AIBE 22 Exam 2026: Complete Guide to Dates, Registration, Syllabus, and Eligibility

If you’re a law graduate gearing up to practice in Indian courts, the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is the final step between you and your Certificate of Practice (CoP). The 22nd edition of this exam, AIBE 22, is drawing extra attention this year because the Bar Council of India (BCI) has moved to conducting the exam twice a year instead of once.

This guide covers everything currently confirmed about AIBE 22: the exam date, registration timeline, eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, and preparation tips, all sourced from BCI’s official notification, so you don’t need to go hunting elsewhere for the basics.

AIBE 22 Exam Date 2026

The Bar Council of India confirmed to the Supreme Court that AIBE would now be held twice annually, giving law graduates more frequent chances to qualify. Early estimates in mid-2026 pointed to a December exam, but BCI’s official notification has since fixed a firmer schedule.

A note on the date confusion: several reports published earlier in 2026 projected AIBE 22 for December 2026, before BCI’s formal notification came out. The official notification has since set the exam date at November 29, 2026, with the answer key and results expected to follow in December. Since this is the first cycle of the new twice-a-year format, it’s worth checking the notification section of allindiabarexamination.com directly in case of any revision or corrigendum.

What Is the AIBE and Why Does It Matter

The AIBE is a mandatory qualifying exam for law graduates who want to practice law in India. It is not a competitive exam, so there’s no ranking or merit list. You simply need to clear the minimum qualifying score for your category. Clear it, and you become eligible for the Certificate of Practice, which formally authorizes you to argue cases in Indian courts. There is no limit on the number of attempts and no upper age limit.

Why AIBE Is Now Held Twice a Year

Historically, AIBE was conducted only once a year, meaning candidates who missed the cutoff had to wait a full year to try again. In 2026, BCI shifted to a twice-yearly format: AIBE 21 was held on June 7, 2026, and AIBE 22 will follow later in the year. This change effectively halves the waiting period for graduates trying to qualify.

AIBE 22 Eligibility Criteria

• A valid 3-year or 5-year LLB degree, or a final-year marksheet
• State Bar Council enrollment certificate and enrollment number
• Final-year and final-semester LLB students with no backlogs can also apply, using the undertaking option on the official portal.
• Candidates who appeared in AIBE 20 or AIBE 21 but did not clear it do not need to register again. They can log in with their existing user ID and password and apply for AIBE 22 using their previous registration details

AIBE 22 Exam Pattern and Passing Marks

• 100 multiple-choice questions, one mark each, across a 3 hour 30 minute window
• Conducted offline, in pen-and-paper mode, at designated exam centres nationwide
• No negative marking. You get one mark per correct answer, and no deduction for wrong or unattempted questions
• Passing marks: 45 out of 100 for General and OBC candidates; 40 out of 100 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates
• Not a fully open-book exam. You may carry clean bare acts without notes, comments, or handwritten markings, but no textbooks or guides
• The exam is offered in multiple regional languages in addition to English and Hindi

AIBE 22 Syllabus 2026

The AIBE 22 syllabus covers 19 law subjects drawn from the standard LLB curriculum, tested across the same 100 MCQs described above.

A key update this cycle: BCI now tests both the new and old criminal-law frameworks side by side, since India has transitioned to new codes.

Highest-weightage subjects (around 10 questions each):

• Constitutional Law
• Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
• Criminal Procedure Code / BNSS

Moderate-weightage subjects (6 to 8 questions each):

• IPC / BNS
• Evidence Act / BSA
• Law of Contract

Lower-weightage subjects rounding out the full list of 19 include Family Law, Law of Torts, Professional Ethics, Company Law, Cyber Law, Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, Land Acquisition Act, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Public Interest Litigation, among others.

BCI publishes the official syllabus PDF alongside the exam notification. Download it directly from allindiabarexamination.com so you’re working from the authoritative version rather than a third-party summary.

How to Register for AIBE 22

1. Visit the official portal at allindiabarexamination.com
2. Fill in personal and academic details in the online application form
3. Upload required documents: LLB degree certificate or final-year marksheet, and State Bar Council enrollment proof
4. Pay the prescribed application fee online
5. Download and retain your submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference

If you spot an error after submitting, use the correction window (open until October 30, 2026) to fix it before it locks in. Candidates who did not clear AIBE 20 or AIBE 21 should log in with their existing credentials rather than creating a new registration.

AIBE 22 Preparation Tips

• Get comfortable navigating bare acts quickly. Since you’re allowed to carry clean, unmarked bare acts into the exam, prioritize familiarity with structure and section numbers over rote memorization.
• Prioritize the highest-weightage subjects first: Constitutional Law, CrPC/BNSS, and CPC, each carrying roughly 10 questions.
• Study both the old and new criminal codes together, since AIBE 22 tests IPC alongside BNS, CrPC alongside BNSS, and the Evidence Act alongside BSA.
• Practice with previous years’ papers and mock tests to build speed and get used to the question style.
• Don’t skip Professional Ethics. It’s a moderate-weightage, high-scoring section that many candidates underprepare for.
• Track official updates directly on allindiabarexamination.com, since exam dates, admit card release, and correction windows are all governed by BCI notifications and can shift.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the top books for AIBE:

• EBC’s Master Guide To All India Bar Examination (AIBE Exam Guide)
• All India Bar Examination Bare Acts Without Notes and Comments | AIBE Bare Acts Combo Set of 25 Books | Covering Old and New Criminal Laws
• All India Bar Examination – Solved Papers 2015-2025
• Universal’s Guide to All India Bar Examination | AIBE Complete Syllabus Guide