Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026: Civil Judge Exam Paper Pattern
The Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026 differs from one state to another. Several states follow a three-stage selection process: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. However, the number of papers, marks, duration, subjects and negative marking differ.
Last Updated on 19 Aug 2026
For example, Gujarat Civil Judge has a 100-mark law paper in Prelims, while Madhya Pradesh Judiciary conducts a 150-question Preliminary Exam. Haryana's Civil Judge Prelims carries 500 marks, whereas Chhattisgarh Judiciary prelims exam has a 100-mark paper.
The Mains stage also varies, with some states focusing heavily on descriptive law papers, while others include language, translation, essay and judgment-writing papers.
Continue reading to know about the Civil Judge exam pattern along with the marking scheme and other details.
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Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
The Civil Judge exam pattern generally has three different stages:
- Prelims: Objective questions designed to screen candidates for the next stage.
- Mains: Descriptive papers that test legal knowledge, analysis, writing and language skills.
- Interview/Viva-Voce: Assesses personality, general awareness and suitability for judicial service.
Here is a quick comparison of the states covered in this guide:
| State | Prelims | Mains | Interview/Viva |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | 100 marks + Gujarati Language Test | 2 papers, 200 marks | 50 marks |
| Rajasthan | Objective, 100 marks | Law + Hindi + English | 35 marks |
| Madhya Pradesh | 150 questions, 150 marks | 4 papers, 400 marks | 50 marks |
| Haryana | 125 questions, 500 marks | 5 papers, 900 marks | 200 marks |
| Chhattisgarh | 100 questions, 100 marks | 3 descriptive papers, 100 marks | 15 marks |
| Odisha | 100 questions, 100 marks | 2 compulsory + 3 optional papers | 100 marks |
| Maharashtra | 100 questions, 100 marks | 2 papers, 200 marks | 50 marks |
| Telangana | 100 questions, 100 marks | 3 papers, 300 marks | 30 marks |
| West Bengal | 200 questions, 200 marks | 8 compulsory + 3 optional papers | 100 marks |
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Gujarat Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
The Gujarat Judiciary selection process includes Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Viva-Voce.
Gujarat Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
Paper I contains 100 multiple-choice questions based on law and related areas. The paper carries 100 marks and lasts 2 hours. A separate Paper II tests Gujarati language proficiency. This paper is applicable to candidates who have not studied Gujarati as a subject in the SSC or HSC examination.
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I |
Law:
|
100 marks | 2 hours |
| Paper II | Test of Gujarati Language | 50 marks | 1½ hours |
Gujarat Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Gujarat Main Written Examination is descriptive. It consists of two papers.
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Criminal Law | 100 marks | 3 hours |
| Paper II | Civil Law | 100 marks | 3 hours |
Gujarat Judiciary Viva-Voce Pattern 2026
Candidates qualifying in the Main Written Examination are called for the Viva-Voce. The interview carries 50 marks.
Check the complete Gujarat Judiciary Exam Pattern here!
Rajasthan Civil Judge Exam Pattern 2026
The Rajasthan Judiciary selection process begins with the prelims exam, followed by Mains and the interview round.
Rajasthan Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
Rajasthan Civil Judge Preliminary Examination is conducted on an OMR sheet. There is no negative marking for wrong answers in the Prelims.
| Component | Questions/Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Law | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| Hindi Proficiency | ||
| English Proficiency |
Rajasthan Judiciary Mains and Interview Pattern
The Mains includes two law papers and two language papers.
| Stage | Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | Law Paper I | 100 | 3 hours |
| Law Paper II | 100 | 3 hours | |
| Language | Hindi Essay | 50 | 2 hours |
| English Essay | 50 | 2 hours | |
| Interview | Viva-Voce | 35 | – |
Check Rajasthan Judiciary Exam Pattern in detail!
MP Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates should analyse the MP Judiciary exam pattern to understand the exact requirements of the prelims, mains and interview round.
