Category: Judiciary

Punjab recruits Civil Judges (Junior Division) cum Judicial Magistrates through the Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) exam, conducted by the Punjab Public Service Commission with the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The last cycle, for 159 posts, ended with the final result on 12 October 2023, and no new advertisement has been issued as of October 2026. The exam has a compulsory Punjabi paper in Gurmukhi and three 200-mark law papers. Here is the structure under the PCS (Judicial Branch) Rules, 1951, as applicable to Punjab.

Status

• Last cycle: 159 posts. Prelims in January 2023, mains written result 26 July 2023, final result 12 October 2023.
• Next cycle: no advertisement on the PPSC site as of 24 October 2026.

Eligibility

• Degree: an LL.B. that entitles you to enrol as an advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961.
• Practice: the Punjab rules as published (updated to August 2024) contain no practice requirement. Whatever the rules say, the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment in Bhumika Trust will govern the next advertisement: if issued by 31 March 2027, it is open to all law graduates, and later advertisements require one year of certified practice. See the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.
• Age: the rules fix 21 to 35 years (40 for SC, ST and BC) on the last date of application, or such age as the government fixes. Advertisements have used a higher government-fixed limit, so check the figure in the advertisement.
• Punjabi: the Punjabi paper in Gurmukhi script is set at the matriculation standard of the Punjab School Education Board and needs at least 33 percent.

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam

An objective screening test. The rules do not prescribe its pattern, so check the number of questions, marks and negative marking in the advertisement. Prelims marks do not count in the merit.

Mains (under the rules)

The law papers are 3 hours each, with bare Acts supplied. A paper counts only if you score at least 33 percent in it. To be called for viva you need 50 percent aggregate in the written papers (45 percent for SC, ST, BC and persons with disabilities). The final merit is written plus viva; on a tie, the older candidate ranks higher.

Syllabus

• Civil Law I: CPC, Punjab Courts Act, Contract, Sale of Goods, Partnership, Specific Relief and Evidence.
• Civil Law II: Hindu law, Muslim law and customary law, and registration and limitation.
• Criminal Law: penal law, criminal procedure and evidence.
• English Composition: essays on general subjects.
• Punjabi: matriculation-level Punjabi in Gurmukhi script.

New criminal laws

The rules still name the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, which were replaced by the BNS, BNSS and BSA on 1 July 2024. Prepare the new laws as the main text, with the old section numbers for reference.

Preparation priorities

• If Punjabi is not your first language, start now: the paper is compulsory and needs 33 percent.
• Customary law and the Punjab Courts Act are specific to this exam and to Haryana’s.
• Bare Acts are supplied in mains, so practise structuring answers rather than memorising sections.

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Rules, 1951 (Punjab), updated to 9 August 2024 (Punjab and Haryana High Court)
• Punjab Public Service Commission, notices for the 159-post Civil Judge (Junior Division) cum Judicial Magistrate cycle (2022-23)
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

Haryana recruits Civil Judges (Junior Division) through the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch) exam, run by the Haryana Public Service Commission with a selection committee of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The last advertisement, No. 01/2024, offered 174 posts, and no new one has been issued as of October 2026. On 7 August 2026 Haryana amended its rules to require 3 years of practice, a rule now overtaken for the next cycle by the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment. Here is the exam under the rules and the 2024 advertisement.

Status

• Last cycle: HCS (Judicial Branch) Exam 2023-24, Advertisement 01/2024 (1 January 2024), 174 posts. Prelims result 9 April 2024, mains result 24 August 2024, final result 16 October 2024.
• Next cycle: no advertisement on the HPSC site as of 24 October 2026.

Eligibility

• Degree: LL.B. from a university established by law and recognised by the Bar Council of India, plus basic computer knowledge.
• Practice: the Haryana amendment of 7 August 2026 requires at least 3 years of practice as an advocate, counted from provisional enrolment and supported by a certificate; law clerk and law researcher experience counts. Two weeks later, the Supreme Court’s Bhumika Trust judgment of 21 August 2026 provided that advertisements issued by 31 March 2027 are open to all law graduates, with one year of certified practice required after that. The rules will need to be amended again. See the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.
• Age: the rules fix 21 to 40 years (45 for SC, ST and BC) or such age as the government fixes. The 2024 advertisement used 21 to 42 years, with relaxations for Haryana SC and BC candidates, persons with disabilities, widows, divorced and unmarried women, and ex-servicemen.
• Hindi: there is a compulsory Hindi paper set at the matriculation standard of the Haryana school board.

