What is AIBE?
The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is a national-level certification exam conducted by the Bar Council of India for law graduates in India.
It is designed to test a lawyer’s basic understanding of legal principles and their ability to practice law in India. After passing the AIBE, candidates receive the Certificate of Practice (COP), which allows them to practice as an advocate in courts across the country.
- AIBE : All India Bar Examination
- Conducted By : Bar Council of India
- Exam : Open Book ( Carry bare acts which are without commentary)
- Passing Score : 40% (Gen) or 35% (SC/ST)
Exam Pattern & Syllabus
100 Multiple Choice Questions covering 19 law subjects
1 mark for each question (No negative marking — unanswered or random attempts will not reduce marks)
Total Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (PwD candidates receive an additional 20 minutes per hour)
Mode of Examination: Offline (OMR-based test)
Syllabus
Exam Schedule
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | January 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 11 Feb 2026 |
| Registration Closes | 30 Apr 2026 |
| Last Date To Pay Fee | 1 May 2026 |
| Last Date For Correction In Form | 3 May 2026 |
| Admit Card Available | 22 May 2026 |
| Exam Day AIBE XXI | 7 Jun 2026 |
Preparation Strategy
Collect the Latest Bare Acts
Always study from the most updated versions of the relevant laws.
Master the Core Subjects
Constitutional Law
IPC / BNS
CrPC / BNSS
Evidence Act
CPC
Professional Ethics
Practice Previous Year Papers
Solve papers from at least the last 5 years to understand the exam pattern and important topics.
Work on Speed
Improve your ability to quickly read and answer MCQs.
Make Short Notes & Revise
Prepare concise notes for quick revision before the exam.
Improve Reading Speed
Develop faster reading skills to efficiently navigate Bare Acts and questions during the exam.
How to read Bare Acts ?
Understand the Structure of the Bare Act
Pay attention to Chapters
Carefully read each Section
Focus on Keywords
Identify important legal terms that define rights, duties, and procedures.
Notice Special Words
Words like “shall,” “may,” “provided that,” and “notwithstanding” often change the meaning of a provision.
Revise Regularly
Repetition helps in remembering section numbers and key provisions.
Practice with PYQs and Mock Tests
Solve Previous Year Questions (PYQs) and mock tests to understand how provisions are asked in exams.
Analysis
AIBE PYQ Critical Analysis (Subject-wise)
| Subject | Most Repeated Topics (Cannot Miss) | Frequency Pattern | Why Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights (Art 14, 19, 21), Writs, Judicial Review, Rule of Law, Supreme Court jurisdiction (Art 131, 136, 141), DPSP vs FR, Important cases (Kesavananda, Maneka Gandhi, Selvi case) | Very High | Almost every paper has 2–4 questions from these |
| IPC | General Exceptions (child under 7), Murder vs Culpable Homicide (299 vs 300), Cruelty (498A), Extortion/Robbery, Right of Private Defence, Public servant offences | Very High | Core criminal concepts repeatedly tested |
| CrPC | Arrest without warrant (Sec 41), Confession (Sec 164), Plea Bargaining, Double Jeopardy (Sec 300), Joint trial (Sec 223) | High | Procedural basics frequently appear |
| CPC | Res Judicata (Sec 11), Res Sub Judice (Sec 10), Jurisdiction of courts, Injunction principles, Set-off, Attachment before judgment, Representative suits | High | Repeated procedural doctrines |
| Evidence Act | Relevancy of facts, Dying declaration (Sec 32), Expert opinion (Sec 45), Primary vs Secondary Evidence, Hearsay rule exceptions, Witness competency | Very High | One of the most repeated subjects |
| Contract Act | Offer & Acceptance, Consideration, Consensus ad idem, Void agreements, Contingent contracts, Bailment, Agency, Standard form contracts | Very High | Appears in every paper |
| Jurisprudence | Natural law, Utilitarianism, Jurists (Bentham, Salmond, Hart), Legal personality theories | Medium | Mostly theory-based MCQs |
| Family Law | Hindu Marriage Act (Sec 9 Restitution), Hindu Succession Amendment 2005, Muslim divorce forms (Khula/Mubarat), Adoption law | Medium | Conceptual + section based |
| Labour Law | Industrial Disputes Act (Layoff, Lockout, Sec 25C), Trade Union Act, Workman definition, ESI contributions | Medium | Statutory definitions tested |
| Company Law | Memorandum clauses, Statutory meetings, Share transferability, Winding up | Low–Medium | Usually 1 question |
| Torts | Negligence, Contributory negligence, Absolute liability (Shriram Gas Leak case) | Medium | Landmark case questions |
| Consumer Protection | Year of Act (1986), Jurisdiction of forums, Consumer definition | Low–Medium | Direct factual questions |
| Negotiable Instruments | Definition of Negotiable Instrument (Sec 13), commencement of Act | Low | Rare but easy marks |
| Transfer of Property Act | Transfer to unborn person, Onerous gift, Non-transferable property (Sec 6) | Medium | Conceptual property questions |
| Arbitration & ADR | Arbitration Act 1996 basics, Arbitration tribunal composition, Negotiation vs conciliation | Low–Medium | Usually 1 question |
| Advocates Act / Legal Ethics | BCI rules, professional misconduct, case laws (R.D. Saxena case), enrollment disqualification | Very High | Highly predictable in AIBE |
Topics That Repeat the MOST in AIBE
From trend analysis, these 20 topics appear repeatedly across many years:
| Rank | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Article 14, 19, 21 |
| 2 | Writs (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus etc.) |
| 3 | Rule of Law |
| 4 | Murder vs Culpable Homicide |
| 5 | Right of Private Defence |
| 6 | Section 498A IPC |
| 7 | Res Judicata |
| 8 | Res Sub Judice |
| 9 | Offer & Acceptance |
| 10 | Consideration |
| 11 | Void agreements |
| 12 | Primary vs Secondary Evidence |
| 13 | Dying Declaration |
| 14 | Expert Opinion |
| 15 | Bailment |
| 16 | Agency |
| 17 | Hindu Succession Amendment 2005 |
| 18 | Industrial Disputes Act definitions |
| 19 | Absolute Liability case |
| 20 | Legal Ethics duties of advocate |
Section-Based Questions Trend
AIBE strongly prefers section-number questions.
