Eligibility Test to join the Bar Council of India (BCI) introduced

March 6^th will be a memorable day for as many as 23, 000 fresh law school graduates as that day will determine whether they are eligible to practice law in India or not. The exam will be conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI) pan India across 27 centers and 10 languages. This mandatory exam in an open book written format is happening for the first time in India. The exams admit cards will be sent to the candidates by post.

The exam duration will be for 3 hours and 30 minutes with mainly multiple choice questions. The students will have to score a minimum of 40% marks to qualify this exam and there is no limitation to the number of times a student can take this exam. The exam will be held twice in a year. However, the BCI has clarified that only fresh law graduates, meaning students who have graduated in the academic year 2009 – 2010 and onwards are eligible to take this exam. According to BCI sources, the move to hold this exam comes after a directive from the Supreme Court in December 2009, in which the law ministry included it in the blueprint for legal reforms.