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam (2024 advertisement)

• 125 objective questions in 2 hours, each with five options; option E means “not attempted”.
• A fifth of the question’s marks is deducted for every wrong answer and every question left blank. Leaving more than 10 percent of questions unmarked leads to disqualification, so always mark an option, including E.
• Qualifying score: 150 marks (100 for reserved categories other than EWS). Up to 10 times the posts go to mains. Prelims marks do not count in the merit.

Mains: five papers, 3 hours each, bare Acts supplied

Viva-voce

The rules as updated in August 2026 give the viva 200 marks. A paper counts only if you score at least 33 percent in it. To be called for viva you need 50 percent aggregate in the written papers (45 percent for SC, ST and BC), and to be appointed, 50 percent of written plus viva (45 percent for reserved categories).

Syllabus

• Civil Law I: CPC, Punjab Courts Act, Contract Act, Partnership Act, Sale of Goods Act, Specific Relief Act and Evidence. The 2024 advertisement also listed the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973.
• Civil Law II: Hindu law, Muslim law and customary law, and the law of registration and limitation.
• Criminal Law: penal law, criminal procedure and evidence.

New criminal laws

The Haryana rules still name the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. These were replaced by the BNS, BNSS and BSA on 1 July 2024, and the next advertisement is likely to reflect that. Prepare the new laws with the old section numbers alongside.

Preparation priorities

• The prelims penalises blanks as well as wrong answers. Practise deciding quickly between attempting and marking E.
• Customary law and the Punjab Courts Act are unique to Punjab and Haryana; give them dedicated time.
• English carries 200 marks; a strong essay can lift your rank considerably.

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Rules, 1951 as applicable to Haryana, updated to 7 August 2026 (Punjab and Haryana High Court)
• Haryana Public Service Commission, Advertisement No. 01/2024, HCS (Judicial Branch) Examination 2023-24
• HPSC results notices for the 2023-24 cycle
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

The Delhi High Court has not advertised the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) exam since the 2023 cycle, whose final result came out on 4 March 2025, but it substantially revised the DJS rules in February 2026. The amended rules add the new criminal laws to the syllabus, add commercial and IP laws, introduce one year of compulsory training, and wrote in a 3-year practice requirement that must now be read with the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment. Here is the exam as it stands under the Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970, as on 9 February 2026.

Status

• Last cycle: DJS Examination 2023, advertised 6 November 2023 with 53 vacancies. Final result and select list: 4 March 2025.
• Next cycle: no DJS advertisement as of 24 October 2026. (The Delhi Higher Judicial Service exam held in 2026 is a separate exam for experienced advocates.)

Eligibility

• Citizenship: Indian citizen.
• Practice: the rules as amended on 6 February 2026 require at least 3 years of practice as an advocate on the last date of application, counted from provisional enrolment, with law-clerk experience counted. This must now be read with the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment in Bhumika Trust, under which advertisements issued by 31 March 2027 are open to all law graduates and later advertisements require one year of certified practice. See the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.
• Age: not more than 32 years on 1 January of the year in which applications are invited. The 2023 advertisement gave up to 5 years’ relaxation for SC, ST and ex-servicemen, and 10 years (15 for SC and ST) for persons with disabilities.

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam (screening)

• One objective paper of 200 marks. The 2023 exam was 2.5 hours.
• Negative marking of 25 percent for each wrong answer.
• Qualifying marks: 60 percent (General) and 55 percent (reserved). Up to 10 times the vacancies go to mains. Prelims marks do not count in the merit.

Mains: 850 marks

Viva-voce: 150 marks

Up to three times the vacancies are called. To be called you need 40 percent in each paper and 50 percent in aggregate (35 and 45 percent for reserved categories). In the viva you need 50 percent (45 percent for reserved categories). The final merit is mains plus viva. Selected candidates now complete one year of compulsory training before presiding over a court.

