New Delhi, Jul 20 The Bar Council of India (BCI) has proposed a Draft Advocates Act Amendment Bill, 2026, which introduces statutory representation for women and enhanced social security for lawyers.
A circular signed by BCI chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra and addressed to the legal fraternity said, “The BCI has prepared a draft which is a historic profession-first reform to protect Indian advocates, strengthen the organised bar and create new opportunities for the legal profession.”
The circular dated July 18, which requested suggestions before 3 pm on July 31, said the proposed amendment is “one of the most comprehensive attempts to modernise the statutory framework governing the Indian legal profession since the enactment of the Advocates Act, 1961.”
The BCI has proposed a substantial increase in women's representation in state bar councils (SBC's).
For councils with electorates exceeding 10,000, the strength is proposed to be increased to 33 members, which includes a mandate for four elected women members and three additional women advocates to be co-opted in consultation with bar associations.
The draft introduces a "co-option" mechanism to ensure representation for geographically neglected areas, which often remain unrepresented in the SBC elections.
The draft act proposes the creation of dedicated funds and trusts.
These will provide financial assistance to deserving advocates, pensions, insurance, medical relief, and support for indigent advocates and those with disabilities.
It envisions stipends for young lawyers and support for the dependents of deceased advocates. The draft also proposes a revised enrolment fee structure.
New advocates will be required to pay Rs 18,000 to the State Bar Council and Rs 4,500 to the BCI, and a significant concession has been provided for candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and those with benchmark disabilities, who will be required to pay only one-fourth of the prescribed fee.
According to the draft act, Indian law firms will receive express statutory recognition under the Advocates Act.
This move is intended to strengthen smaller firms at the district and taluka levels, encouraging them to form LLPs or companies.
Additionally, the BCI seeks to make professional development a statutory priority.
It proposes structured training programs in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, technology, cyber law, digital evidence, and international legal practice.
The BCI has reiterated its commitment to protecting Indian practitioners from foreign competition. The draft expressly states that foreign lawyers or firms will not be entitled to appear before any Indian court, tribunal, or statutory authority.
Their practice will be strictly limited to international commercial arbitration involving foreign law, subject to reciprocity and prior approval from the central government.
The draft further proposes to omit the proviso that allowed foreign citizens to enrol as advocates in India, firmly rooting the right to practice in Indian citizenship.
The 2026 draft has omitted several controversial provisions from a previous 2025 version.
This includes the removal of proposed "heavy punishments" for advocates participating in strikes, the Rs 5 lakh fine for disciplinary matters, and the inclusion of government nominees in Bar Councils -- a move aimed at maintaining the independence of the profession.
The council underlined that these provisions will only acquire statutory force after the completion of the legislative process in Parliament.
