Syllabus for Karnataka Judiciary (Civil Judge / KJS) 2025
Contents
Exam Stages & Pattern
| Stage | Type | Papers / Components | Marks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Objective / Screening | Part A (Civil Law) Part B (Criminal Law) Part C (General Knowledge + Reasoning) | 100 (total) | Qualifying in nature; marks not counted for final merit. |
| Main / Written Exam (Mains) | Descriptive + Some objective | Translation Paper Law Paper I Law Paper II Law Paper III | Each paper 100 marks (total 400) | Some papers have a mix of objective (20 marks) + descriptive (60 marks) alongside purely descriptive portions. |
| Viva-Voce / Interview | Oral | Assessment of legal & general knowledge, personality, expression | 100 | Combined with Mains for final ranking. |
| Computer Test | Practical / Skill | Computer knowledge test | 25 | Marks are considered for assessing computer skills, but not added to the written + viva total. |
Preliminary Examination — Syllabus
The Prelims has three parts, each objective.
| Part | Subject / Focus | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Part A (Civil Law) | Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 Transfer of Property Act, 1882 Indian Contract Act, 1872 Specific Relief Act, 1963 Karnataka Rent Act, 1999 Constitution of India Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 | |
| Part B (Criminal Law) | Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Indian Penal Code, 1860 Indian Evidence Act, 1872 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | |
| Part C (General Knowledge, Reasoning & Mental Ability) | Current affairs General knowledge Reasoning / mental ability |
Qualifying marks for Prelims: 60 for General category, 50 for SC/ST.
Main Written Examination (Mains) — Syllabus
The Mains is divided into four papers. Each is 100 marks.
| Paper | Type / Focus | Syllabus / Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Translation Paper | Translation (English ↔ Kannada) | Passages from depositions, judgments, documents, legal texts, etc. |
| Law Paper I | Core substantive & procedural law | ● Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 ● Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ● Indian Evidence Act, 1872 ● Constitution of India ● Principles of Pleading ● Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ● Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 ● (Some sources include local laws) |
| Law Paper II | Civil judgments & issues | Framing of Issues in civil cases Writing Judgments in civil matters |
| Law Paper III | Criminal judgments & charges | Framing of Charges Writing Judgments in criminal matters |
Minimum passing marks in Mains papers: 50 for General, 40 for SC/ST.
Viva-Voce / Interview
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Marks | 100 |
| Focus | Legal knowledge & reasoning Awareness of current legal developments Personality, expression, temperament, clarity of thought General knowledge & suitability for judicial office |
