EXAM SYLLABUS

The syllabus covers the three-stage examination for direct recruitment to Civil Judge (Junior Division). It incorporates the new Bharatiya codes alongside old laws where relevant.

The Delhi Judicial Service Examination is conducted by the High Court of Delhi in three successive stages:

Preliminary Examination (Objective – Screening Test)

Mains Examination (Written – Descriptive)

Viva-Voce (Interview)

Mains Examination (Written – Descriptive)

General Legal Knowledge & Language (250 Marks)

Section I: General Legal Knowledge (100 Marks) — Tests knowledge of current legal affairs, etc.

Section II: Language (Essay, Translation, and Precis Writing) (150 Marks) — Tests power of expression in English (substance + grammar/expression). Includes two translations: one English passage to Hindi (Devanagari script) and one Hindi passage to English.

Civil Law-I (200 Marks)

The Indian Contract Act, 1872

The Sale of Goods Act, 1930

The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

The Specific Relief Act, 1963

Hindu Law

Mohammedan Law

The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958

Law of Torts

The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957

The Commercial Courts Act, 2015

Civil Law-II (200 Marks)

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

The Limitation Act, 1963

The Registration Act, 1908

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

The Trade Marks Act, 1999

The Copyright Act, 1957

Criminal Law (200 Marks)

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The Indian Penal Code

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Viva-Voce (Interview)

Focus Areas: Legal Knowledge, Analytical Skills, Personality Assessment, Judicial Ethics, General Awareness, Recent Judgments.

Purpose: To evaluate the candidate's overall personality, legal insight, and suitability for the judiciary role.

Key Insight: Prepare to answer questions on legal topics, current events, and demonstrate strong communication skills and confidence.

EXAM PATTERN

The Delhi Judicial Service Examination is conducted by the High Court of Delhi in three successive stages:

Preliminary Examination (Objective – Screening Test)

Mains Examination (Written – Descriptive)

Viva-Voce (Interview)

Mains Examination (Written – Descriptive)

Nature: Main merit-determining stage (marks added to final merit).

Format: Four descriptive papers.

Total Marks: 850 (250 + 200 + 200 + 200)

Negative Marking

There is no negative marking in the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) Main Examination.

The Mains is a descriptive/written examination, where candidates are evaluated on the quality, accuracy, legal reasoning, and presentation of their answers. Marks are awarded based on the candidate's performance in each paper, and marks are not deducted for incorrect answers in the manner applicable to the Prelims.

In contrast, the DJS Preliminary Examination has 25% negative marking for each incorrect answer.

Detailed Breakdown:

General Legal Knowledge & Language (250 marks)

Section I: General Legal Knowledge (100 marks) – Current legal affairs, etc.

Section II: Language (150 marks) – Essay, Translation (English ? Hindi in Devnagari Script), Precis Writing. Tests power of expression in English (substance + grammar, etc.).

Civil Law – I (200 marks)

The Indian Contract Act, 1872

The Sale of Goods Act, 1930

The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

The Specific Relief Act, 1963

Hindu Law

Mohammedan Law

The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958

Law of Torts

The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957

The Commercial Courts Act, 2015

Civil Law – II (200 marks)

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

The Limitation Act, 1963

The Registration Act, 1908

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

The Trade Marks Act, 1999

The Copyright Act, 1957

Criminal Law (200 marks)

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

The Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Minimum Qualifying Marks in Mains (to be eligible for Viva-Voce):

General category: 40% in each paper + 50% aggregate

Reserved categories: 35% in each paper + 45% aggregate

Shortlisting for Viva-Voce: Candidates not e

EXAM PATTERN

The Delhi Judicial Service Examination is conducted by the High Court of Delhi in three successive stages:

Preliminary Examination (Objective – Screening Test)

Mains Examination (Written – Descriptive)

Viva-Voce (Interview)

Mains Examination (Written – Descriptive)

Nature: Main merit-determining stage (marks added to final merit).

Format: Four descriptive papers.

Total Marks: 850 (250 + 200 + 200 + 200)

Negative Marking

There is no negative marking in the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) Main Examination.

The Mains is a descriptive/written examination, where candidates are evaluated on the quality, accuracy, legal reasoning, and presentation of their answers. Marks are awarded based on the candidate's performance in each paper, and marks are not deducted for incorrect answers in the manner applicable to the Prelims.

In contrast, the DJS Preliminary Examination has 25% negative marking for each incorrect answer.

