Judiciary Exam Date 2026 & 2027 — State-Wise PCS-J Calendar
Verified state Judicial Service Examination dates — 33rd Bihar (3 June 2026), Karnataka Civil Judge, UP, MP, Delhi, Rajasthan PCS-J 2026 + 2027 outlook, with prelims + mains + viva timelines.
Table of Contents
State PCS-J 2026 — Confirmed Calendar
"Judiciary exam" in India is not a single national test — each state runs its own Provincial Civil Service (Judicial) recruitment via the State PSC or directly via the High Court. There is no NTA involvement in PCS-J selection. Below are the verified 2026 cycles currently active for the major recruiting states.
| State / Service | Vacancies | Prelims Date 2026 | Official Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bihar (33rd BJS) | 173 | Sunday, 3 June 2026 | bpsc.bihar.gov.in |
| Karnataka Civil Judge | 90 | July 2026 (notified, T-60) | karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in |
| UP PCS-J (UPPSC) | cycle in process | Notification expected Q3 2026 | uppsc.up.nic.in |
| MP Civil Judge (MPPSC / MP HC) | cycle in process | Notification expected Q3 2026 | mppsc.mp.gov.in |
| Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) | cycle in process | Notification expected Q4 2026 | delhihighcourt.nic.in |
| Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS) | cycle in process | Notification expected Q3 2026 | hcraj.nic.in |
Judiciary Exam Structure (Prelims, Mains, Viva)
Every State PCS-J follows a three-stage structure, with state-specific variations in syllabus and paper count. The framework is consistent across states:
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
- Format: Objective MCQ paper (OMR or CBT depending on state)
- Duration: 2 hours, single sitting, single day
- Subjects: Bare Acts (CPC, CrPC, Evidence, IPC/BNS, Constitution, Contract, TPA) + General Knowledge + Local Laws + Language (state-specific)
- Function: Screening only — Prelims marks are not counted in final ranking
- Negative marking: 1/3 in most states (Bihar, UP, Rajasthan, Karnataka); 1/4 in some
Stage 2: Main Examination
- Format: Descriptive written papers (4-6 papers depending on state)
- Duration: 3 hours per paper, conducted across multiple days
- Common papers: Civil Law I (CPC + Contract + Evidence + Family + Property), Civil Law II (Specific Relief + Limitation + Hindu/Muslim Personal Law), Criminal Law (BNS/BNSS/BSA), Language Paper (Hindi/regional + English translation)
- State-specific: Karnataka has a Kannada paper. UP has Hindi + English. Bihar has Hindi essay + Law of Evidence. Delhi has General Knowledge.
Stage 3: Viva-Voce (Personality Test / Interview)
- Duration: 30-45 minutes per candidate before a 3-5 member board chaired by a HC Judge
- Marks: Varies by state — Bihar 100, UP 100, Karnataka 100, Delhi 150, MP 75
- Focus: Bare-act application, current legal affairs, personality, judicial temperament, regional language fluency where applicable
Important: Final selection in every PCS-J state is based on raw marks of Mains + Viva-Voce only. Prelims acts purely as a qualifier. There is no NTA-style normalization and no percentile scoring — each stage runs as a single-session, single-day or multi-day descriptive exam in one slot. Results publish raw marks and final ranks; cut-offs are released with the final list.
PCS-J 2027 — Expected Calendar
Each state runs PCS-J on its own cycle. Based on 2023-2026 patterns, here is the expected 2027 timeline for the major recruiting states. Verify against each State PSC / High Court portal listed above when notifications go live.
| State | Notification (Expected) | Prelims (Expected) | Mains (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bihar (34th BJS) | Q1-Q2 2027 | May-June 2027 | Sept-Oct 2027 |
| UP PCS-J | Q2 2027 | July-Aug 2027 | Oct-Nov 2027 |
| MP Civil Judge | Q1 2027 | April-May 2027 | Aug-Sept 2027 |
| Karnataka Civil Judge | Q3 2026 or Q1 2027 | cycle-dependent | cycle-dependent |
| Delhi Judicial Service | Q2 2027 | June-July 2027 | Oct-Nov 2027 |
| Rajasthan Judicial Service | Q2 2027 | May-June 2027 | Sept-Oct 2027 |
Application Process — Step by Step
Every PCS-J application is online, hosted on the State PSC or High Court portal listed above. The exact flow varies by state, but the structure is consistent.
Step 1: Check Eligibility
- Qualification: LL.B. degree (3-year or 5-year integrated) from a recognised university
- Bar enrolment: Most states require Bar Council enrolment; some accept final-year LL.B. students
- Age: Usually 22-35 years (varies by state and category, with PwBD/SC/ST relaxations)
- Practice requirement: Delhi DJS and some other states require 7 years of practice for higher cadres; entry-level PCS-J typically has no minimum practice requirement
- Domicile: Most states reserve seats for state residents but allow All-India candidates for unreserved vacancies
Step 2: Register on the State Portal
Visit the official State PSC or High Court recruitment portal (see the table above). Complete the one-time registration / OTR with email, mobile and OTP verification. Then proceed to the PCS-J-specific application form.
