Law · State Public Service Commissions and High Courts (UP PCS-J, MP, Rajasthan RJS, Bihar BJS, Delhi DJS and others)
Judicial Services (PCS-J) — Civil Judge (Junior Division) — State Judicial Services Examination
The complete Judicial Services (PCS-J) blueprint: tier-wise pattern, topic weightage from previous-year analyses, and free chapter-by-chapter study material.
3 stages: Prelims, Mains (law papers and judgment writing) and Interview, in most states100 marks per Mains paper in the Madhya Pradesh model: Civil Law, Language, Criminal Law and Judgment Writing2024 the year the BNS, BNSS and BSA replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, now in every syllabus Free · tutor-verified
Judicial Services (PCS-J) at a glance
Conducted byState Public Service Commissions and High Courts (UP PCS-J, MP, Rajasthan RJS, Bihar BJS, Delhi DJS and others)
CycleMost states notify Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts every one to two years, and each state publishes its own calendar, vacancies and age limits. Confirm the live notification of your state's High Court or Public Service Commission.
ModePrelims: objective. Mains: pen-and-paper descriptive papers, often with a separate judgment-writing paper. Interview: in-person, with questions on law, ethics and judicial temperament.
EligibilityA degree in law (LL.B.) and enrolment as an advocate where the state requires it, with a minimum age and a maximum age that vary by state and category. Recent Supreme Court directions on minimum years of practice for entry to the judicial service have changed eligibility in some states, so confirm the rules of your state on the current notification.
LanguagesHindi and English in most northern and central states, and regional languages in others, as the notification specifies.
Selection intoCivil Judge (Junior Division) is the entry level of the subordinate judiciary, with pay set by the state's judicial pay structure. Confirm the pay level on the notification.
Where Judicial Services lead
Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Judicial Magistrate First ClassPromotion to Civil Judge (Senior Division) and Chief Judicial MagistratePromotion to Additional District Judge and District Judge, with direct recruitment of District Judges under Article 233Posts in family courts, commercial courts and special courts as assigned by the High Court
⚡ What changed recently
- The BNS, BNSS and BSA are in force from 1 July 2024 and appear in all current syllabi, so the criminal law chapters cite the new section with the old one.
- The Specific Relief Act was amended in 2018, and the post-amendment rule is tested, as are recent Supreme Court judgments on electronic evidence and bail.
- Entry conditions, including minimum years of practice, have been subject to Supreme Court directions, so confirm your state's current rules.
- Section numbers in this hub follow the commonly published conversion tables, so confirm each against the Bare Act before relying on it.
How Judicial Services (PCS-J) selection works
Know what each stage is for before you spend a single hour preparing.
SCREENING GATE
Prelims: objective screening
A paper on law and, in many states, General Knowledge. Marks are used to shortlist for the Mains in most states.
THE SCORING STAGE
Mains: descriptive law papers and judgment writing
In the Madhya Pradesh model, four papers of 100 marks: Civil Law, Language, Criminal Law and Judgment Writing.
FINAL STAGE
Interview
A board interview on law, ethics, temperament and knowledge of the judicial system. Final merit adds Mains and interview marks, with weights set by the state.
The exam pattern, tier by tier
Marks, timing and negative marking exactly as per the official notification.
Prelims: law and General Knowledge
Screening in most states— marks
—
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution of India | — | — | State-specific |
| Civil Procedure Code and Limitation | — | — | State-specific |
| Contract, Specific Relief and Sale of Goods | — | — | State-specific |
| Transfer of Property and Registration | — | — | State-specific |
| BNS, BNSS and BSA | — | — | State-specific |
| General Knowledge and current affairs | — | — | State-specific |
💡 The paper shape and negative marking differ by state, so confirm on your notification. The law content is the same core as the Mains.
Mains Paper: Civil Law
Descriptive, 100 marks in the Madhya Pradesh model100 marks
3 hours
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code of Civil Procedure and Limitation | Descriptive | 30-40 | 3 hours |
| Contract Act and Specific Relief Act | Descriptive | 20-30 | 3 hours |
| Transfer of Property Act | Descriptive | 15-25 | 3 hours |
| Constitution of India | Descriptive | 15-25 | 3 hours |
💡 Constitution of India, the Code of Civil Procedure and Limitation Act, the Transfer of Property Act, the Contract Act and the Specific Relief Act. The Court lists the Acts but not marks per Act.
Mains Paper: Language
Descriptive, 100 marks in the Madhya Pradesh model100 marks
3 hours
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language, précis and translation | Descriptive | 100 | 3 hours |
💡 Writing on a social issue (30), writing on a legal issue (20), précis (20) and translation between Hindi and English (30). Translation is marked on legal accuracy.
Mains Paper: Criminal Law
Descriptive, 100 marks in the Madhya Pradesh model100 marks
3 hours
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal procedure (BNSS) | Descriptive | 25-35 | 3 hours |
| Evidence (BSA) | Descriptive | 20-30 | 3 hours |
| Substantive criminal law (BNS) and the Negotiable Instruments Act | Descriptive | 20-30 | 3 hours |
| Special laws | Descriptive | — | 3 hours |
💡 Criminal procedure, evidence, substantive criminal law and the Negotiable Instruments Act, with state local laws. The new codes apply for offences from 1 July 2024.
Mains Paper: Judgment Writing
Descriptive, 100 marks in the Madhya Pradesh model100 marks
3 hours
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Framing issues and the civil judgment | Descriptive | 50 | 3 hours |
| Framing charges and the criminal judgment | Descriptive | 50 | 3 hours |
| Family law and succession (in states that include it) | Descriptive | — | State-specific |
💡 Framing of issues (10), framing of charges (10), a civil judgment (40) and a criminal judgment (40), from fact sheets. Format is marked as strictly as reasoning.
