AIBE 22 syllabus released, exam on November 14 or 29; apply by October 27

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has released the syllabus for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) XXII, also known as AIBE 22, 2026. The examination is a mandatory qualifying test for law graduates seeking to practice law in India and obtain a Certificate of Practice (CoP).

The notification for AIBE XXII 2026 was released on July 18, 2026, with online registration commencing on August 19, 2026. This marks the second AIBE examination of 2026, following a shift by the BCI to a twice-yearly format, a change from its historical once-a-year schedule.

AIBE 22 Exam Dates and Application Process

The application period for AIBE 22 is nearing its close, with the last date to submit the application form set for October 27, 2026. The deadline for fee payment is October 28, 2026. Discrepancies exist regarding the exact date for the admit card release and the examination itself. According to Times of India and Telegraph India, the admit card is scheduled for October 30, 2026, and the exam for November 14, 2026. However, PW.live and EBC Webstore indicate an admit card release on November 14, 2026, and the exam on November 29, 2026.

The application fee is approximately Rs 3,560 for General and OBC candidates, and Rs 2,560 for SC and ST candidates. A correction window for application forms is available, closing on October 30, 2026, as per PW.live and EBC Webstore, while Times of India and Telegraph India report an application form correction deadline of October 28, 2026. Candidates who did not clear AIBE 20 or AIBE 21 are advised to log in with existing credentials rather than creating a new registration.

Syllabus and Examination Structure

The AIBE 22 syllabus encompasses 19 subjects, with a total of 100 multiple-choice questions. Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure Code and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Code of Civil Procedure are each allocated 10 questions. The examination will be conducted offline in pen-and-paper mode, with a duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

A notable aspect of the 2026 paper is its inclusion of both the new and old criminal-law frameworks. This means candidates will be tested on the Indian Penal Code (IPC) alongside Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) alongside Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Indian Evidence Act alongside Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Candidates are permitted to bring clean bare acts without notes, comments, or handwritten markings into the exam hall. The AIBE 22 exam is offered in multiple regional languages along with English and Hindi.

Passing Criteria and Context

To qualify for the Certificate of Practice, General and OBC candidates must secure 45 out of 100 marks. For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, the passing mark is 40 out of 100. The AIBE is the third step in becoming a practicing advocate, following the attainment of an LLB degree and provisional enrollment with a State Bar Council. The legality of a post-degree bar exam was upheld by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in Bar Council of India v. Bonnie Foi Law College (2023).

The previous examination, AIBE 21, was conducted on June 7, 2026, with its results declared on July 18, 2026. The re-checking portal for AIBE-XXI was open from July 28, 2026, to August 4, 2026. The last date for submission of the Enrolment Certificate for AIBE XIX and subsequent examinations was January 6, 2027.

Further reading

• SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 exam from 30 November; apply by 7 October
• GATE 2027 registration portal reopened by IIT Madras: apply with late fees by October 16
• MICAT 2027 phase 1 registration ongoing; apply for MICA PGDM by November 22
• Rai University admissions 2026: apply by October 19
• UGC NET December 2026 application opens: apply by 28 October

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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