Judicial Service Exams 2024: State-wise Syllabus & Pattern, Eligibility

Judicial Service Exams 2024: State-wise Syllabus & Pattern, Eligibility

Edited By Sumeet Sudarshan | Updated on Jun 06, 2024 04:34 PM IST | #AIBE

The Judicial Service Examination or the Provincial Civil Service Judicial Examination (PCS-J) is an entry level exam for law graduates. Each state conducts its own Judicial Service examination for recruitment of civil judges and district magistrates. The government is also mulling on introducing an All India Judicial Service Exam for recruitment of judges.

The members are appointed by the state governments under the supervision of the respective high court, based on Judicial Service Examinations. Every High Court has under its supervision the members of the subordinate judiciary of the state that falls under its jurisdiction. Members of the subordinate judiciary (popularly known as the judicial service or the PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service-Judicial) occupy the offices of the presiding officers of various courts right up to the post of District Judge.

Appering for the judicial services exam is a good career option for students who have completed their law programme namely 3-year LLB, 5-year LLB or LLM. It is not mandatory for law graduates to appear in All India Bar examination to appear for Judicial Services Examination.

States Conducting Judicial Service Examination

State Judicial Service exams in India are conducted by each state separately. In total, 24 states in India conduct Judicial Service examinations nearly every year. Each of these states has its eligibility criteria for the judiciary exam in the form of age limit, number of attempts, and official language, and others. These are as mentioned below.

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States Conducting Judicial Services Exam

States

Arunachal Pradesh

Chhattisgarh

Himachal Pradesh

Jharkhand

Madhya Pradesh

Mizoram

Punjab

Assam

Goa

Haryana

Karnataka

Maharashtra

Nagaland

Rajasthan

Bihar

Delhi

Jammu & Kashmir

Kerala

Manipur

Odisha

Sikkim

Uttrakhand

Uttar Pradesh

West Bengal

Judicial Exam Eligibility

The All India Judicial Service exam eligibility criteria are different for lower judiciary and higher judiciary services.

Lower Judiciary Services

The Judicial Services Examination eligibility criteria is given below :

  • Candidates must be citizens of India

  • Candidate must have a degree in either 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB

  • He/she should be enrolled or qualified to be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates’ Act 1961.

  • Final year candidates can also give the exam and no experience is required for the exam.. The age limit is usually between 21 to 35 years. However, it varies according to the state. In some states the upper age limit is 40+ years.

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Higher Judiciary Services

The judicial service exam eligiblity for higher judiciary is given below:

  • Candidates must be law graduates.
  • In addition to that, the judiciary exam eligibility for higher judiciary also requires certain minimum number of years of litigating practice, usually seven years.
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Application Process for Judicial Service Exams

The judiciary exam is conducted rather unexpectedly. So, candidates must keep track of the upcoming judiciary exam. All the states release their application forms separately.

  • The prelims exam for Judicial services are conducted after one month from the date of opening of the application form.

  • For some states, the application form of Judicial Services Examinations are released on the official website of the state High Court. For example, the High Court of Haryana notifies about the judicial service examination on its official website - highcourtchd.gov.in.

  • Some states release the Judical service exam application form through their respective Public Commission State website. For example, in the state of Maharashtra the application form of Judicial services examinations are released by the state Public Service Commission in its website - mpsc.gov.in.

  • After filling up the application form, aspirants are required to pay a prescribed fee that varies for the general and reserved categories.

Stages of Judicial Services Examination

Aspirants willing to serve as a civil judge/district magistrate/additional district magistrates need to clear three of the exams. These stages are:

Judicial Services Examination - Preliminary

The exam comprises objective type questions. It only serves the purpose of screening candidates before they appear for mains. The marks secured by a candidate in this section are not considered for the final selection.

Judicial Services Examination - Mains

At the second stage of Judicial Services Examination, the mains exams are conducted. The Judicial Services Exams for Mains are generally conducted after 20 to 40 days after the declaration of prelims results. This is the reason why the aspirants start preparing for judicial service examinations during their college days.

The Judicial Services Mains exams are subjective in nature, and mainly comprise three to four papers. The marks scored in mains are considered for the final selection.

Judicial Services Examination Interview

This is the final stage of the selection procedure. At this stage, candidates are assessed based on their general interest, intelligence, personality, etc

  • Aspirants after clearing all the stages and then qualifying for the merit list will be able to join the respective state’s judicial academy for a year to be trained as a Judge.

  • Successful candidates will be taught about the legal or judicial procedures, manners of being a judge as well as the duties and power the position carries.

