According to an RTI query, 74,368 aspirants failed to clear the All India Bar Examination. The examination serves as a qualifying test for practicing law in India. This revelation highlights the challenges faced by law aspirants in meeting the stringent requirements of the legal profession. It also highlights the importance of rigorous preparation and understanding of legal concepts for success in such exams.
According to a response received through a Right to Information (RTI) query, it revealed that only 48.36% of candidates who took the 18th edition of the All India Bar Examination (AIBE 18) on December 10, 2023, passed the exam.
The query, submitted by Advocate Shibu Babu, sought information from the Bar Council of India (BCI) on several concerns, including the exam’s frequency, registration process, rescheduling, testing agency, non-disclosure of candidate marks, delays in answer key publication, and result publication delays.
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In its response, the BCI disclosed that a total of 1,48,781 candidates registered for the exam, of which 1,44,014 actually appeared. Out of those who appeared, 69,646 (48.36%) successfully passed, while 74,368 (51.64%) failed.
Regarding the exam frequency, the BCI explained that although the rules mandate the AIBE to be conducted twice a year, it could not be held as scheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the BCI stated,
“7 questions from the exam were eliminated based on objections received from several candidates of AIBE-18, following the decision of a High-Level Monitoring Committee.”
The Bar Council of India referenced the Supreme Court‘s ruling in “CBSE and Anr v. Adhitya Bandopadhyay and Ors” to argue that the requested data does not qualify as ‘information’ under the terms of the RTI Act.
In the decision, the Supreme Court determined that a public authority not obligated to provide information that involves the drawing of inferences, the making of assumptions, or that constitutes advice or opinion.
Officials from the Bar Council of India unavailable for comment when this report prepared.
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The failure of such a large number of candidates to clear the examination raises questions about the quality of legal education and training provided by law institutions across the country. Critics argue that the educational institutes might not be adequately preparing students for the practical demands of the legal profession, and call for a thorough review and enhancement of the curriculum and teaching methodologies.
As the legal community and educational authorities ponder these challenges, the Bar Council of India remains a central figure in the ongoing debate about how best to balance rigorous standards with fair access to the legal profession for aspiring lawyers.