Judiciary Exam Eligibility: Age, Attempts and Practice Rule 2026

Judiciary exam eligibility for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) post now turns on three things: a law degree, the age limit in the State’s advertisement and the practice rule. The Supreme Court restored a three-year practice requirement on 20 May 2025 (All India Judges Association v. Union of India). On 21 August 2026, in Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, it modified that: advertisements issued up to 31 March 2027 are open to all law graduates, who are deemed to have one year of practice, and advertisements from 1 April 2027 need one year of certified practice.

What the Supreme Court has decided on judiciary exam eligibility

20 May 2025. A bench of B.R. Gavai CJI, A.G. Masih and K. Vinod Chandran JJ restored the minimum three years of practice for Civil Judge (Junior Division) candidates, reversing the 2002 position. Practice counts from provisional enrolment, not from clearing the AIBE. Law clerk experience with a judge or judicial officer counts. A certificate came from the Principal Judicial Officer or from an advocate of 10 years’ standing endorsed by that officer. The rule applied to recruitment not already begun. The same ruling raised the LDCE quota for the Higher Judicial Service from 10% to 25%.

21 August 2026. In Bhumika Trust v. Union of India (2026 INSC 904), CJI Surya Kant and Masih J modified that ruling; Justice K. Vinod Chandran dissented. The majority framed two schemes:

• Notifications up to 31 March 2027: any law graduate may apply. Selected candidates are appointed Trainee Judicial Officers, train for one year at the State Judicial Academy and serve one year as law clerks (six months under a District Judge or Higher Judicial Service member, six months under a High Court Judge). Pay during both years is half the remuneration of a Judicial Magistrate First Class. A reasoned evaluation by a High Court Judge decides appointment to the regular post.
• Notifications on or after 1 April 2027: one year of actual District Court practice, certified under the May 2025 mechanism, then the same training and clerkship.

The Court rejected requests to count LL.M. or other higher study as practice. It ordered State Governments, with the High Courts, to notify amended rules within three months, so by about late November 2026, and set the scheme for five years. Until a State amends its rules, the eligibility clause of its own advertisement is what governs you. See the detailed guide to the Bhumika Trust ruling.

State-wise judiciary exam eligibility: age limit and attempts

Each row is tied to a named advertisement and year, because limits change cycle to cycle. These are not the next cycle’s figures. Always check the latest notification.

The Uttar Pradesh and Delhi rows come from the advertisement text; the Rajasthan and Bihar rows come from published reports of the advertisements, so verify them in the notification. For other States, such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, use their own advertisements. Our State guides cover Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Bihar.

How to check judiciary exam eligibility before you apply

1. Read the eligibility clause of the live advertisement, not an older year’s blog post.
2. Note the reference date for age. States use 1 January, 1 July or 1 August of different years.
3. Check the practice clause against the advertisement’s issue date, as the ruling now splits at 31 March 2027.
4. Keep proof of practice from the first day of enrolment: vakalatnamas, order sheets, a diary of appearances.
5. Check the degree clause: some States require a degree from a university in that State or specific recognition.

Frequently asked questions

What is the judiciary exam eligibility in 2026?

You need a recognised law degree, must meet the State’s age limit and must meet the practice rule in the advertisement. Under Bhumika Trust, advertisements issued up to 31 March 2027 are open to all law graduates, who are deemed to have one year of practice.

Is three years of practice still required for the civil judge exam?

The three-year rule of 20 May 2025 was modified on 21 August 2026. It no longer applies as a bar for advertisements up to 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 one year of certified practice is needed. Some earlier State advertisements still carry the three-year clause, so read yours.

What is the age limit for the civil judge exam?

It differs by State. In the advertisements named above, Uttar Pradesh was 22 to 35, Delhi up to 32, Rajasthan 21 to 40 and Bihar 22 to 35, with relaxations for reserved categories.

How many attempts are allowed in UP PCS (J)?

The 2022 advertisement fixed the maximum number of chances at four. Check the next advertisement for the current limit.

Does an LL.M. count as practice for the judiciary exam?

No. The Supreme Court in Bhumika Trust rejected requests to count higher legal education towards the practice requirement.

Quick quiz

Sources

• All India Judges Association v. Union of India, Supreme Court, 20 May 2025 (2025 INSC 735)
• Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, Supreme Court, 21 August 2026 (2026 INSC 904), paras 73 to 76 and 79
• UPPSC Advertisement A-5/E-1/2022 (PCS (J) 2022); Delhi High Court, Delhi Judicial Service Examination 2023 advertisement of 6 November 2023
• Rajasthan High Court, Civil Judge Cadre Direct Recruitment 2025 advertisement; BPSC Advertisement 12/2026 (33rd Bihar Judicial Services), as reported

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 29 October 2026.