Syllabus (as substituted in February 2026)

Prelims

General legal knowledge and aptitude; English; the Constitution; CPC; CrPC and BNSS; IPC and BNS; Contract Act; LLP Act, 2008; Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; Evidence Act and BSA; Specific Relief Act; Limitation Act; POCSO Act, 2012; Commercial Courts Act, 2015.

Civil Law I

Contract; Sale of Goods; Transfer of Property; Specific Relief; Hindu law; Muslim law; Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958; Torts; NDMC Act, 1994; DMC Act, 1957; Commercial Courts Act.

Civil Law II

CPC; Evidence Act and BSA; Limitation; Registration Act, 1908; Arbitration Act; Trade Marks Act, 1999; Copyright Act, 1957.

Criminal Law

CrPC and BNSS; IPC and BNS; Evidence Act and BSA; Domestic Violence Act, 2005; NI Act, 1881; POSH Act, 2013; Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Preparation priorities

• The prelims is tough: 25 percent negative marking with a 60 percent cut-off. Accuracy matters more than attempts.
• The new syllabus adds IP (trade marks and copyright), commercial courts and municipal laws. Few candidates have prepared these yet.
• The language paper carries 150 marks; practise précis and translation every week.

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970, as on 9 February 2026 (Delhi High Court)
• Delhi High Court, Advertisement for Delhi Judicial Service Examination 2023 (6 November 2023)
• Delhi High Court, final result of DJS Examination 2023 (4 March 2025)
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recruits Civil Judges through the Civil Judge, Junior Division (Entry Level) exam, and the last cycle, the 2022 exam advertised in November 2023, ended with 47 candidates selected on 12 November 2025. No new advertisement has been issued as of October 2026. The exam has a 150-question online prelims, four 100-mark mains papers including a full judgment-writing paper, and a 50-mark interview. This guide sets out the pattern and syllabus from the last official advertisement.

Last cycle: Exam 2022

The gap between mains and the final result was caused by litigation over the eligibility rule introduced in 2023, which went up to the Supreme Court. The post carries pay level J-1, Rs 77,840 to 1,36,520.

Eligibility

The practice and merit condition

In June 2023 MP amended its rules to require either 3 years of continuous practice, or an “outstanding” LL.B. record (all exams passed at the first attempt with at least 70 percent, or 50 percent for SC and ST). The Supreme Court declined to interfere with that rule in 2024. Since then, the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment in Bhumika Trust has set a national position: advertisements issued by 31 March 2027 are open to all law graduates, and later ones require one year of certified practice. MP’s next advertisement will have to follow this, so check its eligibility clause closely. See the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.

Age (2022 cycle)

21 to 35 years as on 1 January 2024, with 3 years’ relaxation for SC, ST, OBC and persons with disabilities, and up to 38 years for government servants. A one-time relaxation of 1 year was given because no exam was advertised in 2022. Candidates from outside MP are treated as unreserved.

Language

Papers are set in Hindi and English. You may answer the mains in either language, but must use one language throughout.

Service bond

Selected candidates must execute a bond of Rs 10 lakh to serve for at least 5 years.

Exam pattern

Online preliminary exam (screening)

• 150 multiple-choice questions, 150 marks, 120 minutes, bilingual.
• No negative marking was stated in the 2022 advertisement.
• Up to 10 times the posts are called for mains. Prelims marks do not count in the merit.

Mains: 4 papers, 100 marks each, 3 hours each

Interview: 50 marks

Up to three times the posts are called. The final merit is out of 450 (mains 400 plus interview 50). Minimum qualifying marks in each stage are set in the advertisement; they were changed for the last cycle and may change again, so check the next advertisement.

Prelims syllabus (2022 advertisement)

Questions may be based on Supreme Court and MP High Court Full Bench judgments.

New criminal laws

The 2022 advertisement was issued in November 2023, before the BNS, BNSS and BSA came into force on 1 July 2024, so it lists the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. The next advertisement is expected to move to the new laws. Prepare the new laws as the main text, and keep the old section numbers alongside.

