RJS Prelims Cut Off Trend Analysis: 2017 to 2025 and What to Expect in 2026 – By Jyoti Saxena
The RJS Prelims cut off rose from 60 in 2019 to 73 in 2024 to 78 in 2025. That is an 18-mark increase across three cycles — averaging 6 marks per cycle. If you are preparing for the RJS Prelims 2026 and you are targeting 75, you are already aiming below where the General category cut off currently sits. This article gives you the complete year-wise trend analysis, the official category-wise numbers, and the specific factors that pushed the 2025 cut off to its highest recorded level.
Most RJS Prelims cut off articles reproduce the Rajasthan civil judge cut off table and stop there. This one explains what the numbers mean, why each cycle moved the way it did, what the 2025 cycle specifically revealed about how the paper is evaluated, and what a realistic preparation target looks like for the RJS Prelims 2026. The analysis comes from twelve years of tracking RJS cycles at Jyoti Judiciary Coaching and from watching how cut off movements affect candidate preparation strategy in real time.
RJS Prelims Cut Off — Official Category-Wise Data 2017 to 2025
The Rajasthan High Court releases official Rajasthan judiciary cut off category-wise marks along with the Prelims result PDF at hcraj.nic.in. The following table compiles the official RJS Prelims cut off data across all available cycles. Note: the RJS exam was not held in 2018, 2020, 2022, or 2023 — this is why the year-wise gaps exist.
| Year | Exam Date | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS | Questions Evaluated |
| 2017 | — | 65 | 62 | 48 | 72 | — | 100 |
| 2019 | — | 60 | 54 | 42 | 52 | — | 100 |
| 2021 | — | 72 | 67 | 55 | 54 | — | 100 |
| 2024 | 23 Jun 2024 | 73 | 68 | 55 | 54 | 68 | 100 |
| 2025 | 27 Jul 2025 | 78 | —* | —* | —* | —* | 93 (7 deleted) |
*The 2025 complete category-wise breakdown beyond General (78) is to be verified from the official hcraj.nic.in PDF. The General category cut off of 78 is confirmed from the official result notification dated 19 August 2025.
Year-by-Year RJS Prelims Cut Off Trend Analysis
2017: The Baseline — 65 for General
The 2017 RJS Prelims cut off of 65 for the General category is the baseline for all trend analysis. At 65, the cut off was moderate — reflecting a candidate pool that was still developing awareness of the examination pattern and a paper that tested primarily substantive law with a lower language proficiency weighting. The ST category cut off of 72 in 2017 — higher than General — was an anomaly driven by the specific vacancy distribution in that cycle and the smaller ST applicant pool.
2019: The Dip to 60 — What Caused It
The 2019 RJS Prelims cut off fell from 65 to 60 for the General category — a 5-mark drop. The primary cause was a combination of a higher perceived difficulty level in the 2019 paper and a larger candidate pool appearing, which spread performance more broadly across the score range. When more candidates appear and the paper is harder, the cut off comes down because fewer candidates reach the higher score range that would otherwise set the threshold.
The OBC-NCL cut off fell from 62 to 54 and SC from 48 to 42 across the same cycle — confirming that the drop was paper-wide and not category-specific. 2019 is the low point in recent RJS Prelims cut off history, which means any candidate who benchmarks their preparation against 2019 data is setting themselves up for a nasty surprise in 2026.
2021: The Sharp Rise to 72 — Competition Arrives
The 2021 RJS Prelims cut off jumped from 60 to 72 for General — a 12-mark increase in a single cycle. This is the single largest one-cycle cut off movement in recent RJS history. Three factors drove it simultaneously: the two-year gap since the 2019 exam meant more candidates had been preparing for longer; COVID-era law graduates who had completed their degrees but had no exam to appear in flooded the 2021 pool; and awareness of the RJS examination had grown significantly through social media and online coaching platforms.
