What is the Judiciary exam in India?

Judiciary exams (also called Judicial Services Examination or PCS-J) are state-level exams conducted by High Courts for recruitment of Civil Judges (Junior Division) and Additional Public Prosecutors (APO). Each state conducts its own exam. There are approximately 4,855 vacancies across India with 50,000-60,000 candidates appearing annually.

What is the eligibility for Judiciary exams?

For most state PCS-J exams: candidates must hold an LLB/BA LLB degree from a recognized university. Age limit: typically 21-35 years (varies by state, relaxation for reserved categories). Some states require enrollment with the Bar Council. Final-year law students may also be eligible in certain states.

What are BNS, BNSS, and BSA?

BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita), and BSA (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam) are India's three new criminal laws that replaced IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act respectively from July 1, 2024. These are now mandatory for all judiciary exam preparation.

What is the PCS-J exam pattern?

PCS-J typically has 3 stages: (1) Prelims — 150 MCQs covering General Knowledge, Law, and current affairs; (2) Mains — 4-6 descriptive papers on Substantive Law, Procedural Law, Language, and General Knowledge; (3) Interview/Viva Voce. Pattern varies by state.

What is the salary of a Civil Judge?

A Civil Judge (Junior Division) starting salary is approximately ₹56,100-₹1,77,500 per month (7th Pay Commission) depending on the state. With allowances, the total package is ₹80,000-₹1,50,000/month. District Judges earn ₹1,44,840-₹2,24,100/month. Judiciary positions also come with government accommodation, vehicle, and other perks.

How to prepare for Judiciary exams?

Judiciary prep strategy: (1) Study bare acts thoroughly — BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, Constitution; (2) Read landmark judgments and legal maxims; (3) Practice MCQs for prelims daily; (4) Write answer practice for mains; (5) Follow current legal developments; (6) Take mock tests regularly. Minimum 6-8 months dedicated preparation needed.

What is Judiciary Gurukul?

Judiciary Gurukul is an online judiciary coaching platform by Ready For Exam. It offers PCS-J, APO, and Civil Judge preparation with updated BNS/BNSS/BSA coverage, daily MCQ practice, mock tests, and bare act analysis. Courses start at ₹1,999.

Which states have the most judiciary vacancies?

States with significant judiciary vacancies include: Bihar (BPSC Judicial Services), Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS-J), Madhya Pradesh (MP Judiciary), Rajasthan (RJS), Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi. Bihar and UP typically have the highest number of vacancies among Hindi-speaking states.

What is the difference between PCS-J and HJS?

PCS-J (Provincial Civil Services - Judicial) is for entry-level Civil Judge posts (Junior Division) for fresh law graduates. HJS (Higher Judicial Service) is for District Judge posts requiring 7+ years of law practice or judicial service. PCS-J is the starting point for a judicial career.

Is coaching necessary for Judiciary exams?

While self-study is possible, judiciary exams require structured preparation due to vast syllabus (bare acts, case laws, new criminal laws). Good coaching provides: updated study material for BNS/BNSS/BSA, answer writing practice for mains, mock tests, and interview preparation. Judiciary Gurukul offers affordable online coaching starting at ₹1,999.

BNS · BNSS · CPC · CONSTITUTION · EVIDENCE ACT

Daily Practice for Judicial Services. Because the Bench Demands Precision.

BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, Constitution — fresh law MCQs every day. Expert PCS-J & APO coaching online + offline in Patna.

Explore Courses → Try Free Demo →

⚖ A Ready For Exam Brand 🎓 PCS-J + APO Exam Coaching 📍 2 Centres in Patna

10RFE Exam Portals

BNS·BNSS·BSANew-Law-First Prep

EN + हिंदीBilingual Papers

72 hrsMains Copy Evaluation

WeeklyNew Mock Releases

OUR PROGRAMS

Choose Your Path to Court

From free demo courses to 2-year comprehensive programs. Find the perfect fit for your Judiciary journey.

NEW · EARLY-BIRD

Pariksha Test Series

₹999 ₹1,999

Bihar APO prelims (exam 15 July)
33rd Bihar Judiciary stay-ready series
Real CBT with All-India rank

View Course →

NEW · DIRECT FROM BAR

Higher Judiciary (HJS/ADJ)

₹4,999 ₹0

UP HJS mains (exam 1-2 Aug)
Judgment-writing evaluation
Delhi DHJS + Bihar DJ

View Course →

FLAGSHIP

Nyaya 2027

₹29,999 ₹59,998

12-month judiciary prep
All state exams
BNS/BNSS/BSA

View Course →

WEEKEND

Nyaya Weekend

₹24,999 ₹49,998

14-month Sat-Sun
Working professionals
Flexible schedule

View Course →

APO COURSE

Adhivakta APO

₹14,999 ₹29,998

8-month APO prep
Criminal law focus
Special Acts

View Course →

APO CRASH

Adhivakta Express

₹5,999 ₹11,998

45-day APO crash
BNS/BNSS intensive
Quick review

View Course →

MAINS+INTERVIEW

Nirnay

₹9,999 ₹19,998

Answer writing evaluation
Mock interviews
Judgment writing

View Course →

FREE

Prarambh Demo

FREE

5-day judiciary demo
Law faculty lectures
No payment needed

Start Free →

View All Courses & Pricing →

WHY Judiciary GURUKUL

Everything You Need to Crack Judiciary

A complete ecosystem for Judiciary preparation with technology, mentoring, and community support.

