Supreme Court Seeks National Digital Registry for Advocates and Social Media Code (2026)

Overview The Supreme Court on 18 June 2026 issued notices to the Union Government, the Bar Council of India , State Bar Councils and the University Grants Commission. The notices were in response to a writ petition filed by the Bar Association of India (BAI) seeking a national mechanism to verify advocates and a code of conduct for their social‑media activity. Key Developments The petition proposes the creation of the National Digital Registry for the Legal Profession of India (NDRLP) . The petition also asks the Bar Council of India to frame a Social Media and Digital Conduct Code for advocates. Chief Justice Surya Kant highlighted the need to protect and train young lawyers, stressing that most advocates are responsible professionals. The Court allowed the petitioner to place a supplementary policy paper outlining a workable model before involving all law universities. The Court hinted at constituting a fresh committee to examine the verification mechanism, noting that earlier delays have led to the current crisis. Important Facts According to the Bar Council of India, 35‑40 % of individuals practising before courts may be fake advocates. The proposed NDRLP would contain a Unique National Advocate Identifier , real‑time enrolment status, disciplinary records and QR‑verifiable public profiles. The existing advocate rolls are fragmented across State Bar Councils, lacking a publicly verifiable national database. The petition also seeks a mandatory pre‑enrolment online course on professional conduct for all new advocates. UPSC Relevance These developments touch upon several UPSC syllabus areas. The role of the Chief Justice of India illustrates the functioning of the judiciary (GS2). The proposal for a national digital registry reflects the government's use of technology for governance and transparency (GS3). The need for a professional code of conduct aligns with ethics and accountability in public life (GS4). Understanding the structure of the Bar Council of India and the Bar Association of India helps in answering questions on legal institutions and regulatory frameworks. Way Forward The Court is likely to direct the Bar Council of India to draft a detailed framework for the NDRLP, possibly after consulting law universities and state bar councils. A phased rollout—starting with a pilot model—may be recommended to avoid delays. Simultaneously, a draft Social Media and Digital Conduct Code will be prepared, focusing on training young lawyers and penalising misuse. Stakeholders, including law schools and bar associations, will be invited to submit suggestions before finalisation.