Judicial Services Exam is also known as the PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service. It is the entry-level exam for law graduates who wish to become a member of the subordinate judiciary. A state judicial department conducts these exams to hire for subordinate judicial services.
Judiciary Exam Pattern 2023
The exam focuses on Indian legal and constitutional governance and history, current developments of national and international interest, and the analytical aptitude and skills of the candidate. Every year, nearly 50,000 to 60,000 aspirants apply for the Judicial services exam. Barely 15%-20% of the candidates clear the exam.
In this article let’s understand the judiciary exam pattern.
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Indian Judiciary Exam Pattern 2023
The Judiciary exam syllabus and pattern varies from one state to another. The PCS judiciary exam pattern consists of three sections:
Prelims Exam
The prelims exam consists of objective-type questions and is a screening test for the Mains exam. The minimum qualifying marks differ from one State to another. The marks secured in the prelims exam will not be considered for preparing the final merit list.
Mains Exam
The main exam consists of subjective-type questions. There are three to four papers in the main exam. The minimum qualifying marks differ from one State to another. The marks obtained by applicants in the main exam is considered for the final selection.
Interview
In this interview round, the candidates are evaluated based on their general knowledge, personality, and aptitude among other determinants. The maximum marks for the interview are 50 marks and the minimum marks are 20 to be qualified. This is the final step of selection to become a judge.
State-wise Judiciary Exam Pattern 2023
Prelims Exam:
There are 100 Objective Type questions. This is a screening test for the mains exam.
All the states have the same PCS judiciary exam pattern for the prelims exam.
Mains Exam
There are four papers each of 100 marks in the mains exam.
Arunachal, Assam, Delhi, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Rajasthan have the same mains exam pattern.
Interview Process
The interview process of all the states aims to judge the general knowledge of the candidate. The maximum and minimum marks required differ from state to state.
Read More: How To Prepare For Judiciary Exams
- Assam & Arunachal Pradesh
Interview
The interview process is conducted for a maximum of 50 marks and the candidate should score a minimum of 20 marks.
- Bihar Judiciary Exam Pattern
Mains Exam
The main exam consists of two sections which are compulsory papers and optional papers. There are 5 compulsory papers and 5 optional papers. The compulsory papers consist of 100 marks each out of which 30 marks are minimum marks. Among the 5 optional papers, the candidate should attempt 3 papers at least.
Interview
The maximum number of marks in an interview is 100 marks. Only the candidates who qualify for the mains exam will be eligible for the interview.
- Chattisgarh Judiciary Exam Pattern
Mains Exam
For the mains exam, more meritorious candidates from the prelims exam in the ratio of 1:10 with regard to the vacancies will be called for the final exam.
Interview
The interview process is conducted for 15 marks. Only the meritorious candidates from the mains exam in the ratio of 1:10 with regard to the vacancies will be called for the interview process.
Check Also: Judiciary Books List 2023
- Haryana Judiciary Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam
The prelims exam will consist of MCQs. There will be 125 questions of 4 marks each. For any wrong answer, 0.8 marks will be deducted.
Mains Exam
The mains exam will consist of 5 papers:
- Civil Law I (200 marks)
- Civil Law II (200 marks)
- Criminal Law (200 marks)
- English (200 marks)
- Hindi (100 marks)
Interview
The personal interview will be held for 200 marks.
- Himachal Pradesh
Prelims Exam
The prelims exam will have 3 papers conducted on the same day. The syllabus of these papers is similar to paper I to paper III of the mains exam.
Mains Exam
The mains exam will have 5 parts same as the Haryana mains exam.
Interview
The interview is carried out for 100 marks.
- Karnataka Judicial Services Exam
Mains Exam
The mains exam will have:
- Translation Paper
- Law Paper I
- Law Paper-II
- Law Paper-III
Interview
The interview will be held for a total of 100 marks.
- Kerala Judiciary Exam
Prelims Exam
The prelims exam will have three parts, Part A, Part B, & Part C.
Mains Exam
There are four papers of 100 marks each in the main exam.
Interview
Candidates who have cleared the mains exam with qualifying marks will be eligible for the interview round.
- Odisha Judiciary Exam Pattern
Mains Exam
The main exam will have 2 compulsory papers and three optional papers. The compulsory papers are General English and Procedural Language. There are 5 optional papers, out of which the candidate can any 3 subjects.
- Punjab Judiciary Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam
In the prelims exam, there are 125 questions of 500 marks.
Mains Exam
The main exam will consist of 5 papers.
- Sikkim Judiciary Exam pattern
This state exam pattern has only 2 phases:
- A written exam consisting of 2 papers of 200 marks each.
- Interview process.
- Uttarakhand Judiciary Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam
The prelims exam has two parts. Part I of 50 marks and Part-II of 150 marks.
Mains Exam
The main exam includes 5 papers:
- The present-day
- Language
- Law Paper I
- Law Paper-II
- Law Paper III
- Uttar Pradesh Judiciary Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam
The prelims exam consists of two papers which are of 200 and 300 marks respectively.
Mains Exam
The main exam consists of five papers which include General Knowledge, Language, Substantive Law, Procedure and Evidence, and Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws.
- West Bengal Judiciary Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam
There is one paper in the prelims exam consisting of 200 MCQs.
Mains Exam
The main exam consists of eight compulsory papers and three optional papers each of 100 marks.
Judiciary Exam Pattern FAQs
Q). Is the judiciary exam pattern available online?
A). Yes, the judiciary exam pattern is available online for reference.
Q). Is the judiciary prelims exam pattern the same for all the states in India?
A). No, the judiciary exam pattern differs from one state to another.
Q). Do all the states have prelims and mains exams compulsorily?
A). Yes, all the states will conduct the prelims and mains exam compulsorily.
Q). Do all the states conduct the language test?
A). Not all the states, only some states conduct their official language test.
Q). Is the judiciary mains exam pattern the same for all the states?
A). No, the judiciary mains exam pattern will differ from one state to another.