Last Updated: May 23, 2026
The All India Bar Examination XXI is scheduled to be conducted on June 7, 2026, by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The examination is mandatory for law graduates seeking a Certificate of Practice (CoP), which is required to practise law before courts and tribunals in India.
According to the AIBE 21 information bulletin, examination guidelines and schedule notices issued through the authorised AIBE portal for the 2026 session, the BCI has introduced revised eligibility provisions this year. Final-year and final-semester LLB candidates without pending backlogs are now eligible to appear for the examination. Candidates awaiting enrolment with their respective State Bar Councils have also been permitted to apply.
The examination session is also significant because India’s revised criminal law framework has been added to the syllabus. Candidates will be assessed on both the earlier criminal laws and the newly implemented statutes during the ongoing legal transition.
AIBE 21 Important Dates
|
Event |
Status |
Date |
|
Registration Start Date |
Closed |
February 11, 2026 |
|
Last Date to Apply |
Closed |
April 30, 2026 |
|
Fee Payment Deadline |
Closed |
May 1, 2026 |
|
Correction Window Closed |
Confirmed |
May 3, 2026 |
|
Admit Card Release |
Confirmed |
May 22, 2026 |
|
Examination Date |
Confirmed |
June 7, 2026 |
|
Result Declaration |
Expected |
Around September 2026 |
Official Verification Context: Dates and procedural details are based on the “Schedule for All India Bar Examination-XXI”, AIBE FAQ documents and examination notices issued by the BCI for the 2026 session.
Eligibility Criteria
Final-Year LLB Candidates
Final-year and final-semester LLB candidates without academic backlogs are eligible to appear for AIBE 21 under revised BCI eligibility guidelines linked to recent legal developments.
State Bar Council Enrolment
Candidates who have completed their LLB degree but are awaiting State Bar Council enrolment may also apply for the examination.
Age Limit and Attempts
There is no upper age limit for appearing in the examination. Candidates may attempt the examination multiple times until they qualify.
Exam Pattern
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Mode |
Offline (OMR-Based) |
|
Duration |
3 Hours 30 Minutes |
|
Total Questions |
100 MCQs |
|
Total Marks |
100 |
|
Negative Marking |
Not Applicable |
|
Qualifying Marks (General/OBC) |
45 Marks |
|
Qualifying Marks (SC/ST/PwD) |
40 Marks |
|
Languages Available |
English and Regional Languages |
Source Reference: Exam pattern, qualifying marks and language details are based on the official AIBE XXI examination guidelines and FAQ documents issued by the BCI.
Revised Criminal Law Syllabus
The updated syllabus includes:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
These statutes replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act under India’s revised criminal justice framework.
Application Fee
|
Category |
Fee |
|
General / OBC / EWS / Women |
INR 3,560 |
|
SC / ST / PwD |
INR 2,560 |
Fee Verification: Fee details are based on the official AIBE 21 registration portal and examination brochure issued by the BCI.
Exam Day Guidelines
|
Activity |
Timing |
|
Reporting Time |
11:30 AM |
|
Gate Closing Time |
1:15 PM |
|
Examination Timing |
1 PM to 4 PM |
Candidates may carry Bare Acts without detailed notes or commentary, as clarified in official AIBE examination guidelines. Handwritten notes, guides, photocopies and electronic devices are prohibited inside examination centres. Candidates are required to use only blue or black ballpoint pens while marking OMR sheets.
Fraud and Safety Advisory
Candidates should rely only on official BCI notifications and the authorised AIBE portal for updates regarding admit cards, examination centres and results. Applicants are advised not to share OTPs, passwords, banking details or login credentials with unknown individuals or unofficial agents.
The BCI does not request payments through personal bank accounts, calls or messaging applications for examination approval or Certificate of Practice issuance. Candidates should carefully verify website links before making payments or downloading documents.
Conclusion
With the examination scheduled for June 7, 2026, candidates are advised to review the latest instructions carefully, particularly regarding eligibility conditions, OMR guidelines and permitted materials inside the examination hall. Since examination procedures and schedules may be revised through future notifications, readers should verify all updates through official notices issued by the Bar Council of India and the authorised AIBE portal before relying on any deadline or guideline.