Judiciary Exams Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview
Check the quick overview of the Civil Judge eligibility criteria shared below:
| Eligibility Factor |
Civil Judge Eligibility Criteria 2026 |
| Educational Qualification |
Recognised LL.B. degree or equivalent law qualification, as prescribed by the respective state recruitment authority |
| Age Limit |
Generally 21 to 35 years, subject to state-specific rules |
| Age Relaxation |
Available as per the category and applicable state recruitment rules |
| Practice requirement up to March 31, 2027 |
For notifications issued after the earlier judgment and up to March 31, 2027, law graduates can apply without completing three years of practice; they are considered to have completed one year of active practice for application purposes |
| Practice Requirement from April 1, 2027 |
At least 1 year of actual practice is required for Civil Judge (Junior Division) recruitment |
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Civil Judge Qualification 2026
Civil Judge qualifications vary across states. While an LL.B. or equivalent is generally required, some states also specify language, computer knowledge, or other additional conditions.
| State |
Minimum Educational Qualification |
| Gujarat |
- Degree in law from a University recognised by law in India
- Certificate of basic knowledge of computer applications/operation.
- You should be practising as an Advocate in Courts of Civil and/or Criminal Jurisdiction on the last date of application.
|
| Madhya Pradesh |
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law
- Practised continuously as an advocate.
|
| Haryana |
- Bachelor of Laws
- Must be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961, and the applicable rules.
|
| Chhattisgarh |
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognised university.
- Must be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 (Act No. 25 of 1961).
|
| Odisha |
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognised university.
- Must have practised as an advocate.
|
| Maharashtra |
- Bachelor’s degree in law from a recognised University.
- Must have practised as an Advocate
|
| Rajasthan |
Degree of Bachelor of Laws (Professional) of any University established by Law in India and recognised as such under the Advocates Act, 1961) |
| Telangana |
- Degree in Law of a University
- Must have been practising as an Advocate.
|
| Uttarakhand |
A Bachelor of Law from a University established by Law in Uttarakhand or by another University of India recognised for this purpose by the Governor. |
| Bihar |
Law graduation or equivalent examination passed from a university/institution recognised by the Bar Council of India, New Delhi. |
| West Bengal |
A degree in Law from any University |
Civil Judge Age Limit
Age is another major factor in civil judge exam eligibility. The civil judge age limit in most states in India is 21 to 35 years. However, each state can set its own minimum and maximum age for candidates applying for the Judiciary exam.
| State |
Minimum Age |
Upper Age Limit |
| Gujarat |
21 years |
35 years |
| Madhya Pradesh |
21 years |
35 years |
| Haryana |
21 years |
42 years |
| Chhattisgarh |
21 years |
35 years |
| Odisha |
23 years |
42 years |
| Maharashtra |
21 years |
35 years |
| Rajasthan |
21 years |
40 years |
| Telangana |
23 years |
35 years |
| Uttarakhand |
22 years |
35 years |
| Bihar |
22 years |
35 years |
| West Bengal |
23 years |
35 years |
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Civil Judge Exam Eligibility: Age Relaxation
Age relaxation is an essential part of eligibility for the Civil Judge exam. The relaxation available to candidates depends on the respective state rules and the category outlined in the recruitment notification. Check the complete details below.
Gujarat Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Upper Age Limit |
| General |
35 years |
| Scheduled Castes |
38 years |
| Scheduled Tribes |
38 years |
| Socially & Educationally Backward Classes |
38 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability |
38 years |
| Economically Weaker Sections |
38 years |
| Employees working in Courts or other Allied Departments |
40 years |
Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Relaxation/Maximum Age |
| Scheduled Castes |
3 years |
| Scheduled Tribes |
3 years |
| Other Backward Classes |
3 years |
| Persons with Disabilities |
3 years |
| Government service candidates |
Up to 38 years |
Haryana Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Age Relaxation |
| SC of Haryana |
5 years |
| Backward Classes of Haryana |
5 years |
| PwD |
5 years |
| Wives of military personnel disabled during military service |
5 years |
| Widowed or legally divorced women |
5 years |
| Eligible judicially separated women |
5 years |
| Unmarried women |
5 years |
Chhattisgarh Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Age Relaxation |
| SC, ST and OBC Non-Creamy Layer notified by Chhattisgarh Government |
5 years |
| Women candidates from SC, ST, OBC and Unreserved categories |
10 years |
| Permanent and temporary Chhattisgarh Government employees |
3 years |
Odisha Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Age Relaxation |
| Scheduled Castes |
5 years |
| Scheduled Tribes |
5 years |
| SEBC |
5 years |
| Women |
5 years |
| Ex-servicemen and eligible Defence officers |
5 years |
| PwBD candidates |
10 years |
| Eligible Law Clerk/Research Assistant or specified constitutional authority experience |
7 years |
Maharashtra Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Post |
Minimum Age |
Maximum Age: Orphans |
Maximum Age: Backward Classes/Disabled |
| Advocate/Public Prosecutor/Government Advocate |
21 years |
35 years |
40 years |
| Eligible Ministerial Staff |
21 years |
45 years |
50 years |
Rajasthan Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Minimum Age |
Age Relaxation |
Maximum Age |
| General |
21 years |
– |
40 years |
| SC |
21 years |
5 years |
45 years |
| ST |
21 years |
5 years |
45 years |
| OBC |
21 years |
5 years |
45 years |
| MBC |
21 years |
5 years |
45 years |
| EWS |
21 years |
