Haryana Judiciary Syllabus 2026: Complete HJS Prelims and Mains Syllabus with BNS Update

Haryana Judiciary Syllabus 2026 | HJS Syllabus | Haryana Judiciary Prelims Syllabus | HJS Mains Syllabus | Paper Wise | BNS BNSS BSA | Local Laws | Customary Law | Last Updated July 2026

Haryana Judiciary Syllabus 2026 — Key Facts:    

Conducting Body: Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) | hpsc.gov.in  
Post: Civil Judge (Junior Division), HCS Judicial Branch    

PRELIMS: 125 MCQs | 500 marks | 2 hours | 0.8 negative marking  
Subjects: Current Affairs, Indian Legal History, Constitutional Development,             
Civil Law I, Civil Law II, Criminal Law    

MAINS (5 Papers Total = 1000 marks):  
Paper I   — Civil Law I   — 200 marks (CPC, Contract, Partnership, Sale of              
Goods, SRA, Indian Evidence Act, Punjab Courts Act, Haryana               
Urban Rent Act)  

Paper II  — Civil Law II  — 200 marks (Hindu Law, Muslim Law, Customary Law,              
Registration, Limitation)  

Paper III — Criminal Law  — 200 marks
(BNS, BNSS, BSA from 2026)  

Paper IV  — English       — 200 marks (Essay 100 + Precis 25 + Words 25 +              
Comprehension 25 + Corrections 25)  

Paper V   — Hindi  — 100 marks (Translation, Essay, Idioms, Corrections)    

INTERVIEW: 200 marks | English only | Qualifying: 50% aggregate in Mains  
TOTAL MERIT: Mains (1000) + Interview (200) = 1200 marks

The Haryana Judiciary syllabus 2026 has one significant update that most preparation material has not caught up with: the criminal law papers now test BNS 2023, BNSS 2023, and BSA 2023 as primary law — not IPC, CrPC, and the Indian Evidence Act. From 1 July 2024, these new codes replaced the old ones across India. A candidate preparing for HJS Mains Paper III from notes that still say “IPC and CrPC” is studying an outdated syllabus for a 2026 exam.

The second thing the HJS syllabus demands specifically is coverage of Haryana-specific local laws — the Punjab Courts Act 1918, the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act 1973, and the Customary Laws of Haryana and Punjab — which are tested in Paper I (Civil Law I) and Paper II (Civil Law II). These are not covered in standard multi-state judiciary preparation material and require dedicated study from Month 4 of preparation.

HJS Prelims Syllabus 2026 — Subject-Wise

The Prelims is a qualifying test — 125 objective questions, 500 marks, 2 hours, 0.8 marks deducted per wrong answer. Prelims marks do not count in the final merit list. The objective is to clear the 150-mark minimum and move to Mains. The Prelims syllabus covers six broad areas.

1. Current Affairs

Current affairs for HJS Prelims covers both Indian and international news. Questions test awareness of recent legal and constitutional developments, landmark Supreme Court judgments of the past twelve months, and major events in governance and international relations. This is not a section that can be studied from a static notes file — it requires regular newspaper reading from the beginning of preparation. The Hindu and Indian Express for legal and constitutional news, plus a monthly GK magazine for general current affairs, cover this section adequately.

2. Indian Legal History and Constitutional Development

This section covers the historical development of the Indian legal system from Mughal governance through British colonial administration to the framing of the Indian Constitution. Key areas include the evolution of civil and criminal courts under the British, the Government of India Acts (1919, 1935), the Constituent Assembly debates, and the constitutional development from 1950 to the present including major amendments. Questions typically test specific facts rather than broad historical narratives.

3. Civil Law I — Prelims Syllabus

  • Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — jurisdiction of courts, plaint and written statement (Orders VII and VIII), framing of issues (Order XIV), temporary injunctions (Order XXXIX), judgment and decree (Order XX), execution, appeals, revision
  • Indian Contract Act, 1872 — essentials of valid contract (Section 10), void agreements, breach, remedies, Section 73 damages
  • Specific Relief Act, 1963 — when specific performance is granted, declaratory relief, injunctions
  • Law of Partnership — formation, rights and duties of partners, dissolution
  • Sale of Goods Act, 1930 — sale and agreement to sell, conditions and warranties, transfer of property

