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AIBE XXI (21) was held on 7 June 2026. This is a fast-revision sheet of the judgments and case-law patterns most likely to be tested in the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), built from LegalAlphabet's question banks across 18 public AIBE papers, the official AIBE XXI syllabus, and recent Supreme Court judgments up to June 2026.
AIBE is still mostly a bare-act and procedure exam, but direct case-law questions appear in every paper. The paper tests recognition, not deep analysis: a case name, its subject, and a one-line ratio are usually enough.
Note: previous-year papers do not state why the Bar Council of India chose a particular judgment. The "likely angle" notes below are reasoned inferences from syllabus fit, recurrence in past papers, legal importance, and recency, not official claims.
How often case-law questions appear
The broader "direct case-law recognition" count includes named cases, "which case held..." prompts, landmark-case prompts, and doctrine-to-case matching.
| Paper | Direct judgment / case-law style questions |
|---|---|
| AIBE XX 2025 Set A | 8 |
| AIBE XIX 2024 Set A | 6 |
| AIBE XVIII 2023 Set A | 11 asked, 10 scored |
| AIBE XVII 2023 Set C | 8 |
| AIBE XVI 2021 Set C | about 10 |
| AIBE XV 2021 Set A | about 17 |
| AIBE XIV 2019 | 7 |
| AIBE XIII 2018 | 5 |
| AIBE X 2017 | 9 |
| AIBE VIII 2015 | 11 |
| AIBE V 2013 | 13 |
If a judgment is asked, it usually falls into one of these areas:
- Constitutional law: Article 12, Article 13, basic structure, Preamble, privacy, Article 21.
- PIL and environment: absolute liability, public trust, precautionary principle, pollution-free environment.
- Administrative law: natural justice, bias, doctrine of necessity, tribunal judicial review.
- Criminal procedure and liberty: arrest, custody, prisoner rights, bail, self-incrimination.
- Professional ethics: advocate misconduct and Bar Council discipline.
- Arbitration and ADR: seat, non-signatories, unstamped agreements, Section 34.
- Family law: triple talaq, maintenance, marriage validity, divorce under Article 142.
Must-revise judgments (highest yield)
These recur in previous-year papers or fit the AIBE syllabus tightly. Remember the case name, the core holding, and the angle it is usually asked from.
| Judgment / case line | Core holding to remember | Likely AIBE angle |
|---|---|---|
| M.C. Mehta v Union of India (Oleum Gas) | Absolute liability for hazardous industries. | "Absolute liability" or Shriram/Oleum gas case. |
| M.C. Mehta v Kamal Nath | Public trust doctrine in environmental law. | Public trust doctrine. |
| Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v Union of India | Precautionary principle and polluter pays. | Environmental principles. |
| Subhash Kumar v State of Bihar | Right to pollution-free water and air under Article 21. | Article 21 and environment. |
| Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala | Basic structure doctrine; Preamble treated as part of the Constitution. | Basic structure, Preamble. |
| In re Berubari Union | Earlier view that the Preamble was not part of the Constitution. | Preamble before Kesavananda. |
| Minerva Mills v Union of India | Balance between Fundamental Rights and DPSP is basic structure. | FR-DPSP balance. |
| L. Chandra Kumar v Union of India | Judicial review by High Courts/Supreme Court is basic structure; tribunal exclusion invalid. | Tribunals, Articles 226/32. |
| K.S. Puttaswamy v Union of India | Right to privacy under Article 21. | Privacy line with Kharak Singh, PUCL, M.P. Sharma. |
| Ajay Hasia v Khalid Mujib | Registered society can be Article 12 "State"/authority. | Article 12 tests. |
| Basheshar Nath v I.T. Commissioner | Fundamental rights cannot be waived. | Waiver of fundamental rights. |
| Golak Nath v State of Punjab | Constitutional amendment treated as "law" under Article 13 in that era. | Article 13 and amendment power. |
| A.K. Kraipak v Union of India | Natural justice applies beyond strictly judicial/quasi-judicial functions. | Administrative law and natural justice. |
| J. Mohapatra & Co. v State of Orissa | Nemo judex rule subject to doctrine of necessity. | Bias and necessity. |
| D.K. Basu v State of West Bengal | Arrest/custody safeguards. | Arrest procedure and custodial rights. |
| Sunil Batra v Delhi Administration | Prisoner rights; letters/PIL; Article 21 in prison conditions. | Prisoner rights, PIL. |
| Hussainara Khatoon v State of Bihar | Speedy trial and undertrial prisoner rights. | PIL and Article 21. |
| R.K. Anand v Registrar, Delhi High Court | Advocate misconduct for interfering with a criminal trial/witness. | Professional ethics. |
| R.D. Saxena v Balram Prasad Sharma | Advocate cannot retain client litigation file for unpaid fees. | Advocate lien/misconduct. |
| V.C. Rangadurai v D. Gopalan | Advocate reinstatement after suspension needs proof of good character. | Bar discipline. |
| Anvar P.V. v P.K. Basheer | Electronic records and the certificate requirement. | Evidence / electronic evidence. |
| Shreya Singhal v Union of India | Section 66A IT Act struck down. | Article 19(1)(a), cyber law. |
| Shayara Bano v Union of India | Instant triple talaq unconstitutional/invalid. | Family law, Muslim law. |
| Aruna Shanbaug / Common Cause | Passive euthanasia and living wills. | Article 21 and end-of-life rights. |
| Mohori Bibee v Dharmodas Ghose | A minor's agreement is void. | Contract Act capacity. |
| Hadley v Baxendale | Remoteness of damages. | Contract damages. |
| Lalman Shukla v Gauri Dutt | Offer must be known for acceptance/reward. | Offer and acceptance. |
| Rylands v Fletcher | Strict liability. | Tort liability. |
| Ashby v White | Legal injury without actual damage is actionable. | Injuria sine damno. |
Strong 2026 prediction list
Recent or currently salient cases that convert easily into simple MCQs. If time is very short, lock the first seven first.
