AIBE 21 qualifying marks 2026 are 45 out of 100 for General category students and 40 out of 100 for SC, ST and differently abled students.
The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) 21, conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI), follows the same qualifying threshold that has remained consistent across all previous editions. AIBE tests law graduates on 100 multiple choice questions drawn from 20 subjects. Clearing AIBE is mandatory to receive the Certificate of Practice (CoP), which allows advocates to appear in courts across India. Since AIBE is an open-book exam, the qualifying marks reflect a baseline competency standard rather than a competitive rank-based cutoff.
- General category qualifying marks: 45 out of 100 (45%)
- SC/ST and differently abled qualifying marks: 40 out of 100 (40%)
- Total questions: 100 MCQs, 1 mark each, no negative marking
- Exam duration: 3.5 hours (open book)
- Result type: Pass or Fail — no merit list or rank is published
- Students who qualify receive the Certificate of Practice (CoP) from BCI
AIBE 21 Qualifying Marks 2026 Overview
AIBE 21 is conducted by the Bar Council of India for law graduates who wish to obtain the Certificate of Practice. Unlike competitive entrance exams, AIBE does not rank students — it only determines who passes and who does not. The qualifying marks for AIBE 21 are expected to remain the same as in all previous editions, since BCI has not announced any revision to the threshold. The exam is open book, meaning students can carry bare act books and reference material into the examination hall.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | All India Bar Examination 21 (AIBE XXI) |
| Conducting Body | Bar Council of India (BCI) |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Marks per Question | 1 mark |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Exam Type | Open book |
| Duration | 3.5 hours |
| General Category Qualifying Marks | 45 out of 100 (45%) |
| SC/ST/Differently Abled Qualifying Marks | 40 out of 100 (40%) |
| Result Type | Pass/Fail (no rank or merit list) |
| Award on Qualifying | Certificate of Practice (CoP) |
Category-wise Minimum Passing Marks for AIBE 21
The Bar Council of India prescribes category-wise qualifying marks for AIBE. General and OBC students need to score at least 45 marks out of 100 to qualify AIBE 21. SC, ST and differently abled (PwD) students need a minimum of 40 marks to clear the exam. The table below gives the complete category-wise breakdown expected for AIBE 21 in 2026.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks (out of 100) | Qualifying Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| General | 45 | 45% |
| OBC | 45 | 45% |
| SC | 40 | 40% |
| ST | 40 | 40% |
| Differently Abled (PwD) | 40 | 40% |
Since AIBE carries no negative marking, students can attempt all 100 questions without any risk of losing marks. This makes it possible to reach the qualifying threshold even when unsure of certain answers. The open-book format further reduces the difficulty of meeting these marks since students can refer to bare acts during the exam.
Previous Year AIBE Qualifying Marks Trend
The qualifying marks for AIBE have remained unchanged since the exam was introduced. BCI has consistently maintained the 45/40 threshold across all editions. Based on this unbroken trend, AIBE 21 qualifying marks are expected to remain at 45 for General and 40 for SC/ST/PwD categories in 2026.
| AIBE Edition | Year Conducted | General Qualifying Marks | SC/ST/PwD Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIBE XVII | 2022 | 45/100 | 40/100 |
| AIBE XVIII | 2023 | 45/100 | 40/100 |
| AIBE XIX | 2023-24 | 45/100 | 40/100 |
| AIBE XX | 2024-25 | 45/100 | 40/100 |
| AIBE XXI (Expected) | 2026 | 45/100 | 40/100 |
Subject-wise Marks Distribution in AIBE 21
AIBE 21 covers 20 subjects from the LLB curriculum. Each subject carries a specific number of questions and students who focus on high-weightage subjects can reach the qualifying marks more comfortably. The subject-wise distribution below is based on previous AIBE editions and is expected to apply to AIBE 21.
