Last Updated: April 2026
JUDICIARY 2027 | HARYANA PCS-J GUIDE
Haryana Public Service Commission — Civil Services (Judicial) Exam 2026: Vacancies, Eligibility, 3-Stage Exam Pattern, Complete Syllabus, Best Books and Preparation Strategy
The Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) examination is one of the most coveted state judiciary exams in North India. Conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), it recruits Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC) posts across Haryana’s 22 districts. The exam tests your knowledge of substantive and procedural law across three stages — Preliminary (objective), Mains (descriptive), and Viva-Voce. With the shift to the new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA effective July 1, 2024), aspirants preparing for 2026 must be doubly thorough in both old and new law frameworks.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) |
| Posts | Civil Judge (Jr. Division) / JMFC |
| Expected Vacancies | 50–100 posts (varies each cycle) |
| High Court | Punjab and Haryana High Court (Chandigarh) |
| Service Pay Scale | ₹27,700–₹44,770 per month (Level 11) |
| Exam Stages | Preliminary → Mains → Viva-Voce |
| Prelims Total Marks | 150 marks |
| Mains Total Marks | 1,100 marks (6 papers × ~200 each + Interview 100) |
1. Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | General / OBC | SC / ST |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | LLB degree from recognized university | Same |
| Enrollment | Must be enrolled as Advocate with Bar Council | Same |
| Minimum Age | 21 years | 21 years |
| Maximum Age | 42 years | 47 years |
| Domicile | Haryana domicile preferred; national candidates may apply | Same |
Note: LLB degree (3-year or 5-year integrated) is sufficient. An LLM degree is not required but gives an advantage in the Mains essays. Students in their final year of LLB can apply provisionally.
2. Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 40 | 40 |
| English Language | 25 | 25 |
| Hindi Language | 25 | 25 |
| Law | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Important Features
- Duration: 3 hours
- Negative Marking: 1/4th (0.25 marks) deducted for each wrong answer
- MCQ format: 4 options per question
- Purpose: Screening — Prelims marks are NOT added to final merit. Only Mains + Interview counts.
Prelims Law Topics (60 Questions)
- Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Amendment procedure, Emergency provisions
- BNS/IPC: General exceptions, offences against body, property offences, offences against state
- BNSS/CrPC: FIR, arrest, bail, trial procedure, appeal
- BSA/Evidence Act: Admissibility, relevance, burden of proof, presumptions
- CPC: Jurisdiction, pleadings, summary suits, execution
- Limitation Act: Key limitation periods, extension provisions
- Specific Relief Act, Transfer of Property Act: Basic concepts
Prelims GK Topics (40 Questions)
- Haryana-specific: History, geography, state government structure, famous personalities, important schemes
- National current affairs: Last 6 months
- Indian polity and governance
- Basic economics (GDP, inflation, budget concepts)
3. Stage 2: Mains Examination
Paper Structure
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Knowledge (Essay + Questions) | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | Language — English + Hindi | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | Law I: Constitutional Law + BNS/BNSS/BSA | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV | Law II: CPC + BSA + Limitation Act | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | Law III: Specific Relief + TP Act + Contracts + Partnership + Sale of Goods | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Revenue Law: Punjab Land Revenue Act + Haryana-specific local Acts | 200 | 3 hours |
| Total | 1,100 |
Mains Paper III: Constitutional Law + BNS/BNSS/BSA (200 marks)
Constitutional Law topics:
- Preamble: Significance and interpretation (Kesavananda Bharati)
- Fundamental Rights: Articles 12–35, with key cases (Maneka Gandhi, Shreya Singhal, K.S. Puttaswamy)
- Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties
- Legislature, Executive, Judiciary: Powers, privileges, relationship
- Emergency provisions: Articles 352, 356, 360
- Constitutional Amendments: Article 368, basic structure doctrine
BNS/BNSS/BSA topics (new criminal laws — very important for 2026 exam):
- BNS: General exceptions (Chapter III), offences against body (Sections 100–146), property offences (Sections 302–331), marriage offences (Sections 82–97)
- BNSS: FIR and investigation, arrest and bail, chargesheet, trial types (summons/warrant/sessions), appeals and revision
- BSA: Relevancy of facts, admissions and confessions, dying declaration, burden of proof, estoppel, examination of witnesses, expert opinion