The OBC-NCL cut off rose from 54 to 67 — a 13-mark jump. SC rose from 42 to 55 — a 13-mark jump. ST rose from 52 to 54. The across-the-board rise confirmed that 2021 marked a permanent upward shift in the competitive level of the RJS Prelims, not a one-time variation.
2024: Consolidation at 73 — The New Normal
The 2024 RJS Prelims cut off of 73 for General represented only a 1-mark increase from 2021’s 72. The OBC-NCL cut off was 68, SC was 55, ST was 54, and EWS was 68 — EWS appearing for the first time as a separate category. The modest 1-mark rise from 2021 to 2024 suggested that the competitive level had stabilised after the sharp 2021 jump, with the candidate pool and paper difficulty reaching a new equilibrium.
At Jyoti Judiciary Coaching, we tracked the 2024 Prelims result closely. The cut off of 73 for General meant that candidates scoring in the 70-72 range — who would have comfortably cleared in 2019 — were eliminated in 2024. This is the practical meaning of the cut off trend: the floor has risen, and preparation targets from three years ago are now insufficient.
2025: The Jump to 78 — Three Factors Behind the Biggest Peacetime Rise
The 2025 RJS Prelims cut off of 78 for General — confirmed in the official result notification dated 19 August 2025 — represents a 5-mark jump from 2024. This is the highest General category Prelims cut off in recorded RJS history. Three specific factors drove it, and understanding them is essential for setting your 2026 preparation target.
| Three Factors Behind the 2025 RJS Prelims Cut Off of 78: Factor 1 — Question Deletion Impact: 7 questions were deleted from the 2025 Prelims paper on objections, leaving 93 questions evaluated instead of 100. The total marks available dropped to 93. The cut off of 78 on 93 questions represents 83.9% of available marks — effectively a higher clearing standard than 73 on 100 questions (73%). Factor 2 — OMR Disqualifications: 239 candidates were disqualified for OMR errors (multiple bubbling, blank answers, ink spread). 77 candidates were excluded for incorrectly filling the booklet series. This 316-candidate reduction in the effective pool concentrated the qualified group at higher score levels. Factor 3 — Better-Prepared Candidate Pool: The working advocate requirement (3-year practice rule from May 2025) had begun shaping candidate preparation patterns even before its formal implementation. Candidates who had been preparing alongside court practice performed better on average than the prior pool. |
What the RJS Prelims Cut Off Trend Tells You — Jyoti Saxena’s Analysis
Twelve years of watching RJS cycles from inside the preparation process — and practising before the Rajasthan High Court throughout — produces a different perspective on cut off data than a data aggregation exercise. Here is what the trend actually reveals.
The Floor Has Risen Permanently
The movement from 60 in 2019 to 72 in 2021 to 78 in 2025 is not random variation. It reflects a structural shift in the RJS applicant profile. The average candidate appearing for RJS Prelims today is better prepared than the average candidate of five years ago. Online coaching, test series, and digital bare act resources have democratised preparation access. The 2026 candidate pool will be at least as prepared as 2025 — probably more so. Targeting 75 for the RJS 2026 Prelims is not ambitious enough. Target 82-85.
The Language Paper Cut Off Is the Silent Eliminator
The RJS Prelims has a 70/30 split — 70% law, 30% language. Most candidates prepare 90% law and 10% language. The cut off movements show that language paper performance is increasingly the differentiator at the margin. When the paper is moderately difficult in the law section, candidates who score well in language pull ahead. In 2025, the 78 cut off on 93 questions means aspirants who lost marks in the language section were the ones who narrowly missed qualifying. At Jyoti Judiciary Coaching, language paper preparation is treated as equally serious as law paper preparation from the first month of RJS coaching — not as an afterthought.
Question Deletions Affect the Effective Cut Off — Always Check
The 2025 cycle’s deletion of 7 questions on objections is not exceptional — it happens in most RJS Prelims cycles. When questions are deleted, the total marks available change, which affects both the raw cut off and the effective qualifying percentage. A cut off of 78 on 93 questions (83.9%) is a higher standard than 78 on 100 questions (78%). Always read the actual result notification from hcraj.nic.in for the evaluated question count, not just the raw cut off number.
