The Bar Council of India (BCI) has confirmed new regulations regarding the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The qualifying test for new lawyers will now be conducted twice a year. Additionally, final year law students are eligible to appear for the AIBE, subject to successfully completing their final semester examinations.
Key Policy Changes
This decision, announced by the BCI on Tuesday, alters the pathway to becoming a practicing lawyer in India. Previously, only law graduates who had already received their degrees could sit for the AIBE. The examination is mandatory for all law graduates who wish to enroll with a state bar council and practice law.
A Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, formally recorded the BCI’s submission. The court subsequently disposed of a writ petition filed in 2024. This petition specifically sought directives to permit final semester law students to appear for the AIBE.
A counsel representing the BCI presented the new framework to the Supreme Court. The counsel stated, "The AIBE will be conducted twice a year and the last semester students of LLB will be allowed to sit for the exam subject to their clearing of the final exam." The BCI has framed the BCI Rules 2026 to legally implement these changes.
Background: Supreme Court Directives
These new rules follow a series of interventions and directives from the Supreme Court. In 2023, the apex court had instructed the BCI to formulate rules that would allow final year law students to take the AIBE. The court aimed to prevent delays in students’ professional careers.
Prior to the formal rule changes, the Supreme Court had issued interim orders in 2024, enabling final year students to appear for that year’s AIBE. On September 20, 2024 , the top court provided specific relief. It directed the BCI to permit final year students to take the AIBE for the academic year 2024, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
The Supreme Court had previously highlighted that final year LLB students should not be placed in a disadvantageous position. The court noted that denying them the opportunity to take the bar exam would result in the loss of an entire year for their career progression. Furthermore, on February 10, 2023 , the Supreme Court upheld the BCI’s constitutional power to conduct the AIBE. During this ruling, the court also accepted a recommendation from an amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," advocating for final semester law students to be allowed to sit for the AIBE upon presenting appropriate proof of eligibility.
Student Advocacy and Future Impact
The writ petition that led to this week’s ruling was initiated by nine LLB students, including Nilay Rai from Delhi University. These students were represented by advocates A Velan and Navpreet Kaur. Their petition directly challenged an earlier BCI notification that prohibited final year LLB students from appearing for the AIBE.
The students argued that such restrictions caused undue delays, leading to a loss of valuable time in their pursuit of legal careers. The BCI’s new policy directly addresses these concerns. It provides a more efficient and timely path for law graduates to enter the legal profession, allowing them to begin practice soon after completing their academic qualifications.
This development is expected to positively impact thousands of law students nationwide, offering clarity and a faster transition from academia to professional practice.