Essentials Score Combo – Bare Acts without Comments for All India Bar Examination (AIBE-XXI) | 2026 Edition is a carefully curated, examination-compliant set of 17 statutory texts designed for the open-book format of the All India Bar Examination. It precisely aligns with the official subject-wise weightage notified by the Bar Council of India for AIBE-XXI (Notification dated 02.03.2026) and consolidates the statutes that collectively account for around 75 out of 100 marks of the paper, allowing candidates to carry only what directly contributes to their scores on exam day.
The Combo includes the most frequently tested, high-yield Central enactments—covering Constitutional Law, Criminal Law (both the new Bharatiya codes and legacy statutes for transitional and comparative reference), core Civil and Commercial statutes, and key Professional, Personal, and Sectoral laws—in their pure, unannotated form. Each title reproduces the complete and updated statutory text as of 2026, arranged by article or section with clear typography, official headings, Schedules (where applicable), and consistent navigation aids designed for rapid referencing.
This Combo is intended for the following audience:
- AIBE-XXI Aspirants – Candidates appearing for the All India Bar Examination-XXI scheduled on 7 June 2026, who require strictly permissible bare acts in the examination hall. The Combo covers 75 marks of the paper across 10 of the 19 syllabus heads, providing a focused, cost-effective path to qualification
- Budget-Conscious Candidates – Aspirants who do not wish to invest in the full prescribed list of bare acts. The Combo delivers the highest-yield subjects at a fraction of the cost of purchasing all titles individually, without sacrificing coverage of the core scoring areas
- First-Time AIBE Takers – Fresh law graduates and newly enrolled advocates appearing for the exam for the first time, who benefit from a pre-curated set that eliminates the guesswork of selecting which bare acts to carry
- Repeat Candidates – Candidates re-appearing for AIBE who want a compact, updated 2026 edition set aligned with the current syllabus, replacing outdated or incomplete collections from prior attempts
- Junior Practitioners & Law Students – Practising advocates who need a portable statutory desk set for court referencing, and law students seeking unannotated, authoritative texts for coursework, moots, and quick references
The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, edited and compiled by Taxmann's Editorial Board, with the following noteworthy features:
- AIBE-Compliant – Strict bare act format—absolutely no commentary, annotations, case digests, or editorial opinions. Each title contains only the pure statutory text as enacted and notified by Parliament, ensuring full compliance with BCI’s examination guidelines that prohibit notes and comments inside the examination hall
- Syllabus-mapped & Marks-aligned – The 17 titles are not arbitrarily assembled. They are mapped directly to the subject-wise weightage released for AIBE-XXI, covering 10 out of 19 syllabus heads that collectively carry 75 marks. This precision eliminates the risk of including irrelevant material and ensures every title in the set contributes to scoring potential
- New & Legacy Criminal Codes – The AIBE-XXI syllabus explicitly tests both the new criminal codes (BNS, BNSS, BSA) and the legacy statutes (IPC, CrPC, Indian Evidence Act) together. This collection includes all six titles, enabling candidates to handle questions referencing either regime—or requiring comparative application—without gaps
- Updated & Authoritative – Each title reproduces the exact statutory language as notified, with all amendments incorporated up to 2026. Legislative change flags—insertions, substitutions, and omissions—are clearly indicated with relevant details to aid quick understanding, without crossing into interpretative territory
- Uniform Navigation Architecture – All 17 titles follow a consistent structural design: article/section-wise sequencing, official headings, chapter divisions, detailed tables of contents, marginal notes, and schedules reproduced in full where applicable. This uniformity means candidates do not have to relearn navigation conventions across different books during the examination
- Compact & Cost-effective – The collection consolidates 17 high-yield titles at a combined price substantially lower than the total of individual purchases, and well below the cost of the full prescribed bare act list. It is physically compact enough to carry into the examination hall without logistical difficulty
- Complementary Availability – Each title within this collection is also available for individual purchase. Candidates who already possess specific bare acts or who wish to supplement the Essentials set with additional titles (e.g., Environment Laws, Cyber Laws, Labour Laws, IP Laws) can do so without duplication
The coverage of the Essentials Score Combo is as follows:
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Constitutional Law (10 Marks)
- Constitution of India – Complete text with Preamble, all Parts, Articles (1–395 including subsequent insertions), and all twelve Schedules. Incorporates all Constitutional amendments in force as of 2026. Part-wise and Article-wise arrangement with official headings; legislative history notes indicating articles and clauses inserted, omitted, or substituted by Constitutional amendment Acts
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Criminal Laws – New Codes (In Force)
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS) – Substantive criminal law replacing the IPC. Section-wise presentation with chapter divisions covering offences against the body, property, State, public order, and related categories. Incorporates the Central Government’s notification bringing the Act into force from 1st July 2024
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS) – Criminal procedure replacing the CrPC. Covers the entire procedural framework from preliminary provisions through investigation, trial, appeals, and execution of judgments. Section-wise arrangement with marginal headings for quick navigation
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 (BSA) – Law of evidence for the digital era, replacing the Indian Evidence Act. Includes provisions on electronic records, digital signatures, and electronic evidence. Cross-references to corresponding provisions of the repealed Indian Evidence Act 1872 are indicated for comparative understanding. Schedule prescribing the certificate format for electronic records under Section 63(4) is included
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Criminal Laws – Legacy (Transitional/Comparative)
- Indian Penal Code 1860 (IPC) – Although repealed and replaced by the BNS, the IPC remains part of the AIBE-XXI syllabus for transitional reference and comparative study. Complete text reproduced as enacted and amended. Chapter-wise arrangement from preliminary provisions through offences against the State, property, public order, human body, marriage, and defamation
- Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (CrPC) – Retained for transitional reference alongside BNSS. Complete updated text in section-wise arrangement, preserving statutory integrity
- Indian Evidence Act 1872 – Retained for transitional reference alongside BSA. Incorporates modifications including those made by the Information Technology Act 2000 and Criminal Law (Amendment) Acts. Sub-sections, explanations, and illustrations are included in full. Electronic evidence provisions (digital signatures, electronic records, IT Act amendments) are fully integrated
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Core Civil & Commercial Statutes (22 Marks)
- Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (CPC) – Full statutory provisions covering Sections 1–158, all 51 Orders in the First Schedule with detailed rules, and Schedules and Appendices with updated statutory forms. Incorporates amendments made via the Commercial Courts Act 2015 in its application to commercial disputes and recent amendments of the Repealing and Amending Act 2025
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 – Complete text covering domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration, enforcement of foreign awards, and conciliation. Includes changes brought by the Mediation Act 2023 and earlier amendment Acts. All Parts and Schedules (Fourth to Seventh) are included with model fees, disclosure formats, and eligibility grounds
- Indian Contract Act 1872 – Foundational principles of contract formation, performance, breach, remedies, special contracts, and agency. Chapter-wise and section-wise presentation with marginal notes and headings as per the official Gazette
- Specific Relief Act 1963 – Covers enforcement of individual civil rights, specific performance of contracts, rectification, rescission, cancellation of instruments, declaratory decrees, and injunctions (preventive relief). Includes the Schedule on infrastructure project sub-sectors inserted through amendments
- Transfer of Property Act 1882 – Principal legislation governing transfers of both movable and immovable property. Eight chapters covering general principles, sales, mortgages, leases, exchanges, gifts, and actionable claims
- Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 – Complete statutory text governing promissory notes, bills of exchange, and cheques, including the critical Chapter XVII on dishonour of cheques. 17 chapters with a section-wise format and marginal headings for pinpoint referencing
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Professional, Personal & Sectoral Laws (17 Marks)
- Advocates Act 1961 with Bar Council of India Rules – Full text of the Act covering enrolment, advocates’ rights, professional standards, disciplinary procedures, and governance of State Bar Councils and BCI. Includes comprehensive BCI Rules framed under Section 49 (Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette, Code of Conduct, Disciplinary Proceedings, Right to Practise, Dress Code). Also contains Rules on Standards of Legal Education and Recognition of Degrees in Law, prescribed Forms, and relevant Schedules
- Hindu Laws (5 Acts) – Consolidated compilation of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Hindu Succession Act 1956, Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act 1956, Hindu Adoptions & Maintenance Act 1956, and Hindu Disposition of Property Act 1916. Each Act is presented independently with its complete chapter and section framework. Legislative amendment markers (such as substituted or omitted provisions, effective-date notes) are embedded within the text. When statutes reference the Code of Criminal Procedure, the text notes the updated BNSS 2023 equivalent
- Muslim Laws (Key Acts) – Consolidated statutory compilation of principal Muslim personal law enactments covering marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and waqf, presented in their unaltered statutory form. Includes the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986 and Rules with prescribed Forms
- Motor Vehicles Act 1988 – Complete text covering licensing, registration, insurance, third-party liability, traffic control, offences, and penalties. Incorporates all amendments and road safety reforms notified up to 2026. Section-wise arrangement from preliminary to miscellaneous provisions with marginal notes
- Consumer Protection Act 2019 – Full statutory text covering consumer rights, the Central Consumer Protection Authority, consumer dispute resolution commissions, mediation, product liability, and penalties. Eight chapters are presented section-wise and chapter-wise. Incorporates amendments, including those made by the Mediation Act 2023
Each title in the Essentials Score Combo follows a consistent structural framework designed for quick access during exams:
- Pure Statutory Text – No commentary, case law, editorial notes, headnotes, or interpretive content. Each page contains only the enacted law issued by the Government, adhering strictly to the AIBE guideline that permits only bare acts without notes or comments
- Uniform Article/Section-wise Arrangement – The Constitution is organised by parts and articles. All Codes and Acts are arranged chapter-wise and section-wise in statutory order, maintaining official numbering and headings exactly as published in the Gazette of India. This uniformity across all 17 titles allows candidates to use the same navigation techniques for any book in the set
- Official Headings & Marginal Notes – Every section, article, order, and rule retains its official heading and marginal note as per legislative text, facilitating quick scanning and accurate citation
- Schedules, Forms & Appendices – Presented in full where applicable. The Constitution’s twelve Schedules, the CPC’s 51 Orders and Appendices, the Arbitration Act’s fee tables and disclosure formats, the BCI’s prescribed Forms, and the BSA’s electronic record certificate format are all included without abridgement
- Detailed Tables of Contents – Each title begins with a comprehensive table of contents with page references, allowing candidates to find specific provisions quickly rather than flipping through pages sequentially
- Legislative Change Indicators – Where relevant, the text marks provisions that have been inserted, substituted, or omitted by amendment Acts or notifications, along with effective dates. These indicators maintain awareness of legislative history without editorial interpretation
- Cross-reference Notes – Selected titles include cross-references between corresponding provisions of new and legacy statutes (e.g., BSA sections mapped to the repealed Indian Evidence Act 1872, BNSS references in personal law statutes). These support transitional understanding without commentary
- Clear Typography & Print Quality – Consistent typeface, ample white space, clear hierarchy of headings, and professional print quality across all 17 titles. Designed for sustained reading during a 3.5-hour exam without causing eye fatigue
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