RJS Prelims Cut Off — Year-Wise Category-Wise Trend Summary
The Rajasthan judiciary cut off category-wise trend across 2017 to 2025 shows consistent year-wise patterns for each group:
| Category | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2024 | 2025 (Confirmed/Est.) | Overall Trend |
| General | 65 | 60 | 72 | 73 | 78 | ↑ Rising — up 18 marks since 2019 |
| OBC-NCL | 62 | 54 | 67 | 68 | ~72–74 est. | ↑ Rising — tracking General |
| SC | 48 | 42 | 55 | 55 | ~58–62 est. | ↑ Rising — steady climb |
| ST | 72 | 52 | 54 | 54 | ~56–60 est. | ~ Stable with minor variation |
| EWS | — | — | — | 68 | ~72–74 est. | ↑ Tracking OBC-NCL |
Important note: The category-wise figures beyond General for 2025 are estimates based on the historical gap between General and reserved categories. The official complete category-wise breakdown must be verified from the hcraj.nic.in result PDF for the 2025 cycle.
What Is the Expected RJS Prelims Cut Off 2026? — Year-Wise Projection
The RJS Prelims cut off 2026 target depends on the 2 September 2026 exam date as per the official Rajasthan High Court press note. The Mains will follow after the Prelims result. Based on the 2017-to-2025 trend and the specific factors affecting the 2026 cycle, here is the realistic expected cut off range:
| Category | 2024 Official | 2025 Official/Est. | 2026 Expected Range | Basis |
| General | 73 | 78 | 80–84 | 5-mark cycle rise + working advocate pool |
| OBC-NCL | 68 | ~72–74 | 74–78 | Tracks General with ~5 mark gap |
| SC | 55 | ~58–62 | 60–65 | Steady climb pattern |
| ST | 54 | ~56–60 | 57–62 | Minor variation around 2021 stabilised level |
| EWS | 68 | ~72–74 | 74–78 | Tracks OBC-NCL |
These are preparation targets based on trend analysis — not official projections. The actual cut off will be released by the Rajasthan High Court at hcraj.nic.in after the 2 September 2026 Prelims result.
Five Things the RJS Prelims Cut Off Trend Tells You About Preparation
Cut off data is only useful if it changes how you prepare. Here is what Jyoti Saxena’s 2017-to-2025 Rajasthan judiciary cut off trend analysis specifically tells every RJS 2026 aspirant:
- Target 82-85 for General, not 75. The 2025 cut off of 78 on 93 evaluated questions represents a higher effective clearing standard than the raw number suggests. Add a 5-7 mark buffer above the expected cut off range to ensure you are not cut by a marginal paper or question deletion. Jyoti Judiciary Coaching’s RJS batch sets an internal Prelims target of 85+ for General category aspirants.
- The language paper is not a 30% afterthought — it is a 30% guarantee. In cycles where the law paper difficulty is similar across candidates, language performance decides who clears. Consistent language paper MCQ practice from Month 3 of preparation, not from Month 9, is what the trend data demands.
- Never miss a question without darkening Circle 5 in RJS Prelims. Unlike RPSC exams, the RJS Prelims deducts marks for blank answers (1/3 mark if no circle is darkened at all). The 2025 disqualification of 239 candidates for OMR errors shows that OMR discipline is a real risk. Fill every question — either your answer or Circle 5.
- The cut off rises whether or not the paper difficulty changes. From 2021 to 2024, the cut off rose by 1 mark. From 2024 to 2025, it rose by 5 marks. The reason both times was the candidate pool, not the paper. A well-prepared pool pushes the cut off up regardless of paper difficulty. Plan for competition, not for the paper.
- Reserved category aspirants should not assume a wide safety margin. SC cut off rose from 42 in 2019 to 55 in 2024 — a 13-mark increase across the same period that General rose by 13 marks. The proportional difficulty increase is the same across categories. The cut off gap has remained roughly constant — it has not widened in reserved categories’ favour.