Mains syllabus highlights

• Paper I: Constitution, CPC, Transfer of Property Act, Contract Act, Specific Relief Act and Limitation Act.
• Paper III: criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence, the NI Act (Chapters 13 and 17), the MP Land Revenue Code, 1959 and the MP Accommodation Control Act, 1961.
• Candidates are also expected to know the MP Civil Courts Act, 1958, the MP Civil Court Rules, 1961 and the MP Rules and Orders (Criminal).

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Advertisement for Civil Judge Junior Division (Entry Level) Exam 2022, dated 17 November 2023
• High Court of Madhya Pradesh, interview schedule and final result notice for Civil Judge Exam 2022 (12 November 2025)
• Supreme Court of India, Garima Khare v. High Court of Madhya Pradesh (order of 26 April 2024), as reported by LiveLaw
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

The Rajasthan High Court recruits Civil Judges through the Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS) Civil Judge Cadre exam, and its most recent cycle, advertised on 27 February 2025 for 44 posts, finished with the final result on 19 December 2025. No new advertisement has been issued as of October 2026. The exam has a 100-question prelims with no negative marking, a 300-mark mains and a 35-mark interview. Here is the full pattern, syllabus and eligibility, taken from the 2025 advertisement.

The 2025 cycle at a glance

The post is Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate, in the pay scale Rs 77,840 to 1,36,520. Of the 44 posts, 17 were General, 7 SC, 5 ST, 9 OBC, 4 EWS and 2 MBC.

Eligibility

• Degree: LL.B. (Professional) from a university established by law in India and recognised under the Advocates Act, 1961. Final-year students may apply but must hold the degree before the mains.
• Language: a thorough knowledge of Hindi written in Devanagari script, and of Rajasthani dialects and the social customs of Rajasthan.
• Age (2025 cycle): 21 to 40 years, counted on 1 January following the last date of application. Relaxation of 5 years for SC, ST, OBC, MBC, EWS and women, and 10 years for ex-servicemen (up to 50). Persons with benchmark disabilities get an additional 5 years. Reserved-category benefits are for Rajasthan domiciles only.
• Other conditions: no more than two children (born after the rules came into force), no acceptance of dowry, and no finding of professional misconduct.

Practice requirement

The 2025 advertisement came before the Supreme Court’s May 2025 ruling and had no practice condition. For the next cycle, the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment in Bhumika Trust will apply: an advertisement issued by 31 March 2027 is open to all law graduates, and later advertisements will require one year of certified practice. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam (qualifying)

• 100 objective questions, 100 marks, 2 hours, OMR answer sheet.
• No negative marking, so answer every question.
• 70 percent law (the Law Paper I and II syllabus) and 30 percent Hindi and English proficiency.
• Minimum to qualify: 45 percent (40 percent for SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen). Up to 15 times the vacancies go to mains. Prelims marks do not count in the merit.

Mains: 300 marks

To be called for interview you need 35 percent in each law paper and 40 percent in aggregate (30 and 35 percent for SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen).

Interview: 35 marks

Roughly three times the vacancies are called. The interview assesses record, personality, general knowledge and current affairs, and gives marks for knowledge of Rajasthani dialects and social customs. The final merit is out of 335, with a minimum of 40 percent (35 percent for reserved categories).

Syllabus

Law Paper I

Code of Civil Procedure; Constitution of India; Indian Contract Act; Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam and Indian Evidence Act; Limitation Act; Specific Relief Act; Transfer of Property Act; Interpretation of Statutes; Hindu law (marriage, adoption and maintenance, succession, minority and guardianship); Muslim law; Partnership Act; Sale of Goods Act; Registration Act; order and judgment writing. Rajasthan laws: the Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001, the Rajasthan Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1961 and the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956.

Law Paper II

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and CrPC; Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam and Evidence Act; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IPC; Juvenile Justice Act, 2015; Negotiable Instruments Act; Probation of Offenders Act; Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Indecent Representation of Women Act; POCSO Act; POSH Act, 2013; Information Technology Act, 2000; framing of charge and judgment writing. Rajasthan law: the Rajasthan Excise Act, 1950.