Detailed Breakdown:

General Legal Knowledge & Language (250 marks)

Section I: General Legal Knowledge (100 marks) – Current legal affairs, etc.

Section II: Language (150 marks) – Essay, Translation (English ? Hindi in Devnagari Script), Precis Writing. Tests power of expression in English (substance + grammar, etc.).

Civil Law – I (200 marks)

The Indian Contract Act, 1872

The Sale of Goods Act, 1930

The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

The Specific Relief Act, 1963

Hindu Law

Mohammedan Law

The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958

Law of Torts

The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957

The Commercial Courts Act, 2015

Civil Law – II (200 marks)

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

The Limitation Act, 1963

The Registration Act, 1908

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

The Trade Marks Act, 1999

The Copyright Act, 1957

Criminal Law (200 marks)

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

The Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Minimum Qualifying Marks in Mains (to be eligible for Viva-Voce):

General category: 40% in each paper + 50% aggregate

Reserved categories: 35% in each paper + 45% aggregate

Shortlisting for Viva-Voce: Candidates not exceeding 3 times the vacancies per category (with tie-breaker provision similar to Prelims).

Viva-Voce (Interview)

Marks: 150

Minimum Qualifying Marks:

General: 50%

Reserved: 45%

Purpose: Assess personality, judicial aptitude, legal knowledge, communication, etc.

Final Merit: Mains marks + Viva-Voce marks (Prelims marks not counted).

Notes

No re-evaluation of answer sheets (Prelims or Mains).

High Court may add other Acts/laws from time to time.

Unfair means lead to disqualification and debarment (minimum 3 years).

Answer sheets destroyed after 1 year post-result (except in pending litigation).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

For the Delhi Judicial Service Examination, candidates were eligible to appear in the Main Examination (Written) only after qualifying the Preliminary Examination and being shortlisted by the High Court of Delhi. The High Court subsequently issued the list of candidates shortlisted for the DJS Mains Examination.

The Prelims was a screening examination. Its marks were used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains and were not counted towards the final merit. Candidates who secured the prescribed qualifying marks and were included in the shortlisted list could proceed to the Mains.

IMPORTANT DATES

The Delhi High Court has not yet released any official notification for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) 2026 recruitment. The Preliminary Examination was held on 17 December 2023, and the results were declared on 2 February 2024, shortlisting candidates for the next stage. The Main Written Examination took place on 13 and 14 April 2024, testing candidates on detailed legal knowledge and answer-writing skills. The result of the Mains stage was officially declared on 7 January 2025, after which qualified candidates were called for the interview round.

EXAM ANALYSIS

The Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) Mains Examination 2023 was conducted by the High Court of Delhi on 13 and 14 April 2024. The official High Court has published the complete 2023 Mains question paper, making it the most reliable basis for analysing the examination.

The overall difficulty level of the DJS Mains 2023 was Moderate to Difficult. Unlike Prelims, the Mains examination tested candidates on their ability to write, analyse and apply the law. Mere memorisation of Bare Act provisions was not sufficient; candidates needed to demonstrate conceptual clarity, knowledge of relevant case law and the ability to apply statutory provisions to given facts.

The Civil Law papers required detailed knowledge of procedural and substantive civil laws. Questions tested areas such as the Code of Civil Procedure, Contract Law, Specific Relief, Transfer of Property, Limitation and related civil laws. Candidates were expected to provide legally reasoned answers rather than simply reproduce statutory provisions.

The Criminal Law papers focused on substantive criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence. Candidates had to demonstrate an understanding of criminal-law principles and apply them to factual situations. The paper also tested the candidate's ability to distinguish between similar legal provisions and arrive at a legally sound conclusion.

The General Legal Knowledge and Language paper tested both legal awareness and language skills. Candidates were required to demonstrate their understanding of legal concepts along with effective written expression. This paper was important because judicial officers need to communicate legal reasoning clearly and precisely.

A major feature of the DJS Mains was its emphasis on answer writing. Candidates needed to structure answers properly, identify the legal issue, state the applicable law, refer to relevant provisions or precedents, analyse the facts and conclude appropriately. Therefore, candidates with strong answer-writing practice had an advantage over those who had prepared only through objective-type questions.

Case laws and recent judicial developments were also important for the Mains. Merely mentioning a judgment was not enough; candidates needed to understand the legal principle established by the judgment and use it appropriately in their answers.

