The Bar Council of India resolution at its meeting held on 30 April to amend Part VI, Chapter III of the Bar Council of India Rules (Conditions for Right to Practise) was published in the Gazette of India on June 12, 2010.

The following resolution was adopted by the Bar Council of India on 10 April 2010 to conduct an All India Bar Examination, the passing of which will entitle an advocate to practice law in India. Consequent to the resolution, the following rules were inserted into Part VI, Chapter III of the Bar Council of India Rules.

RESOLVED that as the Bar Council of India is vested with the power of laying down conditions subject to which an advocate shall have the right to practice, these Rules, therefore, lay down such condition of an All India Bar Examination, the passing of which would entitle the advocate to a Certificate of Practice which would permit him/her to practice under Chapter IV of the Advocates Act, 1961.

9. No advocate enrolled under section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961 shall be entitled to practice under Chapter IV of the Advocates Act, 1961, unless such advocate successfully passes the All India Bar Examination conducted by the Bar Council of India. It is clarified that the Bar Examination shall be mandatory for all law students graduating from academic year 2009-2010 onwards and enrolled as advocates under Section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961.

The All India Bar Examination

10. (1) The All India Bar Examination shall be conducted by the Bar Council of India.

(a) The Bar Examination shall be held at least twice each year in such month and such places that the Bar Council of India may determine from time to time.

(b) The Bar Examination shall test advocates in such substantive and procedural law areas as the Bar Council of India may determine from time to time.

(c) Such substantive/procedural law areas and syllabi shall be published by the Bar Council of India at least three months prior to the scheduled date of examination.

(d) The percentage of marks required to pass the Bar Examination shall be determined by the Bar Council of India.

(e) An unsuccessful advocate may appear again for the Bar Examination, without any limit on the number of appearances.

(f) The Bar Council of India, through a committee of experts, shall determine the syllabi, recommended readings, appointment of paper setters, moderators, evaluators, model answers, examination hall rules and other related matters.

(g) The Bar Council of India shall determine the manner and format of application for the examination.

(h) Upon successfully passing the Bar Examination, the advocate shall be entitled to a Certificate of Practice.

Application for Certificate of Practice

11. (1) The Certificate of Practice shall be issued by the Bar Council of India to the address of the successful advocate within 30 days of the date of declaration of results.

(2) The Certificate of Practice shall be issued by the Bar Council of India under the signature of the Chairman, Bar Council of India.

Click here to see the scanned copy of the Gazette notification.