Anupama
Anupama Mehra
Assistant Manager – Content
Updated on Oct 25, 2024 13:30 IST

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 will conduct AIBE 19 Exam 2024 on December 22, 2024. In this article, we have mentioned features of BCI, the latest news, the bar examination - AIBE, and other details.

Also Read: Lowest Weightage Topics for AIBE Syllabus: No. of Questions, Best Books & More

What is BCI?

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, standardizing 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. 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 150 to the BCI.

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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. 

Bar Council of India News (Latest in 2024 - 2025)

Here are the latest news and updates related to the Bar Council of India: 

Q:   What is AIBE 19 (XIX) Exam Date?

A:

AIBE 19 Exam 2024 date has been revised. The AIBE Exam 2024 will be held on December 22, 2024. Only those candidates who are enrolled with any state bar council are eligible to apply. AIBE 19 Exam will be conducted in 11 regional languages including english. The AIBE Exam 2024 will be conducted in offline, pen-and-paper mode acorss the country.

Q:   How to get previous years papers for AIBE 2024?

A:
Earlier, the exam authority provided the question paper of AIBE English language) on the official website. However, after vernacular languages have been included in the question paper, the exam authority no longer uploads the question paper on the official website of AIBE. Rather, it is available only with those who attempt the examination. Candidates who take the examination are only able to view it when raising objections on it at the time of answer keys objection process. Candidates can, however, obtain previous years papers for AIBE as available on Shiksha website - https://www.shiksha.com/law/aibe-exam-question-papers The question papers available here are official papers as collected from the past 3-4 years. You can download AIBE question papers and practice with simple registration process.

Q:   Are Bare Acts allowed in AIBE 19 (XIX) 2024?

A:

Yes, Bare Acts will be allowed in the AIBE examination. All India Bar Examination website stated that " Bare Acts without notes are allowed. In case of unavailability of Bare Acts without notes, Bare Acts with least short notes will be allowed subject to the discretion of the Examiner/Invigilator".

Candidates were not allowed to carry books, any electronic items to the exam centre. AIBE is no more an open-book exam. The exam was held in 50+ cities across the country.

Functions of the BCI

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 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

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  • 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.

Q:   Is there any dress code for AIBE exam?

A:

No, Bar Council of India has not prescribed any dress code for this examination. However, candidates are expected to wear comfortable clothing on the day of the examination. Candidates are advised to read all the guidelines mentioned on the AIBE 2024 admit card carefully so that there is no hassles at last moment at exam centre. Candidates are advised to arrange important documents to be carried at the centre in advance. AIBE 2024 Exam wil be held in pen-paper based mode.

Q:   When is the next AIBE exam in 2024?

A:

The next AIBE exam in 2024 will be AIBE 19 (XIX). The Bar Council of India (BCI) released the official notification for the exam on August 24, 2024. The AIBE 19 exam will be conducted on December 22, 2024. AIBE (All India Bar Examination) is a certification exam that assesses an advocate’s capability to practice law in India. Successful candidates are awarded a Certificate of Practice (COP), allowing them to practice law across the country. Stay updated on the AIBE exam by visiting the official Shiksha website.

Q:   What are the important subjects for AIBE 2024?

A:
AIBE question paper will carry 100 objective-type questions, however, there are some subjects with higher weightage over the others, For example Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure Code, and Civil Procedure Code will carry 10 questions each. While IPC, Indian Evidence ACT Family Law, Law of Contracts, SRA, NIA, will carry 8 marks each. Therefore, the subjects that candidates must prepare thoroughly in order to crack the AIBE exam include: Constitutional Law Criminal Procedure Code of Civil Procedure Indian Penal Code Evidence Act Family Law of Contract, SRA, NIA Law of Tort, MVA and Consumer Protection Law Read more about higher weightage topics for AIBE 18 here - https://www.shiksha.com/law/articles/aibe-syllabus-highest-weightage-topics-questions-and-more-blogId-112077.

Q:   Has BCI released list of AIBE 2024 test centres?

A:

Yes, BCI has released the list of AIBE XIX 2024 test centres. The test centres list has been released along with the official AIBE 19 Notification. Candidates have to provide choice for AIBE 2024 centre while applying for the exam. A maximum of three options can be declared for exam city choice. BCI provide the exam centre to candidate along with the admit card for AIBE 2024. Once allotted, candidates request to change the exam centre will not entertained.