Time management was another major challenge. Since the examination was descriptive, candidates had to write substantial answers within a fixed time. Spending too much time on one question could affect the completion of the entire paper. Concise legal reasoning and proper allocation of time were therefore essential.

The official High Court records confirm that the DJS Mains 2023 examination was held on 13–14 April 2024, and the result was subsequently declared on 7 January 2025.

Overall Assessment

Overall, the DJS Mains 2023 was Moderate to Difficult and was considerably more demanding than the Preliminary Examination. The examination primarily tested legal knowledge, conceptual clarity, statutory interpretation, application of law, case-law knowledge and answer-writing skills.

Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Question Type: Descriptive, Analytical & Application-based

Major Focus: Civil Law, Criminal Law, Evidence, Procedure & Legal Principles

Key Skills: Bare Act knowledge, Case Laws, Legal Reasoning & Answer Writing

Major Challenge: Completing detailed answers within the prescribed time.

STUDY TIPS

Clearing the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) examination, conducted by the Delhi High Court, demands a well-planned, concept-driven, and disciplined preparation strategy. The exam is known for evaluating analytical skills and depth of understanding rather than mere rote learning. The selection process comprises three stages-Preliminary (objective), Main (descriptive), and Interview—with significant emphasis on procedural laws and recent legal developments.

1. Master Bare Acts (Especially Procedural Laws)

Focus deeply on CPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, IPC/BNS, and Constitution.

Read Bare Acts line by line.

Pay special attention to definitions, provisos, illustrations, and landmark sections.

Delhi exam often frames tricky, analytical questions from procedural laws.

2. Prepare Prelims & Mains Together

Practice MCQs daily for objective clarity.

Write 2–3 structured answers daily for Mains preparation.

Improve answer presentation with proper headings, case laws, and clear conclusions.

3. Solve Previous Year Papers

Analyze trends of DJS questions.

Identify frequently tested topics.

Practice under time-bound conditions.

4. Strengthen Answer Writing for Mains

Follow structure: Introduction ? Relevant Law/Section ? Case Law ? Application ? Conclusion.

Focus on clarity, precision, and legal reasoning.

Practice judgment writing if required.

5. Stay Updated with Recent Legal Developments

Read legal news and recent Supreme Court/High Court judgments.

Focus on constitutional amendments and important procedural updates.

6. Time Management Strategy

Allocate separate time for Prelims MCQs and Mains writing practice.

Attempt mock tests regularly.

Analyze mistakes and revise weak areas.

7. Interview Preparation

Revise core legal concepts thoroughly.

Improve communication skills and confidence.

Be prepared for questions on current legal issues and your background.

STUDY PLANS

6 Month Study Plan

Month 1 – Foundation (Major Laws – Part 1)

Start with Constitution of India and CPC (very important for DJS).

Read Bare Acts thoroughly.

Make concise notes of important sections and case laws.

Practice 30–40 MCQs daily.

Write 1–2 Mains answers daily.

Month 2 – Major Laws (Part 2)

Cover CrPC, IPC/BNS, and Evidence Act.

Focus heavily on procedural provisions.

Increase MCQ practice (40–50 daily).

Write 2–3 descriptive answers daily.

Revise Month 1 subjects weekly.

Month 3 – Minor Subjects

Study Contract Act, Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Partnership Act, Sale of Goods Act.

Start solving Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs).

Attempt 1 sectional mock per week.

Improve answer structure and speed.

Month 4 – Intensive Revision Phase

Revise all major laws again from Bare Acts.

Attempt 2 sectional Prelims mocks weekly.

Write 1 full Mains paper every week.

Start revising important Supreme Court and Delhi High Court judgments.

Month 5 – Full-Length Mock Practice

Attempt 2–3 full Prelims mocks weekly.

Write 2 full Mains papers weekly.

Focus on presentation, case law usage, and legal reasoning.

Analyze mistakes carefully and revise weak areas.

Month 6 – Final Revision & Interview Basics

Quick revision of all highlighted sections.

Re-solve PYQs.

Focus on high-weightage procedural laws.

Begin light interview preparation (legal awareness + personality development).

Last week: Only revision, no new topics.

Suggested Daily Routine

6–7 hours Law study

1–2 hours MCQs

1–2 hours Answer writing

30–45 minutes current legal updates

3 Month Study Plan

Month 1 – Major Laws Intensive Revision

Focus on high-weightage subjects:

Constitution of India

CPC (Very Important)

CrPC (Very Important)

Evidence Act

IPC/BNS

Strategy:

Read Bare Acts daily (line by line revision).