| Priority | Judgment | One-line holding | Likely MCQ angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Association for Democratic Reforms v Union of India, 2024 | Electoral Bonds Scheme unconstitutional; voters have a right to information under Article 19(1)(a). | Anonymous funding, donor privacy vs voter information. |
| High | In re Article 370 of the Constitution, 2023 | Abrogation of Article 370 upheld. | Article 370, President's power, J&K status. |
| High | Supriyo v Union of India, 2023 | The Supreme Court did not legalise same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act. | Right to marry, SMA, limits of judicial law-making. |
| High | State of Punjab v Davinder Singh, 2024 | Sub-classification within SC/ST reservations is permissible; E.V. Chinnaiah overruled. | Reservation, Articles 15/16, sub-classification. |
| High | Sita Soren v Union of India, 2024 | Bribery by legislators is not protected by parliamentary privilege under Articles 105/194. | Parliamentary privilege; P.V. Narasimha Rao overruled. |
| High | Special Reference on Governor/President Bills, 2025 | Latest position on assent powers under Articles 200/201/143; watch the exact wording. | Governor assent, President reservation, advisory jurisdiction. |
| High | Property Owners Association v State of Maharashtra, 2024 | Not all private property is "material resources of the community" under Article 39(b). | DPSP, property, Article 39(b). |
| Medium | Pankaj Bansal v Union of India, 2023 | Grounds of arrest must be supplied in writing in PMLA arrests. | Arrest safeguards and Article 22. |
| Medium | Prabir Purkayastha v State (NCT of Delhi), 2024 | Written grounds of arrest required in the UAPA context too. | Arrest-rights line, high recency. |
| Medium | Vihaan Kumar v State of Haryana, 2025 | Non-communication of grounds of arrest violates Article 22(1). | BNSS/CrPC transition and liberty safeguards. |
| Medium | Cox and Kings v SAP India, 2023 | Group of Companies doctrine applies in arbitration; non-signatories may be bound in proper cases. | Arbitration, non-signatories. |
| Medium | In re Interplay between Arbitration Agreements and Stamp Act, 2023 | An unstamped arbitration agreement is not void at the referral stage; stamping can be handled later. | Arbitration referral and stamp objections. |
| Medium | Shilpa Sailesh v Varun Sreenivasan, 2023 | The Supreme Court can grant divorce using Article 142 in irretrievable-breakdown situations. | Family law plus Article 142. |
| Medium | M.K. Ranjitsinh v Union of India, 2024 | Right against the adverse effects of climate change linked to Articles 14 and 21. | Environment plus Article 21. |
| Medium | High Court Bar Association Allahabad v State of UP, 2024 | Stay orders do not automatically expire after six months. | Interim orders, Article 142 limits. |
| Medium | Mohd. Abdul Samad v State of Telangana, 2024 | A divorced Muslim woman can claim maintenance under Section 125 CrPC. | Family law and maintenance. |
| Medium | Dolly Rani v Manish Kumar Chanchal, 2024 | A Hindu marriage needs valid ceremonies; registration alone is not enough. | Very simple HMA MCQ. |
| Medium | Bilkis Yakub Rasool v Union of India, 2024 | Gujarat remission orders quashed; the proper government must issue them. | Criminal law/remission and rule of law. |
| Exam-specific | Bar Council of India v Bonnie Foi Law College, 2023 | The Supreme Court upheld BCI's authority around AIBE/pre-enrolment standards. | Advocates Act, BCI powers, validity of AIBE. |
| Watchlist | AMU Minority Status, 2024 | Azeez Basha overruled; statutory incorporation alone does not defeat minority status. | Article 30 minority institutions. |
| Watchlist | In re Demolition of Structures, 2024 | Punitive demolitions without due process are unconstitutional. | Natural justice, Article 21, rule of law. |
| Watchlist | Just Rights for Children Alliance v S. Harish, 2024 | Possession/storage of child sexual material under the POCSO/IT framework. | POCSO/cyber-criminal law angle. |
| Watchlist | Sukanya Shantha v Union of India, 2024 | Caste-based prison manual provisions are unconstitutional. | Articles 14, 15, 17, 21. |
