Judiciary Exams 2025 - Complete

Guide
Introduction
The Provincial Civil Service Judicial Exam (PCS-J) is an entrance exam for law graduates who wish to
serve in an Indian court. It is conducted by state judicial authorities to fill positions in lower-level
administration. This career path is highly beneficial for those seeking to work in public service. This blog
provides a comprehensive list of all state-level PCS (J) examinations, its scope, as well as eligibility
requirements and course outlines.

Scope
The High Courts in a given state are responsible for supervising the state’s subordinate courts. In
India, law school graduates can take the PCS-J exam to be selected as a:

 District Magistrate
 Additional District Magistrate, or
 District Court Judge

Following the guidance of the Supreme Court, the various state governments appoint members who
have passed the Judicial Services Examinations to these positions.

Read More – How to prepare for judicial Service examination

Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for Judicial Service Examination may vary from state to state; however, the
common requirements are as follows:

 The candidate must have Indian Nationality.

 Must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (Five-year/three year LLB) from a recognized
Indian University.
 The aspirant must be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act 1961 and possess
membership in the State Bar Council.
 For higher Judiciary Services, the candidate must have practiced for a minimum of seven years in
litigation, along with the aforementioned criteria.

State-wise eligibility for the PCS-J exams must be confirmed from their official websites and examination
portals. Criteria for some of the major state level Judiciary exams are as follows:

States Conducting PCS-J Examination: The examination is conducted by the 24 Indian sates namely:

 Arunachal Pradesh
  Assam
 Bihar
 Chhattisgarh
 Goa
 Delhi
 Himachal Pradesh
 Haryana
 Jammu & Kashmir
 Jharkhand
 Karnataka
 Kerala
 Madhya Pradesh
 Maharashtra
 Manipur
 Mizoram
 Nagaland
 Odisha
 Punjab
 Rajasthan
 Sikkim
 Uttarakhand
 Uttar Pradesh
 West Bengal

Age Limit for the PCS-J examinations vary from state to state:

 Madhya Pradesh Judiciary Exam- 21 years to 35 years

 Bihar Judicial Services Exam- 22 years to 35 years
 Rajasthan Judiciary Exam- 23 years to 35 years
 Haryana Civil Judge Exam- 21 years to 42 years
 Delhi Judiciary Exam- No minimum age but the maximum age limit is 32 years
 UP Judiciary Exam- 22 years to 35 years
 West Bengal Judiciary Exam- 23 years to 35 years
 Chhattisgarh Judiciary Exam- 21 years to 35 years
 Karnataka Judiciary Exam- 21 years to 35 years
 Telangana Eligibility for Judiciary Exam:

Telangana High Court's Civil Judge

 Telangana High Court Civil Judge candidates must be Indian nationals and between the ages of
23 and 26.
 Candidates must hold a legal degree from a recognized Indian institution.
Telangana High Court's Junior Assistant

 Telangana High Court Junior Assistants must be between the ages of 18 and 34.
 Candidates must be Indian citizens.
 Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or similar qualification from a recognized university.

Telangana High Court District Judge

 Candidates for Telangana High Court District Judge must be between 35 and 48 years old and
have at least 7 years of experience as attorneys in the High Court or courts under its jurisdiction.

Telangana High Court Civil Judge (EWS, SC, ST, and BC categories)

 Telangana High Court Civil Judges can only be 40 years old.

Age relaxation

Candidates from the reserved categories are eligible for age relaxation. For example, SC/ST applicants
may be granted a three-year relaxation.

Syllabus [State wise]

There is regional variation in the exam structure, eligibility standards, salary ranges, recruitment
procedures and exam syllabus of each state.

