Judicial Service Exams 2026: State-wise exam pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility Criteria, Prelims, Mains

Arunachal Pradesh

Chhattisgarh

Himachal Pradesh

Jharkhand

Madhya Pradesh

Mizoram

Punjab

Assam

Goa

Haryana

Karnataka

Maharashtra

Odisha

Sikkim

Uttarakhand

Uttar Pradesh

Delhi

Jammu & Kashmir

Kerala

Manipur

West Bengal

Bihar

Nagaland

Rajasthan

Delhi Judicial Service examination

Partnership Act, Principles Governing Arbitration Law

Kerala Judicial Service Exam

Kerala Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act

Goa Judicial Service Examination

The Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989)

Sales of Goods Act, Land laws of Goa

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

English Composition, Essay, Précis writing

Bengali /Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali composition, essay and translation from English into

Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali

General Knowledge and Current Affair

Civil Procedure Code

Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Penal Code

Indian Evidence Act

Law of Contracts and Torts

Transfer of Property Act.

Hindu Law

Muhammadan Law

Partnership Act

Jurisprudence and Principles of Legislation

Indian law relating to Companies and Insurance

Principles of equity including the Law of Trusts and specific relief

Law of limitation and Law of Prescription

The Indian Constitution and Constitutional Law

General Knowledge / General Studies

·       Current events of national and international importance

·       History of India and the Indian National Movement

·       Indian and World Geography

·       Indian Polity and Economy

General Hindi

This paper will be of the same difficulty as the Hindi portion of the secondary test that the        Bihar School Examination Committee will be administering. Students who have been studying Hindi consistently since the fourth grade are intended for this section.

General English

·       Spotting Errors in sentences and phrases

·       Antonyms and Synonyms

·       Fill in the blanks with missing words

·       Usage of prepositions, idioms, and phrases

·       Word analogies

·       Test of spellings

·       Re-arranging sentences

·       Questions to test comprehension – with a passage to be read and questions based on the same.

·       Questions will be set to test the understanding of and the power to write English. A passage or passages will usually be set for summary or precis.

Questions will include letter writing on a given subject

Constitutional Law and Administrative Law

Constitution of India – Article 1 to 395 and Schedules Administrative Law:

·       Delegated Legislation

·       Control of Delegated Legislation – Judicial & Legislative Fair Hearing; Rules of Natural Justice; Rules Against Bias; Audi Alteram Partem

·       Tribunals and Quasi-Judicial Authorities; Judicial Control over them

·       Regulatory- Authorities

·       Judicial Review of Administrative Action

·       Writ Jurisdiction and Statutory Judicial Remedies, Scope, Extent & Distinction

·       Public Interest Litigation

·       Tortious Liability of State and Compensation

·       Promissory Estoppel, Legitimate Expectation & Doctrine of Proportionality

·       Government Contracts

·       Ombudsman

Law of Evidence & Procedure    

·       Indian Evidence Act (1 of 1872)

·       Civil Procedure Code (5 of 1908)

·       Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996

·       Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)

·       Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887

Hindu Law and Mohammedan Law      

·       Hindu Law including Schools, Marriage, Adoption, Impartible Estate, Endowment

·       Muhammadan Law including Marriage Law, Adoption, Wills, Legitimacy, Acknowledgement, Guardianship

Commercial Law

The main principles of law relating to

·       Sale of Goods

·       Negotiable Instruments

·       Company Law

·       Partnership

• Constitution of India
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• Transfer of Property Act, 1882
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Specific Relief Act, 1963
• Limitation Act, 1963

• Indian Penal Code, 1860
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Chapter 13 and Chapter 17)
• M. P. Land Revenue Code, 1959
• M.P. Location Control Act, 1961

• Stabilization of issues
• Accusative structure
• Judgment Writing (Civil)
• Judgment Writing (Criminal)

• Articles, on social subjects
• Articles on legal topics
• Condensation (legal)
• Translation, Hindi to English
• Translation, English to Hindi

Paper 1: General Legal Knowledge & Language

This paper shall comprise of two Sections:- Section I : General Legal Knowledge:- This is to test the candidate’s knowledge of current legal affairs etc. (100 Marks). Section II: Language (Essay, Translation and Precis Writing):- This is to test the candidate’s knowledge and power of expression in English. Credit will be given both for substance and expression. Conversely deduction will be made for bad expression, faults of grammar and misuse of words etc. There will be two passages for translations one in English which will be required to be translated into Hindi (in Devnagri Script) and the second passage in Hindi (in Devnagri Script) shall be required to be translated into English

Paper 2: Civil Law I

The Indian Contract Act, 1872; The Sale of Goods Act, 1930; The Transfer of Property Act, 1882; The Specific Relief Act, 1963; Hindu Law; Mohammaden Law; The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958; Law of Torts; The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994; The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 and The Commercial Courts Act, 2015.

