The Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service (PCS-J) (UP PCS-J) is the competitive examination for appointment as Civil Judge (Junior Division) or the equivalent entry-level post in the subordinate judiciary of the relevant cadre. The recruiting authority is Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC).
Uttar Pradesh runs one of the largest Civil Judge recruitments in India. The scheme combines a two-paper preliminary examination with a multi-paper mains that includes general knowledge, English, Hindi and three law papers.
Higher Judicial Service (Additional District Judge) recruitment is ordinarily a separate process requiring years of practice or promotion. This article concerns the entry-level Civil Judge scheme.
Directory: Law examinations in India.
At a glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Examination | Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service (PCS-J) |
| Short form | UP PCS-J |
| Recruiting authority | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) |
| Typical post | Civil Judge (Junior Division) |
| Common stages | Preliminary examination → Mains → Interview |
Eligibility
Notifications commonly require:
- an LL.B. degree from a recognised university (often specified as a professional degree recognised for enrolment);
- age within a band set by the state, with relaxations for reserved categories;
- citizenship and, where prescribed, domicile or language conditions;
- in some states, enrolment as an advocate or a minimum period of practice.
Final-year eligibility, if any, is stated only in the advertisement.
Stages of selection
| Stage | Function | Typical format |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Screening | Objective multiple-choice questions |
| Mains | Ranking on written law and language papers | Descriptive answers |
| Interview | Final merit | Viva voce |
Syllabus structure (Uttar Pradesh)
UPPSC’s Civil Judge scheme has long used a two-paper preliminary examination and a multi-paper mains, followed by interview. Marks below reflect the structure published across recent cycles; the operative advertisement governs each recruitment.
Preliminary examination
| Paper | Content | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Knowledge | 150 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | Law | 300 | 2 hours |
| Total | 450 |
Paper I typically draws on Indian history and culture, geography, polity, economy, science and technology, international affairs and current issues of social relevance.
Paper II has historically sampled jurisprudence, international organisations and current international affairs, the Indian Constitution, Transfer of Property, Evidence, IPC/BNS, CPC, CrPC/BNSS and Contract.
Mains examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Knowledge | 200 |
| 2 | English Language | 100 |
| 3 | Hindi Language | 100 |
| 4 | Law-I (Substantive Law) | 200 |
| 5 | Law-II (Procedure and Evidence) | 200 |
| 6 | Law-III (Penal, Revenue and Local Laws) | 200 |
| Interview | Personality test | 100 (typical) |
Law-I covers contracts, partnership, easements and torts, transfer of property, equity, trusts and specific relief, Hindu law, Muslim law and constitutional law.
Law-II covers the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, limitation, evidence under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (and Evidence Act themes), framing of charges, criminal courts and procedure under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and principles of pleading.
Law-III covers the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (with IPC transition awareness) together with U.P. land laws, revenue statutes and other local Acts listed by UPPSC.
Statutes examined
The national core of Indian Civil Judge examinations is relatively stable:
- Constitution of India — fundamental rights, directive principles, federal structure, judiciary, emergency and amendment provisions
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — substantive criminal offences (successor to the Indian Penal Code)
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — investigation, trial and appellate criminal procedure (successor to the Code of Criminal Procedure)
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 — relevancy, proof and examination of witnesses (successor to the Indian Evidence Act)
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — institution of suits, jurisdiction, decrees, appeals, execution and interim relief
- Indian Contract Act, 1872 — formation, performance, breach and quasi-contract themes
- Specific Relief Act; Transfer of Property Act; Limitation Act; Negotiable Instruments Act
- Personal laws: Hindu law (marriage, succession, adoption, maintenance), Muslim law, and Special Marriage Act themes where listed
- State and local Acts named in the official syllabus (land revenue, rent control, tenancy, court fees, stamp, and similar statutes)
For UP PCS-J, local-law emphasis centres on: U.P. land laws, revenue statutes and other local Acts listed by UPPSC.
How statutes are tested
Preliminary papers reward accurate recall of definitions, limitation periods, jurisdiction rules and classification of offences or decrees. Mains papers reward issue-spotting: a short factual narrative is followed by questions that require identification of issues, citation of provisions and a reasoned conclusion. Since 2024, many states have moved or are moving question papers onto BNS, BNSS and BSA numbering while older materials still use IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act citations.
Related examinations
- All India Bar Examination
- APO and APP examinations
- Uttar Pradesh PCS-J
- Delhi Judicial Service
- Rajasthan Judicial Service
- Law examinations in India
Primary sources
The controlling documents are the recruitment advertisement and syllabus annexure issued by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), together with any corrigenda published on the High Court or Public Service Commission website.