The exam is conducted in three stages in most of the states, namely:

 Preliminary (Objective) Examination

 Mains (Written) Examination
 Viva-Voce/ Interview

The standard topics that one must prepare if planning to sit for any of the PCS-J exams are as follows:

 General Awareness
 English Language and Comprehension
 Law of Torts
 Constitutional Law
 BNS
 Civil Procedure Code
 Indian Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
 Indian Contract Act

To confirm the Preliminary and Mains syllabus and find the detailed list of sub-tpoics, one must visit the
official website of the conducting authorities. Following is a list of important topics included in the
prevalent Judicial Services Examinations of some states:
State UP PCS-J (Uttar Pradesh)
Prelims
Paper 1 (General Knowledge) – (150 Marks, 2 Hours)

History, Indian Economy, Polity, Geography, Science and Technology, Current Affairs, Social Relevance

Paper 2 (Law) – (300 Marks, 2 Hours)

Indian Constitution, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Contract Law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), International Law,
and Transfer of Property Act

 Total Weightage- 450 MARKS (4 hours)

Mains
Paper 1 (General Knowledge)

 History, Geography, Polity, Current Affairs, Science, Indian Economy, Social Relevance

Paper 2 (English Language)

 Essay Writing, Précis Writing, Translation (Hindi to English)

Paper 3 (Hindi Language)

 Essay Writing, Précis Writing, Translation (English to Hindi)

Paper 4 (Law I - Substantive Law)

 Law of Contracts, Partnership, Easements, Torts, Transfer of Property, Principles of Equity, Trust,
Hindu & Mohammedan Law, Constitutional Law

Paper 5 (Law II - Procedure and Evidence)

 Law of Evidence, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Civil Procedure Code (CPC),
Pleading, Framing of Charges, Judgment Writing

Paper 6 (Law III - Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws)

 IPC, UP Revenue Code, UP Urban Building Act, UP Municipalities Act, UP Panchayat Raj Act, Local
Laws

AP PCS-J (Andhra Pradesh)

Prelims
Current Affairs and G.K
  Substantive Laws: The Indian Contract Act, Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act,
Easements Act, Specific Relief Act, Limitation Act, Transfer of Property Act, Indian Penal Code,
Negotiable Instruments Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Registration Act,
Indian Stamp Act, etc.
 Procedural Laws: Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam,
Criminal Rules of Practice etc.

Total Weightage- 100 MARKS (2 hours)

Mains
 Paper I- Civil Law (100 Marks, 3 Hours)
 Paper II- Criminal Law (100 Marks, 3 Hours)
 Paper III- English Translation, Essay Writing (Legal Topic) (25-Transaltion, 75- Essay; 3 Hours)

Total Weightage- 300 MARKS

WB PCS-J (West Bengal)

Prelims
 English composition – 30 marks
 Evidence law – 20 marks
 Law of Torts and Contracts – 20 marks
 Indian constitution – 20 marks
 Civil Procedure Codes – 20 marks
 General knowledge, test of reasoning, and current affairs – 40 marks
 Personal law – 10 marks
 CPC and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita – 20 marks
 Law of Limitation – 20 marks

Total Weightage- 200 MARKS (3 hours)

Mains
Compulsory Papers

 English Composition, précis writing, essay

 Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali Composition
 General Knowledge and Current Affairs
 Civil Procedure Code
 Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Penal Code
 Indian Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
 Law of Contracts and Torts
 Transfer of Property Act, Principles of Equity, Law of Trusts and Specific Relief Act

Optional Papers (Only 3 to be chosen)

  Hindu Law
 Muslim Law
 Jurisprudence
 Companies Law
 Partnership Act
 Principles of Equity
 Constitutional Law
 Law of Limitation and Law of Prescription

Total Weightage- 300 MARKS

UK PCS-J (Uttarakhand)
Prelims
 Paper I- General Knowledge (50 Marks, 3 Hours)
 Paper II – Law: Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Indian Constitution, Civil Procedure Code , Indian
Penal Code , Code of Criminal Procedure, etc. (150 Marks, 3 Hours)
 (Both parts in combined question paper)

Total Weightage- 200 MARKS (3 hours)

Mains
 Present-day: Jurisprudence, International law, Indian constitutional law, etc. (100 Marks)
 Language: Precis in English, English to Hindi or Hindi to English translation (100 Marks)
 Substantive law: Law of contracts, Law of trust, Property Laws, Hindu laws, etc. (200 Marks)
 Evidence and procedure: Law of evidence, BNS, CPC (200 Marks)
 Revenue and Criminal (200 Marks)
 Computer operation: Windows and the Internet, MS Office, etc. (100 Marks, 1 Hour)