Paper 3: Civil Law-II

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; The Indian Evidence Act, 1872; The Limitation Act,

1963; The Registration Act, 1908; The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; The Trade Marks Act,

1999 and The Copyright Act, 1957

Paper 4: Criminal Law The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The Indian Penal Code; The Indian Evidence

Act, 1872; The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; The Negotiable Instruments

Act, 1881; The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)

Act, 2013 and The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

General Knowledge

·       History of India and Indian Culture

·       Geography of India

·       Indian Polity

·       Current National Issues

·       Topics of Social Relevance

·       India and the world

·       Indian Economy

·       International Affairs and Institutions and developments in the field of Science and Technology Communications and Space

English

·       Essay to be written in English

·       English Précis writing

·       Translation of passage from Hindi to English

·       Translation of passage from English to Hindi

Hindi

·       Essay to be written in Hindi

·       Hindi Précis writing

·       Translation of passage from English to Hindi

Law-1 (Substantive Law)

·       law of contracts

·       law of Partnership

·       law concerning easements and torts

·       Law relating to transfer of property including the principles of equity, specifically applicable there to

·       principal of Equity with special reference to the Law of trust and specific relief

·       Hindu Law and Mohammedan Law

·       Constitutional Law

Law-II(Procedure and Evidence)

·       Code of Civil Procedure

·       Evidence of witnesses

·       Framing of charges

·       Practical matters

·       Principles of pleading

·       The conduct of cases

·       The Criminal Procedure Code

·       The Law of Evidence

·       Writing of judgment

Law III (Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws)

·       Indian Penal Code

·       Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006

·       Uttar Pradesh Urban Building (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972

·       The Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021

·       Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act

·       U.P. Panchayat Raj Act

·       U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act

·       Uttar Pradesh Urban (Planning and Development) Act 1973, together with rules framed under the aforesaid Acts

• Constitution of India
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• Transfer of Property Act, 1882
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Specific Relief Act, 1963
• Limitation Act, 1963

• Indian Penal Code, 1860
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Chapter 13 and Chapter 17)
• M. P. Land Revenue Code, 1959
• M.P. Location Control Act, 1961

• Spotting Errors in sentences and phrases
• Antonyms and Synonyms
• Fill in the blanks with missing words
• Usage of prepositions, idioms, and phrases
• Word analogies
• Test of spellings
• Re-arranging sentences
• Questions to test comprehension – with a passage to be read and questions based on the same
• Questions will be set to test the understanding of and the power to write English. A passage or passages will usually be set for summary or précis
• Questions will include letter writing on a given subject

• English Grammar
  
• General Essays (two) 
  
• Translation of Malayalam Depositions/ Documents to Enlgish and Precis writing (English)

• Code of Civil Procedure
• Civil Rules of Practice
• Limitation Act
• Contract Act
• Partnership Act
• Specific Relief Act
• Kerala Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act
• Stamp Act (State & Central)
• Kerala Civil Courts Act
• Law relating to ADR and Kerala Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act. 

• Transfer of Property Act
• Panchayat Raj Act
• Municipalities Act
• Family Courts Act
• Revenue Recovery Act
• Negotiable Instruments Act (except Ch.XVII)
• Easements Act
• Registration Act and Personal Laws - Hindu, Muslim & Christian. 

     Part A: 

• Code of Criminal Procedure
• Criminal Rules of Practice
• Information Technology Act
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. 
  Part B: 
• Indian Evidence Act
• General Principles of Criminal Jurisprudence

• Indian Penal Code
• Kerala Police Act
• Abkari Act
• Probation of Offenders Act
• Prevention of Food Adulteration Act
• Forest Act
• N.D.P.S. Act, Negotiable Instruments Act - Ch. XVII

• Procedural Law (The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973).
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860.
• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
• The Limitation Act, 1963. 

• The Contract Act, 1872
• The Sales of Goods Act, 1930
• The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
• The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 

•  The Hindu Law and The Mohammedan Law
• Rent Control Law.
• The Specific Relief Act, 1963
• Jurisprudence 

• Hindi & English (Essay, Precise writing, Translation & Paraphrasing) 

• Code of Civil Procedure
• Indian Evidence Act
• Himachal Pradesh Stamp Act
• Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976 and Specific Relief Act.

• Indian Contract Act
• Hindu Law
• Indian Limitation Act
• Transfer of Property Act and H.P. Urban Rent Control Act

• Indian Penal Code
• Criminal Procedure Code
• Chapter-XVII (Section 138 to 143) of the Negotiable Instruments Act
• H.P. Excise Act-2011
• Wildlife Protection Act
• Indian Forest Act and Module on Judicial Sensitivity to Sexual Offences

•  A Choice from Three Essays on General Subjects.
• Translation of Hindi Passage into English

• Language (Hindi): Hindi (in Devnagari Script)

• The Indian Contract Act, 1872

   

• The Specific Relief Act, 1963

   

• The Limitation Act, 1963

   

• Sale of Goods Act, 1930

   

• Indian Partnership Act, 1932

   

• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

   

• Transfer of Property Act, 1882

   

• The Easement Act, 1882

   

• Family Laws in Goa including Hindu Laws and Muslim Laws

   

