| Conducting body | High Court of Delhi (DHC). Official website ↗ |
|---|---|
| Posts | Civil Judge, Delhi Judicial Service |
| Qualification | At least three years of practice as an advocate by the last date for applications, counted from provisional enrolment with a State Bar Council and certified by the Principal Judicial Officer or by an advocate of at least 10 years' standing with that officer's endorsement. Time worked as a law clerk to a judge or judicial officer counts as practice. |
| Age limit | Up to 32 years on 1 January of the year in which applications are invited (general category) |
| Domicile | Not required |
| Selection stages | Preliminary exam: one objective paper of 200 marks (screening only) → Mains (written): four descriptive papers, 850 marks → Viva-voce: 150 marks |
Last checked . Sources
We could not confirm every detail on this page against a current official notice. Check the DHC website before you apply.
About Delhi Judiciary (DJS)
The High Court of Delhi recruits entry-level judges into the Delhi Judicial Service through an objective prelims, four descriptive mains papers and a viva-voce. The Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970, as amended by the Delhi government's notification of 6 February 2026, set the eligibility and the syllabus. Under the amended rules you need three years of practice as an advocate.
Eligibility
Age limit
General category: Up to 32 years, counted on 1 January of the year in which applications are invited.
Qualification
At least three years of practice as an advocate by the last date for applications, counted from provisional enrolment with a State Bar Council and certified by the Principal Judicial Officer or by an advocate of at least 10 years' standing with that officer's endorsement. Time worked as a law clerk to a judge or judicial officer counts as practice.
Other conditions
- You must be a citizen of India.
Selection process
- Preliminary exam: one objective paper of 200 marks (screening only)
- Mains (written): four descriptive papers, 850 marks
- Viva-voce: 150 marks
Exam pattern
Preliminary exam
Mode: Objective MCQs · Negative marking: 25% negative marking
| SUBJECT | MARKS |
|---|---|
| General legal knowledge, aptitude, English and the listed law subjects | 200 |
Mains (written)
Mode: Descriptive
| SUBJECT | MARKS |
|---|---|
| General Legal Knowledge and Language | 250 |
| Civil Law I | 200 |
| Civil Law II | 200 |
| Criminal Law | 200 |
Viva-voce
| SUBJECT | MARKS |
|---|---|
| Viva-voce | 150 |
Delhi Judiciary (DJS) syllabus
Preliminary exam
- Constitution of India
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
- Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Specific Relief Act, 1963
- Limitation Act, 1963
- POCSO Act, 2012
- Commercial Courts Act, 2015
Mains: General Legal Knowledge and Language
- Current legal affairs (100 marks)
- Essay, precis and translation between English and Hindi in Devanagari (150 marks)
Mains: Civil Law I
- Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act
- Hindu Law and Mohammedan Law
- Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958
- Law of Torts
- New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 and Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
- Commercial Courts Act, 2015
Mains: Civil Law II
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Indian Evidence Act and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
- Limitation Act and Registration Act
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act
- Trade Marks Act, 1999 and Copyright Act, 1957
Mains: Criminal Law
- CrPC and BNSS, IPC and BNS
- Indian Evidence Act and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
What they ask
The prelims is one 200-mark MCQ paper with 25% negative marking. It covers the Constitution, both procedure codes, the new criminal laws alongside the old ones and acts such as Contract, Evidence, Specific Relief, Limitation, Arbitration and POCSO. General candidates need 60% and reserved candidates 55%, and prelims marks are not counted later. The mains has four descriptive papers, and the language part asks for an essay, a precis and translation between English and Hindi. You need 40% in each mains paper and 50% overall (35% and 45% for reserved categories) to reach the 150-mark viva, and the final list adds mains and viva marks.
How to prepare
- Study each criminal law in both versions. The syllabus pairs the IPC with the BNS, the CrPC with the BNSS and the Evidence Act with the BSA.
- Do not skip the Delhi statutes. Civil Law I includes the Delhi Rent Control Act, the NDMC Act and the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.
- Practise translation both ways. One passage goes from English into Hindi in Devanagari and one from Hindi into English.
- Solve the past prelims and mains papers on the High Court's Delhi Judicial Service page, which go back to 2017.
Practise Delhi Judiciary (DJS) syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.
Previous papers and answer keys
Delhi Judiciary (DJS) FAQs
Not under the current rules. The amendment of 6 February 2026 requires at least three years of practice as an advocate by the last date for applications.
Sources
- Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970 (as on 9 February 2026), including the syllabus appendix ↗ (official, checked )
- High Court of Delhi: Delhi Judicial Service previous papers page ↗ (official, checked )
Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.
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