4. Civil Law II — Prelims Syllabus

  • Hindu Law — sources, schools (Mitakshara and Dayabhaga), Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Hindu Succession Act 1956, Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act
  • Muslim Law (Mohammedan Law) — marriage (nikah), mehr, divorce, maintenance, succession, will
  • Customary Law of Haryana and Punjab — this is a specific HJS Prelims component. Questions test knowledge of customs governing marriage, succession, and property among communities in Haryana and Punjab where customary law differs from statutory personal law
  • Law of Registration — Indian Registration Act 1908, documents that must be registered, consequences of non-registration
  • Limitation Act, 1963 — period of limitation for suits, appeals, and applications; Section 5 condonation of delay; Section 14 exclusion of time

5. Criminal Law — Prelims Syllabus (Updated for 2026)

HJS Prelims Criminal Law — BNS, BNSS, BSA Now Apply:    

For HJS 2026, the Prelims criminal law questions are based on:  
BNS 2023 (replaced IPC) | BNSS 2023 (replaced CrPC) | BSA 2023 (replaced IEA)    

Key BNS sections for Prelims MCQs:  
Section 103(1) BNS — Murder (was Section 302 IPC)  
Section 103(2) BNS — Mob lynching — NEW — no IPC equivalent  
Section 105 BNS — Culpable homicide not amounting to murder  
Section 111 BNS — Organised crime — NEW — no IPC equivalent  
Section 113 BNS — Terrorism — NEW in main penal code  
Section 303 BNS — Theft (was Section 378 IPC)  
Section 318 BNS — Cheating (was Section 420 IPC)  
Section 152 BNS — Acts endangering sovereignty (replaced Section 124A sedition)    

Key BNSS sections for Prelims MCQs:  
Section 173 BNSS — Zero FIR — NEW  
Section 187 BNSS — Remand and staggered custody — changed  
Section 479 BNSS — Bail for undertrial (half or one-third sentence)    

BSA 2023: Section 63 (electronic evidence certificate), Section 26 (dying   declaration — video dying declaration now permitted)

HJS Mains Syllabus 2026 — All Five Papers Detailed

The Mains examination has five papers totalling 1000 marks. For qualification: General category — minimum 33% per paper individually AND 50% aggregate. SC/ST/BC (Haryana), PH, and ESM candidates — minimum 45% aggregate (note: this applies to ESM themselves, not dependents of ESM). To qualify for the interview, a candidate must clear both the per-paper minimum and the aggregate minimum.

Paper I — Civil Law I (200 Marks)

SubjectKey TopicsExam Angle
Code of Civil Procedure 1908Order XIV (framing of issues), Order XX (judgment and decree writing), Order XXXIX (temporary injunctions — three conditions), Order VII and VIII (plaint and written statement), Section 9 (jurisdiction), Section 100 (second appeal), execution of decreesOrder XIV issue framing and Order XX civil judgment writing appear every cycle. These are the core judgment writing skills tested.
Indian Contract Act 1872Essentials of contract (Section 10), void and voidable contracts, coercion, undue influence, fraud, misrepresentation, Section 73 damages, breach and remediesProblem questions give fact situations where multiple vitiating factors may be present — apply each one to facts.
Sale of Goods Act 1930Agreement to sell vs sale, transfer of property, conditions and warranties, buyer and seller remediesDistinction between conditions and warranties is a recurring MCQ in Prelims and short note in Mains.
Partnership Act 1932Formation, authority of partners, liability, dissolution, rights on dissolutionDissolution questions appear as short notes in Mains Paper I.
Specific Relief Act 1963Specific performance — when granted and when not, declaratory suits, perpetual and temporary injunctionsSection 10 SRA — when specific performance is discretionary — is a direct Mains question topic.
Punjab Courts ActJurisdiction of civil courts in Haryana (Punjab Courts Act applies to Haryana by extension), subordination of courts, powers of different civil courtsThis is a Haryana-specific statute. Many candidates from other states skip it — that is a direct marks loss in Paper I.
Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act 1973Rent fixation, grounds for eviction, rights of tenant and landlord under Haryana rent lawLocal legislation — directly tested in Paper I and in Prelims. Cannot be skipped.

