Becoming a judge is the dream of thousands of Indian law graduates every year. It offers one of the most prestigious, secure, and meaningful careers in the legal profession. But the path is competitive — only 15–20% of those who appear for judiciary exams clear them.
This guide tells you everything you need to know: eligibility, exam structure, salary, and how to prepare.
What is the Judiciary Exam?
The Judiciary Exam — officially called the Provincial Civil Service (Judicial) or PCS (J) exam — is conducted by each state’s Public Service Commission or High Court to recruit Civil Judges (Junior Division).
These are the entry-level judges who preside over trial courts, hear civil and criminal cases, and form the backbone of India’s justice system.
Each state conducts its own exam. There is no single national judiciary exam (unlike CLAT for NLUs).
Eligibility Criteria for Judiciary in India
Educational Qualification
- Candidate must possess an LL.B. degree from a recognised university (3-year or 5-year integrated law course).
- Candidate must be eligible to be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961.
Practice Requirement
- As per the Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in All India Judges Association v. Union of India, candidates for Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts are generally required to have a minimum of 3 years’ practice as an advocate, subject to applicable state judicial service rules and recruitment notifications.
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: Generally 35 years for General category candidates
- Age relaxation is available for SC/ST/OBC/PwD and other reserved categories as per state rules.
Citizenship
- Candidate must be a citizen of India.
Language Requirement
- Candidate should possess adequate knowledge of the official language of the concerned state.
Character and Conduct
- Candidate must possess good moral character and should not have any serious criminal antecedents or disqualifications.
State-Wise Judiciary Exams 2026
| State | Conducting Body | Approximate Vacancies |
| Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS J) | UPPSC | 218 (proposed) |
| Bihar (BPSC Judiciary) | BPSC | 173 |
| Delhi (DJS) | Delhi HC | 53 |
| Jharkhand | JPSC | 50–70 (estimated) |
| Maharashtra | Maharashtra PSC | To be notified |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan HC | To be notified |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP HC | To be notified |
| Haryana | Haryana PSC | To be notified |
UP PCS J is the most sought-after — Uttar Pradesh has the largest subordinate judiciary in India.
Exam Structure: Three Stages
Every state judiciary exam has three stages:
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
- Objective type (MCQ)
- Tests: General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Language
- Qualifying in nature — marks not counted in final merit
- Cut-off is high: typically 60–70% needed to clear
Stage 2: Mains Examination
- Descriptive/written answers
- Tests: Law Papers (Civil Law, Criminal Law, Evidence, Constitution), Language Paper, General Knowledge
- This is where the real selection happens — marks count in final merit
- Typically 4–6 papers of 3 hours each
Stage 3: Interview / Viva Voce
- Personality test
- Tests temperament, communication, legal knowledge, general awareness
- Usually 50–100 marks
Syllabus: What Do You Need to Know?
Law Subjects (Most Important):
Civil Law:
- Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
- Transfer of Property Act
- Contract Act
- Specific Relief Act
- Limitation Act
- Hindu Law and Muslim Personal Law
- Family Law
Criminal Law:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — replaces IPC
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) — replaces CrPC
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) — replaces Evidence Act
- POCSO Act
- Prevention of Corruption Act
Constitutional Law:
- Fundamental Rights
- Directive Principles
- Constitutional bodies
- Emergency provisions
- Recent Supreme Court judgements
Revenue/Local Laws:
- Each state has specific local laws — UP has UP Zamindari Abolition Act, for example
- These are often deciding factors — many candidates ignore them and lose marks
General Knowledge:
- Current affairs (especially legal and constitutional developments)
- Indian history and polity
- Basic economics
Language:
- Hindi (for UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand etc.)
- English essay and comprehension
- Translation between Hindi and English
Salary of a Civil Judge in India
This is one of the most attractive aspects of the judiciary career:
| Level | Basic Pay | Total Emoluments (approx.) |
| Civil Judge (Junior Division) | ₹77,840/month | ₹1.2–1.5 lakh/month |
| Civil Judge (Senior Division) | ₹1,11,100/month | ₹1.8–2.2 lakh/month |
| District Judge | ₹1,44,840/month | ₹2.5–3 lakh/month |
| High Court Judge | ₹2,25,000/month | ₹4–5 lakh/month |
Additional benefits include: government accommodation, vehicle, medical facilities, pension, and security.
How to Prepare: A Realistic Strategy
Step 1: Know Your State’s Exam Pattern
Every state is slightly different. Download the official notification and syllabus for your state. Do not rely on generic guides — local laws and language papers differ significantly.
Step 2: Build Your Legal Foundation
- Read bare acts, not just guides — courts want you to know the exact law
- CPC and CrPC/BNSS are the most heavily tested subjects — master these first
- Evidence law/BSA is tested in every paper in some form
- Constitution — know all Articles relevant to criminal and civil rights
Step 3: Study Local/State Laws
Most candidates ignore state-specific laws and lose crucial marks. Find the list of local laws in your state’s official syllabus and cover all of them.
Step 4: Write Daily
Judiciary mains requires extensive writing — long-form legal answers with proper structure (Issue → Rule → Application → Conclusion). Practice writing answers daily from your second month of preparation.
Step 5: Previous Year Papers
Solve the last 5–7 years of your state’s judiciary prelims and mains papers. This is the single most effective preparation tool. You will see patterns repeat.
Step 6: Current Legal Affairs
Subscribe to Supreme Court judgement updates (Law Times Journal covers these weekly). Judges in interviews frequently ask about recent landmark judgements.
Step 7: Mock Tests
Join a dedicated judiciary preparation platform for regular mock tests. This builds speed and accuracy for prelims.
Recommended Books
| Subject | Book |
| CPC | C.K. Takwani’s Civil Procedure |
| BNS/IPC | Ratanlal & Dhirajlal’s Law of Crimes |
| BNSS/CrPC | R.V. Kelkar’s Criminal Procedure |
| BSA/Evidence | Batuk Lal’s Law of Evidence |
| Constitution | D.D. Basu’s Introduction to Constitutional Law |
| Contract Act | Avtar Singh’s Law of Contract |
| Transfer of Property | Mulla’s Transfer of Property Act |
| General | Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity (for GK) |
Common Mistakes Judiciary Aspirants Make
- Ignoring local/revenue laws — these decide ranks in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan
- Not writing practice answers — reading alone is not enough for mains
- Skipping current affairs — interview questions heavily focus on recent judgements
- Not knowing the new criminal laws (BNS/BNSS/BSA) — questions will now be from these, not IPC/CrPC
- Starting too late — judiciary preparation needs minimum 12–18 months of serious study
Is Coaching Necessary?
Not mandatory, but helpful. Good self-study with the right books and previous year papers can be enough for a disciplined candidate. However, coaching helps with:
- Structured study plans
- Answer writing guidance
- Regular mock tests
- Interview preparation
If you cannot afford coaching, focus on bare acts + previous year papers + Law Times Journal for current legal affairs.
Final Word
The judiciary is not just a job. It is a calling. Civil judges are the first point of contact for ordinary Indians seeking justice — they decide bail, custody of children, property disputes, and criminal guilt at the ground level.
If you have the commitment, the preparation is entirely manageable. Start with the bare acts. Write daily. Stay updated on Supreme Court judgements. And keep going.
India needs more good judges. You could be one of them.
Law Times Journal publishes weekly Supreme Court judgement roundups, new law explainers, and judiciary exam updates. Bookmark us for your preparation.
Vacancy numbers and exam dates are based on latest available information as of May 2026. Always verify from official state PSC/High Court websites before applying.