📚

Structured Curriculum

Topic-wise lessons covering BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, Constitution, Evidence Act with progressive difficulty and practice sets.

🎓

Expert Faculty

Learn from retired judges, experienced advocates, and law faculty who have trained hundreds of successful judicial officers.

📊

AI Mock Tests

Full-length PCS-J Prelims and Mains mocks with AI evaluation, percentile ranking, and improvement suggestions.

📄

Daily MCQ Practice

50 free questions every day across BNS, BNSS, CPC, Constitution, and Evidence Act to build your preparation habit.

💬

Personal Mentoring

Dedicated mentor for study planning, strategy, and motivation throughout your journey.

🔗

Student Community

Active study groups for peer learning, doubt clearing, and faculty interactions.

OUR RESULTS

Exams We Cover

Civil Judge, Prosecution (APO) and Higher Judicial Service (District Judge, direct from Bar) — Bihar first, expanding every month.

Exam 15 July Bihar APO 2026

Postponed 33rd Bihar Judiciary

Exam 1-2 Aug UP HJS Mains

Prelims 26 July Delhi DHJS

Written awaited Bihar Patna HC DJ

Foundation UP PCS-J

Roadmap MP / RJ / Haryana HJS

Roadmap Jharkhand HJS

FOR PARENTS

Why Parents Trust Judiciary Gurukul

Your child's future is our responsibility. Here's why thousands of families chose us.

⚖

Ready For Exam Family

Part of the RFE group of 10 exam-prep portals — CLAT, CUET, JEE, NEET and more.

🎓

New-Law-First Teaching

BNS, BNSS and BSA taught from day one — not retrofitted IPC/CrPC notes.

📍

2 Patna Centres

Physical classrooms at Sri Krishna Puri and Ashiana-Digha Rd.

💰

EMI Available

Affordable fees with No-Cost EMI and instalment options.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PCS-J / Judicial Services Exam?

PCS-J (Provincial Civil Services - Judicial) is a state-level exam for appointing Civil Judges. It is conducted by State Public Service Commissions and High Courts. The exam covers BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, CrPC, Constitution, Evidence Act, and state-specific laws.

What is the APO exam?

APO (Assistant Prosecution Officer) is a state-level exam for recruiting prosecutors. It primarily tests criminal law — BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita), BSA (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam), and special/local Acts.

Which course should I choose?

For PCS-J: choose Nyaya 2027 (12-month) or Nyaya Weekend. For APO: choose Adhivakta APO (8-month) or Adhivakta Express (3-month crash). Not sure? Try our free Prarambh demo course first!

Is EMI available?

Yes, No-Cost EMI is available on all paid courses. You can also pay in installments via our counsellors.

Do you have offline centres?

Yes! We have two centres in Patna — Sri Krishna Puri (main) and Ashiana-Digha Rd. Offline batches include classroom coaching + all online benefits.

Is the Daily MCQ Practice really free?

Yes, 100% free forever. We publish a fresh set of law MCQs every day covering BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, Constitution, and more.

Ready to Start Your Judiciary Journey?

Serious preparation for PCS-J and APO exams — bilingual mocks, 72-hour mains evaluation, and daily practice. Start with a free demo or enroll today.

View Courses & Pricing → Try Free Demo →

Exam Names	PCS-J (Civil Judge), APO, HJS (District Judge)
Conducted By	Respective High Courts (state-wise)
Total Vacancies	~4,855 across India
Annual Candidates	50,000-60,000
Exam Stages	Prelims (MCQ) → Mains (Descriptive) → Interview
Eligibility	LLB degree from recognized university
New Criminal Laws	BNS, BNSS, BSA (replaced IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act)
Starting Salary	₹56,100-₹1,77,500/month (7th CPC)
Age Limit	21-35 years (varies by state)
Top Recruiting States	Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Delhi

Daily Practice for Judicial Services. Because the Bench Demands Precision.

Choose Your Path to Court

Everything You Need to Crack Judiciary

Exams We Cover

Why Parents Trust Judiciary Gurukul

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Start Your Judiciary Journey?

Judiciary Services Exam — Key Facts

Judiciary Exams at a Glance

Why Students Choose Judiciary Gurukul