LI Network
Published on: 28 July, 2025 23:59 IST
According to the latest data shared by the Ministry of Law and Justice, India now has approximately 2.01 million (20 lakh) registered advocates across the country. This figure was presented in a response to queries in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the rapid growth of the legal profession nationwide.
Among the states, Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest number of advocates, totaling 400,016 registered lawyers. Maharashtra and Goa come next with 191,394 advocates, followed by Delhi with 149,655 registered legal professionals.
This surge marks a significant increase compared to past statistics. Back in 2011, the estimated number of advocates was around 1.4 million. Since then, rising demand for legal services across diverse sectors has fueled steady growth within the profession.
As per the 2023 Law Ministry statement, roughly 20 lakh advocates are enrolled with various State Bar Councils. However, the exact active strength may vary due to factors such as inactive or deceased members who remain listed in official records. The Bar Council of India (BCI) and State Bar Councils regularly update these rolls, but some discrepancies can persist.
Historical data offers additional perspective: a 2011 Right to Information (RTI) response from the BCI reported about 1.3 million lawyers, reflecting an average annual growth rate of close to 4% between 2007 and 2011. Earlier projections from the BCI’s Vision Statement 2011-13 estimated around 1.2 million advocates, while notable figures like former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi mentioned numbers between 1.3 to 1.4 million lawyers as recently as 2018.
Given this upward trajectory and the most recent official update, the current figure of approximately 20 lakh registered advocates is widely accepted as a reliable estimate as of March 2025. For the latest and most accurate numbers, interested parties should consult the official databases of the Bar Council of India and respective State Bar Councils, which maintain the official advocate enrollments.