Judicial Service Exams 2026: State-wise list, Eligibility and How to Apply

Last reviewed: 12th October 2026

Judicial exams provide a route to entry-level judicial positions, such as Civil Judge (Junior Division), and higher judicial roles, such as District Judge. Recruitment takes place through state-specific notifications, and eligibility, examination patterns and dates vary by jurisdiction.

• State-wise recruitment: Judicial service exams are conducted through separate recruitment processes across 24+ states and jurisdictions; not every state issues a notification every year.
• Entry levels: Lower Judiciary recruitment generally covers Civil Judge positions, while Higher Judicial Services recruitment commonly covers District Judge positions.
• Eligibility for judicial service exam: You generally need an LL.B. degree and Indian citizenship for entry-level roles; age limits and practice requirements depend on the applicable notification.
• Selection process: The usual stages are Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Viva-Voce, although the pattern varies.
• Important dates: Application windows, examination dates and results depend on each recruiting authority's notification.

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Judicial recruitment is organised through state-specific processes, generally by a High Court, State Public Service Commission or another authority named in the official notification. The following table gives you a state-wise reference for identifying the relevant recruitment process. The exam name and conducting authority may differ by post and recruitment cycle.

You should also check the relevant recruitment notifications for Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, where judicial recruitment is notified separately. For higher judicial posts, such as District Judge, the authority and eligibility requirements may differ from those for Civil Judge recruitment.

Treat this table as a starting point rather than a live vacancy list. Check the latest official notification for the exact post, application dates, eligibility rules, vacancies and examination pattern before applying.

There is no single national calendar for judiciary exams 2026. Notifications may be released at different times throughout the year, and some recruitment cycles can extend into the following year. The application and examination dates below are examples from the 2024–2025 recruitment cycle, not confirmed dates for 2026.

For 2026, check the latest notification and any corrigendum or revised examination schedule on the relevant High Court or State Public Service Commission portal. For example, the Delhi High Court issued a Delhi Higher Judicial Service Examination 2026 advertisement on 1 July 2026 and later published notices about rescheduling the Mains examination. A date from a previous cycle should not be treated as a confirmed date for the current year.

Eligibility depends on whether you are applying for a lower-judiciary post or a higher-judiciary post. You must also check the age limit, educational qualification, practice requirement, category-related relaxations and other conditions in the relevant notification.

Lower Judiciary eligibility criteria

Important update on legal practice: The Supreme Court's directions dated 21 August 2026 changed the practice requirement for entry-level Civil Judge recruitment. For recruitment notifications issued during the transition period ending 31 March 2027, law graduates may apply without proving prior practice and are deemed to have completed one year of practice for application purposes. Selected candidates must undergo one year of intensive judicial academy training followed by one year of structured clerkship. For notifications issued from 1 April 2027, one year of actual practice is required under the revised directions.

You should read the relevant notification alongside these directions because the applicable conditions may depend on the recruitment cycle and post.

Higher Judicial Services eligibility criteria

Higher Judicial Services recruitment generally targets experienced legal professionals for posts such as District Judge. Requirements may include:

• A recognised law degree.
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• A prescribed minimum period of legal practice or other qualifying service, as specified in the notification.
• Compliance with the applicable age, nationality and professional requirements.
• Supporting documents, including proof of practice or service where required.

Do not assume that the entry-level Civil Judge practice rule also determines eligibility for District Judge recruitment. Check the specific higher-judiciary notification

You generally apply online through the recruiting authority identified in the official notification. Follow these steps to complete your application accurately.

1. Select your examination: Identify the state, judicial post and recruitment cycle you intend to apply for.
2. Read the official notification: Check the eligibility criteria, vacancies, syllabus, examination stages, fee and deadlines.
3. Register on the official portal: Enter the required personal, educational and professional details.
4. Upload your documents: Submit the photograph, signature, educational certificates, identity documents and any other documents requested.
5. Pay the application fee: Pay the applicable amount through the permitted payment method, if a fee is required.
6. Submit and save your application: Review the information before final submission. Keep a copy of the application, payment receipt and confirmation for your records.

You should monitor the official portal for admit cards, revised dates, examination instructions and results. Do not rely solely on coaching websites or unofficial notifications when deciding whether you meet the eligibility requirements.

Judicial service exams commonly have three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Viva-Voce. However, the number of papers, qualifying marks, interview weightage and other requirements vary by state.

• Preliminary Examination

  The Prelims stage generally uses objective-type questions to assess your knowledge of law and other subjects specified in the notification. It is often used to shortlist candidates for the Mains examination. Whether Prelims marks count towards final merit depends on the applicable rules.

  
  

• Main Examination

  The Mains stage generally includes descriptive papers that test your legal knowledge, interpretation, written expression and application of legal principles. Depending on the state, you may also need to complete language, translation, essay or judgment-writing papers. Mains performance is important in the selection process.

  
  

• Interview or Viva-Voce

  Candidates who qualify at the earlier stages may be called for an interview. The panel may assess your legal understanding, reasoning, communication, judgement, suitability for judicial service and awareness of professional responsibilities.

Always confirm the selection stages and weightage in the current notification because the process is not identical across all jurisdictions.

The judiciary exam syllabus usually covers core legal subjects, procedural laws, general knowledge and language skills. State-specific legislation, regional language requirements and the weight assigned to individual subjects vary by examination.

Common subjects in the judiciary exam syllabus

Check the syllabus year carefully. The BNS, BNSS and BSA replaced the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act within the new criminal-law framework from 1 July 2024, subject to applicable transitional provisions. The exact laws and provisions tested depend on the notification, so use the prescribed syllabus rather than relying only on older preparation material.

Prelims syllabus: Key elements

• Objective questions on the legal and general subjects specified in the notification.
• Questions on constitutional, civil and criminal law.
• General knowledge and current affairs, where included.
• Regional language or state-specific subjects, where prescribed.

Mains syllabus: Key elements

• Descriptive papers on core legal subjects.
• Civil and criminal law application.
• Essay, translation or language papers, where applicable.
• Judgment writing or other practical legal tasks, if prescribed.

• State-specific legislation and local laws.

  
  

Along with core legal subjects, some states prescribe local laws, regional language papers or additional subjects. Use the table below as a preparation guide, then verify the exact topics in your examination's syllabus.

The examples above are not a substitute for the official syllabus. Do not assume that every listed subject is included in every year's examination or that a topic appears in both Prelims and Mains.

each examination stage. Adapt your schedule to the notification and the time available before the examination.

1. Start with the official syllabus: Divide it into subjects and topics, and mark the areas you need to cover.
2. Read the relevant Bare Acts: Focus on statutory language, definitions, exceptions and important provisions.
3. Use updated study material: Check that your criminal-law notes reflect the BNS, BNSS and BSA where applicable.
4. Practise previous papers: Identify recurring themes, question formats and areas where you lose marks.
5. Attempt timed mock tests: Review incorrect answers and work on accuracy and time management.
6. Practise descriptive writing: For Mains, work on structured legal answers, essays, translation and judgment writing where required.
7. Prepare for the interview: Revise legal developments and practise explaining legal principles clearly.
8. Track official updates: Monitor application deadlines, admit cards, revised schedules and examination notices.

You should review your progress regularly and revise topics rather than relying only on completing new material. If you are preparing for more than one state, compare the syllabi and prioritise shared subjects while keeping separate notes for state-specific laws.

Preparing for judicial service exams may involve expenses such as study materials, coaching, travel or accommodation. If you are already an eligible legal professional and need funds for permitted professional expenses, you can review the Bajaj Finance lawyer loan or the professional loan.

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