Total Weightage- 1050 MARKS

Punjab PCS-J
Prelims
 Main subjects of law
 Indian legal and constitutional history and governance
 Current national and international events
 Aptitude, reasoning, and analytical skills

Total Weightage- 500 MARKS (2 hours)

Mains
 Paper I- Civil Law (200 Marks)
 Paper-II- Civil Law (200 Marks)
 Paper III- Criminal Law (200 Marks)
  Paper IV- English (200 Marks)
 Paper V- Punjabi translations from Gurumukhi script (200 Marks)

Total Weightage- 950 MARKS

Odisha PCS-J
Prelims
General Knowledge, Constitution of India, Code of Criminal Procedure, Code of Civil Procedure,
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Transfer of Property Act, The Limitation Act
1963, etc.

Total Weightage- 100 MARKS (1.5 hours)

Mains
Compulsory Papers:

 Paper 1- General knowledge, procedural laws,

Total: 300 Marks

Optional Papers:

 Jurisprudence and Constitution of India

 Law of criminal Laws and Torts
 Personal Laws
 Property Laws
 Law of Contract

(150 Marks for each paper, 3 hours for each paper)

Total Weightage- 450 MARKS

Maharashtra PCS-J
Prelims
 Legal Knowledge – Constitution of India, BNS, CPC, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Law of
Contracts, Partnership Act, etc.

Total Weightage- 100 MARKS (2 hours)

Mains
 Paper I: CPC, The Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Law of Contracts, Sales of Gppds
Act, Partnership Act. (100 Marks, 3 hours)
 Paper II: IPC, The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, The Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes Act
1989, etc., Legal Essay (approx. 800 words) (100 Marks, 3 hours)
Total Weightage- 200 MARKS

Kerala PCS-J
Prelims
 Constitution, BNS, CPC, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Law of Contracts, Partnership Act,
General Knowledge, Constitution of India, etc.

Total Weightage- 200 MARKS (2.5 hours)

Mains
Paper – I

 General Essays (two).

 English Grammar
 Precis writing
 Translation of Malayalam Depositions/Documents to English and vice-versa

Paper – II

Part A: Indian Contract Act,Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Limitation Act, Kerala Building
(Lease and Rent Control) Act, Easements Act, Indian Succession Act – Parts V, VI & X, Hindu Succession
Act, Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act.

Part B: Kerala Municipality Act Ch.X, X, XXIV & XXV, Kerala Stamp Act, Kerala Court Fees and Suits
Valuation Act, The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act -Ch X, XI, XXIA &XXIII, Negotiable Instruments Act (except Ch
XVII), Kerala State Legal Services Authorities Act, and Registration Act.

Paper – III

Part A: Indian Evidence Act, Indian Penal Code, Negotiable Instruments Act -Ch. XVII, Abkari Act, The
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Part B: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, Probation of Offenders Act, Kerala Police
Act, Forest Act, N.D.P.S. Act.

Paper - IV-

Part A: Code of Civil Procedure, Civil Rules of Practice, Kerala Civil Act, and Order in Interlocutory
Application Framing of Courts issues/Judgment writing (Civil).

Part B: Code of Criminal Procedure, Criminal Rules of Practice, and Framing of charges/Order in Criminal
Miscellaneous Petitions Judgment writing (Criminal).

Total Weightage- 400 MARKS

Karnataka PCS-J
Prelims
 Specific Relief Act, Personal Law, Transfer of Property Act, Constitution of India, Principle of
Hindu Laws, Karnataka Rent Act, etc.

Total Weightage- 100 MARKS (2.5 hours)

Mains
 Paper I: Documents, Depositions, and Judgments
 Paper II: Indian Constitution, Civil Procedure Code, Principles of Pleading, etc.
 Paper III: Framing of issues and drafting judgments in civil laws
 Paper IV: Framing of charges and drafting judgments

Total Weightage- 400 MARKS

Jharkhand PCS-J
Prelims
 Current affairs, General Knowledge, BNS, CPC, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Contract law,
Partnership Act, Constitution of India, etc.