  • After successful completion of training the candidates will be appointed as judges of lower courts or tribunals.

Syllabus for Judicial Services Examination

The syllabus for judiciary exams differs from state to state. The procedural law and substantive laws are similar for all the states, however the local language and local laws differ from state to state. The prelims syllabus for Judicial Services Examination is broadly divided into Civil law, Criminal Law and Language paper. The weightage of the language paper is around 20 per cent to 35 per cent. The mains examination consists of six to seven papers and almost 70 per cent of the questions are asked from law.

Judicial Services Examination Syllabus for Preliminary Examination

In preliminary exams the questions are covered generally from the following topics:

  • Constitutional law

  • Contract Law and Tort Law

  • General Knowledge and Current Affairs

  • IPC, CPC, CrPC, and The Indian Evidence Act

  • Proficiency in English Language and Aptitude

  • Transfer of Property law

  • General Knowledge that covers topics such as economy, politics, recent national and international events, culture, history, science and technology.

Additional Subjects in the Judicial Exam Syllabus

However, certain state judiciary exams cover a few additional topics in their preliminary exams as provided below:

Indian Judicial Service Examination - State Wise Subjects

States

Subjects

Delhi judicial service examination

Principles Governing Arbitration Law, the Partnership Act

Goa Judicial Service Examination

Sales of Goods Act, Land laws of Goa, The Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989)

Kerala Judicial Service Exam

Kerala Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act

Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Exam

Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Nagaland -judicial services examination

Proficiency in the official language of respective states

Bihar Judicial Service Examination

Elementary general Science, Administrative law, Hindu and Muslim personal laws, Principles of Equity, Law of trusts, Specific Relief Act, Commercial law

Chhattisgarh Judicial Service examination

Accommodation Control Act, Court fees act, Registration Act and Chhattisgarh Land revenue code, Limitation, and Specific relief acts

Karnataka Judicial Service Examination

Karnataka Rent Act

Judiciary Exam Syllabus Mains

The syllabus for each state in the mains exam differs. Below is a list of syllabi for the judicial service mains exam of different states:

Delhi Judicial Services examination syllabus

PaperTopics Covered

Paper I

General Knowledge and Language Current affairs, Essay, Translation, and precise writing

Paper II

Civil Law 1 - Indian Sale of Goods Act, Indian Partnership Act, Indian Contract Act, Specific Relief Act, Hindu Law, Muslim Law, Delhi Rent control Act, and Law of Torts

Paper III

Civil Law 2 – Law of Evidence, Law of Limitation, Civil Procedure Code, and Law of Registration

Paper IV

Criminal Law -Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Penal Code and Indian Evidence Act

UP Judicial Services Syllabus

PaperTopics

Paper 1

General Knowledge

Paper 2

Language

Paper 3

Law –I (Substantive Law) - Constitutional law, Hindu law, law of trust and specific relief, Mohammedan law, the law concerning easements and torts, law of contracts, law of partnership, law relating to the principles of equity, law relating to transfer of property


Paper 4

Law – II (Procedure and Evidence) - Code of civil procedure, evidence of witnesses, framing of charges, practical matters, principles of pleading, conduct of cases, criminal procedure code, law of evidence, writing of judgment


Paper 5

Law – III (Penal, Revenue and Local Laws)

Indian penal code, land reforms Act 1951, Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari abolition, consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953, Panchayat Raj Act, Urban Buildings (regulation of letting, rent and eviction) act, 1972, Uttar Pradesh municipalities Act, Uttar Pradesh Urban (planning and development) t 1973.A

West Bengal Judicial Service Exam Syllabus

PapersTopics

Compulsory Papers

English composition, essay and precise writing, Bengali /Hindi /Urdu/Nepali /Santali composition, essay & translation from English to Hindi to Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali, general knowledge and current affairs, civil procedure code, criminal procedure code and Indian penal code, Indian evidence act, law of contracts and torts, transfer of property act

Optional Paper

Candidates shall take up any three of the following papers: Hindu law, Mohammedan law, jurisprudence and principles of legislation, Indian law relating to companies & insurance, principles of equity including the law of trusts and specific relief, partnership act, law of limitation and law of prescription, the Indian constitution & constitutional law

Bihar Judicial Service exam syllabus

PapersTopics

Part 1- Compulsory paper

General knowledge including current affairs

elementary science, general Hindi, general English, law of evidence and procedure, Hindi and English are compulsory papers but only qualifying in nature