Mains Paper IV: CPC + BSA + Limitation Act (200 marks)
Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) 1908:
- Jurisdiction: Territorial, pecuniary, subject-matter (Sections 9–20)
- Res Judicata (Section 11) and Res Sub-Judice (Section 10)
- Pleadings: Plaint, written statement, amendment (Order VI, VII, VIII)
- Temporary Injunctions (Order 39) and Interlocutory orders
- Summary Suits (Order 37)
- First Appeals, Second Appeals, Revision, Review (Sections 96, 100, 115, 114)
- Execution of Decree (Sections 36–74, Orders 21)
- Judgment on Admission (Order 12 Rule 6)
Limitation Act 1963:
- Computation rules: Sections 4–27
- Section 5: Condonation of delay (sufficient cause standard)
- Section 14: Exclusion of time of proceedings in good faith
- Section 18: Effect of acknowledgment in writing
- Articles in Schedule: Suits, applications, appeals limitation periods
Mains Paper V: Property and Contract Laws (200 marks)
Transfer of Property Act 1882:
- Movable vs immovable property; What can be transferred (Section 5–8)
- Sale: Definition, rights of buyer and seller (Sections 54–57)
- Mortgage: Types — simple, usufructuary, English, conditional sale, anomalous (Sections 58–98)
- Lease: Creation, rights, determination (Sections 105–117)
- Gift: Essential conditions, onerous gift, revocation (Sections 122–129)
- Actionable Claims (Sections 130–137)
Indian Contract Act 1872:
- Essentials of valid contract
- Void, voidable, and illegal contracts
- Consideration, capacity, free consent (coercion, undue influence, fraud, misrepresentation, mistake)
- Performance and discharge of contracts
- Quasi-contracts (Sections 68–72)
Specific Relief Act 1963 (as amended in 2018):
- Recovery of specific movable and immovable property
- Specific performance of contracts: When enforceable and when not
- Injunctions: Temporary (governed by CPC Order 39) and perpetual
- 2018 Amendment: Specific performance as a rule, not discretion — major change
Mains Paper VI: Revenue Laws (200 marks)
This paper is unique to Haryana PCS-J and distinguishes it from most other state judicial services exams.
Punjab Land Revenue Act 1887 (applicable in Haryana):
- Settlement operations and records of rights
- Mutation: When required, presumption of entries in revenue records
- Partition of joint holdings
- Revenue courts and their jurisdiction
- Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966; Punjab laws including this Act continued in Haryana by virtue of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966
Haryana-specific legislation:
- Haryana Urban Development Authority Act 1977: HUDA powers, allotment disputes, cancellation of allotment
- Haryana Municipal Act 1973: Municipal committees, powers, bye-laws
- Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994: Gram panchayat structure, powers, elections
- Haryana Tenancy Act 1935: Rights of tenants, eviction, sub-tenancy
- Punjab Preemption Act 1913 (applicable in Haryana): Right of preemption, sale and preemption provisions
4. Stage 3: Viva-Voce (Interview)
- Marks: 100
- Conducted by: HPSC Interview Board (typically 5–7 members including retired HC judges)
- Duration: 20–30 minutes
- Assessed on: Legal knowledge, general awareness, personality, communication, potential for judicial temperament
- Tip: Judicial services interviews focus heavily on WHY you want to be a judge. Prepare a genuine, thoughtful answer. Also prepare on Haryana-specific cases and news in the legal domain.
5. Recommended Books for Haryana PCS-J
| Subject | Recommended Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Constitutional Law of India | M.P. Jain OR V.N. Shukla |
| BNS (Criminal Law) | Ratanlal & Dhirajlal on BNS | Ratanlal Ranchhoddas (new edition) |
| BNSS (Criminal Procedure) | Ratanlal & Dhirajlal on BNSS | New edition post-July 2024 |
| BSA / Evidence | Law of Evidence | Vepa Sarathi OR Batuk Lal |
| Civil Procedure (CPC) | Civil Procedure (CPC) | C.K. Takwani |
| Specific Relief Act | Specific Relief Act | Avatar Singh |
| Transfer of Property | Transfer of Property Act | Mulla OR Avatar Singh |
| Indian Contract Act | Law of Contract and Specific Relief | Avatar Singh |
| Revenue Law (Punjab) | Punjab Land Revenue Act (Bare Act + Commentary) | Any HPSC-specific guide + Bare Act |
| Limitation Act | Law of Limitation | Bare Act + case summaries |
6. Previous Years Cutoff Analysis
| Stage | General Category | OBC | SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims (out of 150) | 90–100 | 85–95 | 80–88 |
| Mains (out of 1100) | 600–660 | 575–630 | 550–600 |
| Final (Mains + Interview) | 680–730 | 655–700 | 620–660 |
Note: Cutoffs are approximate based on historical trends and may vary with each notification.