MP Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The Madhya Pradesh Judiciary Preliminary Examination is an online screening test. It contains 150 multiple-choice questions, with four options for each question. The total duration is 120 minutes.
| Topic | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Constitution of India | 5 questions | 5 marks |
| Code of Civil Procedure 1908 | 20 questions | 20 marks |
| Transfer of Property Act 1882 | 7 questions | 7 marks |
| The Indian Contract Act of 1872 | 8 questions | 8 marks |
| Specific Relief Act of 1963 | 6 questions | 6 marks |
| Limitation Act of 1963 | 4 questions | 4 marks |
| MP Accommodation Control Act of 1961 | 5 questions | 5 marks |
| MP Land Revenue Act of 1959 | 5 questions | 5 marks |
| Indian Evidence Act of 1872 | 15 questions | 15 marks |
| Indian Penal Code 1861 | 15 questions | 15 marks |
| Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 | 15 questions | 15 marks |
| Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 | 5 questions | 5 marks |
| Information Technology Act, 2000 | 4 questions | 4 marks |
| Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 | 3 questions | 3 marks |
| Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 | 3 questions | 3 marks |
| General Knowledge | 10 questions | 10 marks |
| Computer Knowledge | 10 questions | 10 marks |
| English Language | 10 questions | 10 marks |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
MP Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains comprises four papers. Each paper carries 100 marks, and the test duration will be 3 hours.
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constitution, Civil Law, and Procedure | 100 marks | 3 hours |
| 2 | Article Writing, Summarisation | 100 marks | 3 hours |
| 3 | Local Law, Criminal Law, and Procedure | 100 marks | 3 hours |
| 4 | Judgment Writing | 100 marks | 3 hours |
MP Judiciary Interview 2026
The interview carries 50 marks. Candidates must score at least 40% in the interview to remain eligible for final selection.
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| Upcoming Judiciary Exams | How to Prepare for Judiciary Exam? |
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Haryana Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
The Haryana Judiciary exam pattern for prelims, mains, and interview is as follows:
Haryana Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The paper carries 500 marks, with 4 marks assigned to each question. The duration is 2 hours. A deduction of 0.8 marks, equivalent to one-fifth of the marks assigned to a question, is made for every incorrect answer.
| Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Events of National and International Importance | 125 | 500 | 2 Hours |
| Indian Legal and Constitutional History and Governance | |||
| Analytical skills, Reasoning and Aptitude |
Haryana Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Haryana Main Written Examination consists of five papers. The maximum marks shall be 900 marks.
| Paper | Topic | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper ICivil Law-I |
|
200 Marks |
| Paper-II Civil Law-II |
|
200 Marks |
| Paper-IIICriminal Law |
|
200 Marks |
| Paper-IV English |
The English paper will be of 200 marks and consist of the following:-
|
200 Marks |
| Paper-V Language |
Hindi(in Devanagari Script) language paper shall comprise the following:
|
100 |
| Total | 900 marks | |
Haryana Judiciary Interview
The viva voce carries 200 marks. It assesses personal qualities, general interest, mental alertness, intelligence and overall outlook.
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Chhattisgarh Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
The Chhattisgarh Judiciary selection process consists of three stages: the Prelims Examination, the Mains Written Examination, and the Viva Voce
Chhattisgarh Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The prelims exam carries 100 marks, and the exam duration will be 2 hours.
| Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023* | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
| Code of Civil Procedure | |||
| The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023* | |||
| The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023* | |||
| Constitution of India | |||
| Transfer of Property Act | |||
| Contract Act | |||
| Limitation Act | |||
| The Chhattisgarh Rent Control Act, 2011 | |||
| Court Fees Act | |||
| Specific Relief Act | |||
| Registration Act | |||
| Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code | |||
| The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 | |||
| The Chhattisgarh Excise Act, 1915 | |||
| General Knowledge of Chhattisgarh |
Chhattisgarh Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Main Written Examination consists of three descriptive papers. The exam duration will be 3 hour.
| Paper | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Framing of issues and writing of Judgement in Civil Cases | 40 marks | 3 hour |
| Framing of charges and writing of Judgement in Criminal Cases | 40 marks | |
| Translation | ||
| (1) English to Hindi | 10 marks | |
| (2) Hindi to English | 10 marks | |
| Total | 100 marks | |
Chhattisgarh Judiciary Interview 2026
Candidates qualifying in the Mains are shortlisted for Viva-Voce. The interview carries 15 marks.
Learn About Chhattisgarh Judiciary Exam Pattern Here!
Odisha Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
The Odisha Judiciary selection process has three stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Written Exam and Interview. The Prelims have 100 questions. The Mains exam comprises five papers, with each paper carrying 150 marks.
Odisha Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The Odisha Preliminary Examination contains one objective paper covering multiple areas of law. Candidates get 1½ hours to complete the paper.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
100 | 100 | 1½ hours |
Odisha Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Odisha Main Written Examination contains two compulsory papers and three optional papers.
| Type | Papers | Subject | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | Paper 1 | General English | 150 Marks |
| Paper 2 | Procedural Laws | 150 Marks | |
| Optional Papers | You may choose any of the three subjects among the following: | Law of Crime & Law of Torts | 150 Marks |
| Personal Laws | 150 Marks | ||
| Law of Property | 150 Marks | ||
| Law of Contract | 150 Marks | ||
| Jurisprudence and The Constitution of India | 150 Marks |
Odisha Judiciary Interview
The OPSC OJS Interview carries 100 marks.