Part 2 - Optional paper

Constitutional law of India and England, hindu and muslim law, transfer of property, principles of equity, law of trusts and specific relief act, law of contract and torts, commercial law

MP Judiciary Exam Syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

Civil law and procedure

Paper-II

Criminal law and procedure

Paper III

Writing skill, court practice, translation, and current legal knowledge

Paper IV

Judgement writing

Jharkhand Judiciary syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

Indian penal code, code of criminal procedure code, indian evidence act, limitation act

Paper-II

Civil procedure code, transfer of property, indian contract act, sales of goods act, arbitration and conciliation act

Paper III

Hindu law, muslim law, rent control law, specific relief act, and jurisprudence

Paper IV

Hindi and english

Goa Judicial services examination syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

The indian contract act, 1872, the specific relief act, 1963, the limitation act, 1963, sales of goods act, 1930, indian partnership act, 1932, the code of civil procedure code, 1908, transfer of property act, 1882, the easement act,1882, family laws in goa, land laws in Goa

Paper-II

The code of criminal procedure code, 1973, the indian penal code, 1860 the evidence act,1872, the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (prevention of atrocities) act, 1989, the negotiable instruments act, 1881, essay on current legal topics

Haryana and Punjab judiciary syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

Civil law I -code of civil procedure, punjab courts act, indian contract act, indian sale of goods act, indian partnership act, specific relief act

Paper-II

Civil law II - Hindu law, muslim law and customary law, law of registration and limitation

Paper III

Criminal law - Indian penal code, code of criminal procedure, indian evidence act

Paper IV

English- essay, words and phrases , comprehension, corrections

Paper V

Language- hindi in devanagari script

Odisha judicial service exam syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

General english

Paper-II

Procedural laws - civil procedure code, criminal procedure code, indian evidence act

Paper III

Optional papers - Law of crime and law of torts, hindu and muslim law, law of property, law of contract, jurisprudence, and constitution of India

Karnataka judicial service exam syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

: Translation Paper – Depositions, judgments, and documents

Paper-II

Law paper I – Civil procedure code, criminal procedure code, indian evidence act, principles of pleading and Indian constitution

Paper III

Law paper II – Framing of issues and writing judgments in civil cases

Paper IV

Law paper III -Framing of charges and writing judgments in criminal cases

Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service Exam Syllabus

PaperTopics

Paper I

: Civil law I -code of civil procedure, indian stamp act, indian evidence act, himachal pradesh courts act, specific relief act

Paper-II

Civil Law II - Indian contract act, hindu law, transfer of property act, himachal pradesh urban rent control act, indian limitation act

Paper III

Criminal law - indian penal code, code of criminal procedure, chapter xvii of negotiable instruments act, hp excise act, wildlife protection act, Indian forest act

Paper IV

English composition

Paper V

Language (100 Marks)

Rajasthan judiciary syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

: Law paper I- Constitution of india, civil procedure code, contact law, tort laws, motor vehicle law, rent control law, personal laws, law of transfer of property

Paper-II

Law paper II- criminal law, narcotic law, law relating to cybercrimes and electricity theft, law of probation, law on juvenile delinquency

Paper III

Language paper I- Hindi essay writing and grammar

Paper IV

Language paper II- English essay writing, translation, and grammar

Sikkim judicial service exam syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

Procedural law, local law, indian evidence act, limitation act

Paper-II

Hindu law, contract law, sales of goods act, partnership act, specific relief act, general clauses act, transfer of property act, indian penal code, constitutional law

Uttarakhand judicial service exam syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

Substantive law

Paper-II

Evidence and procedure

Paper III

Revenue and criminal law

Paper IV

The present-day- current affairs and general knowledge

Paper V

Language

Kerala judicial service exam syllabus

PapersTopics

Paper I

English grammar, general essays, translation of malayalam documents and depositions to english, precise writing

Paper-II

Indian contract act, transfer of property, limitation act, specific relief act, easements act, kerala building act, hindu succession act, indian succession act, dissolution of muslim marriage act, kerala court fees and suits valuation act, kerala stamp act, legal services authorities act, the kerala panchayat raj act, kerala municipality act, negotiable instruments act and registration act

Paper III

Indian penal code, indian evidence act, abkari act, negotiable instruments act, the protection of women from domestic violence act, juvenile justice act, kerala police act, probation of offenders act, forest act, ndps act

Paper IV

Code of civil procedure, civil rules of practice, kerala civil courts act code of criminal procedure, criminal rules of practice, framing of charges and issues, judgment writing

