The Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) examination, notified by the Delhi High Court, selects Civil Judges for the National Capital Territory. Like other lower judicial services, selection runs through Preliminary, Mains and Interview (viva voce). Marks, paper titles and qualifying percentages are fixed in each High Court advertisement—use the PDF for the year you apply.
Three-stage structure
| Stage | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Objective MCQs | Screening for Mains |
| Mains | Descriptive written papers | Principal ranking material |
| Interview | Viva voce | Personality and judicial suitability; added to written merit |
Prelims is typically held offline in Delhi. Mains is a multi-paper written examination; interview follows for candidates who clear the written cut-offs.
Preliminary examination
The Prelims paper is objective. It mixes general knowledge / current affairs with law—Constitution, IPC/BNS, CrPC/BNSS, Evidence/BSA, CPC, contract, partnership, torts, limitation, specific relief, and related topics as listed in the notice.
Qualifying thresholds in past cycles have required a high percentage for General candidates (often discussed around 60% for general and a lower bar for reserved categories). Negative marking, if any, appears only in the official scheme. Prelims marks usually do not form part of final merit; they only gate entry to Mains.
Mains examination
Mains is descriptive. Paper configuration (number of law papers, GK/English, total marks) is set out in the DJS rules and the recruitment notice. Expect long-form answers on:
- Civil law and procedure (CPC, limitation, contract, property, specific relief, commercial practice themes relevant to Delhi)
- Criminal law and procedure (BNS, BNSS, BSA)
- Constitution and general legal essay / language components as notified
Handwriting, issue-spotting and section accuracy matter more than textbook length.
Interview
Candidates who clear Mains are called for viva voce. The board tests legal awareness, clarity, balance and temperament for the subordinate judiciary. Final merit is typically Mains + interview (exact weightage in the notice).
Related reading
Primary sources
- Delhi High Court — Judicial Service examination notices and previous papers on delhihighcourt.nic.in