Haryana Judiciary Examination Guide
HCS Judicial Branch | Complete Eligibility and Syllabus
Updated on 24 October 2026 | Prepared by Target for IQ
Planning to become a Civil Judge in Haryana? This guide explains the examination step by step: who can apply, what is asked in Prelims and Mains, how marks are counted, and which laws to study. It also explains the latest court directions about legal practice.
The detailed exam rules below come from the last verified HPSC Judicial Branch advertisement, issued in 2024. The next recruitment may change vacancies, dates, fees or even syllabus wording. We clearly identify earlier-cycle facts so that students do not mistake them for new 2026 announcements.
Question | Simple answer |
Which exam? | Haryana Civil Service Judicial Branch, also called Haryana Judiciary or HCS JB |
Which post? | Civil Judge Junior Division |
Who organises it? | Haryana Public Service Commission and the prescribed Selection Committee |
Qualification | Recognised LL B degree; other conditions depend on the fresh notification |
Age in the 2024 notice | 21 to 42 years on 31 January 2024, with applicable relaxations |
Selection stages | Preliminary exam, Main written exam and interview |
Prelims | 125 MCQs, 2 hours, 500 marks; screening only |
Mains plus interview | 900 written marks + 200 interview marks = 1,100 final marks |
Vacancies in 2024 | 174 total; these are NOT newly announced 2026 posts |
Fresh 2026 notification | No new HCS Judicial Branch advertisement verified as of 24 October 2026 |
Important: Do not confuse these two examinations:
The previous HPSC Judicial Branch advertisement was No 1 of 2024. Until a new advertisement appears on an official website, treat the next number of posts, application dates and exam dates as 'to be announced'. [1]
Event | Previous recruitment | New recruitment |
Advertisement | 1 January 2024 | Not yet verified |
Application dates | 5 to 31 January 2024 | To be announced |
Preliminary exam | 3 March 2024 | To be announced |
Mains exam | 12 to 14 July 2024 | To be announced |
Final result | 15 October 2024 | To be announced |
A candidate needed a Bachelor of Laws degree from a university established by law and recognised or approved by the Bar Council of India. The degree must qualify the candidate for enrolment as an advocate. A recognised 3-year LL B or 5-year integrated LL B can satisfy this condition. In 2024, the degree had to be completed by 31 January 2024. A future closing date may be different. [1]
2024 rule | What it meant |
Minimum age | 21 years |
Maximum general age | 42 years |
Age calculation date | 31 January 2024 |
Haryana SC and BC candidates | Up to 5 years of upper-age relaxation, subject to the notice |
Other eligible groups | Separate conditions applied to PwBD, women, Ex Servicemen and certain other applicants |
Indian citizens were eligible under the 2024 advertisement. The notice also included certain other nationality categories, subject to Government of India eligibility certificates. Haryana reservation benefits require the correct state-specific documents. Candidates from other states should not assume that their home-state SC, BC or EWS certificate provides the same Haryana benefit. [1]
The Supreme Court changed the practice requirement in Bhumika Trust v Union of India, 2026 INSC 904, decided on 21 August 2026. The date on which the new recruitment is advertised matters. [3]
Advertisement issued | What an applicant should know |
After the May 2025 ruling and up to 31 March 2027 | Law graduates may apply without providing a separate certificate of earlier legal practice, subject to other eligibility rules. |
From 1 April 2027 | At least 1 year of actual District Court practice is required, with the prescribed certificate and verification. |
After selection, the Supreme Court also directed one year of training at a State Judicial Academy and one year of supervised law clerkship. That clerkship includes six months at district-judiciary level and six months with a High Court judge. Trainee emoluments and final appointment follow the judgment's conditions. [3]
Remember: Always read the fresh advertisement and later valid court orders. The older Haryana three-year-practice amendment should not be used alone to answer a 2026 or 2027 eligibility question.
Stage | Format and time | Marks | Does it count in final merit |
Prelims | 125 MCQs, 2 hours | 500 | No, screening only |
Mains | 5 descriptive papers, 3 hours each | 900 | Yes |
Interview | Viva voce in English | 200 | Yes |
Final score | Mains + interview | 1,100 | Yes |
Think of Prelims as the entry test. It decides who reaches Mains. Once the student qualifies, Prelims marks are not added to the final selection total. The final merit uses Mains and interview marks, subject to all qualifying rules. [1]
Easy calculation: Example: 40 correct answers give 160 marks. If 10 more answers are wrong, deduct 8 marks. The score is 152 marks, provided every remaining unattempted question is properly marked E.
