| Conducting body | High Court of Delhi (DHC). Official website ↗ |
|---|---|
| Posts | Senior Personal Assistant (Group B, Pay Level 8), Personal Assistant (Group B, Pay Level 7) |
| Qualification | Graduate from a recognised university with English shorthand of at least 110 wpm (SPA) or 100 wpm (PA), English typing of 40 wpm on computer and a good working knowledge of computers, all held by 5 October 2026. |
| Age limit | 18–32 years on 1 January 2026 (general category) |
| Domicile | Not required |
| Selection stages | Stage I: English typing test, 40 wpm in 10 minutes (qualifying) → Stage II: English shorthand tests, 110 wpm for SPA and 100 wpm for PA → Stage III: main descriptive exam in English, 100 marks, 120 minutes → Stage IV: interview, 15 marks |
| Latest notification | Vacancy Notice: Senior Personal Assistant and Personal Assistant (Open) Examinations 2026 · 150 vacancies |
Last checked . Sources
About Delhi High Court SPA PA
Senior Personal Assistant and Personal Assistant are the High Court of Delhi's shorthand posts, both in Group B. The 2026 vacancy notice lists 117 SPA and 33 PA posts, with online applications from 15 September to 5 October 2026. There are no General-category PA vacancies this time, and each post needs its own application and fee.
Eligibility
Age limit
General category: 18–32 years, counted on 1 January 2026.
Age relaxation
- SC: 5 years
- ST: 5 years
- OBC: 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years
- PwBD with 40% or more disability, in the categories the post is reserved for: 13 years if OBC and 15 years if SC or ST.
- Ex-servicemen: 3 years after deducting military service from actual age. Disabled defence personnel get relaxation up to 45 years (50 for SC and ST).
- No upper age limit for regular employees of the Delhi High Court. This does not cover staff of other departments or the Delhi district courts.
Qualification
Graduate from a recognised university with English shorthand of at least 110 wpm (SPA) or 100 wpm (PA), English typing of 40 wpm on computer and a good working knowledge of computers, all held by 5 October 2026.
Other conditions
- Citizens of India and subjects of Nepal can apply.
- Personal Assistant has no General-category vacancy in 2026, so General candidates can apply only for SPA.
Selection process
- Stage I: English typing test, 40 wpm in 10 minutes (qualifying)
- Stage II: English shorthand tests, 110 wpm for SPA and 100 wpm for PA
- Stage III: main descriptive exam in English, 100 marks, 120 minutes
- Stage IV: interview, 15 marks
Exam pattern
Stage I: English typing test (qualifying)
Duration: 10 minutes
| SUBJECT |
|---|
| 40 wpm on computer, with mistakes up to 3% of words typed |
Stage II: English shorthand tests
Duration: 5 minutes dictation, 45 minutes transcription on computer
| SUBJECT | MARKS |
|---|---|
| SPA: 550 words at 110 wpm | 120 |
| PA: 500 words at 100 wpm | 110 |
Stage III: main (descriptive) exam
Mode: Written, English language · Duration: 120 minutes
| SUBJECT | MARKS |
|---|---|
| Essay of 250 words | 40 |
| Letter writing | 15 |
| Grammar and comprehension passage | 25 |
| Translation, Hindi to English | 10 |
| Translation, English to Hindi | 10 |
Stage IV: interview
| SUBJECT | MARKS |
|---|---|
| Interview | 15 |
Delhi High Court SPA PA syllabus
Skill tests
- English typing on computer at 40 wpm
- English shorthand dictation with transcription on computer
Main (descriptive) exam
- Essay (250 words)
- Letter writing
- Grammar and comprehension passage
- Translation from Hindi to English and English to Hindi
What they ask
There is no objective general-knowledge paper. You first clear a 10-minute English typing test at 40 wpm, then two shorthand dictations of five minutes each (550 words for SPA, 500 for PA) with 45 minutes to transcribe on computer; the better of the two counts. Mistakes are capped at 5% of the words dictated, with four marks cut for each full mistake and two for each half mistake. Those who clear shorthand write a 100-mark English paper with an essay, a letter, grammar and comprehension and translation both ways, and the last stage is a 15-mark interview.
How to prepare
- Build dictation speed above the target. For SPA, 550 words in five minutes means holding 110 wpm for the whole passage.
- Transcribe on a computer when you practise. The test is typed, and you get no extra time to read the passage.
- Keep mistakes below the limit: 27.5 for SPA and 25 for PA. Beyond that you are disqualified.
- Practise Hindi-English translation in both directions for the 20 translation marks in the main paper.
Practise Delhi High Court SPA PA syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.
Delhi High Court SPA PA FAQs
Yes, but each post needs a separate application and fee.
Sources
- High Court of Delhi: Vacancy Notice, Senior Personal Assistant and Personal Assistant (Open) Examinations 2026 ↗ (official, checked )
Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.
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