What is Judicial Service Exam in India

What is Judicial Service Exam in India?

The judicial service exam in India is one of the most desired exams for legal aspirants. The exam offers a great opportunity to those who want to pursue a career in judiciary. It is an exam conducted by the state governments and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for the posts of civil judge and magistrate.

The Indian judicial system is one of the oldest legal systems in the world. The origin of the Indian judiciary can be traced back to the Vedic period. The concept of dharma, which is central to the Hindu way of life, forms the basis of the Indian judicial system. Dharma includes notions of justice, equity and fairness.

The first formal court was established by the British during their rule in India. After independence, the Indian Constitution was promulgated in 1950 and it came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constitution envisages an independent judiciary which shall uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations for recruitment to various posts in the All-India Judicial Service (AIS). The AIS is a service created by statute i.e., Advocates Act, 1961 for recruitment of members for subordinate judiciary through an All India Competitive Examination conducted by UPSC every year known as Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination or Judicial Magistrate First Class (JD-I) examination depending on whether selection is made direct from Bar or from among serving members respectively working as Munsifs (Civil Judges Junior Division)/Civil Judges Senior Division/Judicial Magistrates First Class/Assistant District Attorneys etc..

The Commission also recruits members for the Higher Judicial Service (HJS) through an All-India Competitive examination known as Civil Judge (Senior Division)/District Judge (Entry Level) examination.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible to appear for the judicial service exam, a candidate must:
(i) be a citizen of India;
(ii) have completed 21 years of age; and
(iii) have obtained a degree in law from a recognized university or institution.

What is the judicial service exam in India?

People often ask us how they can qualify for the judicial service exam in India. The answer is simple – by qualifying the entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The judicial service exam in India is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the posts of Civil Judges in the subordinate judiciary. The entrance examination comprises two stages – a written examination and an interview.
To be eligible to appear for the written examination, candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognised university. Candidates who are enrolled as advocates with a Bar Council are also eligible to apply. The age limit for appearing for the judicial service exam is 35 years.
The written examination consists of three papers – Paper I, Paper II and Paper III. Paper I is an objective type paper consisting of 100 multiple choice questions on General Knowledge and current affairs. Paper II is a conventional type paper consisting of 200 marks and it tests the candidate’s ability in English language, Precis writing and drafting skills. In Paper III, candidates have to attempt four out of eight given essay-type questions carrying 50 marks each on different legal topics such as Constitution of India, Indian Penal Code, etc.
Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for an interview which carries 100 marks. The final selection is made on the basis of merit taking into account both the performance in the written examination and interview.
The judicial service exam is one of the most competitive exams in India and thus, requires systematic preparation and hard work to crack it.

How can one qualify for the judicial service exam in India?

Preparation for the judicial service exam requires systematic approach and hard work. The first step is to become familiar with the syllabus and pattern of the examination. Candidates must start preparing well in advance so that they can cover the entire syllabus before the examination.
Candidates must focus on building their knowledge base and brush up their skills in legal research, writing and drafting. They must also solve as many mock papers and previous years’ question papers as possible to get an idea about the type of questions that are asked in the examination.
In order to qualify for the judicial service exam, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in law from a recognized university. They must also be enrolled as an advocate with a bar council.
The age limit for the examination is 37 years for general category candidates and 40 years for reserved category candidates. Candidates must also meet the physical and medical standards prescribed by the authorities.

What are the rules to qualify for the judicial service exam in India?

Once a candidate has become familiar with the syllabus and pattern of the examination, they can start preparing for the examination.
Candidates must focus on building their knowledge base and brush up their skills in legal research, writing and drafting. They must also solve as many mock papers and previous years’ question papers as possible to get an idea about the type of questions that are asked in the examination.
In order to qualify for the judicial service exam in India, candidates must:
1. Be a citizen of India.
2. Possess a degree in law from a recognized university or institution.
3. Have completed their 21st year of age and not have attained the age of 35 years on the date of notification for the examination.
4. Candidates who are already in government service may also apply, provided they fulfil the above conditions and are due for retirement within three years from the date of appointment as Judicial Officer, if selected.
5. Candidates who have been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude or have been dismissed from government service will not be eligible to apply.

What is the process of qualifying for the judicial service exam in India?

A candidate who wishes to appear for the judicial service exam in India must first ensure that they fulfil the eligibility criteria laid down by the authorities.
The next step is to register themselves with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates can do so by visiting the official website of UPSC. After registering, candidates will be required to login and fill up the application form. They must then pay the requisite application fee and submit the form.
Candidates will be required to appear for a written examination which consists of three papers – Paper I, Paper II and Paper III. Paper I is an objective type paper consisting of 100 multiple choice questions on General Knowledge and current affairs. Paper II is a conventional type paper consisting of 200 marks and it tests the candidate’s ability in English language, Precis writing and drafting skills. In Paper III, candidates have to attempt four out of eight given essay-type questions carrying 50 marks each on different legal topics such as Constitution of India, Indian Penal Code, etc.
After the written examination, shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview which is conducted by a panel of judges. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of marks obtained in the written examination and the interview.
Candidates who clear the judicial service exam are appointed as judges in subordinate courts.

Conclusion

Candidates who wish to pursue a career in judiciary must start preparing for the judicial service exam well in advance. The entrance examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and it comprises two stages – a written examination and an interview.
To be eligible to appear for the written examination, candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognized university. Candidates who are enrolled as advocates with a Bar Council are also eligible to apply. The age limit for appearing for the judicial service exam is 35 years.
The written examination consists of three papers – Paper I, Paper II and Paper III. Paper I is an objective type paper consisting of 100 multiple choice questions on General Knowledge and current affairs. Paper II is a conventional type paper consisting of 200 marks and it tests the candidate’s ability in English language, Precis writing and drafting skills. In Paper III, candidates have to attempt four out of eight given essay-type questions carrying 50 marks each on different legal topics such as Constitution of India, Indian Penal Code, etc.
Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for an interview which is conducted by a Board of Judges. The interview carries 150 marks and the candidate’s suitability for the post of District Judge is tested through questions on various aspects such as general awareness, legal knowledge, etc.
The final selection of candidates is done on the basis of their performance in the written examination and interview taken together.
Candidates who are selected for the post of District Judge are appointed on probation for a period of two years. After successful completion of the probationary period, they are confirmed in their posts.