HPSC did not give a fixed number of questions for each subject. The MCQ syllabus draws from all five Mains papers plus current events, governance, legal history and analytical aptitude. The difficulty standard was described as law-graduate level. [1]
Area | What to prepare |
Civil Law I | CPC, Contract, Partnership, Sale of Goods, Specific Relief, Punjab Courts Act, Evidence and Haryana Rent Act |
Civil Law II | Hindu Law, Mohammadan Law, Customary Law, Registration and Limitation |
Criminal Law | The criminal statutes officially listed for the recruitment; study the old and new criminal-law mapping |
Current events | Major national and international developments, particularly in law and governance |
Legal and constitutional history | Development of Indian law, the Constitution and governance |
Reasoning and aptitude | Analytical thinking, logical reasoning and legal reasoning |
Group in the 2024 notice | Minimum score needed for Mains consideration |
General and EWS | 150 out of 500 |
Eligible other reserved categories | 100 out of 500 |
These were minimum eligibility scores, not guaranteed cutoffs. HPSC shortlisted approximately ten times the notified vacancies category-wise on merit, with provisions for ties. An actual cutoff could therefore be higher. [1]
The last published Haryana Judiciary Mains scheme had five papers. All were descriptive, and each lasted three hours. Four papers were answered in English; the Hindi language paper used Devanagari. [1]
Paper | Subject | Marks |
I | Civil Law I | 200 |
II | Civil Law II | 200 |
III | Criminal Law | 200 |
IV | English Language | 200 |
V | Hindi Language | 100 |
| Total | 900 |
Official syllabus: These eight subjects or Acts were expressly named in the 2024 syllabus. [1]
What students should prepare: Start with definitions and important sections. Practise questions on jurisdiction, civil suits, execution, appeals, contracts, remedies, sale of goods, evidence and rent disputes. This is a study checklist, not an additional official syllabus.
Official syllabus: Hindu Law, Mohammadan Law, Customary Law, Law of Registration and Law of Limitation. [1]
What students should prepare: Prepare marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption, succession, inheritance, guardianship, registration of documents and calculation or extension of limitation periods. Use the relevant Acts and case law where needed.
Official 2024 position: The 2024 syllabus expressly listed the Indian Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Indian Evidence Act 1872. The High Court clarified on 6 July 2024 that the July 2024 Mains would use these old laws rather than BNS, BNSS and BSA. [1] [2]
Old law listed in 2024 | Corresponding new central law |
Indian Penal Code 1860 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 |
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 |
Indian Evidence Act 1872 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 |
What students should prepare: For the next exam, students should understand the old-to-new section mapping and major changes. Do not assume that Haryana has officially substituted the new criminal codes until a fresh exam syllabus or clarification says so.
Important topics include general exceptions, offences, bail, FIR, investigation, trials, appeals, confessions, admissions, witnesses and evidentiary presumptions.
Part of English paper | Marks |
Essay of about 1,000 to 1,100 words | 100 |
Precis writing | 25 |
Using given words and phrases in sentences | 25 |
Reading comprehension | 25 |
Sentence correction | 25 |
Total | 200 |
How to prepare: Write one timed essay regularly, summarise passages, improve grammar and practise vocabulary in context. English carries as many marks as each law paper.
Part of Hindi paper | Marks |
Translate an English passage into Hindi | 20 |
Explain passages from Hindi prose and poetry in Hindi | 30 |
Composition, essay, idioms and corrections | 50 |
Total | 100 |
The notice prescribed the language standard of Haryana Board Matriculation. Practise Hindi translation and composition even if most of your law preparation is in English. [1]
The viva voce carried 200 marks and was held in English. It assessed personal qualities, general interests, alertness, intelligence and overall suitability. Candidates should be prepared to discuss legal principles, constitutional values, judgment writing, conduct and practical situations. [1]
Requirement from the 2024 notice | General and EWS | Specified eligible reserved groups |
At least 33 percent in each Mains paper | Required | Required |
Mains total needed for interview eligibility | At least 50 percent | At least 45 percent |
Interview shortlisting | Generally up to 3 times the vacancies, subject to ties | Same rule |
Mains + interview total needed for selection eligibility | At least 50 percent | At least 45 percent |
The reduced aggregate in 2024 applied to certain notified SC, ST, BC, PwBD and Ex Servicemen categories, excluding dependent Ex Servicemen where specified. It did not extend to EWS. Meeting minimum marks does not guarantee final selection; merit ranking and category rules also apply. [1]
The 2024 advertisement listed 174 posts: 129 actual vacancies and 45 anticipated vacancies. The category-wise distribution below is a record of that recruitment, not a forecast for 2026. [1]
Category | Actual | Anticipated | Total |
General or Unreserved | 77 | 24 | 101 |
Scheduled Castes of Haryana | 30 | 9 | 39 |
Backward Classes A of Haryana | 11 | 6 | 17 |
Backward Classes B of Haryana | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Economically Weaker Sections | 10 | 4 | 14 |
Total | 129 | 45 | 174 |
Additional horizontal reservations were separately specified for eligible Ex Servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. The next notification will decide future posts and reservations.
