AIBE 21 Family Law 2026: Syllabus, Topics, Notes, Preparation Tips

AIBE 21 Family Law Syllabus 2026

The detailed AIBE 21 syllabus for Family Law, topics, sub-topics and important cases below:

Family Law 1 - Syllabus, Topics and Important Laws

Unit I: Marriage under Hindu Law

Concept of marriage in general: Nature of Hindu Marriage; Applicability of Legislation (Section 2 of HMA, 1955); Conditions for the validity of marriage (sections 3 and 5 of HMA, 1955); Solemnisation of marriage with special reference to live in relationship (section 7 of HMA, 1955 r/w Section 114 Indian Evidence Act); Registration of Marriage (section 8 of HMA, 1955); Void marriages (sections 11 r/w 17, 18 of HMA, 1955 r/w section 494 and 495 IPC); Voidable marriage (section 12).

Important Cases on Marriage Under Hindu Law:

1. Dr. Surajmani Stella Kujur v. Durga Charan Hansdah, AIR 2001 SC 938

2. S. Nagalingam v. Sivagami (2001) 7 SCC 487

3. Bhaurao Shankar Lokhande v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1965 SC 1564

4. Lily Thomas v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 1650

5. Pinninti Venkataramana v. State, AIR 1977 AP 43

6. Asha Qureshi v. Afaq Qureshi, AIR 2002 MP 263

7. Court On Its Own Motion Lajja ... vs State, 2012 (193) DLT 61

8. P. v. K., AIR 1982 Bom. 400

9. Babui Panmato Kuer v. Ram Agya Singh, AIR 1968 Pat. 190

10. Seema v. Ashwani Kumar (2006) 2 SCC 578

Unit II: Matrimonial Remedies under Hindu Law

Restitution of Conjugal Rights (Section 9 of HMA, 1955); Judicial Separation [section 10 and 13 (IA) of HMA, 1955]; (2), 13 (1A), 13 A, 13B of HMA, 1955)

Important Cases for Matrimonial Remedies under Hindu Law

1. Kailashwati v. Ayudhia Parkash, 1977 C.L.J. 109 (P.& H.)

2. Swaraj Garg v. K.M. Garg, AIR 1978 Del. 296

3. Saroj Rani v. Sudarshan Kumar, AIR 1984 SC 1562

4. N.G. Dastane v. S. Dastane, AIR 1975 SC 1534

5. Sanjeev Gupta v Ritu Gupta, 2019 SCC Online All 2255, decided on 25 May, 2019)

6. Samar Ghosh v. Jaya Ghosh, 2007 (3) SCJ 253

7. Bipinchandra Jaisinghbai Shah v. Prabhavati, AIR 1957 SC 176

8. Dharmendra Kumar v. Usha Kumar, AIR 1977 SC 2213

9. T. Srinivasan v. T. Varalakshmi, 1 (1991) DMC 20 (Mad.)

10. Hirachand Srinivas Managaonkar v. Sunanda, AIR 2001 SC 1285

11. Sureshta Devi v. Om Prakash, 1 (1991) DMC 313 (SC)

12. Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur, SC, (decided on 12 Sep, 2017)

Unit III: Maintenance under Hindu Law

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, sections 24 and 25;The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, section 18; The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, section 125; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005.

Important Cases for Maintenance Under Hindu Law

1. Amar Kanta Sen v. Sovana Sen, AIR 1960 Cal. 438

2. D.Velusamy v. D.Patchaiammal (2010) 10 SCC 469

3. Badshah v. Sou. Urmila Badshah Godse & Anr(2014)1SCC188 Padmja Sharma v. Ratan Lal Sharma, AIR 2000 SC 1398

Unit IV: Adoption( Read With CARA Guidelines 2017)

The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956

Important Cases for Adoption

1. Brijendra v. State of M.P., AIR 2008 SC 1058

2. In Re: Adoption of Payal at Sharinee Vinay Pathak and his wife Sonika Sahay Pathak, 2010 (1) Bom CR 434

3. Shabnam Hashmi v. Union of India (UOI) and Ors. 2014 (2) SCALE529 04 Manju Sharma v.Vipin, 2019 SCC Online Del 8960 (decided on 1 July, 2019)

Unit V: Minority and Guardianship under Hindu Law

The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956

Important Cases for Minority and Guardianship Under Hindu Law

1. Githa Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India (1999) 2 SCC 228

Unit VI: Sources and Schools of Muslim Law Unit VII: Marriage under Muslim law

Nikah - Solemnisation of Marriage – conditions for validity, classification and types; Dower

Important Cases for Marriage under Muslim Law

1. Ms. Ghulam Kubra Bibi v. Mohd. Shafi Mohd. Din, AIR 1940 Pesh. 2

2. Chand Patel v. Bismillah Begum, 1 (2008) DMC 588 (SC)

3. Saiyid Rashid Ahmad v. Mt. Anisa Khatun, AIR 1932 PC 25

Unit VIII: Divorc e under Muslim Law

Extra-judicial - Talaq, Khula, Mubarat (b) Judicial - The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939

Important cases for Divorc e under Muslim Law

1. Shamim Ara v. State of U.P., 2002 Cr LJ 4726 (SC)

2. Masroor Ahmed v. Delhi (NCT) 2008 (103) DRJ 137 (Del.)

3. Ghulam Sakina v. Falak Sher Allah Baksh, AIR 1950 Lah.45

4. A. Yousuf Rawther v. Sowramma, AIR 1971 Ker. 261

5. Itwari v. Asghari, AIR 1960 All. 684

6. Shayara Bano v UOI, SC, decided on 22 August, 2017

Unit IX: Maintenance under Muslim law

Important Cases for Maintenance Under Muslim Law:

• Danial Latifi v. Union of India (2001) 7 SCC 740

• Noor Saba Khatoon v. Mohd. Quasim, AIR 1997 SC 3280

Preparation tips for AIBE 21 Family Law 2026

Here are some of the preparation tips for acing the Family Law subject of AIBE 2026:

Prepare short notes during preparation: Candidates are advised to make short notes of important concepts and topics they study. Making short notes will help candidates memorize concepts better and regain the studied topics during revision.

Practice AIBE Previous Year Question Papers: Practicing previous year AIBE question papers is a very good way of understanding the pattern of the AIBE exam. Also, these previous year question papers will give candidates an idea of where they stand in their preparation.

Read Case Laws: Candidates are advised to read the important case laws related to Family Law. Reading the case laws is the best way to understand the practicality of concepts that candidates studied in their preparation.

Revise Regularly: Revision is the key when it comes to acing even the hardest subjects. Candidates must make sure that they regularly revise whatever they have learnt during the course of preparation.

Best Books for AIBE 21 Family Law

Here are some of the recommended books for AIBE 2026 Family Law preparation:

1. Ranganath Misra (Rev.), Mayne’s Treatise on Hindu Law & Usage

2. Satyajeet A. Desai, Mulla’s Principles of Hindu Law

3. Paras Diwan, Law of Marriage and Divorc e

4. M. Hidayatulla and Arshad Hidayatulla, Mulla’s Principles of Mohomedan Law

5. Tahir Mahmood, Fyzee’s Outlines of Muhammedan Law

6. H.S. Sharma, Law of Inheritance and Family Laws

7. K. A. Kadir, Islamic Family Law in a Changing World
8. A. N. Saha, Principles of Family Law