AIBE 21 2026: Is 45 Marks a Safe Score for General Category?

45 marks is the exact minimum qualifying cutoff for AIBE 21 2026 General category students — it is the passing threshold set by the Bar Council of India, not a comfortable safe margin above it.

The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) 21, held on June 7, 2026, carries 100 marks in total. General category students must score at least 45 out of 100 to receive the Certificate of Practice. While scoring 45 technically means you pass, a genuinely safe score — one with a buffer against answer-key revisions or OMR discrepancies — is typically 50 marks or above. This article explains what 45 marks means for your AIBE 21 2026 result and how the cutoff has historically held steady.

• AIBE 21 2026 was held on June 7, 2026; the final answer key has been released by BCI.
• General category qualifying cutoff: 45 out of 100 (45%) — the minimum passing score.
• SC/ST/PWD category qualifying cutoff: 40 out of 100 (40%).
• A score of 50 marks or above is considered a safe pass with a meaningful margin.
• The AIBE qualifying cutoff has not changed since the exam began — 45% for General, 40% for reserved categories.
• AIBE 21 2026 result is expected in July–August 2026, based on past BCI timelines.

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AIBE 21 2026 Category-Wise Qualifying Cutoff

The Bar Council of India prescribes fixed qualifying percentages for AIBE. General and OBC category students need 45 marks out of 100 to qualify in AIBE 21 2026. SC, ST, and PWD category students need 40 marks to qualify.

AIBE is a purely qualifying exam — there is no merit rank or all-India rank list. Students who meet or exceed the category-specific cutoff receive the Certificate of Practice from BCI, enabling them to appear in courts across India. Scoring 46 and scoring 90 both result in the same certificate.

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Is 45 Marks a Safe Score in AIBE 21 2026?

45 marks is the bare minimum qualifying cutoff for General category — it means you pass, but it is not a safe score. There are several reasons why scoring exactly at the cutoff carries risk:

• No margin for error: If you score exactly 45 and the official answer key is revised even by one question after objections, your effective score could drop to 44 — below the cutoff.
• Answer-key challenges: BCI releases a provisional answer key and accepts objections from students. If an objected answer is found incorrect and revised, your raw score shifts accordingly. Scoring at the cutoff line exposes you to this risk.
• No re-evaluation: AIBE does not offer re-evaluation or re-checking of OMR sheets. Your score as per the final official key is binding.
• Open-book advantage: Since bare acts are permitted inside the hall, most law faculty advise students to target 55–65 marks. Struggling to reach 45 in an open-book exam signals the need for more thorough preparation before the next attempt.

If you self-evaluated your score at 45 using the final AIBE 21 2026 answer key, wait for the official result before drawing conclusions. Self-calculated scores sometimes differ from the official tally due to question paper set differences and OMR reading margin.

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AIBE 21 2026 Result Expected Date

The AIBE 21 2026 result has not been declared as of July 2026. Based on past AIBE editions, BCI typically declares results within 4–8 weeks of releasing the final answer key. The AIBE 21 result is expected in July–August 2026.

Students can check the official AIBE 21 result on the Bar Council of India exam portal using their roll number. No offline intimation or SMS is sent — you must log in to the portal to view your result and qualifying status.

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AIBE Historical Qualifying Cutoff Trend

The AIBE qualifying cutoff has been fixed at 45% for General category and 40% for SC/ST/PWD students since the exam was introduced. BCI has not revised these thresholds across any edition, making AIBE one of the most predictable qualifying exams in terms of passing benchmark.

There is no official communication from BCI indicating any revision to these qualifying percentages for AIBE 21 2026. The cutoff for AIBE XXI is widely expected to hold at 45 marks for General category students.

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AIBE 21 2026 Marking Scheme

AIBE 21 2026 carries a total of 100 marks across 100 MCQ questions, with no negative marking. The exam is conducted in offline OMR mode and follows an open-book format, allowing students to carry bare acts and codified statutes into the examination hall.

Since there is no negative marking, you should attempt all 100 questions in any AIBE attempt. An unanswered question earns 0 marks, the same as a wrong answer — so there is no strategic reason to leave any question blank.