AILET or AIBE? Law graduates face tough decision as exam dates clash

The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) XVIII and the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) for admission to postgraduate law courses at National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) are set to take place on the same day, December 10, 2023..The clash of dates has become a matter of concern for candidates who have applied for both these exams..Another issue is that candidates were required to pay a registration fee of ₹3,500 for each exam. Given that they can appear only for one of the exams, the question arises as to whether they will be reimbursed for one of them.Alternatively, candidates hope that the Bar Council of India (BCI), which conducts AIBE, and NLU Delhi will take measures to allow them to appear for either exam next year..The fact that AIBE XVIII has been postponed on more than one occasion compounds the issue. As per the first notification released in August 2023, AIBE XVIII was scheduled to take place on October 29. Since then, it has been postponed four times for various reasons.On November 8, BCI issued a notification stating that the exam would be held on December 10, instead of on the earlier scheduled date, December 3.The exam was rescheduled to avoid a clash with the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for postgraduate admissions and the Madhya Pradesh judicial services exams.Candidates were hoping that a similar decision would be taken in light of the fact that AILET was scheduled for that date. However, as of today, there has been no official communication from either NLU Delhi or the BCI regarding the rescheduling of either of these exams. .Attempts to contact authorities to seek clarity on the matter did not receive any response at the time of publication..Speaking to Bar & Bench, law graduate Yogita Bharti said,"The students who applied for both exams are now faced with the difficult decision of giving up on one...What has been particularly shocking to me is the application fee of Rs. 3,500/- for each exam, and as of now, none of the exam conducting authorities has released any notification addressing this issue.".Aspirants often grapple with choices between exams, Yashraj Srivastava opines."However, I have never experienced a situation where previously decided options have led me to a state of uncertainty in choosing between them. This is precisely the dilemma I find myself in with the clash of AIBE and AILET on the same day and during the same time frame.".Delhi-based Ritwik Sharma said that his intention was to appear for AILET, as it provides him an opportunity to study in the capital. He adds,"However, the unexpected clash with AIBE has left me perplexed because my goal is to enroll as a lawyer, and waiting for another year to take either exam is not a feasible option for me.Moreover, I have invested a significant amount (money) in the application process. The confusion arising from this clash is disheartening, especially considering that it could have been easily avoided.".Avichal Mishra says,"What added to my frustration was the fact that AIBE had already been postponed from October to December, and during this rescheduling, they chose dates that clashed with other important exams – first with CLAT and now with AILET.This incident starkly underscores the evident lack of coordination among the agencies responsible for conducting these exams. Unfortunately, as is often the case, it is us, the students, who bear the brunt of these oversights."