New Delhi: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has released the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing major changes to the Advocates Act. The draft aims to modernize India’s legal profession by improving advocate welfare, increasing women’s representation, recognizing law firms, and strengthening professional standards. The proposal is currently open for public consultation, and stakeholders can send suggestions until July 31, 2026.
Why Has the BCI Proposed These Changes in Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2026
The draft has been prepared in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Bar Council of India. According to the BCI, the goal is to update a law that has governed the legal profession since 1961. The proposed reforms focus on improving legal education, supporting advocates, promoting transparency, and making the profession more future-ready.
Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2026: Public Suggestions Invited Until July 31
The BCI uploaded the draft on its official website on July 18, 2026. Lawyers, State Bar Councils, Bar Associations, law universities, law firms, and members of the public have been invited to submit comments by 3:00 PM on July 31, 2026. After that, the feedback will be reviewed before the draft moves forward.
Key Highlights of the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026
1. More Representation for Women
One of the biggest proposals is to increase women’s participation in State Bar Councils. For councils with more than 10,000 voters, the total number of members would increase to 33.
- Four seats would be reserved for elected women advocates.
- Three more women advocates could be nominated through a co-option process.
- The draft also allows co-option for advocates from geographically underrepresented regions.
The proposal aims to ensure better representation and diversity in bar council governance.
2. Stronger Welfare Support for Advocates
The draft proposes creating dedicated welfare funds and trusts for advocates.
The funds may provide:
- Pension support
- Health insurance
- Medical assistance
- Financial help for advocates facing hardship
- Support for advocates with disabilities
- Scholarships or stipends for young lawyers
- Financial assistance to families of deceased advocates
These measures are intended to improve social security within the legal profession.
3. New Enrolment Fee Structure
The draft proposes a revised enrolment fee for new advocates. Under the proposal:
- ₹18,000 would be paid to the State Bar Council.
- ₹4,500 would be paid to the Bar Council of India.
However, candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and persons with benchmark disabilities would pay only 25% of the prescribed amount as a concession.
4. Legal Recognition for Indian Law Firms
For the first time, Indian law firms would receive formal recognition under the Advocates Act. The proposal aims to:
- Strengthen small and district-level law firms.
- Encourage firms to adopt structured business models.
- Promote better professional management and accountability.
This is considered a major structural reform for India’s legal sector.
5. Mandatory Professional Development
The draft recommends structured professional training for advocates. Training may include subjects such as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Cyber law
- Technology
- Digital evidence
- International legal practice
The goal is to help lawyers stay updated with changing legal and technological developments.
6. Protection for Indian Legal Practice
The draft continues the BCI’s long-standing policy of protecting Indian legal practice. It proposes that:
- Foreign lawyers and foreign law firms should not appear before Indian courts or tribunals.
- Their work would remain limited to certain international commercial arbitration matters, subject to reciprocity and prior government approval.
- A previous provision allowing foreign nationals to enrol as advocates in India is proposed to be removed.
These provisions are intended to safeguard opportunities for Indian lawyers.
Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2026: Earlier Controversial Provisions Removed
The 2026 draft also removes several controversial proposals that appeared in the earlier 2025 version. The earlier draft had suggested:
- Strict penalties for advocates participating in strikes or court boycotts.
- Heavy monetary fines.
- Government nominees in Bar Councils.
These proposals faced strong opposition from lawyers across the country and have not been included in the latest draft.
Not Yet a Law
The Bar Council of India has clarified that these proposals are only a draft. The recommendations will become law only after the required legislative process is completed and Parliament approves the amendments.
