The Bar Council of India (BCI) has informed the Delhi High Court that the qualifying examination for Indian candidates holding foreign law degrees will be conducted in December 2025 . This announcement came in response to a plea from a foreign university law graduate seeking to practice law in India.
The BCI also specified that the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) 21 is scheduled for June 2026 . Indian nationals with foreign law degrees must pass both this qualifying exam and the AIBE to be eligible to practice law in India.
Mandatory Exams for Foreign Graduates
As per BCI regulations, Indian nationals who hold foreign law degrees must first clear a designated qualifying examination. After successfully passing this exam, they are then required to appear for and pass the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
The petitioner in the High Court case is a law graduate from Brunel University of London. This graduate completed a “bridge course” at a law college in Goa before seeking to challenge the BCI’s dual examination requirement.
Court Expresses Concerns on Delays
During hearings, Justice Sachin Datta of the Delhi High Court questioned the BCI about the examination schedule. The court previously directed the BCI to consider scheduling the qualifying exam before the AIBE.
The court pointed out that the current schedule could cause significant delays for graduates. It specifically noted the petitioner, who concluded a bridge course months prior, would face a year’s delay in appearing for the AIBE due to the qualifying exam’s timing. The High Court urged the BCI to find a solution to prevent such delays.
Provisional Practice Allowed
The court clarified that students provisionally registered with a State Bar Council are permitted to commence legal practice. These individuals then have a period of two years to clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). This arrangement ensures they are not barred from practicing during the waiting period for the AIBE.
Petitioner’s Plea and BCI’s Stance
The petitioner’s counsel had requested permission for the graduate to appear directly for AIBE 20, which was held on November 30 , without first completing the qualifying exam. However, the BCI’s lawyer opposed this request. The BCI counsel stated that the AIBE is exclusively for candidates who are already enrolled as advocates in India.
The Delhi High Court previously questioned the BCI for its failure to conduct the qualifying examination before the AIBE. This sequencing directly impacts foreign university graduates by preventing their earlier eligibility for the AIBE.