AIBE will now be conducted twice a year, and final-semester LLB students can appear for the exam, BCI tells Supreme Court. Check AIBE XXI 2026 exam date and schedule.
New Delhi: In a major relief for law students across the country, the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) will now be conducted twice a year, and final-semester LLB students will be eligible to appear for the exam, the Bar Council of India (BCI) informed the Supreme Court.
The development was recorded by a bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta while hearing a writ petition filed in 2024 seeking permission for final-semester law students to take the AIBE. Taking note of the BCI’s submission, the Court disposed of the plea.
BCI Frames New Rules to Implement Decision
During the hearing, counsel appearing for the BCI submitted that the decision has been formalised through the BCI Rules, 2026. As per the new framework, final-semester LLB students will be allowed to appear for the AIBE subject to clearing their final university examinations.
The BCI also confirmed that the AIBE will henceforth be conducted twice annually, addressing long-standing concerns regarding delays in professional enrolment.
Supreme Court’s Consistent Stand on Student Relief
The move follows a series of judicial interventions aimed at preventing academic and professional setbacks for law students.
In September 2024, the Supreme Court had directed the BCI to allow final-year LLB students to appear for the AIBE, observing that students should not be “left in the lurch” or made to lose an entire year due to procedural restrictions.
Earlier, on February 10, 2023, the apex court upheld the BCI’s authority to conduct the AIBE while endorsing the suggestion that final-semester students may be permitted to appear on producing proof of eligibility. The Court had also directed the BCI in 2023 to frame appropriate rules on the issue.
Background of the Legal Challenge
The plea before the Supreme Court challenged a BCI notification that barred final-year LLB students from appearing in the AIBE. The petitioners argued that clearing the AIBE is mandatory for enrolment as advocates with State Bar Councils, and the restriction would result in avoidable loss of valuable professional time.
Notably, the Court had earlier allowed several final-year students, including Nilay Rai of Delhi University, to appear in the AIBE held on November 24, 2024.
AIBE XXI (21) 2026 Schedule Released
Meanwhile, the Bar Council of India has released the AIBE XXI (21) – 2026 examination schedule along with the declaration of AIBE XX results.
Key Dates – AIBE XXI 2026
- Registration Begins: February 21, 2026
- Last Date to Apply: April 30, 2026
- Last Date for Fee Payment: May 1, 2026
- Correction Window Closes: May 3, 2026
- Admit Card Release: From May 22, 2026
- AIBE XXI Exam Date: June 7, 2026
Why This Matters
Passing the AIBE is mandatory for law graduates to enrol as advocates and practice law in India. The decision to allow final-semester students and conduct the exam twice a year is expected to streamline the transition from law school to legal practice, benefiting thousands of aspiring advocates annually.
AIBE 20 Result 2026 Declared: Scorecard Link, Pass Percentage, Cut-Off Marks & AIBE 21 Schedule