Language (prelims)

Hindi: word formation, word knowledge and correction, grammar, sentence correction, punctuation, idioms and proverbs, and technical terminology. English: tenses, articles, phrasal verbs and idioms, voice, narration, modals, synonyms and antonyms.

Preparation priorities

• Both old and new criminal laws are in the syllabus. Learn the new law and the corresponding old section together.
• Judgment and order writing appear in both law papers; practise full judgments under time.
• The four Rajasthan Acts are small but certain to be asked.

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• Rajasthan High Court, Advertisement for Civil Judge Cadre Direct Recruitment Exam 2025, No. RHC/Exam Cell/RJS/CivilJudgeCadre/2025/1287, 27 February 2025
• Rajasthan High Court recruitment notices for the 2025 cycle (prelims, results, interview)
• Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

UPPSC conducts the Uttar Pradesh Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam, known as UP PCS (J), and no new advertisement has been issued since the 2022 cycle. That cycle had 303 posts, with mains in March 2023 and the final result in August 2023. When the next advertisement comes, eligibility will be shaped by the Supreme Court’s August 2026 judgment in Bhumika Trust: if it is issued by 31 March 2027, law graduates without practice can apply. Here are the rules, pattern and syllabus from the U.P. Judicial Service Rules, 2001, as amended up to 30 January 2026.

Latest status

• Last cycle: Civil Judge (Junior Division) Exam 2022, Advertisement A-5/E-1/2022, 303 posts. Prelims was held on 12 February 2023 and the final result came on 30 August 2023.
• Next cycle: no advertisement on UPPSC as of 24 October 2026. No official date or vacancy figure has been announced.

Eligibility

Practice

UP amended its rules on 30 January 2026 to require at least 3 years of practice on the date of the advertisement, counted from provisional enrolment, in line with the Supreme Court’s May 2025 ruling. On 21 August 2026 the Supreme Court modified that ruling in Bhumika Trust: for advertisements issued up to 31 March 2027, all law graduates can apply and are deemed to have one year of practice, and from 1 April 2027 one year of certified practice will be required. UP’s rules will need to be amended again to reflect this. See the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.

Other conditions under the rules

• Degree: LL.B. from a university established by law in Uttar Pradesh, or another university recognised by the Governor (Rule 11).
• Age: 22 to 35 years on 1 July of the year following the year in which the notification is published. The upper limit is 5 years higher for SC, ST and other notified categories (Rule 10).
• Attempts: a maximum of 4.
• Language: a thorough knowledge of Hindi in Devanagari script.
• Disability reservation: 4 percent.

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam

UPPSC holds an objective preliminary exam as a screening test, as it did in February 2023. Its marks do not count in the final merit. Check the paper structure and negative marking in the advertisement when it is issued.

Mains (Appendix II of the rules): 1,000 marks

Interview

100 marks, added to the written total, so the final merit is out of 1,100. The Commission fixes the minimum marks for an interview call and may refuse an interview to candidates with inadequate marks in the law papers.

Syllabus highlights

• Paper 1 (General Knowledge) includes social legislation: the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, the Senior Citizens Act, the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Domestic Violence Act, the POSH Act, the PC-PNDT Act, the MTP Act, the Indecent Representation of Women Act and the POCSO Act.
• Paper 4 (Substantive Law): Contract, Partnership, Easements and Torts, Transfer of Property, Equity, Trusts and Specific Relief, Hindu and Muslim law, and Constitutional Law (50 marks).
• Paper 5 (Procedure and Evidence): Evidence, Criminal Procedure and Civil Procedure.
• Paper 6: criminal law (50 marks) and UP revenue and local laws (150 marks): the U.P. Revenue Code, 2006; the U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972; the U.P. Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021; the Municipalities Act; the Panchayat Raj Act; the Consolidation of Holdings Act; and the Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.

New criminal laws

Appendix II still names the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. A notification of 25 July 2025 added a clause that any enactment in the syllabus includes the enactment that replaces it. So the BNS, BNSS and BSA are part of the syllabus. Prepare them as the main texts, with the old section numbers for reference.