Paper II — Civil Law II (200 Marks)

SubjectKey TopicsExam Angle
Hindu LawSources of Hindu law, schools (Mitakshara and Dayabhaga and their differences), coparcenary and joint family property, Hindu Marriage Act 1955 (conditions, voidable marriages, grounds for divorce), Hindu Succession Act 1956 (Class I and II heirs, Sections 14-16), Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance ActHindu succession and matrimonial provisions appear regularly. Class I heirs table must be memorised precisely.
Muslim Law (Mohammedan Law)Essentials of marriage (nikah), capacity, mehr (dower — prompt and deferred), dissolution of marriage (talaq, khula, mubarat, judicial dissolution under Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939), maintenance, inheritance and succession under Muslim lawMehr classification and grounds for dissolution are directly tested. Customary law of Haryana and Punjab for Muslim communities is separately covered here.
Customary Law of Haryana and PunjabCustoms governing marriage, succession, and property among agricultural communities in Haryana and Punjab — particularly where statutory personal law does not apply or has been modified by customThis is a unique HJS and Punjab judiciary component. It is covered in the exam notification as a specific requirement under Paper II. Harshali Chowdhary’s Punjab & Haryana Land Laws covers customary law systematically.
Law of Registration (Indian Registration Act 1908)Documents that must be registered (Section 17), documents that may be registered (Section 18), consequences of non-registration (Section 49), presentation and registration process, powers of registering officersSection 17 compulsory registration and Section 49 consequences are directly tested MCQs.
Limitation Act 1963Period of limitation for different suits (Schedule I), Section 5 condonation of delay, Section 14 exclusion of time, Section 18 effect of acknowledgment, Section 25 effect of payment, starting point of limitationLimitation Act problem questions give scenarios where multiple provisions may apply simultaneously — apply each in order.

Paper III — Criminal Law (200 Marks) — Updated for BNS BNSS BSA

Paper III is where the biggest syllabus change for HJS 2026 sits. Every criminal law answer in this paper — section citations, judgment writing, charge framing — must use BNS 2023, BNSS 2023, and BSA 2023 for offences committed after 1 July 2024. For offences before that date, IPC and CrPC still apply — and problem questions may involve facts that straddle the July 2024 date.

SubjectOld CodeNew Code (2026 Primary)Key Changes
Criminal Substantive LawIPC 1860BNS 2023Murder: S.103(1) BNS. Mob lynching: S.103(2) BNS (new). Organised crime: S.111 BNS (new). Terrorism: S.113 BNS (new). Sedition replaced by S.152 BNS. Hit and run death: S.106(2) BNS (new). Section 377 and 309 IPC not carried forward.
Criminal ProcedureCrPC 1973BNSS 2023Zero FIR: S.173 BNSS (new). Staggered custody: S.187 BNSS. Bail timelines: 7-day decision mandatory. Section 479 BNSS undertrial bail. Trials in absentia: S.356 BNSS. Mandatory forensic for offences carrying 7+ years: S.176(3) BNSS.
EvidenceIndian Evidence Act 1872BSA 2023Electronic evidence: S.63 BSA (hash value + dual signature). Video dying declaration: S.26 BSA (new). Expert opinion: S.39 BSA expanded to DNA and cyber forensics. Confession to police: S.23 BNSS.

Paper III also covers important special laws that are separately tested beyond BNS, BNSS, and BSA: the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO), the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 (dishonour of cheques — Section 138), the Haryana Prohibition Act, and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. These appear as short notes and problem questions in the Mains paper.

Paper IV — English Composition (200 Marks)

Paper IV tests English writing skills — essay, precis, comprehension, vocabulary, and corrections — for 200 marks. These marks are equal to each law paper in weight. Candidates who focus entirely on law papers and treat English as secondary frequently miss the 50% aggregate qualifying mark because of poor Paper IV performance.

ComponentMarksWhat Is Tested
Essay (1000-1100 words)100 marksA discursive essay on a social, legal, or current affairs topic. Assessed on structure, argument, vocabulary, and expression.
Precis Writing25 marksCondensing a given passage to approximately one-third its length while retaining all key points.
Words and Phrases25 marksVocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, and idiomatic phrases.
Comprehension25 marksReading a passage and answering questions accurately in English.
Corrections25 marksIdentifying and correcting grammatical and structural errors in given sentences.

Paper V — English Composition (200 Marks)

Paper V is 200 marks of English writing — essay, precis, comprehension, vocabulary, and corrections. Its weight in the final merit list is equal to each of the law papers. Candidates who treat this as a background subject and focus only on law papers are taking a direct risk with their rank. A difference of 20 marks in Paper V — which is achievable through practice — can shift rank significantly in a competitive field.

