The High Court of Kerala details the Kerala Judiciary Syllabus in the official notification for the Kerala PSC Judicial Service Exam. This judiciary exam is conducted to recruit for the position of Civil Judge (Junior Division). The selection process includes two exams: the Kerala Judicial Service (Preliminary) Examination and Kerala Judicial Service (Main) Examination. The Kerala Judiciary Syllabus 2026 differs for both exams. The main exam includes a written evaluation and viva voce. The Kerala Judiciary exam pattern also differs for both exams. The preliminary examination contains 100 MCQ questions, whereas the main examination contains four papers of 100 questions each. The Kerala prelims score helps in shortlisting candidates for the mains exam.
The Kerala Judiciary Syllabus 2026 differs for both prelims and mains exams. The detailed syllabus for the Kerala PSC Judicial Service Exam is given in the tables below.
Section | Subjects |
Part A | Code of Civil Procedure |
Indian Contract Act | |
Negotiable Instruments Act | |
Transfer of Property Act | |
Specific Relief Act | |
Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act | |
Part B | Code of Criminal Procedure & Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita |
Indian Penal Code & Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita | |
Indian Evidence Act & Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam | |
Part C | Constitution of India |
Legal General Knowledge | |
Reasoning & Mental Ability |
Paper | Part | Subjects |
Paper I | — | English Grammar; General Essays (Two); Translation of Malayalam Depositions/Documents to English and vice versa; Precis Writing |
Paper II | Part A | Indian Contract Act; Transfer of Property Act; Limitation Act; Specific Relief Act; Easements Act; Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act; Hindu Succession Act; Indian Succession Act – Parts V, VI & X; Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act |
Paper II | Part B | Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act; Kerala Stamp Act; Kerala State Legal Services Authorities Act; Kerala Panchayath Raj Act – Chapters X, XI, XXIA & XXIII; Kerala Municipality Act – Chapters IX, X, XXIV & XXV; Negotiable Instruments Act (except Chapter XVII); Registration Act |
Paper III | Part A | Indian Penal Code & Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; Indian Evidence Act & Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam; Abkari Act; Negotiable Instruments Act – Chapter XVII; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act |
Paper III | Part B | Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act; Kerala Police Act; Probation of Offenders Act; Forest Act; N.D.P.S. Act (provisions relating to bail and trial by Magistrates) |
Paper IV | Part A | Code of Civil Procedure; Civil Rules of Practice; Kerala Civil Courts Act; Order in Interlocutory Application; Framing of Issues; Judgment Writing (Civil) |
Paper IV | Part B | Code of Criminal Procedure & Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita; Criminal Rules of Practice; Framing of Charges; Order in Criminal Miscellaneous Petitions; Judgment Writing (Criminal) |
The exam format for prelims and mains is not the same. The Kerala Judiciary prelims are a multiple-choice exam, and the mains exam is a written exam. The marking scheme for prelims is specified as 2 marks for a correct answer; 1 mark is deducted for wrong answers. There is no specified marking scheme in the Kerala judiciary mains exam.
Particulars | Preliminary Examination | Main Written Examination |
Number of Papers | 1 | 4 |
Type | Objective-type screening test | Written examination |
Total Questions | 100 MCQs | — |
Marks per Question | 2 marks | — |
Maximum Marks | 200 marks | 400 marks |
Negative Marking | 1 mark deducted for each incorrect answer | — |
Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes | 3 hours per paper |
Candidates who qualify for the viva voce must score a minimum of 50 marks. General and OBC candidates are required to score at least 40% of the total marks, and SC, ST, and PwD candidates are required to score 35% of the total marks. The scores from the mains exam and viva voce will add up to the final score.
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