Preparation priorities

• Local laws are 150 marks. The Revenue Code and the rent laws decide ranks; most candidates under-prepare them.
• Write in both languages. The English and Hindi papers are 100 marks each and count in the merit.
• Track the advertisement date. An advertisement before 31 March 2027 opens the exam to fresh graduates.

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• U.P. Judicial Service Rules, 2001, consolidated up to 30 January 2026 (Allahabad High Court)
• Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, notifications and advertisements page (checked 24 October 2026)
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

BPSC advertised 173 Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts in the 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination on 23 February 2026, but the preliminary exam fixed for 3 June 2026 was postponed and no new date has been announced. The postponement followed a Supreme Court interim order in the case on the practice requirement for judicial service. That case was decided on 21 August 2026, and the judgment says advertisements issued after May 2025, like this one, are to follow its new eligibility directions. Here is where things stand, and the full pattern and syllabus so you can keep preparing.

Current status (as of 24 October 2026)

The Supreme Court gave states and High Courts three months from 21 August 2026 to amend their rules. Expect BPSC to issue a revised notice on eligibility and the prelims date after that. Keep an eye on bpsc.bihar.gov.in.

Vacancies: 173 posts

Women have 35 percent horizontal reservation, and 2 posts are reserved for orthopaedically disabled candidates. Reservation benefits are available only to Bihar domiciles; candidates from other states can apply in the unreserved category.

Eligibility

Practice: what the advertisement said, and what has changed

The advertisement required at least 3 years of practice as an advocate on 23 February 2026, following the Supreme Court’s May 2025 ruling. On 21 August 2026, in Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, the Court modified that ruling. For advertisements issued after the May 2025 judgment and up to 31 March 2027, every law graduate may apply and is deemed to have one year of practice, and the Court said advertisements already issued are to be governed by these directions. Selected candidates then undergo one year of academy training and one year of clerkship. BPSC has not yet announced how it will apply this to Advertisement 12/2026, for example whether it will reopen applications. Read our full explainer: the practice rule after Bhumika Trust.

Other conditions in the advertisement

• Degree: a law degree from a university or institution recognised by the Bar Council of India.
• Age: over 22 years on 1 August 2025, and under 35 years on 1 August 2022. The upper limit is 40 years for reserved categories, women and disabled candidates. Note the two different reckoning dates.
• Attempts: candidates outside the reserved categories (and other than women and disabled candidates) get a maximum of 5 attempts.
• Fee: Rs 100.

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam (objective, qualifying)

• Minimum qualifying marks: 45 percent (unreserved), 40 percent (reserved).
• Up to 10 times the vacancies are called for mains. Prelims marks do not count in the final merit.
• Under BPSC’s notice of 1 May 2026 for its MCQ exams, each question has five options, with option E meaning “not attempted”. A question left completely blank costs one-third of a mark, so always mark an option, including E.

Mains (descriptive, 3 hours per paper)

The five optional papers are: Constitutional and Administrative Law; Hindu Law and Muhammadan Law; Transfer of Property and Principles of Equity, including Trusts and Specific Relief; Contracts and Torts; and Commercial Law. The two language papers are qualifying only, so the papers that count total 850 marks.

Interview

100 marks, with candidates called at three times the vacancies. The qualifying mark is 35 percent. The final merit is mains plus interview.

Syllabus highlights

• Law of Evidence and Procedure now covers the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the CPC, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887, under the 2026 amendment to the Bihar rules quoted in the advertisement. Older syllabus copies still list the Evidence Act and CrPC; follow the advertisement.
• Constitutional Law: the whole Constitution, Articles 1 to 395 and the Schedules. Administrative Law: delegated legislation, natural justice, judicial review, writs, PIL, tortious liability of the State, promissory estoppel, legitimate expectation and proportionality.
• Hindu and Muslim law: marriage, adoption, joint family and partition, succession, wills and gifts, endowments, waqf, dower, pre-emption and guardianship.
• Commercial Law: sale of goods, negotiable instruments, company law and partnership.
• General Hindi: matriculation level, with essay, syntax and grammar.

