All India Bar Examination XIX - Know Salient Features, Eligibility, Registration, Syllabus, Result & COP

Know here all about Indian Bar Exam known as AIBE including salient features, pattern, syllabus, and COP. 

The Bar Council of India (BCI) started conducting the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) from 2011 onwards, for law graduates who passed their law degree examinations in 2009-10. The professional law examination was initiated by the Legal Education Committee and the members of the BCI during meetings held in 2010.

Also Read: Important Topics for AIBE 19 (XIX) Syllabus 2024 - Weightage, Landmark Judgements and More

The first examination was held on March 06, 2011, for more than 20,000 fresh law graduates. The AIBE XIX (19) notification was released on September 3, 2024. The Council has announced the AIBE 19 Exam dates 2024. AIBE 19 Exam 2024 was held on December 22, 2024. 

Who conducts AIBE? 

Till 2021, BCI conducted the All India Bar Examination, but from the current year onwards, the exam will be conducted by a testing agency (yet to be finalised). BCI will remain the sole authority of AIBE for the preparation of results and issuing of COPs to qualified candidates. The decision to appoint a testing agency is a result of suggestions made by the Supreme Court of India, due to questions raised on the exam conducted by BCI. 

AIBE 19 (XIX) Question Paper will be prepared and printed by the testing agency only.  They will provide the question paper in 22 vernacular languages in addition to the English language. BCI will monitor the entire examination process of AIBE. 

Also Read: Bare Acts for AIBE (XIX) 19 Exam 2024: Important Bare Acts, Study Tips

Is AIBE Mandatory? 

One of the common questions in the minds of law aspirants is whether clearing the AIBE exam is essential to make a career in law. It is to be noted that the bar council conducts AIBE to assess the basic advocacy skills of law graduates, and award the candidates qualifying for the bar examination with a ‘Certificate of Practice’. Therefore, it is mandatory for all law graduates who want to practice law in India as lawyers/ advocates. However, for those who do not wish to practice as a lawyer but work in other organizations with a law degree can skip the bar examination. Moreover, if later in life, one wants to practice law in Indian courts then one need to appear and qualify the bar examination to obtain COP. This means, there is no limitation to experience or gap years in law practice after graduation. 

Also Read: Family Law for AIBE 2024: Syllabus, Important Topics, Previous years' Questions, Books, Tips

Who is eligible for AIBE? 

The exam is accessible to those candidates who have passed an LLB degree either five-year or three-years duration. Apart from this, they must be registered with a state bar council, preferably where they intend to practice law. Candidates who cannot appear for AIBE include holders of a Diploma/Certificate in law, and those who have not enrolled themselves with a state bar council. 

Also read:

• AIBE 19 (XIX) eligibility criteria 2024 

AIBE 19 (XIX) 2024 Number of Attempts

Candidates can attempt the AIBE exam an infinite number of times until cleared. The bar council has never set any limits for candidates to attempt the exam, as it is a professional exam, mandatory to clear for obtaining COP. Candidates need to register for the next AIBE as fresh candidates, in case they fail to qualify it. They cannot appear for AIBE exam based on previous registration ID. 

All about All India Bar Examination 

The key elements of AIBE exam that one must know about are given as under:

AIBE 19 (XIX) 2024 Examination Process 

The process of AIBE can be explained as under: 

1. AIBE Registration - Candidates need to register at AIBE website - allindiabarexamination.com, with their advocate enrollment ID and other details. They need to fill out the application form including academic qualifications, test centre choices, and personal details. To complete the application process, they need to pay the requisite application fee for AIBE. 
2. AIBE Admit Card - All the registered candidates of AIBE, who have completed their application form will be issued AIBE 18 (XIX) admit card 2024 to appear for the exam. The admit card of AIBE contains details about the registration details, exam date/ schedule, as well as, test center as allotted by BCI. 
3. Appearing in AIBE - Candidates have to appear for the AIBE exam at the test centre as per the exam schedule. They need to carry their admit card and a photo ID proof to take the exam. They can also carry Bare Acts without comments to attempt the exam.  
4. Publishing of AIBE Answer Keys - After the exam, the exam authority will publish the provisional answer keys for the AIBE exam, within 15 days. The candidates can check the answer key, as well as raise objections on it ( in case of discrepancies). The exam authority will verify the objections, and release a revised answer key in response. 
5. Publication of AIBE Results - BCI will prepare the results of AIBE as per the final/ revised answer key. Along with the result declaration, the exam authority will also release the status of withheld candidates (in case of any miscreants). 
6. Issuing of Certificates of Practice - The bar council will release the COPs for the qualified candidates, within a month of result declaration. 

AIBE 19 (XIX) Important Dates 2024

BCI will share the events and dates of the upcoming exam i.e. AIBE XIX (19) 2023-24 as under: 

AIBE 19 (XIX) 2024 Exam Pattern and Syllabus 

The exam pattern of AIBE has been modified a bit, and now it is as under: 

• Exam mode - Paper-Based Test and Computer-Based Test 
• Exam duration - 3 hours
• Test medium - 22 vernacular languages apart from English 
• Test subjects - 19 law subjects
• Total questions - 100 questions 
• Type of questions - Multiple-choice questions 
• Marking Scheme - One mark per question and, no negative marking in case of wrong attempts

The syllabus along with weightage is as under: 

AIBE 19 (XIX) Qualifying Criteria 2024 

Since the exam is conducted to assess the basic skills required to practice law in India, one needs to qualify for the bar examination with passing marks as under: 

AIBE 19 (XIX) Certification of Practice (COP) 

The Certificate of Practice is issued to only to those candidates who qualify for AIBE XVIII as per the qualifying marks criteria. Candidates are issued the COP within a month after AIBE result declaration. They can obtain their COP either from their enrolled state bar council or download a soft copy (PDF) from the mobile application AIBESCOPE as launched by the bar council. Candidates can take a look at the COPs release statistics for the past 10 years: 

Read More: 

• AIBE 19 Passing Marks 2024: Category-wise Qualifying marks, Factors effecting AIBE Cut-off