Other states judicial exam syllabus

StateSyllabus

Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir Judicial service exam syllabus

Paper I : Essay, precise writing, grammar

Paper-II: Objective test, aptitude test

Paper III : Transfer of property, civil procedure code, indian contract act, constitution of india

Paper IV: Indian penal code, crpc, law of torts, indian evidence act

Chhattisgarh judicial service exam syllabus


Framing of issues and writing of judgement in civil cases , framing of charges and writing of judgement in criminal cases , translation: english to hindi , hindi to english


Restrictions for Candidates in Judicial Service Examination

Law graduates can fill the application form individually for each state they want to appear. There are no such restrictions in terms of how many states the candidate wants to appear in. However, there are some restrictions in the judicial service examination that the candidates should be aware of:

  • Restriction of age: In some states the upper age limit to fill the application forms are 32 whereas in some it can be 48 years. So candidates should carefully consider the age restriction before filling the application form.
  • Restriction in the number of attempts: In some states the number of attempts are 6 whereas in some it is 4. So candidates should carefully assess the number of attempts before appearing for the examination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which state judiciary exam is easy

Syllabus of almost all state judiciary exams are similar in terms of content. A candidate's prior comfort with laws and legal concepts will make the exam easy for them. The difficulty will also depend on the number of seats on offer versus the competition level.

2. What happens after clearing judiciary exam

Once candidates clear the three stages of the judiciary exam, they can be appointed as judges in the lower courts and become part of state judiciary.

3. Is judiciary exam conducted every year?

Yes. However, the exams are often conducted in an irregular and unpredictable manner which makes any plans for preparation for the exam rather difficult.

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Questions related to AIBE

Have a question related to AIBE ?

Hello,

To prepare for the AIBE (All India Bar Examination) in Hindi, you can use the following resources:

1. **AIBE Study Guides in Hindi**: Look for books like *"AIBE (All India Bar Examination) Hindi Guide"* by Arihant, or LexisNexis publications, which are available in Hindi and cover the entire syllabus.

2. **Previous Year Question Papers**: Download past AIBE question papers in Hindi to practice.

3. **Bare Acts in Hindi**: Study important Bare Acts, available in Hindi, such as the IPC (Indian Penal Code), CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code), and Constitution of India.

Hope this helps you,

Thank you

The BPP is typically required for those who do not have a formal educational qualification equivalent to 10+2.it has nothing to do with aibe exam because it conducted to assess basic level knowledge of law degree student and lay down minimum benchmark for entering into practice of law in addition to assessing candidate's analytical skills.

To take AIBE EXAM you need to do bachelor's degree in law either of five or three years course from a recognised university.if you done your graduation you can take admission in three years law course through direct entry or by giving law entrance exam like CLAT CUET ailet etc.

Hello aspirant,

Along with the release of the AIBE 19 Notification 2024, the AIBE XIX application form is available on the official website. For law graduates who want to practice in India, the Bar Council of India (BCI) administers the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), a national exam. The next exam iteration, AIBE 19 (XIX), will take place on November 24, 2024.

For more information, please visit the following link:

https://law.careers360.com/articles/aibe-19

Unfortunately AIBE Exam is no longer an open-book exam except bare act you can carry this book with you in examination hall.The AIBE is not a tough exam to crack and you are not competing with anyone else for a rank or a seat. All you need is to score 40 marks and pass the exam.you need to understand the syllabus and pattern of the exam before appearing to exam.here you get all necessary tips for preparation

https://law.careers360.com/user/update-profile?destination=https://law.careers360.com/exams/aibe

Hey there,

After passing the AIBE (All India Bar Examination), follow these steps:

  1. Obtain Your Certificate of Practice (COP) : Apply for the Certificate of Practice from your respective State Bar Council. This document allows you to practice law as an advocate.

  2. Enroll with the State Bar Council : Complete the enrollment process with your State Bar Council if you haven't already. This usually involves submitting your AIBE results and other required documents.

  3. Find a Job or Start Practicing : You can either join a law firm, start your own practice, or explore opportunities in legal departments of corporations and government agencies.

  4. Attend Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs : Keep up with legal education and stay updated on changes in law by attending workshops and seminars.

  5. Network and Build Your Reputation : Engage with other legal professionals, attend legal events, and build your professional network.

  6. Explore Further Specialization : Consider specializing in a specific area of law if you have particular interests or career goals.

Ensure that you follow all procedural requirements as outlined by your State Bar Council to officially commence your legal practice.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.

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