⚖️Judicial Services Exams in India — Complete Guide⚖️

📌 Overview

Judicial Service Exams, popularly known as Judiciary Exams, are competitive examinations conducted by State Public Service Commissions or High Courts of different states to recruit judges for the Subordinate Judiciary. These exams are a gateway for law students aspiring to become Judicial Officers and serve in the Judicial system of India.

In India, there is no single, unified national exam for becoming a judge. Instead, the recruitment process is completely decentralized and managed at the state level by the respective State Public Service Commissions and High Courts.

In total, 24 states conduct individual Judicial Services Examinations, which are broadly grouped into two distinct entry levels: the Lower Judicial Service (LJS) and the Higher Judicial Service (HJS).

⚖️The Two Entry Levels of Judicial Exams

The judicial entry system is divided by experience requirements and the level of the court where you begin your career.

1️⃣ Lower Judicial Service Exam (Civil Judge — Junior Division) {👈Click Here}

This category is designed for fresh law graduates and is conducted through entrance exams.

Level A: Lower Judicial Service (LJS) / PCS-J  :- Commonly known as the Provincial Civil Service - Judicial (PCS-J) or Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam, this is the entry-level path for fresh law graduates.

• Target Post: Civil Judge (Junior Division), Judicial Magistrate, or Metropolitan Magistrate.

• Eligibility: A fresh LL.B degree (3-year or 5-year integrated course) from a recognized university. Candidates must be enrolled (or eligible to be enrolled) as an advocate.

• Work Experience: 0 years. Freshers and final-year law students are eligible.

• Age Limit: Generally between 21 and 35 years (varies slightly by state; for example, Delhi has a maximum age limit of 32, while Haryana allows up to 42 years).

2️⃣ Higher Judicial Service Exam (Additional District Judge) {👈Click Here}

The Higher Judiciary Exam is designed for experienced litigation lawyers. Candidates who pass this exam will be appointed as Additional District Judges.

Level B: Higher Judicial Service (HJS) :- This examination targets experienced legal professionals looking to skip the lower ranks and jump directly into the senior subordinate judiciary.

• Target Post: District Judge, Additional District Judge (ADJ), or Sessions Judge.

• Eligibility: A recognized LL.B degree.

• Work Experience: A minimum of 7 years of continuous practice as a litigating advocate is strictly mandatory.

• Age Limit: Generally between 35 and 45 years.

📋 GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must be Indian citizens, must have a law degree from a recognized institution, and under the Advocates' Act of 1961, the candidate must be enrolled or eligible to be enrolled as an advocate. Candidates in their final year may also appear for the exam. The upper age limit is 40 years or more in many states. Furthermore, to be eligible for higher judiciary, one must pass the judicial exam and have at least seven years of litigating experience.

🗺️ STATE-WISE JUDICIAL SERVICE EXAMS (All 24 States)

1. 🟠 Uttar Pradesh — UP PCS (J)

Conducting Body: Allahabad High Court / UPPSC

• One of the largest and most competitive judiciary exams in India

• Posts: Civil Judge (Junior Division) & Judicial Magistrate

• Age Limit: 22–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

• Language: Hindi mandatory

2. 🔵 Delhi — Delhi Judicial Service (DJS)

Conducting Body: Delhi High Court

• Recruits Civil Judges for Delhi's subordinate courts

• Highly competitive due to the national capital's legal complexity

• Age Limit: Up to 32 years (General)

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Viva Voce The final result for the DJS 2024 cycle exam was published on the official website on 4 February 2026.

3. 🟡 Bihar — Bihar Judicial Service (BJSE)

Conducting Body: Patna High Court

• Recruits Civil Judges (Junior Division)

• In the Bihar Judicial Service Mains Exam, there are five compulsory papers. Candidates will also be given a choice of five optional papers, from which candidates have to select three.

• Age Limit: 22–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

4. 🟢 Madhya Pradesh — MP Civil Judge (MPCJ)

Conducting Body: MP High Court

• The Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge Exam is conducted by the Madhya Pradesh High Court and opens the gateway to a prestigious and rewarding career as a Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the state.

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

5. 🔴 Rajasthan — Rajasthan Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Rajasthan High Court

• Recruits Civil Judges for Rajasthan's subordinate courts

• Age Limit: 23–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

• Hindi is an important component of the exam

6. 🟤 Maharashtra — Maharashtra Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) In Maharashtra, the application form of Judicial Services Examinations are released by the state Public Service Commission.

