper Pattern
- Mode of Exam: Offline (pen-paper based)
- Total Questions: 100
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Marks per Question: 1 mark
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes (210 minutes)
- Negative Marking: No negative marking.
Passing Marks:
- General & OBC : 45% out of 100
- SC/ST & PWD : 40 % out of 100
Subjects Covered in AIBE
The AIBE syllabus includes 19 law subjects.
- Constitutional Law : 10 Marks
- BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) – New CrPC : 10
- Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) : 10
- BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) – New Criminal Law : 8 Marks
- BSA (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam) – New Evidence Law: 8 Marks
- Law of Contract , Specific Relief Act, Property Laws, Negotiable Instrument Act: 8 Marks
- Family Law: 8 Marks
- Law of Torts including Motor Vehicle Act & Consumer Protection Law: 5 Marks
- Alternative Dispute Redressal including Arbitration Act: 4 Marks
- Public Interest Litigation (PIL): 4 Marks
- Professional Ethics & Cases of Professional misconduct under BCI Rules: 4 Marks
- Labour & Industrial Law: 4 Marks
- Law Related to Taxation: 4 Marks
- Administrative Law: 3 Marks
- Company Law: 2 Marks
- Environmental Law: 2 Marks
- Cyber Law: 2 Marks
- Land Acquisition Act: 2 Marks
- Intellectual Property Laws: 2 Marks
Note: While the official syllabus still includes both old and new criminal laws, the 2024 paper had questions only from the new criminal laws. So, aspirants are advised to focus more on the updated legal provisions.
Open Book Exam – What Can You Carry?
The AIBE is an open-book exam, but with restrictions:
- Only Bare Acts (without commentary or notes) are allowed inside the examination hall.
- You can carry Bare Acts for all or selected subjects, but no notes, books, or guides are permitted.
Growing Competition
Since the revised eligibility norms were introduced in 2024, the number of aspirants appearing for AIBE has significantly increased:
- In 2023, around 1.4 lakh candidates appeared.
- In 2024, this number jumped to 2.3 lakh.
This reflects the increasing competition, and hence, aspirants are advised to prepare thoroughly.
AIBE 2025: Tentative Dates & Fees
Based on analysis of previous timelines, here are the expected details for AIBE 2025:
- Notification Release September 2025 (expected)
- Exam Date December 2025 (expected)
Examination Fee:
- General/OBC ₹3,500 + GST & ID charges.
- SC/ST/PWD ₹2,500 + GST & ID charges.
Final Takeaway
The All India Bar Examination is no longer just a formality—it has become a gateway to a legal career in India. With updated eligibility norms, increasing competition, and changes in syllabus (especially new criminal laws), aspirants must stay updated and prepare smartly.
Make sure to:
- Focus on bare acts and key subjects.
- Stay alert for the official notification.
- Download the BCI undertaking format if you're a final-year student or a non-enrolled graduate.