ComponentWhat Is TestedHow to Prepare
Essay WritingA discursive essay on a social, legal, or current affairs topic — typically 600-800 words. Assessed on structure, argument, vocabulary, and expression.Write one timed essay per week from Month 3. Topics should include legal reform, constitutional issues, current social debates. Get feedback on structure and argument quality.
Precis WritingCondensing a given passage to approximately one-third its length while retaining all key points. Vocabulary and accuracy are specifically assessed.Practice daily with newspaper editorials — particularly legal editorials from The Hindu and Economic Times.
ComprehensionReading a passage and answering questions accurately in English.Standard practice — accuracy of reading and conciseness of answers is tested.
CorrectionsIdentifying and correcting grammatical and structural errors in given sentences.Standard English grammar revision — tenses, subject-verb agreement, prepositions.
Words and PhrasesVocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic phrases.Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis is the standard reference for judiciary exam vocabulary preparation.

Paper V — Hindi Composition (100 Marks)

Paper V tests Hindi in Devanagari script — translation, essay, idioms, and corrections. At 100 marks in the Mains total, it determines 7.7% of the final merit score. Candidates who are not native Hindi speakers must start Paper VI preparation from Month 3. The translation component — English passage to Hindi — requires both accurate comprehension of the English source and confident Hindi expression.

ComponentWhat Is Tested
TranslationAn English passage translated into correct, idiomatic Hindi in Devanagari script
Hindi EssayA discursive essay on a social or current topic in Hindi — structure and expression assessed
Idioms and PhrasesHindi idioms (muhavare) and their correct usage
CorrectionsIdentifying and correcting grammatical errors in Hindi sentences

HJS Interview Syllabus — 200 Marks, English Only

The HJS interview is 200 marks and conducted entirely in English by a panel of sitting judges and senior HPSC officials. At 16.7% of the total merit score (200 out of 1200), a 20-mark difference in the interview can meaningfully shift rank among candidates whose Mains scores are closely clustered.

The interview does not have a formally prescribed syllabus — but based on the pattern of HJS interviews, the panel focuses on: current legal affairs in India and Haryana specifically, awareness of recent Supreme Court judgments, understanding of constitutional values and judicial ethics, ability to reason through real-life legal situations, and overall personality and communication ability in English.

HJS Interview Preparation — What Actually Helps:     1. One current Supreme Court judgment per week — summarise the ratio and      think about how it might be asked as an interview question.     2. Haryana-specific legal awareness — HPSC website, Haryana High Court      website for recent High Court judgments of significance in Haryana courts.     3. English communication practice — speak on a legal topic for 2 minutes      daily without notes. This builds the spontaneous articulation that an      interview panel assesses within the first 30 seconds.     4. Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct 2002 — specifically asked      in HJS interviews. Know the six values: independence, impartiality,      integrity, propriety, equality, competence and diligence.     5. Mock interview sessions starting Month 7 — not Month 11.

Haryana Judiciary Syllabus 2026 — Paper-wise Preparation Strategy

Paper I + II (Civil Law) — Start in Month 1, Judgment Writing from Month 2

Civil law forms the core of Papers I and II. CPC judgment writing — Order XIV issue framing and Order XX civil judgment format — must be practised from Month 2, not studied theoretically and practised in Month 10. Every week from Month 2, write at least one complete civil judgment under timed conditions and get it checked for step-specific feedback.

Paper III (Criminal Law) — Learn BNS, BNSS, BSA as Primary Law from Day 1

Any candidate who starts HJS preparation in 2026 with IPC and CrPC as the primary criminal law texts is using outdated material. BNS, BNSS, and BSA are primary. IPC and CrPC are reference for pre-July 2024 offences only. Build the new section number mapping — Section 302 IPC is Section 103(1) BNS, Section 376 IPC is Section 64 BNS, Section 420 IPC is Section 318 BNS — into memory from Week 1.

Haryana Local Laws in Papers I and II — Start Month 4

The Punjab Courts Act 1918, Haryana Urban Rent Act 1973 (tested in Paper I), and Customary Law of Haryana and Punjab (tested in Paper II) are Haryana-specific statutes not covered in standard multi-state judiciary notes. Candidates who leave these for the final weeks consistently underperform in Papers I and II despite strong knowledge of general civil law. Month 4 is the right start for dedicated coverage of these statutes.

