The Bar Council of India (BCI) has put forward a significant proposal to increase the enrolment fee for aspiring advocates, marking a 30-fold rise from the current ₹750 to ₹22,500. This change is detailed in the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which is currently open for public feedback.
The proposed amendment to Section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961 aims to adjust the statutory enrolment fee to ₹18,000 payable to the respective State Bar Council and an additional ₹4,500 to the Bar Council of India, culminating in a total of ₹22,500. This revision addresses the Supreme Court’s rulings in Gaurav Kumar v Union of India and Pankaj Sinha v Bar Council of India, emphasizing the need for an update since the fee has remained unchanged since 1993.
The BCI’s explanatory note reveals that the increased fee would cover costs related to verifying educational credentials, maintaining enrolment records both physically and digitally, issuing enrolment certificates, and supporting advocate welfare schemes such as insurance and mediclaim. Additionally, funds will be allocated to professional development programs and the establishment of a National Legal Academy.
For candidates who are financially disadvantaged, particularly those from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and persons with benchmark disabilities, the draft proposes a concession, allowing them to pay only 25% of the proposed fee.
Legal Education Reforms
The draft legislation outlines substantial reforms in legal education, granting the BCI the authority to conduct entrance examinations for law degree programs, set minimum qualifications for law course admissions, establish rules for the All India Bar Examination, and recognize educational institutions and foreign law qualifications.
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Moreover, the draft suggests expanding the Legal Education Committee from 10 to 25 members. This reconstituted committee would comprise representatives from the BCI, former Supreme Court judges, current or former Chief Justices of High Courts, the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, University Grants Commission, Department of Legal Affairs, Vice-Chancellors of universities, senior advocates, and legal scholars. This diverse composition aims to harmonize standards of legal education nationwide by integrating insights from the judiciary, Bar, government, and academia.
The draft also emphasizes the importance of continuing legal education as a statutory responsibility for both the BCI and State Bar Councils. Proposed professional development programs would cover various areas such as constitutional practice, commercial and corporate law, arbitration, technology and AI, cyber law, taxation, insolvency, international legal practice, and trial and appellate advocacy. “The objective is to enhance the professional skills and opportunities available to advocates without imposing undue burdens,” the explanatory note clarifies.
Feedback is being solicited from stakeholders, including state bar councils, bar associations, law universities, legal education centers, and law firms, who are encouraged to submit their suggestions to the BCI by 3 PM on July 31, 2026.