Step 3: Fill the Application Form
- Personal details (name as on Class 10 / LL.B. marksheet, DOB, category, PwBD status, address)
- Educational qualifications (Class 10, 12, LL.B. with year and percentage)
- Bar Council registration number + state
- Exam centre preferences (3 choices typical)
- Optional fields: domicile certificate number, language preference for the language paper
Step 4: Upload Documents
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPG, state-specific size limits)
- Scanned signature (JPG)
- LL.B. degree certificate / final-year marksheet
- Bar Council enrolment certificate (where required)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD if applicable)
- Domicile certificate (where applicable)
Step 5: Pay the Application Fee
State PSC fees typically range Rs. 600-1,500 for General/OBC and Rs. 150-500 for SC/ST/PwBD. Female candidates get fee exemption in some states (Bihar, UP). Pay via net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. Save the payment receipt and the submitted-application PDF.
Admit Card Details
Each State PSC releases the Prelims admit card 7-15 days before exam day on its official portal. Key points common to all states:
- Download and print the admit card on A4 paper. Monochrome print is sufficient.
- Verify all details: Name, photo, exam centre, date, reporting time, paper timings, roll number. Email the State PSC help desk immediately for corrections — do not wait for exam day.
- Carry to centre: Admit card is mandatory along with the photo ID declared in your application (Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID / Driving Licence). Entry is denied without both.
- Visit the centre a day before if possible. PCS-J Prelims centres run city-by-city; exam-day stress + unfamiliar location is avoidable.
- Prelims is a single sitting — one paper, one day, one slot per candidate. PCS-J Prelims is never split into morning and afternoon batches.
Exam Day SOP
Typical PCS-J Prelims structure (Bihar / UP / Karnataka / Rajasthan all follow this pattern with state-specific adjustments):
| Stage | Reporting | Gate Closing | Exam Window | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims (single day) | 1 hour before slot | 30 min before slot | 2 hours (OMR or CBT) | MCQ, 150-200 questions |
| Mains (Day 1 of 4-6 days) | 1 hour before slot | 30 min before slot | 3 hours per paper | Descriptive writing |
| Viva-Voce | As scheduled by HC | n/a | 30-45 min interview | Oral, before HC board |
What to Bring
- Printed admit card (mandatory)
- Photo ID (Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID / Driving Licence) — same one declared in your application
- Black ballpoint pen (Prelims OMR + Mains writing)
- Bare Act books for Mains (where state allows — check state-specific rules)
- Transparent water bottle, simple analog watch
What NOT to Bring
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, electronic gadgets
- Calculators of any kind
- Personal notes, photocopies, study material
- Bags, wallets, purses (most centres provide deposit, at your own risk)
Result Declaration, Cut-off & Final Selection
How PCS-J Declares Results
Every State PSC publishes raw marks per stage (Prelims qualifying list, Mains marks, Viva marks, Final list with composite). There is no NTA-style percentile or normalization. Cut-offs are released with the final list and are state-and-category-specific.
Cut-off Pattern (recent cycles, indicative)
- Bihar BJS: Prelims cut-off 110-130 / 200 (General); Final aggregate cut-off 540-580 / 950
- UP PCS-J: Prelims cut-off 350-370 / 450 (General); Final cut-off varies with paper count
- Karnataka Civil Judge: Prelims cut-off 70-80% (General); Mains + Viva composite for final
- Delhi DJS: Prelims cut-off ~55-65% (General); known for steep Mains cut-offs
Each cycle's exact cut-offs are released on the State PSC / High Court portal with the final result.
Final Selection & Cadre Allocation
Final selected candidates are appointed as Civil Judge (Junior Division) in their state. Postings are made by the High Court based on rank, category, and state administrative needs. Probation is typically 2 years, after which the candidate becomes a confirmed judicial officer eligible for elevation under state cadre rules.
Pro Tip: If Bihar is your primary target, do not wait for the BJS final result before starting UP PCS-J or MP Civil Judge preparation. The Mains syllabi overlap heavily across states. Run a "national PCS-J" prep stack with state-specific add-ons rather than starting fresh each cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is the Judiciary exam conducted by NTA?
No. Every State PCS-J is conducted directly by the State Public Service Commission or by the High Court. There is no NTA involvement. Each state has its own portal — bpsc.bihar.gov.in for Bihar BJS, uppsc.up.nic.in for UP, hcraj.nic.in for Rajasthan, delhihighcourt.nic.in for Delhi DJS, etc.
Q2. When is the 33rd Bihar Judicial Service Prelims 2026?
The 33rd BJS Prelims 2026 is on Sunday, 3 June 2026, conducted by BPSC for 173 vacancies. Admit cards typically release 7-10 days before exam on bpsc.bihar.gov.in.
Q3. Do Prelims marks count in the final PCS-J ranking?
No. Prelims is screening-only in every State PCS-J. Final ranking is based purely on Mains + Viva-Voce raw marks.
Q4. Can I apply for PCS-J in multiple states?
Yes. There is no restriction on cross-state PCS-J applications. Many serious aspirants register for 4-6 states each year. Domicile requirements apply for reserved seats; unreserved seats are typically All-India.
Q5. Can a final-year LL.B. student apply for PCS-J?
Most states allow final-year LL.B. students to apply for Prelims and Mains, with the LL.B. and Bar enrolment to be produced before the Viva or final appointment. State-specific rules vary — check the notification for each state.
Q6. When should I start preparing for PCS-J?
An 18-24 month runway is ideal. Begin with Bare-Act mastery (CPC, CrPC, Evidence, BNS) in months 1-6, layer Mains answer-writing in months 7-12, then run state-specific drills + mock cycles in the final 6 months before your target state's Prelims. Our Sankalp 2027 course follows this exact runway.