| Act | Most Asked Sections |
|---|---|
| CPC | Sec 9, 10, 11, 80 |
| IPC | 299, 300, 420, 498A |
| Evidence | 27, 32, 45 |
| CrPC | 41, 164, 167, 300 |
| Contract | Sec 2 definitions, Sec 10, Sec 23 |
| Constitution | Art 14, 19, 21, 32 |
Pattern of Questions
Typical question types in AIBE:
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Section based | “Res Sub Judice is under which section?” |
| Definition | “Consensus ad idem means?” |
| Case law | “Which case allowed passive euthanasia?” |
| Principle | “Rule of law doctrine by Dicey includes?” |
Strategic Insight for AIBE
If you prepare only 10–12 subjects properly, you can easily cover 70–75% of the exam.
Priority order:
- Constitution
- IPC
- CPC
- Evidence
- Contract
- CrPC
- Legal Ethics
- Property Law
- Specific Relief
- Labour / Company
Landmark Case Laws for AIBE
Constitutional Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) | Established the Basic Structure Doctrine; Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution. |
| Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) | Expanded Article 21; procedure affecting life and liberty must be just, fair, and reasonable. |
| A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) | Early interpretation of Article 21; fundamental rights treated as separate. |
| Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980) | Balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles is part of the basic structure. |
| I.C. Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967) | Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights. |
| Re: Berubari Union Case (1960) | Constitutional amendment required to transfer territory to another country. |
| S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) | Judicial review allowed for President’s Rule under Article 356. |
| Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) | Upheld OBC reservation and introduced the 50% reservation limit. |
| Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) | Guidelines established to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace. |
| Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) | Decriminalised homosexuality by reading down Section 377 IPC. |
| Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) | Recognised Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right. |
Administrative Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Ridge v. Baldwin (1964) | Emphasised the importance of natural justice in administrative decisions. |
| A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India (1969) | Reduced distinction between administrative and quasi-judicial functions. |
| State of Orissa v. Dr. Binapani Dei (1967) | Administrative decisions affecting rights must follow natural justice. |
| Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) | Administrative actions must be fair, reasonable, and non-arbitrary. |
| Union of India v. Tulsiram Patel (1985) | Natural justice may be excluded in exceptional circumstances. |
Contract Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. (1893) | Established unilateral offer and acceptance through conduct. |
| Balfour v. Balfour (1919) | Domestic agreements between spouses are generally not legally enforceable. |
| Hadley v. Baxendale (1854) | Established rule of remoteness of damages. |
| Mohori Bibee v. Dharmodas Ghose (1903) | Agreement with a minor is void ab initio. |
| Lalman Shukla v. Gauri Dutt (1913) | Acceptance valid only if the offeree knows about the offer. |
Criminal Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) | Guidelines issued to prevent custodial torture and illegal detention. |
| Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra (1984) | Laid down five golden principles of circumstantial evidence. |
| Regina v. Dudley & Stephens (1884) | Necessity is not a defence to murder. |
| State of Rajasthan v. Kashi Ram (2006) | Suspicion cannot replace proof beyond reasonable doubt. |
| Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980) | Introduced “rarest of rare” doctrine for death penalty. |
Family Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985) | Muslim woman entitled to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC. |
| Danial Latifi v. Union of India (2001) | Upheld Muslim Women Act but ensured fair maintenance. |
| Githa Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India (1999) | Mother can also be natural guardian of a minor. |
| Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India (1995) | Conversion to Islam cannot justify second marriage without divorce. |
Property / Transfer of Property Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| K. Balakrishnan v. K. Kamalam (2004) | Explained principles relating to benami transactions. |
| N. Srinivasa Rao v. Special Court (2006) | Clarified burden of proof in benami transactions. |
| Ram Gopal v. Nand Lal (1951) | Explained principles of transfer of property through sale. |
Evidence Act
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| State of U.P. v. Rajesh Gautam (2003) | Confession must be voluntary to be admissible. |
| Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra (1973) | Proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean absolute certainty. |
| Piara Singh v. State of Punjab (1969) | Extra-judicial confession can be valid evidence. |
Intellectual Property Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Baker v. Selden (1879) | Copyright protects expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. |
| Eastern Book Company v. D.B. Modak (2008) | Recognised copyright in edited judgments with originality. |
Company Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Salomon v. Salomon & Co. Ltd. (1897) | Established separate legal personality of a company. |
| Lee v. Lee’s Air Farming Ltd. (1961) | A shareholder can also be an employee of the company. |
Tort Law
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932) | Established the Neighbour Principle in negligence law. |
| Rylands v. Fletcher (1868) | Established the rule of Strict Liability for hazardous activities. |