Go through the complete Odisha Judiciary Exam Pattern!
Maharashtra Civil Judge Exam Pattern 2026
The Maharashtra Judiciary prelims is a 100-mark objective test, while the Main Written Exam consists of 2 papers, each paper carrying 100 marks.
Maharashtra Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The Maharashtra Preliminary Examination carries 100 marks and has a duration of 2 hours.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100 | 100 |
Maharashtra Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The MPSC Civil Judge Main Written Examination has two compulsory papers. Each paper carries 100 marks and lasts 3 hours.
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 |
|
100 marks | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 |
|
100 marks | 3 hours |
Maharashtra Judiciary Interview
The MPSC Judiciary interview carries 50 marks.
Explore Maharashtra Judiciary Exam Pattern details here!
Telangana Civil Judge Exam Pattern 2026
The Telangana Civil Judge recruitment includes a Computer-Based Screening Test followed by written examinations and Viva-Voce.
Telangana Civil Judge Screening Test Pattern
Check the Screening Test details below:
| Stage Name | Screening Test |
|---|---|
| Question Type | Multiple-Choice |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Telangana Civil Judge Mains Exam Pattern
The Written Examination contains three papers:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Civil Laws | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | Criminal Laws | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | English: Translation, Essay Writing, Grammar and Vocabulary | 100 | 3 hours |
Telangana Civil Judge Viva-Voce
The viva voce carries 30 marks.
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West Bengal Civil Judge Exam Pattern 2026
The selection process is divided into three stages, i.e. Preliminary, Mains, and Personality Test. Check the paper pattern below:
West Bengal Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The West Bengal Preliminary Examination contains 200 objective type questions. The paper carries 200 marks and is conducted for 2½ hours.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| English Composition | 30 |
| General Knowledge, Current Affairs and Reasoning | 40 |
| Indian Constitution | 20 |
| Law of Contracts and Torts | 20 |
| Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam | 20 |
| Civil Procedure Code | 20 |
| BNSS / BNS | 20 |
| Personal Law | 10 |
| Law of Limitation | 20 |
| Total | 200 |
West Bengal Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Final Examination consists of eight compulsory papers and three optional papers. Each paper carries 100 marks and has a duration of 3 hours.
| Paper | Subject |
|---|---|
| Compulsory Papers |
|
| Candidates select three optional subjects from areas: |
|
West Bengal Personality Test
The Personality Test carries 100 marks. Final merit is based on the marks obtained in the Final Examination and Personality Test.
Civil Judge Exam Paper Pattern: What Changes Across States?
The civil judge exam paper pattern can change depending on the state recruitment rules. Some states have a relatively compact Mains structure. Gujarat, for instance, has two descriptive law papers. Madhya Pradesh has four papers, including article writing, summarisation and judgment writing. Haryana has five papers with a substantial language component.
West Bengal is more extensive, with eight compulsory and three optional papers. This means that aspirants should not prepare only from a generic national-level Civil Judge syllabus. The state-specific paper structure should determine how you divide your preparation time.
Judiciary Exam Marking Scheme 2026
The judiciary exam marking scheme varies by state. The Gujarat Civil Judge exam deducts 0.33 marks for an incorrect or multiple answer in Paper I. Odisha Judiciary exam deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer, while the Maharashtra Civil Judge paper follows a 1/4-mark deduction. Haryana Judiciary exam has a comparatively higher penalty of 0.8 marks for each incorrect answer.
On the other hand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge exam have no negative marking in the Preliminary Exam. The Civil Judge exam marking scheme is shared below.
| State | Marks Per Correct Answer | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | 1 mark | 0.33 mark |
| Rajasthan | 1 mark | No negative marking |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1 mark | No negative marking |
| Haryana | 4 marks | 0.8 mark |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 mark | Not specified |
| Odisha | 1 mark | 0.25 mark |
| Maharashtra | 1 mark | 0.25 mark |
| Telangana | 1 mark | Not specified |
| West Bengal | 1 mark | Not specified |
Go Through These Important Topics for Judiciary Aspirants:
| Hierarchy of Judiciary in India | Judiciary Exams Syllabus |
| Judiciary as a Career in India |
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