Total Weightage- 100 MARKS (2 hours)

Mains
 Paper – I: Contract Law, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, CPC, BNS etc.
 Paper – II: The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, The Transfer of Property Act, The Negotiable
Instruments Act, The Contract Act, etc.
 Paper – III: The Hindu Law and The Mohammedan Law, Jurisprudence, Rent Control Law, etc.
 Paper – IV: Hindi and English language test including translation, essay writing, précis writing,
and paraphrasing.

Total Weightage- 400 MARKS

HP PCS-J (Himachal Pradesh)

Prelims
 Civil Law-I: BSA, Code of Civil Procedure, Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976, Indian Stamp Act,
and Specific Relief Act.
 Civil Law-II: The Indian Contract Act, Indian Limitation Act, Hindu Law, H.P. Urban Rent Control
Act, and Transfer of Property Act.
 Criminal Law: Negotiable Instruments Act (Sections 138-143), BNS, BNSS, H.P. Excise Act, 2011,
Indian Forest Act, Wild Life Protection Act, and topics on judicial sensitivity to sexual offences.
Mains
 PAPER- I- Civil Law-I: CPC, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, etc. (100
Marks, 1 Hour)
 PAPER- II- Civil Law-II: Indian Contract Act, Hindu Law, Indian Limitation Act, Transfer of Property
Act, and H.P. Urban Rent Control Act (100 Marks, 1 Hour)
 PAPER- III- Criminal Law: Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Negotiable Instruments
Act, H.P. Excise Act-2011 ad applicable to the State of H.P., Wildlife Protection Act and Indian
Forest Act (100 Marks, 1 Hour)
 PAPER – IV- English Composition: 1 out of 3 Essay Topics (100 Marks Translation- Hindi Passage
into English (50 Marks) Total 150 marks
 PAPER – V Language- Hindi: Translation of English passage into Hindi (30 Marks); Essay in Hindi-1
out of 3 Essay Topics (50 Marks); Idioms, passage, composition, etc. (20 Marks) [100 Marks]

Total Weightage- 500 MARKS

The topics covered on the Mains examination in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,
Nagaland, Mizoram, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir would be quite similar, which is as follows:

 Paper I: Essay, Comprehension, precise writing, Language assessment in form of grammar, etc.
 Paper II: Aptitude Test (objective type)
 Paper III: Contract Law in India, the Indian Constitution, the Civil Procedure Code, etc.
 Paper IV: Law of Torts, BNS, Indian Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Indian Penal Code, etc.

The weightage of marks and maximum marks can be found in the detailed notification that is duly
released on the official websites of the official consulting body of each state.

State-Wise Judiciary Examinations 2023

Exams Official Notification
Andhra Pradesh Civil Judge Exam https://aphc.gov.in/recruitment.html

Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Exam https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/

Chhattisgarh Judicial Service

https://psc.cg.gov.in/
Examination

https://delhihighcourt.nic.in/recruitment/genral/
Delhi Judicial Service Examination
current

Gujarat Judicial Services Civil Judge Exam https://gujarathighcourt.nic.in/currentopenings

 Exams Official Notification

Karnataka Civil Judge (Junior Division) https://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/

Exam civilJudges2023.php

Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge Examination

https://mphc.gov.in/recruitment-result
(MPCJ)

Maharashtra Judiciary Exam https://mpsc.gov.in/announcement_and_circular/4

Odisha Judicial Services Examination https://www.opsc.gov.in/Public/OPSC/Default.aspx

Punjab Civil Service (Judicial) https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?

Examination mod=archive_recruit_judicial

https://tshc.gov.in/documents/
Telangana Judicial Service Exam
NORMAL_Recruitment_2025_01_02T17_26_51.pdf

U.P. Judicial Service Civil Judge (Junior

uppsc.up.nic.in
Division) Examination

Uttarakhand Judicial Service Civil Judge

https://psc.uk.gov.in/
Examination

https://www.calcuttahighcourt.gov.in/Notices/
West Bengal Judicial Service Examination
recruiment-notice