| Watchlist | In re Section 6A of Citizenship Act, 1955, 2024 | The Section 6A Assam citizenship regime upheld by majority. | Citizenship and Article 11. |
| Watchlist | Mineral Area Development Authority v SAIL, 2024 | Royalty is not tax; States may tax mineral rights subject to limits. | Tax/federalism (more advanced than typical AIBE). |
| Watchlist | Harish Rana v Union of India, 2026 | Withholding life-sustaining treatment in a persistent vegetative state under the dignity framework. | Passive euthanasia, Article 21, Common Cause line. |
Why a particular judgment gets asked
| Reason | Example from past papers | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| It defines a doctrine. | Kesavananda, Minerva Mills, M.C. Mehta, Vellore. | "Which case laid down..." |
| It connects to a bare-act provision. | Anvar P.V.; D.K. Basu; R.D. Saxena. | "Under evidence/procedure/ethics, which case..." |
| It is recent and famous. | Shreya Singhal, Shayara Bano, Common Cause. | "Which case struck down/legalised/held..." |
| It is professional-practice relevant. | R.K. Anand, R.D. Saxena, V.C. Rangadurai. | Advocate misconduct questions. |
| It is a common doctrinal trap. | Berubari vs Kesavananda; the Puttaswamy privacy line. | "Which statements are correct..." |
Last-day revision order
If time is short, revise in this order:
- Constitutional classics: Kesavananda, Berubari, Minerva Mills, L. Chandra Kumar, Puttaswamy, Ajay Hasia, Basheshar Nath, Golak Nath.
- Environment/PIL: M.C. Mehta, Subhash Kumar, Vellore, M.C. Mehta v Kamal Nath, Hussainara Khatoon, Sunil Batra.
- Procedure/liberty: D.K. Basu, Pankaj Bansal, Prabir Purkayastha, Vihaan Kumar.
- Professional ethics: R.K. Anand, R.D. Saxena, V.C. Rangadurai, Bar Council misconduct cases.
- Recent public-law cases: Electoral Bonds, Article 370, Supriyo, Davinder Singh, Sita Soren, Governor/President Bills, Property Owners.
- Family/arbitration: Shilpa Sailesh, Mohd. Abdul Samad, Dolly Rani, Cox and Kings, the Interplay/Stamp Act case.
- Classic private law if extra time: Mohori Bibee, Hadley, Lalman Shukla, Rylands, Ashby.
One-line memory hooks
- Absolute liability: M.C. Mehta, Oleum Gas.
- Public trust: M.C. Mehta v Kamal Nath.
- Precautionary principle: Vellore Citizens.
- Pollution-free water and air: Subhash Kumar.
- Preamble not part: Berubari. Preamble/basic structure: Kesavananda.
- FR-DPSP balance: Minerva Mills.
- Tribunal judicial review: L. Chandra Kumar.
- Privacy: Puttaswamy, with Kharak Singh, PUCL, M.P. Sharma.
- Article 12 society/authority: Ajay Hasia.
- FR cannot be waived: Basheshar Nath.
- Natural justice in admin functions: A.K. Kraipak. Doctrine of necessity: J. Mohapatra.
- Arrest safeguards: D.K. Basu, Pankaj Bansal, Prabir Purkayastha, Vihaan Kumar.
- Electronic evidence: Anvar P.V. Section 66A: Shreya Singhal.
- Triple talaq: Shayara Bano.
- Advocate file lien: R.D. Saxena. Trial interference misconduct: R.K. Anand.
- Electoral Bonds: ADR v Union of India.
- Legislative bribery immunity removed: Sita Soren.
- AIBE/BCI powers upheld: Bonnie Foi Law College.
- Same-sex marriage not judicially legalised: Supriyo.
- SC/ST sub-classification allowed: Davinder Singh.
- Private property not always an Article 39(b) material resource: Property Owners.
- Group of companies in arbitration: Cox and Kings. Unstamped arbitration agreement: the Interplay case.
Practice these as questions
Recognition sticks faster when you test it. Practise full timed papers and read every question with its official answer-key label on the AIBE PYQ practice hub, which covers 18 previous-year AIBE papers.
Official sources
- Official AIBE portal: allindiabarexamination.com
- Bar Council of India: barcouncilofindia.org
- Recent judgments verified against Supreme Court of India judgment PDFs and Supreme Court Observer case pages up to June 2026.
LegalAlphabet is not the official AIBE portal and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Bar Council of India or AIBE. Use the official AIBE portal for notices, admit cards, results, and final instructions. The "likely angle" notes are study guidance, not predictions of the actual paper.