| Subject | Expected Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | 8 |
| Indian Penal Code | 8 |
| Code of Civil Procedure | 6 |
| Code of Criminal Procedure | 6 |
| Evidence Act | 6 |
| Family Law I | 5 |
| Family Law II | 5 |
| Contract Act | 5 |
| Torts and Consumer Protection Act | 5 |
| Transfer of Property Act and Easements | 5 |
| Intellectual Property Rights | 5 |
| Arbitration, Conciliation and ADR | 4 |
| Administrative Law | 4 |
| Company Law | 4 |
| Environmental Law | 4 |
| Labour and Industrial Law | 4 |
| Land Acquisition | 4 |
| Law of Limitation | 4 |
| Professional Ethics and Bar-Bench Relationship | 4 |
| Public International Law | 4 |
| Total | 100 |
Subjects like Constitutional Law and Indian Penal Code carry 8 questions each, making them the highest-weightage topics. Scoring well in these two subjects alone gives you 16 marks, which is more than one-third of the 45 marks needed to qualify in the General category.
Factors That Influence AIBE Qualifying Marks
While the qualifying marks threshold is set by BCI and has remained stable, a few factors are worth understanding before the exam.
- BCI Policy Decisions: The Bar Council of India sets and announces the qualifying threshold. Any revision would be officially communicated before the exam.
- Open Book Format: Because AIBE is an open-book exam, BCI has historically maintained the same cutoff regardless of paper difficulty. The threshold is not adjusted post-paper.
- No Competitive Cutoff: AIBE has no rank-based cutoff and no seat limit. Every student who scores at or above the qualifying marks receives the Certificate of Practice.
- Category Relaxation: The 5-mark relaxation for SC/ST/PwD students is a consistent policy aligned with national reservation guidelines and is not subject to change year on year.
- No Grace Marks: BCI does not award grace marks in AIBE. The qualifying threshold is applied strictly based on raw scores.
What Happens if You Do Not Qualify AIBE 21
Not qualifying AIBE 21 does not permanently bar you from legal practice. BCI allows students to reattempt the exam in subsequent editions with no restriction on the number of attempts.
- No limit on attempts: Students can appear for AIBE as many times as needed until they qualify.
- Re-registration required: You must re-register for the next AIBE edition and pay the registration fee separately.
- No practice without CoP: You cannot appear in court as an advocate without the Certificate of Practice. Qualifying AIBE is mandatory to receive the CoP.
- Marks not carried forward: Each AIBE attempt is independent. Marks from one edition do not carry over to the next.
AIBE 21 Qualifying Marks 2026 FAQs
Ques. What are the qualifying marks for AIBE 21 for General category students?
Ans. General and OBC category students need to score a minimum of 45 out of 100 marks to qualify AIBE 21. This threshold has remained unchanged across all previous editions of AIBE.
Ques. What is the minimum passing marks for SC and ST students in AIBE 21?
Ans. SC, ST and differently abled (PwD) students need a minimum of 40 out of 100 marks to qualify AIBE 21. This is a 5-mark relaxation compared to the General category threshold and has remained consistent in all AIBE editions.
Ques. Is there negative marking in AIBE 21?
Ans. No, AIBE 21 does not have negative marking. Each correct answer awards 1 mark and wrong answers carry no penalty. Students should attempt all 100 questions to maximise their score.
Ques. What is the total marks for AIBE 21?
Ans. AIBE 21 is conducted for a total of 100 marks. The exam consists of 100 MCQs each carrying 1 mark, to be completed in 3.5 hours. It is an open-book exam conducted by the Bar Council of India.
Ques. Can I reattempt AIBE if I do not qualify?
Ans. Yes, students can reattempt AIBE in the next available edition if they do not qualify. There is no limit on the number of attempts. You must re-register and pay the registration fee separately for each attempt.
Ques. Has the AIBE qualifying marks threshold ever changed?
Ans. No, the Bar Council of India has maintained the same qualifying marks — 45 for General/OBC and 40 for SC/ST/PwD — consistently across all previous AIBE editions. The same threshold is expected for AIBE 21 in 2026.
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