For those aspiring to enter the field of law, one of the most desirable examinations in India is the judicial service exam. Those who wish to pursue a career in the judiciary have a tremendous opportunity with this exam. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and state governments administer the examination to select applicants for the positions of civil judge and magistrate.
One of the world’s oldest legal systems is the Indian legal system. The Vedic period is where the Indian judiciary first emerged. The Indian judicial system is based on the idea of dharma, which is essential to the Hindu way of life. The concepts of justice, equity, and fairness are part of dharma.
Law graduates who wish to be appointed as members of the lower judiciary must qualify for the entry-level PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service-Judicial Examination. Based on the results of the judiciary exam, the state government appoints the members, who are then overseen by the relevant high court.
lower judiciary Exams: About
- First, there is an admission exam for recent graduates administered by theHigh Court (Delhi) or the relevant state public service commission (UP, MP, Rajasthan, etc.).
- The commissions’ website has the exam syllabus, which covers law courses in addition to general knowledge, English, and the state’s official language.
- For a recent graduate, this Direct Recruitment approach allows him the chance to administer justice at the local level.
- In addition to providing an early start in the legal system, appointing someone to the position of civil judge also ensures employment security and prompt promotions.
lower judicial services exam eligibility
The lower judiciary exam eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Lower Judiciary Nationality Criteria: The applicant is required to be an Indian citizen.
- Lower Judiciary Educational Requirement: The candidate needs to be an LLB graduate of an accredited Indian university. Generally speaking, a candidate taking his final year LLB exams is ineligible; however, Rajasthan is an exception (there, a provisional degree is needed at the time of the main exams). In many states, joining the State Bar Council and becoming an advocate under the Advocates Act of 1961 are also prerequisites.
- lower judiciary age limit: The age limit for Judiciary exam in India differs from state to state, although in most cases, they are between the ages of 21 and 35 as of the notification date. Age relaxations are available for a number of categories, which differ from state to state and include SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD, and others.
lower judiciary in India: Examination Pattern
A three-step examination procedure must be completed in order to be chosen as a Civil Judge. Since this is a state-level exam, it is administered by either the relevant state service commission or the state high court.
The Preliminary Examination:
- Preliminary Examination-based multiple-choice questions make up this step.
- Most states only offer one objective-type paper that covers general awareness and law. Only a few states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have their own objective exams focused on general awareness. Some states, like Gujarat, even incorporate a separate subjective language paper or language-based questions.
- Factual information derived from basic provisions, changes, case laws, maxims, etc., is the main focus.
The Mains Examination:
- The Mains examination, a written examination, is the only component of this stage.
- This stage’s main goal is to assess the candidate’s breadth of knowledge. States differ in how many papers fall under this category, yet the following general classification can be made:
- Topics on Criminal Law
- Topics on Civil Law
- Topics on Local Laws of the state
- Topics on General Knowledge / General Awareness (In some Specific States)
- Topics on Language
The Interview Round:
- The interview, sometimes referred to as the Viva-Voce, is the last phase of the hiring process.
- Its objective is to evaluate the applicant’s overall fit for the position.
- Some states require passing this step with a certain qualifying percentage in order to be chosen.
- When the Public Service Commission is in charge of the recruitment process, panel members include representatives from the relevant State Commission; in contrast, the Interview Board is composed of honorable High Court judges.
Serving in the judiciary is a valuable choice for individuals seeking to provide high-profile public service. It provides a decent benefits package together with a safe and secure career. Before entering the legal profession, you should be aware that there is little likelihood that a member of the lower judiciary would rise all the way to the top. Hence, this might not be the best option for you if your goal is to one day serve as a Supreme Court justice.
However, the judicial services might be a better option for you if you’d prefer a safe and stable career in public service rather than the unpredictable nature of litigation, albeit with a nice pay package.
