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AIBE: AIBE: Legal Aptitude and Bar Examination Syllabus Subjects

AIBE · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

AIBE: Legal Aptitude and Bar Examination Syllabus Subjects

What AIBE tests

The All India Bar Examination is a qualifying exam conducted by the Bar Council of India. It has 100 multiple-choice questions, runs 3 hours 30 minutes, is open book, and has no negative marking; the pass mark is 40% (35% for SC/ST). It tests practical legal aptitude across the bar syllabus: Constitutional Law, CPC, CrPC, IPC, Evidence, Contract, Property, Family, Company, Labour, Environmental, Tax, Administrative Law, Professional Ethics, and ADR. Questions are application-based, not rote definitions.

Core rules and concepts

  • Constitutional Law: fundamental rights (Part III), writs under Arts 32 and 226, basic structure doctrine.
  • CPC: s 9 jurisdiction, s 11 res judicata, Orders VII–VIII pleadings, Order XXXIX injunction, Order XXI execution.
  • CrPC: FIR under s 154, bail under ss 436–439, charge under ss 211–224, cognizable vs non-cognizable, bailable vs non-bailable, s 125 maintenance.
  • IPC: mens rea, s 34 common intention, abetment, private defence under ss 96–106.
  • Evidence: burden of proof (ss 101–105), dying declaration (s 32), client privilege (s 126), secondary evidence (s 65).
  • Contract: offer and acceptance, s 2(d) consideration, s 25 exceptions, free consent (ss 13–19), s 73 damages.
  • Property and Family: TPA sale (s 54), lease and mortgage; Hindu Marriage Act 1955 divorce and maintenance; guardianship and custody.
  • Company and Labour: incorporation, directors’ duties, oppression and mismanagement; industrial disputes and wages.
  • Professional ethics: BCI Rules 2008 - no solicitation or advertising, avoid conflict of interest, maintain confidentiality.

Worked example

An accused pleads private defence in a murder trial. Who must prove what? Under s 105 of the Evidence Act, the burden of showing circumstances that bring the case within a general exception lies on the accused; the prosecution must still prove the act and mens rea beyond reasonable doubt. Answer: the accused must establish private defence on a preponderance of probabilities.

Traps that cost marks

  • Assuming negative marking - answer every question.
  • Confusing s 125 CrPC maintenance with HMA reliefs.
  • Mixing bailable and non-bailable offences.
  • Overlooking BCI professional conduct rules on solicitation and conflict of interest.
  • Treating open book as easy: time pressure and section recall still matter.