The Bar Council of India (BCI) has officially released the schedule for the All India Bar Examination-XX (AIBE-XX). This mandatory national-level certification exam is crucial for law graduates aspiring to practice law in India and obtain their Certificate of Practice (COP).
The BCI confirmed that the AIBE 20 examination will be conducted in offline, pen-and-paper mode on November 30, 2025.
AIBE 20 (XX) Official Schedule
| Activity | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Online Registration Begins | September 29, 2025 | official notification |
| Last Date for Online Registration | October 28, 2025 | official notification |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | October 29, 2025 | official notification |
| Last Date for Form Correction | October 31, 2025 | official notification |
| Admit Card Release (Online) | November 15, 2025 | official notification |
| Date of Examination (AIBE-XX) | November 30, 2025 | official notification |
Candidates can register for the exam by visiting the official website, allindiabarexamination.com
Key Examination Details and Eligibility
1. Eligibility and Enrollment: Law graduates holding either a 3-year LLB or 5-year integrated LLB degree from a BCI-recognized institute are eligible to apply for AIBE. Following a Supreme Court judgment, candidates who are in their final year of the LLB/BA LLB programme are also eligible to appear, provided they have no backlogs. Furthermore, candidates are no longer required to have enrollment certificates from a State Bar Council to appear for AIBE. There is no prescribed age limit for the AIBE exam.
2. Exam Format and Duration: The AIBE 20 examination will comprise 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The duration of the exam is 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes).
3. Major Change: Exam is No Longer Open-Book:It must be noted that the AIBE 20 is no longer an open-book examination. While bare acts without notes might still be permitted, candidates cannot bring detailed reference materials. There is no negative marking in the exam.
4. Passing Marks (Qualifying Cutoff): Candidates must meet the minimum qualifying marks to obtain the Certificate of Practice (COP). The prescribed qualifying percentage is fixed at:
- General and OBC Candidates: 45% (equivalent to 42 marks out of 100, as per latest revision data).
- SC/ST and Disabled Candidates: 40% (equivalent to 37 marks out of 100, as per latest revision data).
5. Integration of New Criminal Laws: A significant update for AIBE 20 is the integration of India’s new criminal laws. The syllabus is expected to include questions from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). These new laws are anticipated to account for approximately 90% of the criminal law questions in the exam.