Papers V and VI (Language) — Timed Practice from Month 3

English essay writing and Hindi translation require practice under timed conditions — not reading about essay structure. One timed English essay per week from Month 3, one Hindi translation exercise per week from Month 3. These two papers collectively carry 300 marks (30% of Mains total). Candidates who neglect them while scoring well in law papers frequently miss the 50% aggregate qualifying mark because of weak language paper scores.

Frequently Asked Questions — Haryana Judiciary Syllabus 2026

What is the syllabus for Haryana judiciary exam 2026?

The Haryana judiciary syllabus 2026 covers six areas in Prelims (Current Affairs, Indian Legal History, Constitutional Development, Civil Law I, Civil Law II, Criminal Law) and five papers in Mains: Paper I Civil Law I (200 marks — CPC 1908, Punjab Courts Act 1918, Contract Act, Partnership Act, Sale of Goods Act, Specific Relief Act, Indian Evidence Act, Haryana Urban Rent Act 1973), Paper II Civil Law II (200 marks — Hindu Law, Muslim Law, Customary Law of Haryana and Punjab, Registration Act, Limitation Act), Paper III Criminal Law (200 marks — BNS 2023, BNSS 2023, BSA 2023 as primary texts for 2026), Paper IV English Composition (200 marks — Essay 100 marks + Precis 25 + Words 25 + Comprehension 25 + Corrections 25), and Paper V Hindi Composition (100 marks). The Interview carries 200 marks and is conducted in English only.

Is BNS included in Haryana judiciary syllabus 2026?

Yes. BNS 2023, BNSS 2023, and BSA 2023 are the primary criminal law texts for HJS 2026 Mains Paper III. These codes replaced IPC 1860, CrPC 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act 1872 from 1 July 2024. For HJS 2026, all criminal law answers in the Mains paper and all criminal law MCQs in the Prelims that involve offences after 1 July 2024 must cite BNS, BNSS, and BSA section numbers — not IPC or CrPC. IPC and CrPC remain relevant only for offences committed before 1 July 2024.

Where are Haryana local laws tested in the HJS syllabus?

Haryana-specific local laws are tested in Paper I (Civil Law I) and Paper II (Civil Law II). Paper I includes the Punjab Courts Act 1918 (jurisdiction of civil courts in Haryana) and the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act 1973 (rent fixation, grounds for eviction, landlord-tenant rights). Paper II includes Customary Law of Haryana and Punjab — the customs governing property rights, succession, and marriage among agricultural communities where they differ from statutory personal law. There is no separate dedicated local law paper — these statutes are integrated into the civil law papers.

How many papers are in HJS mains syllabus 2026?

There are five papers in the HJS Mains 2026: Paper I Civil Law I (200 marks), Paper II Civil Law II (200 marks), Paper III Criminal Law (200 marks), Paper IV English Composition (200 marks), and Paper V Hindi Composition (100 marks). Total Mains marks are 1000. The Interview carries 200 marks. Final merit is based on Mains (1000) and Interview (200) combined — 1200 marks total.

What is customary law in Haryana judiciary syllabus?

Customary law in the Haryana judiciary syllabus refers to the customs governing property rights, succession, and marriage among agricultural and other communities in Haryana and Punjab, particularly where these customs differ from or override the statutory personal laws (Hindu Law, Muslim Law). These customs are historically recognised in courts in Haryana and Punjab through case law and regional revenue records. Customary law appears specifically in Paper II (Civil Law II) as a distinct area of examination alongside Hindu Law and Muslim Law.

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All the best — from Jyoti Judiciary Coaching

Written by Advocate Jyoti Saxena — LLB, LLM, CS, Bar Council of Rajasthan, practising at Jaipur Family Court, Jaipur District Court, and the Rajasthan High Court. 12 years of judiciary coaching experience across RJS, GJS, UP PCS J, UKJS, and HJS preparation. Haryana judiciary online coaching is available at Jyoti Judiciary Coaching through live online classes. Contact: +91 99290 96546 | jyotijudiciary.com

Haryana judiciary syllabus data is based on HPSC official notifications. BNS, BNSS, and BSA references verified from official gazette notifications (Act No. 45, 46, 47 of 2023). Always verify the current syllabus from hpsc.gov.in before beginning preparation.