7. Comparison: Haryana vs Punjab vs Delhi Judicial Service Exams
| Parameter | Haryana (HPSC) | Punjab (PPSC) | Delhi (DHCBA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | HPSC | Punjab PSC | High Court of Delhi |
| Prelims Pattern | MCQ, 150Q, 150M | MCQ, 150Q, 150M | MCQ, 200Q, 200M |
| Negative Marking | 1/4th | 1/4th | 1/3rd |
| Revenue Law Paper | Yes (Punjab LRA) | Yes (Punjab LRA) | No |
| Local Acts | Haryana-specific | Punjab-specific | Delhi-specific |
| Interview Marks | 100 | 100 | 150 |
| Vacancies (approx) | 50–100 | 80–120 | 40–60 |
8. Preparation Strategy — 12-Month Roadmap
Months 1–3: Foundation Building
- Read bare acts of all 6 Mains subjects — BNS, BNSS, BSA, CPC, Contract Act, TP Act, Specific Relief Act
- Simultaneously read one commentary per subject (start with M.P. Jain for ConLaw, C.K. Takwani for CPC)
- Start a case law notebook — one landmark case per day with ratio decidendi
Months 4–6: Deep Dive + BNS Focus
- Master BNS/BNSS/BSA — compare every section with old IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act
- Focus on Haryana Revenue Laws (Punjab LRA is the toughest paper for most candidates)
- Start writing practice answers — aim for 6–8 questions per day, 3-hour mock
Months 7–9: MCQ Practice + Mains Writing
- Solve 100 MCQs daily for Prelims preparation (rotate through all subjects)
- Attempt 2 full Mains mock papers per week (any 2 of the 6 papers each week)
- Focus on answer quality: cite sections accurately, use case law, structure answers with issue-rule-application-conclusion format
Months 10–12: Revision + Mock Tests
- Complete 3 full Prelims mock tests (150Q in 3 hours each)
- Revise all case laws from notebook
- Interview preparation: prepare answers on “Why judiciary?”, current Haryana legal news, recent SC/HC judgments
- BNS/BNSS/BSA is the biggest differentiator in 2026: Most coaching materials still carry old IPC/CrPC content. Candidates who thoroughly know the new laws will outperform. Learn IPC → BNS mappings cold.
- Revenue Law Paper VI: Toppers score 160+/200 here while average candidates score 110–130. Spend disproportionately more time on Punjab LRA and Haryana local acts — it’s a scoring opportunity.
- Prelims strategy: GK and language sections are scoring — target 35+/40 in GK and 20+/25 each in English/Hindi. Don’t guess blindly with 1/4th negative marking.
- Case law citation: In Mains, every answer quoting a landmark Supreme Court judgment with correct year and ratio gets 2–3 extra marks. Maintain a case law index card system.
- Answer structure: Judiciary exams reward structured answers. Use: Definition → Statutory provision (section number) → Essential ingredients → Landmark case → Application → Conclusion.
- HPSC prelims: GK + E + H + Law = 40 + 25 + 25 + 60 = 150 — “GEH-L 150” (GEH-L = General, English, Hindi, Law)
- Mains 6 papers: GK → Language → Law1(Crim) → Law2(Civil Proc) → Law3(Property/Contract) → Revenue. Remember: “GL L L L R” (Get Lost in Legal Land, Return for Revenue)
- Punjab LRA applies in Haryana because: “1966 — Punjab’s law stayed when Haryana walked away.”
- Age limits: 21–42 (General), 21–47 (SC/ST). Both start at 21 (you need your law degree first). SC/ST get 5 extra years.
- Negative marking 1/4th: “Quarter cut for wrong — better to leave than risk.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducts Haryana Civil Services Judicial exam?
The Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) examination is conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), Panchkula, under the supervision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh. Recruitment is for Civil Judge (Junior Division)/JMFC posts across Haryana.
Is LLM required for Haryana PCS-J or is LLB sufficient?
LLB (3-year or integrated 5-year BA LLB) is sufficient to apply for Haryana Civil Services Judicial. LLM is not required. However, the candidate must be enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Haryana and Punjab. Students in their final year of LLB can apply provisionally.
Why is Punjab Land Revenue Act important for Haryana PCS-J?
When Haryana was carved out of Punjab in November 1966, many Punjab laws — including the Punjab Land Revenue Act 1887 — continued to apply in Haryana by virtue of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966. Haryana has not enacted a separate land revenue law. Revenue courts handling land disputes in Haryana still apply this Act, which is why it forms a separate paper (Paper VI) in Haryana PCS-J Mains.
Are BNS, BNSS and BSA included in Haryana PCS-J 2026 syllabus?
Yes, absolutely. Since BNS, BNSS, and BSA came into force on July 1, 2024, they replace IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act entirely in the syllabus. Candidates appearing in Haryana PCS-J 2026 must study the new laws. However, since many landmark cases were decided under IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act, knowledge of the old provisions and their BNS/BNSS/BSA equivalents is essential for citing case law correctly.
What is the salary of a Civil Judge in Haryana?
A Civil Judge (Junior Division)/JMFC in Haryana receives a basic pay of ₹27,700 in Pay Level 11, with applicable Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other benefits. The gross monthly salary typically ranges from ₹60,000–₹80,000 depending on posting location and applicable allowances. Judges also receive official accommodation, travel allowances, and other judicial service perquisites.
Practice Quiz — 10 Judiciary Exam-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
