Bar Council of India’s New Guidelines: Criminal Background Checks, Biometric Attendance, and Employment Declarations for Law Students
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has taken a significant step towards raising ethical standards and accountability in legal education by issuing new guidelines that could dramatically alter how law students progress through their academic careers. These guidelines, which were introduced on September 25, 2024, are designed to enforce stricter background checks, implement biometric attendance systems, and require students to declare their employment status. The failure to comply with these rules could result in degrees being withheld or other serious