The Supreme Court of India has announced that the 2026 Advocates-on-Record (AOR) Examination stands cancelled after assessing the “overall strength” of practicing AORs. The April 30 notification confirms the exam will resume next year as per the Competent Authority’s orders.
The Supreme Court of India formally announced that the Advocates-on-Record (AOR) Examination will not be held in 2026.
In a notification issued by the Advocates-on-Record Examination Cell, the Court said the decision was reached after evaluating the current “overall strength” of Advocates-on-Record practicing in the Apex Court.
The notice, dated April 30, 2026, was issued under the orders of the Competent Authority. It states that the 2026 examination session has been cancelled, and that the examination is expected to resume in the next year.
The notice, signed by the Registrar (J) & Secretary of the Board of Examiners, states,
“The Competent Authority has been pleased to order that keeping in view the overall strength of the AORs, the Advocates-on-Record Examination shall not be conducted in the year 2026. The schedule and dates of the next examination likely to be held in the year 2027 shall be notified in due course.”
The AOR examination is a demanding qualifying process for advocates who wish to appear and file matters before the Supreme Court.
As per the Supreme Court Rules, only an Advocate-on-Record is permitted to file any petition, vacancy, or other document before the Court.
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Skipping the year is expected to affect hundreds of legal practitioners who have been preparing for the mandatory four-paper examination, which includes Practice and Procedure, Drafting, Advocacy and Professional Ethics, and Leading Cases.
The Court has indicated that the next examination cycle is likely to be held in 2027, and the registry will notify the exact schedule and dates in due course.
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