• Land Laws: The Goa, Daman & Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964, The Goa, Daman & Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1975, The Goa, Daman & Diu Buildings (Lease, Rent & Eviction) Control Act, 1968 and Rules, 1969

   

• Constitution of India

• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

• The Indian Penal Code, 1860

• The Evidence Act, 1872

• The Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

• The Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881

• Essay on Current Legal Topic (Approximately 800 words

• The Sale of Goods Act, 1930

• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

• The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

• The Punjab Courts Act, 1918

• Specific Relief Act, 1963

• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

• The Indian Partnership Act, 1932

• The Indian Contract Act, 1872

• The East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949

• Muslim Law

• Limitation and Registration Law

• Customary Law

• Hindu Law

• The Code of Criminal Procedure,1973
• The Indian Penal Code,1860
• The Indian Evidence Act,1872

• Essay writing (1000-1100 words)
• Comprehension
• Correction of sentence
• Precis writing
• Making sentences with particular phrases and words

• Translations of Punjabi, which are given in the Gurumukhi script

• The Constitution of India and Principles of Pleading
• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

• Framing of issues and writing of judgments in Civil cases 

• Framing of charges and writing of judgments in Criminal cases

• Translation of an English Passage into KannadaTranslation of a Kannada Passage into English
• The passages given for translation include depositions, judgments, and documents. 

• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• The Constitution of India
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• The Specific Relief Act, 1963
• The Limitation Act, 1963
• The Transfer of Property Act, 1882
• The Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001
• Interpretation of Statutes
• Order/Judgment Writing

• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
• The Negotiable Instruments Act, of 1881 (Chapter XVII)
• Framing of Charge /Judgment Writing
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860
• The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

The Paper III comprises of Language Paper 1 and Langugae Paper 2. Check details below:

Paper 1- English Syllabus 

• Articles and Determiners with Tenses
• Verb phrasing and idioms
• Both Passive and Active Voice
• Both Subordination and Coordination Speech
• Both Direct and Indirect
• Synonyms and Antonyms
• Modals for expressing a range of ideas, including condition, probability, possibility, purpose, reason, companions, contrast, obligation, request, permission, prohibition, intention, and condition.

Paper 2- Hindi Syllabus

• शब्द रचनाः संधि एवं संधि विच्छेद, समास, उपसर्ग, प्रत्यय – शब्द प्रकारः (क) तत्सम, अर्द्धतत्सम, तत्भव, देशज, विदेशी (ख) संज्ञा, सर्वनाम, विशेषण, क्रिया, अव्यय (क्रिया विशेषण, संबंध सूचक, विस्मयबोधक निपात)
• शब्द ज्ञान : पर्यायवाची, विलोम, शब्द युगमो का अर्थ भेद, वाक्यांश के लिए सार्थक शब्द, समश्रुत भिन्नार्थक शब्द, समानार्थी शब्दों का विवेक, उपयुक्त शब्द चयन, संबंधवाची शब्दावली – शब्द शुद्धि ।

• व्यऎकणिक कोटियाँ: परसर्ग, लिंग, वचन, पुरुष, काल, वुल, वृत्ति (mood), पक्ष (aspect), वाच्य (voice) • वचनाय वाक्य शुद्धि
• वॿराम चिन्हों का प्रयोग
ुहावरे / लोकोक्तियाँ।
• पब्दावलीः प्रशासनिक, विधिक (विगेषतः)

Procedural Law & Local Laws

Group A:

• Procedural Law
• Code of Civil Procedure
• Criminal Procedure Code
• Indian Evidence Act
• Limitation Act

Group B:

• Local Laws
• Property Law
• Registration Law
• House Rent & Eviction Law
• Land Laws
• Court Fee & Stamp Laws
• Adoption Laws
• Civil Courts Act
• Municipal Laws
• Interpretation & General Clauses Act
• Other Local Laws
• Notification on Issuance of Certificate of Identification
• Rural Indebtedness Act
• Language Test

Substantive Laws

• Hindu Law
• Indian Contract Act
• Sale of Goods Act
• Partnership Act
• Specific Relief Act
• General Clauses Act
• Transfer of Property Act
• Indian Penal Code and
• Constitutional Law of India

Language

• Translation from English to Hindi 
• Translation from Hindi to English 
• Précis Writing in English

• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Partnership Act,
• Law concerning easements and Torts
• Transfer of Property Act, 1882
• Principles of Equity : Law of Trust and Specific Relief
• Hindu Law
• Mohammedan Law

Law of Evidence & Procedure

• Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• Principles of Pleading
• Framing of Charges and Issues
• Methods of dealing with the evidence of witness
• Writing of Judgment
• Conduct of cases 

Land Revenue and Criminal Law 

• U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act , 1950 (as applicable in Uttarakhand)
• Indian Penal Code, 1860

Basic Knowledge of Computer Operation 

• Windows and Internet
• M.S. - Word
• M.S. - Access
• M.S. - Excel
• M.S. - PowerPoint