How to Check the Official RJS Prelims Cut Off at hcraj.nic.in
The official cut off is published as part of the Prelims result PDF at hcraj.nic.in. Here is the exact navigation path:
- Go to hcraj.nic.in — this is the only authoritative source for RJS Prelims cut off data.
- Click ‘Recruitment’ tab on the homepage.
- Select ‘Civil Judge Cadre 2026’ (or the relevant year’s recruitment).
- Look for ‘Declaration of Result of Preliminary Examination’ — the category-wise cut off is in the attached PDF.
- Download the PDF and check the cut off table — it will show both the evaluated question count and the category-wise qualifying mark.
Third-party websites reproduce this data but sometimes with errors. Always cross-check the raw cut off number against the evaluated question count from the official PDF before setting your preparation target.
Frequently Asked Questions — RJS Prelims Cut Off
What was the RJS Prelims cut off in 2025?
The official RJS Prelims cut off for the General category in 2025 was 78 marks. The result was declared on 19 August 2025 by the Rajasthan High Court for the examination held on 27 July 2025. The 2025 paper had 7 questions deleted on objections, leaving 93 questions evaluated. The General category cut off of 78 on 93 evaluated questions represents an effective clearing rate of 83.9% — the highest in recent RJS history.
What Is the RJS Expected Cut Off 2026 for Prelims?
Based on the 2017-to-2025 trend analysis, the expected RJS Prelims cut off for General category in 2026 is in the 80-84 range. Reserved category cut offs are expected in the 60-78 range depending on category. These are preparation targets based on the year-wise trend — not official projections. The actual 2026 cut off will be released by the Rajasthan High Court at hcraj.nic.in after the 2 September 2026 Prelims examination.
Why did the RJS Prelims cut off increase from 73 in 2024 to 78 in 2025?
Three factors drove the 2025 increase: first, 7 questions were deleted on objections leaving only 93 questions evaluated, which changed the effective cut off percentage; second, 316 candidates were disqualified for OMR errors, concentrating the qualified pool at higher score levels; third, the candidate pool is progressively better prepared as online coaching and test series have improved average preparation quality. All three factors are likely to be present in the 2026 cycle as well.
Has the RJS Prelims cut off been rising every year?
Not every year, but the long-term trend is clearly upward. It fell from 65 in 2017 to 60 in 2019, jumped to 72 in 2021, held at 73 in 2024, and jumped to 78 in 2025. The dip in 2019 was driven by paper difficulty and candidate pool composition. The long-term direction since 2019 is unambiguously upward — up 18 marks for General in six years. Preparation targets must reflect this direction, not any single cycle’s number.
Is the RJS Prelims cut off the same as minimum qualifying marks?
No. The minimum qualifying marks for RJS Prelims are set officially (45% for General, 40% for SC/ST in some notification versions). The RJS Prelims cut off is determined by competition — it is the score at which the Rajasthan High Court closes the Prelims shortlist for the Mains stage, based on the number of vacancies and the 15x multiplier (the number of candidates qualifying for Mains is approximately 15 times the number of vacancies, category-wise). In competitive cycles, the actual cut off significantly exceeds the minimum qualifying marks.
All the best — from Jyoti Judiciary Coaching
Written by Advocate Jyoti Saxena — LLB, LLM, CS, enrolled with the Bar Council of Rajasthan, practising at Jaipur Family Court, Jaipur District Court, and the Rajasthan High Court. The cut off analysis and preparation targets in this article are drawn from twelve years of tracking RJS cycles at Jyoti Judiciary Coaching and from observing the direct connection between cut off movements and preparation strategy in real examination cycles.
Jyoti Judiciary Coaching | Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur | +91 99290 96546 | jyotijudiciary.com
Cut off data sourced from official hcraj.nic.in result PDFs and verified news sources. 2025 complete category-wise data and 2026 cut offs are estimates — verify from hcraj.nic.in before use.
