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The Bar Council of India (BCI) has released the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) Syllabus 2026 on the official allindiabarexamination.com website via a public announcement. The AIBE 21 Exam 2026 is an offline, open-book examination that tests the candidate’s knowledge of different laws and tests whether they are ready to practise law.
- The AIBE 21 syllabus comprises 19 subjects from the LLB curriculum.
- In addition to the Indian Penal Code, this 100-mark objective exam focuses on both old and new Criminal Laws- BNS, BNSS, BSA.
- The AIBE XXI syllabus is divided into two groups: high weightage (8- 10 marks) and medium to low weightage (2- 5 marks) areas.
- Examinees wanting to ace the AIBE 21 must conquer the Constitutional Law, BNS, BNSS, and CPC. More than 38 marks worth of questions come from these sections together.
| Download AIBE 21 Syllabus PDF (Click Here) |
In the 2025 AIBE XX Exam, out of the 2,51,968 candidates who appeared, 69.21% qualified. AIBE 20 results were declared on January 7, 2026, by the Bar Council of India. (NDTV)
Also Read:
Key Summary
- The AIBE Syllabus 2026 is designed specifically to assess what a candidate learnt during the course of his/ her Law Programme.
- Fresh applicants must register themselves at the AIBE Registration Portal by 30th April 2026.
- There will be a total 100 multiple-choice questions; each question carries one mark, and there is no negative marking for a wrong answer.
What is the AIBE 21 Syllabus?
The AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026 contains a total of 19 topics about different aspects of Law. Since 2024, three new topics have been a part of the AIBE 21 Syllabus.
- These are Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
- The syllabus includes topics like Constitutional law, Company law, Environmental law, Family law, IPC and Land Acquisition act among others.
- For the 2026 AIBE XXI Exam, the Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure Code and Code of Civil Procedure will carry the maximum weightage.
- Ten questions will be asked from each of these latter topics.
Source: All India Bar Examination
AIBE 21 Syllabus Highlights
Please read through the key information about the AIBE XXI Exam 2026 Syllabus for a concise overview of the same.
| Particulars | Remarks |
|---|---|
| Exam name | All India Bar Examination (AIBE) XXI |
| Exam conducting body | Bar Council of India |
| Number of questions | 100 |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Format of exam | Open book, multiple choice exam |
| Number of Papers | Questions from 19 core legal subjects |
| High weightage topics (marks) | Constitutional law (10), CrPC/ BNSS (10), CPC (10), IPC/ BNS (8) |
AIBE 21 Syllabus: Topic-wise weightage
The AIBE XXI Syllabus will test students' legal knowledge in 19 separate topics; these can be divided into two categories based on their importance with regard to the 2026 exam: high weightage (8-10 marks) and medium/low weightage (2-5 marks).
You can find the topic-wise weightage of the different portions assessed in the exam below:
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Indian Constitutional Law | 10 |
| Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita | 8 |
| Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita | 10 |
| Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) | 10 |
| Evidence Act and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam | 8 |
| Alternative Dispute Redressal including the Arbitration Act | 4 |
| Family Law | 8 |
| Public Interest Litigation | 4 |
| Administrative Law | 3 |
| Professional Ethics & Cases of Professional Misconduct under BCI rules | 4 |
| Company Law | 2 |
| Environment Law | 2 |
| Cyber Law | 2 |
| Labor and Industrial Law | 4 |
| Law of Tort, including the Motor Vehicle Act and the Consumer Protection Law | 5 |
| Law related to Taxation | 4 |
| Law of Contract, Specific Relief, Property Laws, Negotiable Instrument Act | 8 |
| Land Acquisition Act | 2 |
| Intellectual Property Act | 2 |
| Total | 100 |
AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026: Important Subtopics
The 19 major topics mentioned above contain many smaller subtopics. A proper understanding of the detailed syllabus is necessary to score well and pass the yourE 21 to lay your hands on the Certificate of Practice offered by the BCI.
| Topics | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Indian Constitutional Law | History and nature of the Indian Constitution, Union and its Territories, Concept of State, Fundamental Rights (Art. 14, 19, 21), Writ Jurisdictions, Supreme Court Judgements, relationship between Judiciary, Executive and Legislature, Centre-State relationship, Emergency Provisions |
| Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita | IPC 1860, Landmark cases relevant to IPC, exceptions to IPC, overview of BNS, Crime and its Elements, Offences against the Human Body, Abetment of suicide, theft or extortion, Property offences, Defamation, Marriage Crimes, Culpable Homicide and murder, and Crimes against the State |
| Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita | Classes of Criminal Courts, Court of Judicial Magistrate, Special Judicial Magistrate, Court of Session, Sentences of Imprisonment, Trials, Bail Investigation |
| Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) | Initiation of Civil Proceedings, res subjudice and res judicata, Hearing and Attendance of Parties, Pleadings, Executions, Framing of Issues, Interim Relief, Rulings made by High Courts |
| Evidence Act and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam | Relevance of Facts, Admissibility, Confession, Oral and Documentary Evidence, Burden of Proof, Digital Evidence, Privileged Communication, Examination of Witnesses |
| Alternative Dispute Redressal including the Arbitration Act | Alternate Dispute Resolution Methods, Creating Tribunals and Appointment of Arbitrators, Arbitration, Conciliation, Mediation, and Negotiation |
| Family Law | Hindu Marriage Act, Succession Act, Muslim Personal Law reforms, law related to Hindu minorities and Guardianship |
| Public Interest Litigation (PIL) | PIL in India, PIL Act, role of the Judiciary, Procedural law in Public Interest Litigation |
| Administrative Law | Nature and Scope of Administrative Law, Judicial Power of Administration, Judicial Control of Administrative Actions, Corporations and Public Undertakings |
| Professional Ethics & Cases of Professional Misconduct under BCI rules | Responsibilities of the Legal Profession, Major Supreme Court Judgements, Selected opinions of the BCI, Duty to the Court |
| Company Law | The Companies Act 1956, FEMA Act 1999, SEBI Act 1992 |
| Environment Law | Environment Protection Act 1986, International Laws and Conventions on Environmental Protection, Prevention and Control of Pollution, Biological Diversity and legal order |
| Cyber Law | Types of Cyber Crimes, penalties and punishments as per the IT Act 2000, UNCITRAL model on Electronic Commerce, Indian Penal law and cyber crime |
| Labor and Industrial Law | Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Dispute Act 1947, Minimum Wages Act 1948, Labour Welfare Legislation Liability in Tort, remedies and damages, |
| Law of Tort, including the Motor Vehicle Act and the Consumer Protection Law | Liability in Tort, remedies and damages, justification of tort, Consumer Protection Act 1986 |
| Law related to Taxation | Direct and Indirect taxes, Income Tax Act 1961, customs and duties |
| Law of Contract, Specific Relief, Property Laws, Negotiable Instrument Act | General Principles, Contract Formation, Breach of Contract, Performance of Contract Law, Bailment and Pledge, Doctrine of Election |
| Land Acquisition Act | Temporary Occupation of Land, Declaration of Intended Acquisition, Acquisition of Land by companies, payment of damages |
| Intellectual Property Act | Copyright Law, Patents, Trademarks, Geographical Indications |
Ques. What is the cutoff for the AIBE 21 Exam 2026?