Candidate category | Fee |
General male applicants and male applicants from other states | INR 1,000 |
Female applicants covered by general and other-state categories | INR 250 |
Eligible Haryana SC, BC A, BC B, ESM and EWS applicants | INR 250 |
Eligible Haryana PwBD applicants with at least 40 percent disability | Nil |
These are the 2024 fees. The amount payable for the next recruitment must be taken from the new HPSC advertisement. [1]
A 2026 published report placed the entry basic pay of a Haryana Civil Judge Junior Division at INR 77,840, within a reported basic pay range of INR 77,840 to INR 1,36,520. Allowances, deductions and the judicial training phase affect actual remuneration. Check the latest government pay notification before publishing a fixed salary promise. [6]
1. Go to hpsc.gov.in and open the current HCS Judicial Branch advertisement. Do not choose the Executive Branch form.
2. Check age, educational qualification, domicile, category documents and any current court-practice condition.
3. Complete registration and enter your personal and academic details carefully.
4. Upload your photograph, signature, LL B proof and relevant certificates in the formats requested.
5. Pay the applicable fee, submit the form and complete any separate final upload or signed-copy requirement.
6. Save the submitted form and receipt. Follow the official site for admit cards, corrections and instructions.
Create one checklist for Civil Law I, Civil Law II, Criminal Law, English and Hindi. Mark every Act and every language component so that no paper gets ignored.
Read definitions, main sections, exceptions and procedures. Revise with previous-year questions and short handwritten notes. Keep a separate mapping sheet for IPC to BNS, CrPC to BNSS and Evidence Act to BSA.
Solve timed MCQs and practise the fifth-option rule. At the same time, write legal answers using an issue, the relevant section, application to facts and a short conclusion.
Practise English essays and precis, Hindi translation and composition, and spoken answers to simple legal or personality questions. Do not leave the language papers until the final month.
A workable weekly routine for full-time students is four law-study days, one language-practice day, one testing and answer-writing day and one revision day. Adjust the number of hours to your schedule.
No new HCS Judicial Branch advertisement was verified as of 24 October 2026. Do not treat the 174 vacancies of 2024 as a new announcement.
A candidate meeting the recognised LL B requirement, the relevant age limit and all other conditions of the fresh advertisement may apply.
Under the Supreme Court's 2026 transition directions, advertisements issued up to 31 March 2027 permit eligible law graduates without separate earlier-practice proof.
For advertisements issued from that date, the Supreme Court requires at least one year of actual District Court practice and the prescribed certificate.
Yes. The last scheme had Prelims, five Mains papers and viva voce.
No. Prelims was only a screening test. Mains and the interview together carried 1,100 marks.
There were 125 multiple-choice questions in the 2024 pattern, carrying four marks each.
An incorrect answer cost 0.8 mark. Leaving every option completely blank also cost 0.8 mark, while option E was used for a deliberate non-attempt.
No separate General Knowledge written paper was prescribed in the 2024 five-paper scheme. Current events and governance formed part of the Prelims coverage.
A new official syllabus or High Court clarification must answer that. The July 2024 Mains used IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.
The 2024 law and English papers were answered in English, and the Hindi paper in Devanagari.
Read hpsc.gov.in and highcourtchd.gov.in. Do not rely on unofficial vacancy estimates or social-media exam dates.
Use this as a final self-check while preparing. The checklist is a study aid, not a separately notified syllabus.
The official notices control the rules of recruitment. This page is an educational guide checked on 24 October 2026. A later notification, clarification or judgment may change the position.
[1] HPSC Advertisement No 1 of 2024 for HCS Judicial Branch: https://hpsc.gov.in/Portals/0/Advt_01_2024_HCS_JD_01_01_2024.pdf
[2] Punjab and Haryana High Court criminal law syllabus clarification dated 6 July 2024: https://highcourtchd.gov.in/sub_pages/left_menu/recruitments/judicialofficers/notices/Sylab_hcse_06072024_58b66.pdf
[3] Supreme Court of India, Bhumika Trust v Union of India, 2026 INSC 904, 21 August 2026: https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2025/62949/62949_2025_1_1501_73791_Judgement_21-Aug-2026.pdf
[4] Punjab and Haryana High Court judicial service rules: https://www.highcourtchd.gov.in/?mod=jud_rules
[5] Punjab and Haryana High Court judicial officer recruitment archive: https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?mod=archive_recruit_judicial
[6] Supporting salary report in The Tribune, August 2026: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/haryana-mandates-three-year-practice-for-judicial-services-candidates-notifies-new-pay-structure/
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Update the date and any recruitment-specific data whenever a fresh HPSC notification is issued.
