What are Judiciary (PCS-J) Sample Papers?
Judiciary sample papers are practice question sets modelled on the Civil Judge (Junior Division) recruitment exam conducted separately by each state's High Court or Public Service Commission, commonly called PCS-J (Provincial Civil Service, Judicial) or the Judicial Services Examination. Unlike CLAT or AILET, there is no single national judiciary exam; each state sets its own syllabus, marking scheme and cutoff, though most follow a common three-stage structure: a Preliminary objective-type screening test, a Mains written examination with descriptive law papers, and a Viva Voce interview.
Because formats differ by state, the most useful sample papers are the state's own previous year papers, supplemented with topic-wise mocks for Constitutional Law, CPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, and the state's local and revenue laws. This page collects official paper sources, an exam-pattern comparison, and a practice framework you can apply to any state judiciary exam. For the broader eligibility and notification calendar, see the Judiciary exam guide; for career outcomes after selection, see Judge / Judicial Officer careers and Judicial Magistrate.
Judiciary Exam Pattern 2027 at a Glance
Most state judiciary exams follow this three-stage funnel. Weightage and paper count vary by state, so treat the figures below as a general reference and confirm exact marks from your state's notification.
| Stage | Format | Typical Marks | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Objective (MCQ), negative marking in most states | 150–200 | Bare Acts, general knowledge, English, sometimes state-specific law and current affairs |
| Mains | Descriptive, 4–7 papers over multiple days | 600–900 | Civil law, criminal law, procedural law, language/translation, judgment writing |
| Interview / Viva Voce | Personal interview before a High Court panel | 50–100 | Legal reasoning under pressure, temperament, general awareness, communication |
State-wise Judiciary Sample Papers & Previous Year Papers
Download links point to the official High Court or Public Service Commission source wherever available, since these carry the authentic paper and answer key. Use them alongside our study material hub for topic notes.
UPPCS-J (UP Judicial Service) Sample Papers
Conducted by the UP Public Service Commission for Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts in Uttar Pradesh. Prelims is a 150-mark objective paper; Mains has two general knowledge/law papers plus a language paper.
Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) Sample Papers
Conducted by Delhi High Court, DJS is regarded as one of the most competitive state judiciary exams. Mains includes a General Knowledge & Language paper and two Law papers covering Civil and Criminal law.
Bihar Judicial Service (BJS) Sample Papers
Conducted through the Bihar Public Service Commission on the recommendation of Patna High Court. Known for a strong emphasis on the Bihar Tenancy Act and local revenue laws in Mains.
MP Civil Judge (MPCJ) Sample Papers
Conducted by Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission. Prelims includes a dedicated Hindi language section along with law and general knowledge questions.
Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS) Sample Papers
Conducted by the Rajasthan High Court. Mains includes translation from English to Hindi and Hindi to English, in addition to substantive and procedural law papers.
Maharashtra Civil Judge (JMFC) Sample Papers
Conducted via the Maharashtra Public Service Commission for Civil Judge Junior Division / Judicial Magistrate First Class posts. Focus on Bombay-region local statutes alongside central law.
Don't see your state listed? Browse the complete Judiciary exam guide for Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Punjab & Haryana, Odisha and other state judicial services, or check AIBE if you are preparing for the Bar exam instead.
Judiciary Mains: Typical Paper-wise Breakdown
| Paper | Core Coverage | Format |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge & Language | Current affairs, essay, precis, translation | Descriptive |
| Civil Law I | CPC, Evidence Act, Contract Act, Transfer of Property Act | Descriptive, problem-based |
| Civil Law II | Hindu Law, Muslim Law, Specific Relief Act, local Rent/Tenancy Acts | Descriptive, problem-based |
| Criminal Law | IPC/BNS, CrPC/BNSS, Evidence Act application | Descriptive, judgment/charge writing |
| Constitutional Law & Jurisprudence | Fundamental rights, writs, legal theory | Descriptive |
Note: several states have begun mapping IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act questions to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Check your state's latest syllabus annexure before relying on older sample papers for these sections.
How to Use Judiciary Sample Papers Effectively
- Start with your own state's papers. Judiciary exams are not standardised like CLAT, so a UPPCS-J paper will not accurately reflect the Delhi Judicial Service pattern. Solve at least five years of your target state's Prelims papers before moving to other states' papers for extra practice.
- Time the Prelims strictly. Most Prelims papers carry negative marking, so simulate exact exam duration and build a rule for when to skip a question rather than guess.
- Handwrite Mains answers. Mains is descriptive and time-bound; typing practice does not build the same speed and structure as writing full-length answers by hand within the allotted three hours per paper.
- Cross-check with bare acts. Judiciary Mains rewards precise section numbers and case law citation. After every mock, verify each answer against the bare act rather than a summarised guide.
- Simulate the interview separately. Once Mains preparation is underway, start mock interviews focused on courtroom scenarios, judgment writing under pressure, and current legal developments.
Judiciary Mock Test Score Tracker
Print this table and log every mock you attempt, Prelims or Mains, to spot weak sections early.
| Mock # | Paper | Score | Civil Law | Criminal Law | GK/Language | Time Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mock 1 | ||||||
| Mock 2 | ||||||
| Mock 3 | ||||||
| Mock 4 | ||||||
| Mock 5 |
FAQs: Judiciary Sample Papers
Is there one common Judiciary exam for all of India?
No. Unlike CLAT or AILET, there is no single national judiciary exam. Each state High Court or Public Service Commission conducts its own Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam, commonly called PCS-J, with its own syllabus, marking scheme and cutoff. Always prepare using your target state's own previous year papers first.
Do I need three years of legal practice to appear for the Judiciary exam?
The Supreme Court's May 2025 ruling had set a three-year legal-practice requirement for entry-level Civil Judge exams. Following a review in August 2026, this was reduced to one year of active practice, with candidates notified before March 31, 2027 still eligible without prior practice; selected candidates instead complete their remaining exposure through a structured post-selection clerkship. Confirm the exact rule stated in your state's specific notification, since High Courts implement it through their own service rules.
Where can I download official state judiciary previous year papers?
The most reliable source is the official website of the respective State Public Service Commission or High Court, for example UPPSC for UPPCS-J, Delhi High Court for DJS, or BPSC for Bihar Judiciary. Cross-check any third-party PDF against the official answer key before relying on it.
How many years of previous papers should I solve for Judiciary Prelims?
Aim for at least the last 5 to 7 years of your target state's Prelims papers, plus 10 to 15 full-length mock tests. Because Prelims usually carries negative marking, review your accuracy rate as closely as your raw score.
Are Judiciary Mains sample papers useful without a model answer key?
Less useful on their own. Since Mains is descriptive, compare your answers against bare act sections and, where possible, get them evaluated by a mentor or coaching platform, since self-evaluation tends to overestimate answer quality on legal drafting and judgment-writing questions.
What is the difference between Judiciary, AIBE and CLAT PG?
The Judiciary exam (PCS-J) recruits Civil Judges into state judicial service and requires an LLB plus the applicable practice requirement. AIBE is a qualifying bar exam required to practise as an advocate, not a recruitment exam. CLAT PG is an admission test for LLM programmes at NLUs. The three serve different career paths within law.