The West Bengal Judicial Service examination is conducted under West Bengal Public Service Commission / High Court pathway. Entry-level Civil Judge recruitment uses three stages: Preliminary, Mains and Interview.
Stages at a glance
| Stage | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Objective MCQs (law; sometimes GK/language) | Screening for Mains |
| Mains | Descriptive papers (law + language as notified) | Main ranking material |
| Interview | Viva voce | Temperament and legal awareness |
Exact paper counts, marks, duration and negative marking appear only in the official advertisement. Bengali and English composition feature in the West Bengal pattern historically.
Prelims
Prelims tests the national law core—Constitution, CPC, BNS, BNSS, BSA, contract and related subjects—plus any GK or language component named in the notice. Marks usually do not count toward final merit.
Mains
Mains answers are long-form. Papers typically split substantive civil law, procedure and evidence, criminal law, and local laws. Language papers (essay, translation, grammar) are rank-decisive in many states.
Interview
Candidates who clear Mains face a viva voce. Final merit is generally Mains + interview as per the rules.
Related reading
Primary sources
- Official recruitment notification of West Bengal Public Service Commission / High Court pathway