Judicial service exam the foundational entry point for aspiring legal professionals seeking to join the subordinate judiciary, typically leading to the position of Civil Judge (Junior Division). This comprehensive recruitment process, conducted by State Governments in consultation with the High Courts, ensures the selection of competent officers who will preside over lower courts across India.
Judicial Services Exams State List
State wise judicial exams in India is given according to state-specific guidelines. Exams for the Judicial Service are held virtually every year in all of India’s states. The section below is a list of state-by-state judicial exams.
Note: Age limitations, the maximum number of attempts, the official language, and other requirements are specific to each of these states in order to be eligible to take the Judicial Exam.
Standard Examination Structure and Eligibility
The selection process for judicial officers is highly competitive and generally consists of three distinct qualifying stages across all state-based judicial service commissions.
A. The Three Stages of Recruitment
- Preliminary Test (Prelims): This initial stage uses objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs). It serves primarily as a screening test to select candidates for the main examination.
- Main Examination (Mains): This crucial descriptive phase evaluates a candidate’s academic merit, legal writing ability, research potential, and analytical skills. Marks scored in the Mains exam are used to determine the final merit list.
- Personal Interview (Viva-Voce): The final stage assesses candidates’ personal characteristics, communication skills, and overall suitability for judicial services. Candidates must achieve minimum qualifying marks in the interview to be eligible for final selection (e.g., typically 20 out of 50 marks). Documents listing 215 commonly asked interview questions are available to guide preparation for this stage.
B. Eligibility Requirements
Standard eligibility requirements for judicial service typically include:
- Must be an Indian citizen.
- Must possess an LLB degree from an accredited Indian university.
- The minimum age to take the judicial test is 21 years, and candidates cannot generally be older than 35 years, although this is subject to change based on reservation requirements and state rules.
- In some states, candidates are required to be registered as an advocate under the Advocates Act of 1961.
In a landmark decision on May 20, the Supreme Court restored the requirement that applicants for entry-level posts in the judicial service must have a minimum of three years of experience as advocates. This requirement aims to ensure that new judges possess practical knowledge of the courts and the litigation process. The practice period may be calculated from the date of provisional enrollment.
II. The Proposed All India Judicial Service (AIJS)
The All India Judicial Service (AIJS) is a proposed service designed to centralise recruitment for district and additional district judges, modelled on the UPSC administrative services.
A. History and Rationale
The proposal for an AIJS was first suggested during the Chief Justices’ Conference in 1961 to remove any scope for executive or judicial intervention in appointments. In 1976, the Constitution was amended during the Emergency to provide for an AIJS under Article 312.
Proponents argue that a centralised system offers several benefits:
- Uniform Standards: AIJS would establish a single national standard for eligibility and selection, guaranteeing that appointments are based purely on merit.
- Talent Distribution: A centralised cadre would facilitate interstate mobility, ensuring judicial officers are deployed to areas where they are most needed, such as districts struggling with backlogs or chronic shortages.
- Standardised Training: AIJS would allow for the establishment of uniform training programs for all newly recruited judges, covering legal knowledge, ethics, impartiality, gender sensitivity, forensic evidence, and technology.
- Judicial Independence: A centralised recruitment body can be structurally insulated from localized political pressures, reinforcing judicial independence at the grassroots level.
B. Promotional Hierarchy
The proposed promotional hierarchy for “All India Judicial Service” Group ‘A’ gazetted officers is designed from bottom to top:
| Rank (Bottom) | Rank (Mid-Tier) | Rank (Top) |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Magistrate 2nd Class cum Munsif Judge | Chief Judicial Magistrate cum Sub-Judge/Chief Metropolitan Magistrate | Additional Justice of Supreme Court/Justice of State High Court |
| Judicial Magistrate 1st Class cum Munsif Judge/Additional Civil Judge | Additional District and Session Judge/Judge of Family Court | Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India |
III. State-Wise Examination Patterns and Syllabi
The syllabus and examination pattern vary significantly across Indian states, reflecting local legal requirements and language proficiency needs.
A. Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS J)
The UP PCS J Prelims exam consists of two objective papers: General Knowledge (150 marks) and Law (300 marks), with a negative marking of 0.33 for each wrong answer.
| Mains Paper | Subjects and Focus Areas | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Law-I (Substantive Law) | Includes Constitutional Law, Law of Contracts, Hindu Law, Mohammedan Law, and Transfer of Property Law. | 200 |
| Law III (Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws) | Focuses on the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, U.P. Municipalities Act, and U.P. Panchayat Raj Act. | 200 |
| Language | English Essay, English Précis writing, and translation between Hindi and English. | 200 (100 English + 100 Hindi) |
B. Bihar Judicial Services
The Bihar Judiciary Prelims consists of General Studies (100 marks) and Law topics (150 marks). The Mains exam requires candidates to take five mandatory papers and choose three optional papers from a list of five.
| Mandatory Papers | Key Features | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Hindi & General English | Must be cleared with a minimum qualifying score of 33 out of 100. | 100 each |
| General Knowledge/General Studies | Covers Current Affairs, Indian History, Polity, and Elementary General Science. | 150/100 |
| Law of Evidence and Procedure | Includes the Indian Evidence Act, Civil Procedure Code, and Criminal Procedure Code. | 150 |
C. Delhi Judicial Services (DJS)
The DJS Prelims exam has a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. The Mains exam includes four descriptive papers.
| Mains Paper | Key Features | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Legal Knowledge & Language | Language section evaluates proficiency in English and requires translation of English passage into Hindi (Devnagri Script) and vice-versa. | 250 (100 + 150) |
| Civil Law-I & Civil Law-II | Covers substantive civil law topics. | 200 each |
| Criminal Law | Covers Criminal Law topics. | 200 |
D. Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge (MPCJ)
The MP Civil Judge Prelims is a 150-mark objective exam with no negative marking. The Mains exam features four descriptive papers.
| Mains Paper | Focus Area | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Constitution, Civil Law, and Procedure. | 100 |
| Paper 2 | Court Practice, Writing Skills, and Translation. | 100 |
| Paper 3 | Local Law (M.P. Land Revenue Code, M.P. Accommodation Act), Criminal Law, and Procedure. | 100 |
| Paper 4 | Judgment Writing. | 100 |
E. Rajasthan Judicial Services (RJS)
The RJS Prelims exam consists of 100 questions and carries no negative marking. The syllabus includes core laws, language proficiency in Hindi and English, and local statutes.
| Mains Paper | Key Features | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Law Paper I & II | Includes the Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001. Paper I focuses on Civil Procedure and Substantive Law, and Paper II on Criminal Law, Evidence, and Acts like the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. | 300 (Total) |
| Language Papers (Hindi & English) | Descriptive papers focusing on composition, essay writing, and grammar. | 35 (Interview) + Mains |
F. West Bengal Judicial Service (WBJS)
The WBJS Mains exam is extensive, including eight compulsory papers and three optional papers.
| Compulsory Paper | Key Features | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Language Composition | Includes Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali composition, essay, and translation. | 100 |
| Other Compulsory Papers | English Composition, General Knowledge/Current Affairs, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code/IPC, Indian Evidence Act, Law of Contracts and Torts, and Transfer of Property Act. | 100 each |
G. Emerging Legal and Procedural Developments
Judiciary examination syllabi are adapting to reflect legal changes and technological integration.
- New Criminal Codes: Syllabi are incorporating the newly introduced criminal codes, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), replacing the IPC, CrPC, and IEA, respectively.
- Technology and AI: Judicial education programs now cover topics such as legal frameworks governing digital transactions, the evidentiary value of electronic records, and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency).
IV. Conclusion
The Indian Judicial Service Examination is a rigorous process designed to select officers who possess not only profound legal knowledge but also the requisite judicial temperament. Success hinges on a clear understanding of the three-stage examination pattern (Prelims, Mains, Interview) and mastery of the legal syllabus, which is customized to each state’s unique civil, criminal, and local laws.
Aspiring judicial officers must diligently prepare by combining traditional resource study, such as mastering Bare Acts, with consistent practice in descriptive answer writing for the Mains exam. Furthermore, judicial education, provided by institutions like the National Judicial Academy (NJA) and State Judicial Academies (SJAs), focuses on advanced skills such as judgment writing, case management, and the incorporation of technology and AI. By adhering to a strategic and holistic preparation approach, candidates can maximise their chances of securing a fulfilling career dedicated to serving justice.
