AIBE to Be Conducted Twice a Year; Final Year Law Students Allowed to Appear: BCI Tells SC

The Supreme Court of India has been informed that the Bar Council of India (BCI) will now conduct the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) at least twice every year.

Importantly, final semester law students will now be allowed to appear for the AIBE, provided they clear their final university examinations. This marks a significant change in the eligibility rules for aspiring advocates.

The update was shared before a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta. After recording the submission, the Court disposed of the petition, noting that the issue raised had been addressed through the newly framed AIBE Rules, 2026.

Earlier, the BCI had restricted final semester students from appearing for the AIBE until graduation. This led to a petition by nine final year law students from Delhi University, who argued that such a restriction caused unnecessary delays in starting their legal careers.

The petitioners pointed out that a Constitution Bench had earlier observed that students eligible to appear in the final semester should also be allowed to take the AIBE. They also relied on a 2023 Telangana High Court ruling that had asked the BCI to reconsider the matter.

With the new rules now in place, the BCI has addressed concerns about delay, inequality, and loss of professional time faced by law graduates. Clearing the AIBE remains mandatory for enrolment as a practising advocate in India.