Where your Judicial Services score comes from
Judicial services are run state by state, so the paper shape differs. The pattern modelled here is the Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge Mains of four papers of 100 marks and three hours each: Civil Law (Constitution, CPC, Transfer of Property, Contract, Specific Relief and Limitation), Language (writing on social and legal issues, précis and translation), Criminal Law (procedure, evidence, substantive law and the Negotiable Instruments Act, with state local laws) and Judgment Writing (framing issues and charges, a civil judgment and a criminal judgment). Other states differ: Uttar Pradesh, for example, sets six papers including General Knowledge and separate Hindi and English papers and no judgment-writing paper, and Rajasthan sets judgment writing inside its law papers. Prelims are objective, with a state-specific split of law and General Knowledge. Since 1 July 2024 the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam have replaced the old codes, so the chapters give the new section with the old one. Marks per Act are not published, so the marks shown are indicative. Click any block to open its chapters:
Civil Law and Criminal Law200 marks · 50%
Half of the Madhya Pradesh Mains marks. Each pairs a statute-by-statute chapter set with case law.
Judgment Writing100 marks · 25%
A quarter of Mains marks, and the skill closest to the job.
Language100 marks · 25%
A quarter of Mains marks, scored by accuracy of legal terms and structure.
Subjects in Judicial Services (PCS-J)
Chapter-by-chapter study material built to the exam's own blueprint.
Topic-wise weightage — what to study first
Question counts per topic, distilled from previous-year paper analyses. Click any topic with a link to open its full chapter.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and the Basic Structure | ~25 | Very high |
| The Judiciary, Federalism, Emergency and Constitutional Machinery | ~25 | Very high |
🎯 Name the Article, the rule and the leading case, then apply to the facts.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction, Parties and Pleadings under the CPC | ~40 | Very high |
| Interim Relief, Trial and Judgment under the CPC | ~40 | Very high |
| Decree, Execution, Appeals, Review and Revision under the CPC | ~35 | Very high |
🎯 Cite the section with the Order, and choose the remedy first in every problem.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| The Indian Contract Act: Formation, Consent and Breach | ~30 | Very high |
| Specific Relief: Performance, Declarations and Injunctions | ~25 | Very high |
| Sale of Goods, Negotiable Instruments and Partnership | ~25 | High |
🎯 Answer contract problems as formation, validity, performance, breach, remedy; draw the Section 138 timeline.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| The Transfer of Property Act: Sale, Mortgage, Lease and Gift | ~25 | Very high |
| Registration, Easements and Limitation | ~25 | Very high |
🎯 Check the form of each transfer, then registration, then limitation, then the merits.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| BNS General Principles: Exceptions, Private Defence and Group Liability | ~25 | Very high |
| BNS Offences against the Body, Property and Women | ~30 | Very high |
🎯 Cite the BNS section with the IPC section and apply every ingredient to the facts.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| BNSS: FIR, Arrest, Remand and Bail | ~30 | Very high |
| BNSS: Cognizance, Charge, Trial, Judgment and Appeals | ~30 | Very high |
🎯 Compute remand and default-bail clocks, and cite the BNSS with the CrPC section.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| BSA: Relevancy, Admissions, Confessions and Expert Opinion | ~25 | Very high |
| BSA: Documents, Electronic Records, Burden of Proof and Witnesses | ~25 | Very high |
🎯 Ask relevant, admissible, what weight; certificate for electronic records.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Hindu Law: Marriage, Divorce, Maintenance, Adoption and Succession | ~25 | High |
| Muslim, Christian and Secular Law: Wills, Succession and the Uniform Civil Code | ~25 | High |
🎯 Test void, voidable or valid first; confirm recent changes before the exam.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| POCSO, Juvenile Justice, NDPS, Dowry and Atrocities Laws | ~30 | Very high |
| Domestic Violence, Corruption, Cyber, Consumer and Motor Accident Laws | ~30 | High |
🎯 Use a four-point card per Act: definition, presumption, procedure, bail.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Framing Issues and Writing a Civil Judgment | ~50 | Very high |
| Framing Charges and Writing a Criminal Judgment | ~50 | Very high |
🎯 Write one full judgment a week against the clock; end every judgment with a precise operative order.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Court Structure, ADR, Lok Adalats, Contempt and Judicial Ethics | ~25 | High |
🎯 Prepare three interview answers on pendency, impartiality and ADR.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Language, Translation, Essay and General Knowledge | ~100 | Very high |
🎯 Keep a terms list in both languages and a one-line case notebook.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
| Topic | Marks | Priority |
|---|
🎯 This subject aliases UPSC CSE content directly, since the underlying syllabus matches closely enough to share chapters rather than duplicate them.
Judicial Services (PCS-J) resources
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FAQs
Frequently asked questions
The Madhya Pradesh four-paper Mains is the model, because it has a dedicated judgment-writing paper. Other states differ, so check your state's notification, and use the same law chapters.
For offences on or after 1 July 2024 cite the BNS, BNSS and BSA, with the old section as a reference. For earlier offences the old codes still apply.
They follow commonly published conversion tables. Confirm each against the Bare Act, since a few secondary sources differ.
Yes. It made specific performance the general rule, and examiners test the new Section 10 and substituted performance.
On the live notification of your state's High Court or Public Service Commission, since age, practice requirements and dates vary.
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