Practice 40–50 MCQs daily.

Write 2–3 structured Mains answers daily.

Revise landmark judgments.

Solve previous 5–10 years’ DJS Prelims questions.

Month 2 – Minor Laws + Mock Practice

Cover and revise:

Contract Act

Transfer of Property Act

Specific Relief Act

Partnership Act

Sale of Goods Act

Strategy:

Attempt 2 sectional Prelims mocks per week.

Write 1 full Mains paper weekly.

Improve answer presentation (headings, case laws, clarity).

Analyze weak areas and revise immediately.

Month 3 – Full-Length Tests & Final Revision

Prelims Focus:

Attempt 3 full-length mocks weekly.

Revise frequently asked sections.

Improve speed and accuracy.

Mains Focus:

Write 2 full-length papers weekly.

Practice problem-based questions.

Strengthen legal reasoning and structure.

Last 7–10 Days:

Quick revision of Bare Act highlights.

Re-solve important PYQs.

Avoi

STUDY TIPS

Clearing the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) examination, conducted by the Delhi High Court, demands a well-planned, concept-driven, and disciplined preparation strategy. The exam is known for evaluating analytical skills and depth of understanding rather than mere rote learning. The selection process comprises three stages-Preliminary (objective), Main (descriptive), and Interview—with significant emphasis on procedural laws and recent legal developments.

1. Master Bare Acts (Especially Procedural Laws)

Focus deeply on CPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, IPC/BNS, and Constitution.

Read Bare Acts line by line.

Pay special attention to definitions, provisos, illustrations, and landmark sections.

Delhi exam often frames tricky, analytical questions from procedural laws.

2. Prepare Prelims & Mains Together

Practice MCQs daily for objective clarity.

Write 2–3 structured answers daily for Mains preparation.

Improve answer presentation with proper headings, case laws, and clear conclusions.

3. Solve Previous Year Papers

Analyze trends of DJS questions.

Identify frequently tested topics.

Practice under time-bound conditions.

4. Strengthen Answer Writing for Mains

Follow structure: Introduction ? Relevant Law/Section ? Case Law ? Application ? Conclusion.

Focus on clarity, precision, and legal reasoning.

Practice judgment writing if required.

5. Stay Updated with Recent Legal Developments

Read legal news and recent Supreme Court/High Court judgments.

Focus on constitutional amendments and important procedural updates.

6. Time Management Strategy

Allocate separate time for Prelims MCQs and Mains writing practice.

Attempt mock tests regularly.

Analyze mistakes and revise weak areas.

7. Interview Preparation

Revise core legal concepts thoroughly.

Improve communication skills and confidence.

Be prepared for questions on current legal issues and your background.

STUDY PLANS

6 Month Study Plan

Month 1 – Foundation (Major Laws – Part 1)

Start with Constitution of India and CPC (very important for DJS).

Read Bare Acts thoroughly.

Make concise notes of important sections and case laws.

Practice 30–40 MCQs daily.

Write 1–2 Mains answers daily.

Month 2 – Major Laws (Part 2)

Cover CrPC, IPC/BNS, and Evidence Act.

Focus heavily on procedural provisions.

Increase MCQ practice (40–50 daily).

Write 2–3 descriptive answers daily.

Revise Month 1 subjects weekly.

Month 3 – Minor Subjects

Study Contract Act, Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Partnership Act, Sale of Goods Act.

Start solving Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs).

Attempt 1 sectional mock per week.

Improve answer structure and speed.

Month 4 – Intensive Revision Phase

Revise all major laws again from Bare Acts.

Attempt 2 sectional Prelims mocks weekly.

Write 1 full Mains paper every week.

Start revising important Supreme Court and Delhi High Court judgments.

Month 5 – Full-Length Mock Practice

Attempt 2–3 full Prelims mocks weekly.

Write 2 full Mains papers weekly.

Focus on presentation, case law usage, and legal reasoning.

Analyze mistakes carefully and revise weak areas.

Month 6 – Final Revision & Interview Basics

Quick revision of all highlighted sections.

Re-solve PYQs.

Focus on high-weightage procedural laws.

Begin light interview preparation (legal awareness + personality development).

Last week: Only revision, no new topics.