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

• Marathi language is tested

7. 🟣 West Bengal — WBJS

Conducting Body: West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) The West Bengal Judicial Service Examination (WBJS) is a highly sought-after competitive exam conducted by the WBPSC to recruit Civil Judges (Junior Division) for the state judiciary.

• The WBPSC Civil Judge Mains Syllabus is divided into two sections: compulsory and elective.

• Age Limit: 23–35 years

8. 🔵 Punjab & Haryana — HJS / Punjab Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Punjab & Haryana High Court The High Court of Haryana notifies about the judicial service examination on its official website — highcourtchd.gov.in.

• Covers both Punjab and Haryana states

• Age Limit: 20–37 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Viva Voce

9. 🟠 Chhattisgarh — CG Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Chhattisgarh High Court The Chhattisgarh Judiciary Exam presents an excellent opportunity for law graduates aiming to join the judicial services in one of India's most dynamic states.

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

10. 🟡 Jharkhand — Jharkhand Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Jharkhand High Court Jharkhand Judiciary Examination is an exception among Hindi-speaking states which requires the aspirants to be enrolled as advocates under the Advocates Act, 1961.

• Age Limit: 22–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

11. 🟢 Gujarat — Gujarat Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Gujarat High Court Gujarat Judiciary Exam mandates both enrollment as an advocate and successful completion of the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) as part of its eligibility criteria.

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Gujarati language is required

12. 🔴 Karnataka — Karnataka Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)

• Recruits Civil Judges for Karnataka's district courts

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Kannada language proficiency required

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

13. 🟤 Kerala — Kerala Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) The Kerala High Court has officially released the much-awaited Kerala Judiciary Exam 2026 notification.

• Age Limit: 18–36 years

• Malayalam language required

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

14. 🟣 Tamil Nadu — TN Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)

• One of the oldest judicial service exams in India

• Age Limit: 21–30 years

• Tamil language is essential

• Selection: Written Exam → Interview

15. 🔵 Andhra Pradesh — AP Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)

• Recruits Civil Judges for AP subordinate courts

• Age Limit: 18–34 years

• Telugu language proficiency required

16. 🟠 Telangana — Telangana Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) Telangana High Court Civil Judge candidates must be Indian nationals and between the ages of 23 and 26. Candidates must hold a legal degree from a recognized Indian institution.

17. 🟡 Odisha — Odisha Judicial Service (OJS)

Conducting Body: Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) Eligibility Criteria: Age — 23 to 39 years, Education — Graduate in Law, Nationality — Indian, Fluency in Odia required. Selection Process: Prelims, Mains, Personal Interview.

18. 🟢 Himachal Pradesh — HP Judicial Service

Conducting Body: HP Public Service Commission / HP High Court

• Age Limit: 18–35 years

• Hindi and English papers included

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

19. 🔴 Uttarakhand — UK PCS (J)

Conducting Body: Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC)

• Recruits Civil Judges for Uttarakhand courts

• Age Limit: 22–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

20. 🟤 Assam — Assam Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Gauhati High Court

• Covers northeast India's judicial recruitment

• Age Limit: 21–38 years

• Selection: Written Exam → Interview

21. 🟣 Manipur — Manipur Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Manipur High Court / Manipur PSC

• Recruits judges for Manipur's subordinate courts

• Age Limit: 21–38 years

22. 🔵 Tripura — Tripura Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Tripura PSC

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Selection: Prelims → Mains → Interview

23. 🟠 Meghalaya — Meghalaya Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Meghalaya PSC

• Recruits Civil Judges for Meghalaya courts

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

24. 🟡 Goa — Goa Judicial Service

Conducting Body: Goa PSC

• Smallest judiciary exam by volume

• Age Limit: 21–35 years

• Konkani/Portuguese knowledge may be preferred

📝 SELECTION PROCESS (Common for Most States)

The upcoming judiciary exam will follow a three-phase selection process:

Phase 1 — Preliminary Examination: This is the first phase and is qualifying in nature. The questions will be objective-type. The marks obtained in this exam will not be considered in the final merit list.

Phase 2 — Mains Written Examination: Candidates who pass the preliminary exam will advance to the mains, which will consist of subjective-type questions.

Phase 3 — Interview/Viva Voce: Candidates are evaluated according to their general interests, IQ, and personality.