How to use the waiting time

• Learn the new criminal laws thoroughly. They are now named in the Evidence and Procedure paper.
• Choose your three optional papers now, and start writing answers for mains while prelims is pending.
• Build a General Science and General Knowledge base; both count in mains.

Prepare with Lexfolio

Every state paper now tests the new criminal laws alongside, or in place of, the old codes. Our New Criminal Laws Guide maps the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act to the BNS, BNSS and BSA section by section, and the judiciary packs add model answers and judgment digests for mains. Read the practice rule after Bhumika Trust to check whether you can apply in the next cycle.

Sources

• Bihar Public Service Commission, Advertisement No. 12/2026 (33rd Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination), 23 February 2026
• BPSC notices of 18 March 2026 (extension), 13 May 2026 (exam programme), 25 May 2026 (postponement) and 1 May 2026 (five-option answer sheets)
• BPSC syllabus for the Judicial Services Examination
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, W.P.(C) 1110/2025, judgment of 21 August 2026

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

Fresh law graduates can again apply for Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts advertised up to 31 March 2027. On 21 August 2026, in Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant modified its May 2025 ruling that had made three years of practice compulsory. For advertisements issued up to 31 March 2027, every law graduate may apply and is treated as having one year of practice; those selected go through two years of training before presiding over a court. For advertisements issued on or after 1 April 2027, at least one year of actual, certified practice will be required. Here is what changed, and what it means for the next round of state judiciary exams.

Timeline: how the rule changed

What Bhumika Trust decided

Advertisements issued up to 31 March 2027

• All law graduates can apply.
• Candidates are deemed to have one year of practice.
• Selected candidates become trainee judicial officers. They complete one year of training at the state Judicial Academy, followed by one year of law clerkship: six months with a judge of the district judiciary and six months with a High Court judge.
• During this period they are paid half the pay of a Judicial Magistrate First Class.

Advertisements issued on or after 1 April 2027

• At least one year of actual practice as an advocate, supported by a certificate.
• An LL.M. does not count as practice, according to reports of the judgment.
• The same academy training and clerkship then follow.

The Court also said that advertisements already issued after the May 2025 judgment are to be governed by these directions. The decision was by a majority; Justice K. Vinod Chandran dissented. States and High Courts were directed to amend their rules within three months, that is, by around 21 November 2026.

What this means for you

Watch the state rules

Many state rules still show the 3-year requirement added after the 2025 judgment. Delhi’s rules (as on 9 February 2026) and Haryana’s amendment of 7 August 2026 both say 3 years. These now have to be read with the August 2026 directions, and High Courts are expected to amend them. The advertisement for each cycle is the document that will settle your eligibility, so read its eligibility clause carefully when it comes out.

Why the timing matters

The transitional window depends on the date the advertisement is issued, not the exam date. Several states have not advertised Civil Judge posts since 2024 or 2025, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, so a number of notifications could come before 31 March 2027. If you are a recent graduate, this is the cycle to prepare for seriously.

How to get your practice certificate (for 2027 onwards)

• Practice is counted from your provisional enrolment.
• The 2025 ruling allowed the certificate to come from the Principal Judicial Officer of the court where you practise, or from an advocate of at least 10 years’ standing endorsed by that officer, and counted experience as a law clerk to a judge. Check how your state’s amended rules treat these points.
• Keep a record of the cases you appear in from the day you enrol.

State guides

• Bihar Judiciary (33rd BJSE, 173 posts)
• Uttar Pradesh PCS (J)
• Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS)
• Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge
• Delhi Judicial Service (DJS)
• Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch)
• Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch)

Prepare with Lexfolio

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Sources

• Supreme Court of India, All India Judges Association v. Union of India, judgment of 20 May 2025 (2025 INSC 735)
• Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, W.P.(C) 1110/2025, judgment of 21 August 2026 (2026 INSC 904), paras 73 to 76
• Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970, as on 9 February 2026 (Delhi High Court)
• Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Rules, 1951 as applicable to Haryana, updated to 7 August 2026 (Punjab and Haryana High Court)

Last checked: 24 October 2026.