5 years |
45 years |
| Women |
21 years |
5 years |
45 years |
| Ex-Servicemen |
21 years |
10 years |
Up to 50 years |
| PwBD |
21 years |
Additional 5 years |
As applicable with other eligible relaxation |
Telangana Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Age Relaxation |
| EWS |
5 years |
| SC |
5 years |
| ST |
5 years |
| Backward Classes |
5 years |
Bihar Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Minimum Age |
Maximum Age |
| Reserved categories including women and PwD candidates |
22 years |
40 years |
West Bengal Civil Judge Eligibility: Age Relaxation
| Category |
Relaxation/Maximum Age |
| SC candidates of West Bengal |
5 years |
| ST candidates of West Bengal |
5 years |
| OBC Non-Creamy Layer candidates of West Bengal |
3 years |
| PwD candidates with physical disability of 40% or more |
Up to 45 years |
| Candidates with at least 2 years of Government service |
2 years |
Latest Change in Civil Judge Practice Requirement 2026
The practice requirement is one of the most crucial changes candidates need to understand while checking Civil Judge Junior Division eligibility. The Supreme Court’s judgment dated August 21, 2026 has revised the practice requirement for Civil Judge (Junior Division) recruitment.
For recruitment notifications issued after the earlier judgment and up to March 31, 2027, all law graduates are eligible to apply without meeting the three-year practice requirement. For application purposes, such applicants will be considered to have completed one year of active practice. They will not need to submit a separate Certificate of Practice for this deemed period.
For recruitment notifications issued on or after April 1, 2027, candidates appearing for the examination for appointment as Civil Judge (Junior Division) must have completed at least one year of actual practice. They must have a prescribed Certificate of Practice.
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State-Wise Judiciary Exams Eligibility Criteria
The judiciary exams eligibility includes academics, age, relaxation and practice, but the actual conditions are state-specific. Check the complete details below.
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-35 years |
- Degree in law from a University recognised by law in India
- Certificate of basic knowledge of computer applications/operation.
- You should be practising as an Advocate in Courts of Civil and/or Criminal Jurisdiction on the last date of application.
OR
- You must be working in the Courts or other Allied Departments on the last date of applications. Employees working in the following departments are treated as ‘Employees of Allied Departments’:
- High Court of Gujarat or any Court subordinate to it.
- Office of the Government Pleader, High Court of Gujarat.
- Office of the Government Pleader, City Civil Court, Ahmedabad.
- Office of Legal Section of the Legal Department, Sachivalaya, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-35 years |
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a university recognised by the Bar Council of India.
- Practised continuously as an advocate.
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-42 years |
- Bachelor of Laws from a University recognised by the Bar Council of India.
- Must be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961, and the applicable rules.
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-35 years |
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognised university.
- Must be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 (Act No. 25 of 1961).
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-42 years |
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognised university.
- Must have practised as an advocate.
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-35 years |
- Bachelor’s degree in law from a recognised University.
- Able to speak, read and write Marathi fluently. Enough knowledge of the Marathi language and must be able to translate from Marathi to English and from English to Marathi.
- Must have practised as an Advocate.
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 21-40 years |
- Degree of Bachelor of Laws (Professional) of any University established by Law in India and recognised as such under the Advocates Act, 1961).
- Possess a thorough knowledge of Hindi Written in Devanagari script and Rajasthan dialects and social customs.
- Appeared or appearing in final year/final semester of LL.B. (Professional) shall be eligible.
|
Telangana Civil Judge Eligibility
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 23-35 years |
- Degree in Law of a University.
- Must have been practising as an Advocate.
|
Uttarakhand Civil Judge Eligibility
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 22-35 years |
- A Bachelor of Law from a University established by Law in Uttarakhand or by another University of India recognised for this purpose by the Governor.
- Must possess thorough knowledge of Hindi in Devnagri script.
- Basic Knowledge of Computer operation.
|
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 22-35 years |
Law graduation or equivalent examination passed from a university/institution recognised by the Bar Council of India, New Delhi. |
West Bengal Civil Judge Eligibility
| Age Limit |
Educational Qualification |
| 23-35 years |
- A degree in Law from any University or Institution affiliated to any University recognised by the State Government or the Central Government.
- Ability to read, write and speak in Bengali (not required for those candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali).
|
What Documents Are Required to Prove Civil Judge Eligibility?
Candidates should keep the documents required by their respective exam authority ready before applying. The list of important documents is as follows:
- Law degree or provisional degree certificate.
- Marksheets or academic records.
- Date of birth proof.
- Category certificate, where applicable.
- Documents supporting age relaxation.
- Certificate of Practice, wherever actual practice is required.
- Other relevant documents.
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