Suggested Daily Routine

6–7 hours Law study

1–2 hours MCQs

1–2 hours Answer writing

30–45 minutes current legal updates

3 Month Study Plan

Month 1 – Major Laws Intensive Revision

Focus on high-weightage subjects:

Constitution of India

CPC (Very Important)

CrPC (Very Important)

Evidence Act

IPC/BNS

Strategy:

Read Bare Acts daily (line by line revision).

Practice 40–50 MCQs daily.

Write 2–3 structured Mains answers daily.

Revise landmark judgments.

Solve previous 5–10 years’ DJS Prelims questions.

Month 2 – Minor Laws + Mock Practice

Cover and revise:

Contract Act

Transfer of Property Act

Specific Relief Act

Partnership Act

Sale of Goods Act

Strategy:

Attempt 2 sectional Prelims mocks per week.

Write 1 full Mains paper weekly.

Improve answer presentation (headings, case laws, clarity).

Analyze weak areas and revise immediately.

Month 3 – Full-Length Tests & Final Revision

Prelims Focus:

Attempt 3 full-length mocks weekly.

Revise frequently asked sections.

Improve speed and accuracy.

Mains Focus:

Write 2 full-length papers weekly.

Practice problem-based questions.

Strengthen legal reasoning and structure.

Last 7–10 Days:

Quick revision of Bare Act highlights.

Re-solve important PYQs.

Avoid new topics.

Light current legal updates revision.

Suggested Daily Routine

5–6 hours Bare Act revision

1–2 hours MCQs

1–2 hours Answer writing

30 minutes legal current affairs

1 Month Study Plan

Week 1 – Major Laws Revision

Revise the most important subjects:

Constitution of India

CPC (Top Priority)

CrPC (Top Priority)

Evidence Act

IPC/BNS

Target:

Daily Bare Act revision (5–6 hours).

Practice 50 MCQs daily.

Write 2 structured Mains answers daily.

Revise important case laws.

Week 2 – Minor Laws + Sectional Tests

Revise:

Contract Act

Transfer of Property Act

Specific Relief Act

Partnership & Sale of Goods

Target:

Attempt 2–3 sectional Prelims mocks.

Write 2–3 Mains answers daily.

Focus on presentation (headings, relevant sections, case references).

Week 3 – Full-Length Mock Practice

Prelims:

Attempt 3 full-length mock tests under exam conditions.

Analyze mistakes immediately.

Mains:

Write at least 2 full-length practice papers.

Improve speed, clarity, and legal reasoning.

Week 4 – Final Revision & Polishing

Quick revision of highlighted Bare Act sections.

Re-solve important Previous Year Questions (PYQs).

Focus on frequently tested procedural provisions.

Last 2–3 days: Light revision only, no new topics.

Daily Study Routine (Final Month)

6–7 hours Bare Act revision

1–2 hours MCQs

1–2 hours Answer writing

30 minutes legal current affairs

OVERVIEW

The Delhi Civil Judge (Junior Division) Examination, also known as the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) Exam, is a prestigious state-level examination conducted by the Delhi High Court to recruit Civil Judges. The selection process has three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, Interview. Through this exam, law graduates are appointed as judges in the lower courts of Delhi. In recent recruitment cycles, 3 years of legal practice experience may also be required as part of the eligibility criteria.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) Examination is conducted by the Delhi High Court for the recruitment of Civil Judges (Junior Division). The selection process consists of three main stages:

Stage I – Preliminary Examination

Objective-type (Multiple Choice Questions).

Tests knowledge of major laws such as CPC, CrPC, IPC/BNS, Evidence Act, and Constitution of India.

This stage is qualifying in nature and shortlists candidates for the Mains examination.

Stage II – Main Examination

Descriptive (written) examination.

Includes multiple papers covering substantive and procedural laws.

Tests answer-writing skills, legal reasoning, and clarity of concepts.

Marks obtained in Mains are counted for final merit.

Stage III – Viva-Voce (Interview)

Personal interview conducted by the High Court.

Assesses legal knowledge, personality, communication skills, and overall suitability for judicial service.

Final selection is based on combined marks of Mains and Interview.

Final Selection

The final selection for the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) is conducted by the Delhi High Court based on the combined marks of the Main Examination and Interview.

The Preliminary Exam is only qualifying in nature (marks not counted in final merit).

Mains marks are included in the final merit list.

Interview marks are also added for final ranking.

Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in both stages.

Final appointment is made according to merit and available vacancies, subject to document verification and medical fitness.