AIBE 2026 Safe Score for SC and ST: Minimum 40 Marks to Pass

The AIBE 2026 safe score for SC and ST category students is 40 out of 100 marks — the minimum passing threshold set by the Bar Council of India for reserved categories.

The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is a mandatory qualifying test conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI) for law graduates who wish to practice as advocates in Indian courts. While General and OBC students must score at least 45 marks, SC and ST students need only 40 marks to clear AIBE 2026 and receive the Certificate of Practice. Since AIBE is an open-book exam with no negative marking, reaching 40 marks is achievable with focused preparation on high-weightage subjects and fast navigation of your bare acts.

• AIBE 2026 total marks: 100 (100 MCQs, 1 mark each, no negative marking)
• Minimum passing marks for SC and ST students: 40 out of 100 (40% of total marks)
• Minimum passing marks for General and OBC students: 45 out of 100 (45% of total marks)
• AIBE is an open-book exam — you can carry bare acts and codified statutes into the exam hall
• No attempt limit — students who do not clear can reappear in the next AIBE session without any restriction

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AIBE 2026 Minimum Passing Marks by Category

BCI has set category-wise minimum marks for AIBE. Students who meet or exceed their category threshold receive the Certificate of Practice, which is required to appear in courts as a practicing advocate. The table below shows the passing cutoff for every category:

As an SC or ST student, scoring 40 out of 100 marks in AIBE 2026 qualifies you for the Certificate of Practice. There is no attempt limit — if you do not clear this session, you can register and appear again in the next AIBE without any restrictions or additional eligibility conditions.

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Safe Score vs Minimum Score for SC and ST in AIBE 2026

While 40 marks is the qualifying minimum, a safe score is one that gives you a meaningful buffer above the cutoff. In AIBE, where no negative marking applies, targeting 5 to 10 extra marks above the minimum is a practical and realistic goal. Here is how different score bands look for SC and ST students in AIBE 2026:

Targeting 45 to 55 marks is the recommended safe score range for SC and ST students in AIBE 2026. This range crosses both the SC/ST threshold of 40 and the General/OBC bar of 45, giving you a real cushion against borderline marking. Since AIBE has no negative marking, attempt every single question — even an educated guess on an uncertain answer can add several marks to your total and push you well into the safe zone.

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Subject-wise Marks Distribution in AIBE 2026

AIBE 2026 covers 20 law subjects across 100 questions, with each correct answer worth 1 mark. Knowing which subjects carry the most questions lets you build a focused, time-efficient open-book strategy. The approximate distribution for major subjects is as follows:

CPC, IPC, CrPC, and the Constitution of India together account for 40 out of 100 marks — exactly the minimum SC and ST students need to clear AIBE 2026. Build your open-book preparation around these four bare acts first. Tab and index the most frequently tested sections so you can locate answers within seconds on exam day, and then use remaining preparation time to cover the secondary subjects for additional marks.

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How to Score 40 Plus Marks in AIBE 2026 as an SC or ST Student

AIBE is an open-book exam, which means the preparation strategy is different from closed-book tests. The challenge is not just knowing the law — it is finding the right section fast under time pressure. Here are six targeted steps for SC and ST students aiming to score 40 or more marks in AIBE 2026:

• Tab and index your bare acts before exam day. Label key sections of CPC, IPC, CrPC, and the Constitution with sticky tabs by topic. You should be able to flip to any major section within 10 seconds during the exam.
• Prioritise the four high-weightage subjects first. These four subjects carry approximately 40 questions combined. Doing well in them alone gives SC and ST students enough marks to clear the minimum threshold even without strong performance in other subjects.
• Solve all available AIBE previous year question papers. BCI has published past papers and question patterns repeat across editions. Practicing them builds speed and familiarity with the type of questions asked, helping you locate answers in your bare acts faster.
• Attempt all 100 questions without exception. There is no negative marking in AIBE. A blank answer is a guaranteed zero, while even a reasonable guess carries a chance of earning 1 mark — every question attempted adds to your potential total.
• Manage your time at 1.5 to 2 minutes per question. AIBE typically runs for 3.5 hours (210 minutes). At 2 minutes per question you finish in exactly 200 minutes, leaving 10 minutes to revisit any questions you flagged as uncertain.
• Use the BCI-issued study material alongside your bare acts. The Bar Council provides subject-wise reading material. Pairing it with bare acts gives you the conceptual understanding to know why a section applies, not just where it appears in the book.

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