Q:   When will the Certificate of Practice' be issued to AIBE passed candidates?

A:
The Certificate of Practice' is generally issued within 30 days after the AIBE result declaration. However, it is available only after two months at the state bar councils. Candidates can download a digital copy using AIBESCOPE mobile application. For obtaining physical copy of Certificate of Practice (COP), candidates have to submit an application at their respective bar council with requisite fees, Know more about COP here - https://www.shiksha.com/law/articles/aibe-cop-certificate-of-practice-blogId-103055.

Also read:

All India Bar Examination

AIBE is a national-level exam that is organised by the BCI and has been designed to fulfilling 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 become eligible to practice law in India.

Related articles:

AIBE 19 (XIX) Important Dates  AIBE 19 Exam Pattern  AIBE 19 (XIX) Preparation Tips 
AIBE 19 Question Papers - Past Years  AIBE 19 (XIX) Syllabus  Best AIBE 19 (XIX) Books

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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 out the application form. The eligibility criteria that candidates must know before applying for the AIBE exam are

  • Only Indian resident candidates are eligible
  • The aspiring candidates 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.

About the Author
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Anupama Mehra
Assistant Manager – Content

"The pen is mightier than the sword". Anupama totally believes in this and respects what she conveys through it. She is a vivid writer, who loves to write about education, lifestyle, and governance. She is a hardcor... Read Full Bio

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Answered 3 days ago

The AIBE is the quintessential 'bar' examination that all law graduates in India must clear in order to be entitled to practice before any court in the country.

It assesses entry-level understanding of the knowledge of law and legal reasoning. One has to select the medium in which he/she would like t

...more

R

Rayamkula Harish

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Hello Shyam Jogdand, answer to your question is Yes. It is mandatory for the candidates to enroll themselves in State Bar Counsil to become eligible for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).

77538269
Yash Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

According to the Times of India, the Bar Council of India (BCI) informed that out of 144014 students who appeared for the exam 69646 passed. In response to a right-to-information application filled by Shibu Babu, it was disclosed that 1487 81 students took the exam held on December 10 last year with

...more

A

Anjali Singh

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

To access your results, you must log in using your User ID and Password on the official AIBE portal, using the same details they provided in their AIBE XIX application. The scorecard will include the candidate's roll number and qualification status, indicating whether they have passed or failed.

Y

Yash Goswami

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

To make corrections in the AIBE (All India Bar Examination) form, follow these steps:

1. Access the home page of AIBE at its official website.


2. You should use your application number and the date of birth for you to log in.


3. After submitting your application you may find an option such as 'Correcti

...more

K

Kunal Lalwani

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 3 weeks ago

The applications for AIBE or All India Bar Examination has been closed for this year. The exams are scheduled to be held on December 22, 2024. The last date was November 15, 2024. The candidates were allowed to select their prefered language from 11 options. This has really helped students, they c

...more

79256716
SACHIN SINGH

Guide-Level 13

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, you are allowed to carry bilingual (diglot) bare acts without notes for the AIBE 19 exam. However, the bare acts must be unannotated and without any additional notes or highlights. Only the original, unmodified text of the bare acts is permitted. Be sure to check the official AIBE guidelines fo

...more

S

Shiv Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

To prepare online for the AIBE, follow these steps

Familiarize with the Exam Pattern: Understand the structure, including the number of questions and subjects covered. Online Mock Tests A list of test series in the textbook that lets you simulate real examination conditions, and evaluate your knowled

...more

S

Subhash Kumar Gupta

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

AIBE or the All India Bar Examination is conducted by the BCI. It's a national-level exam that certifies law graduates who want to become a lawyer and permits them to practice law in Indian Courts. It is a two-hour pen-paper exam and is conducted once a year. Students who want to appear for AIBE 202

...more

m

muskan

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, you can contact the AIBE (All India Bar Examination) conducting body, the Bar Council of India (BCI), through their official social media platforms. Look for verified accounts of the Bar Council of India on social media. You can either send a direct message or comment on their posts to ask ques

...more

17933657
Anupama Mehra

Contributor-Level 10