Ans. The cutoff for the All India Bar Council Exam 21 will be 45% for General and OBC candidates and 40% for SC/ST candidates.
AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern
All AIBE 21 candidates must familiarise themselves with the pattern of this entrance exam:
- The AIBE is a 100-mark, open-book, offline exam for students of Law who want to practice in a court of law.
- The entire exam must be completed within three hours and thirty minutes.
- The exam focuses on core legal topics, including constitutional law, civil procedure, taxation, professional ethics, criminal law (BNS/ BNSS/ BSA), etc.
Go through the overall exam pattern of the AIBE 21 Exam 2026, given below, for your reference.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR-based response) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 Hours 30 minutes |
| Penalty for wrong answer | No Negative marking |
| Medium of Questions | Available in English and 22 other regional Languages |
| Qualifying marks | General/ OBC: 45%SC/ ST/ PwD: 40% |
AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026: Preparation Tips
The AIBE 21 Syllabus is not a cake walk. Only those who smartly dissect the syllabus and prepare accordingly can ace the exam. It is recommended that you followtips mentioned below to improve time answer, answering accuracy and other important aspects.
| Tip Number | Preparation Tip |
|---|---|
| 1 | Divert most of their attention to the high-weightage topics like Constitutional Law, CRPC/ BNSS, IPC/ BNS, and the CPC. |
| 2 | You can only carry the Bare Acts to the exam hall. Hence, practice locating the relevant sections as per a question rather than wasting the entire time on rote learning (learn smart, not just hard). |
| 3 | Refer to past question papers to get an idea of the question structure and time management. Some questions may be direct, others may require proper analysis. |
| 4 | The AIBE XXI is an open-book exam. Don’t keep any question unanswered since there will be no negative marking for wrong answers. |
AIBE 21 Syllabus 2026: Recommended Books
IF you are preparing for the AIBE 2026 Exam, the main book you must go for is the updated Bare Acts. Besides, you can buy one or more of the focused preparatory guides. Below is a list of the most popular books among AIBE examiners.
| Book | Author/ Publication |
|---|---|
| Guide to All India Bar Examination | Universal’s |
| Sure Success AIBE and JCJ | DV Rao |
| AIBE Exam Books | Two Brothers Publications |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 | Taxman |
| Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 | Taxman |
| Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 | Taxman |
| Constitution of India (Bare Act) | Taxman/ Universal |
| Code of Civil Procedure 1908 | Taxman |
Note:
- Since AIBE 21 is an open-book exam, your book shouldn't contain short notes or comments; if found otherwise, you will be disqualified. So, make sure the Bare Acts do not contain comments.
- Since about 80% of the questions come from Bare Acts, focus on them primarily.
- Practice pyqs from the AIBE Guidebooks.
FAQS
Ques. What is the overall AIBE exam pattern?
Ans. The All India Bar Examination comprises 100 objective-type questions covering 19 legal topics. This includes Criminal Law, such as the Bharatiya Naya Sanhita (BNS) law; the major focus is on Constitutional Law, CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS, and the CPC. The duration of the AIBE Exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Ques. Do I need to take the AIBE 21 Exam in 2026?
Ans. Passing the AIBE XXI Exam 2026 enables a person with legal education to practice as an advocate in a court of law. If you want to see yourself in such a role, you must appear for the AIBE 21 exam by registering yourself at the AIBE Registration Portal before the application portal closes on April 30th.
Ques. Can I carry any book to the AIBE 21 Exam 2026?
Ans. Although the AIBE XXI open-book book exam, students are only allowed to carry the Bare Acts, without any notes, annotations, or comments in them (as per a Taxman article on Exam Guidelines).
Ques. How difficult is the All India Bar Examination?
Ans. The AIBE 2026 is considered to be of moderate difficulty. The main challenge of this open-book exam is time management; locating the relevant portions in the Bare Acts can be quite a tedious task if not practised well during preparation. However, preparation with proper understanding of the legal system of India, familiarity with analysing popular cases, and proper indexing of the Bare Acts will make the exam lot easier.
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