UP Judiciary Syllabus 2026 – Complete Roadmap for Civil Judge Aspirants
Preparing for the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is a serious call. It’s not one of those tests you clear by flipping through notes the night before. You really have to know what you’re studying, why you’re studying it, and how every bit fits into the bigger up judiciary syllabus.
Each year thousands of law graduates sit for the paper, and only a few finally see their names in the merit list. What separates them isn’t luck; it’s clarity. Many people jump in without even reading the up judiciary syllabus 2026 carefully. They miss how the exam is built, what the papers demand, and where to spend time. This guide tries to clear that fog so you can plan with confidence and stop wasting effort on things that don’t count.
Understanding the UP Judiciary Examination System
The Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, or UP PCS J, comes from the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission. It’s how the state picks Civil Judges (Junior Division). But it’s not only a memory test. The exam checks how you think, how you write, how aware you are of society, and whether you’ve got that calm judicial temperament a judge needs.
The up judiciary syllabus is wide on purpose. It wants future judges who understand law beyond bare sections—who can connect it with people and procedure. You’ll notice that each stage of the exam is designed around that idea.
UP Judiciary Eligibility Criteria 2026
Before you even look at the papers, make sure you fit the rules given under the up judiciary syllabus 2026.
Educational Qualification
You need a recognised Bachelor of Laws degree from any Indian university and the legal right to practise in courts. That includes:
- Advocates under the Advocates Act 1961
- Barristers of England or Northern Ireland
- Members of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland
Basically, the exam is open only to those with proper legal education and entitlement to practise.
Three-Year Legal Practice Requirement
Here’s the big update linked to the up judiciary syllabus 2026. The Supreme Court has said every candidate must have at least three years of active practice before applying.
- The count starts after you get provisional enrolment with the Bar Council.
- Even time spent as a law clerk can count.
This rule ensures that when you finally sit on the bench, you’ve already seen how real courtrooms work. It makes the service stronger.
Language Requirement
You must know Hindi in Devanagari script. Court records and judgments in Uttar Pradesh depend heavily on Hindi, so this isn’t just a formality.
Nationality Requirement
Only Indian citizens are allowed under the up judiciary syllabus norms.
Age Limit and Relaxation
For direct entry: minimum 22 years, maximum 35.
And yes, there are relaxations:
- SC, ST, OBC of Uttar Pradesh → 5 years
- Sportspersons → 5 years
- Ex-servicemen or Army personnel (with five years service) → 5 years
- Physically handicapped → 15 years
Dependents of freedom fighters or government staff don’t get extra relaxation, though serving employees can apply if they meet the rest.
UP Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
The exam moves in three steps — Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. Each one checks a different skill, so knowing the pattern is the first thing to master in the up judiciary syllabus 2026.
Preliminary Examination
Think of prelims as the doorway. It’s objective and only meant to shortlist candidates for mains. You’ll face two papers — General Knowledge and Law — both held on the same day.
- Total marks: 450
- Duration: 4 hours (2 hours each paper)
Paper I – General Knowledge (150 marks)
Here you’re tested on awareness — not facts alone but how well you connect them. History, culture, geography, polity, economy, current issues, even new tech and communication trends — anything that shapes society. The paper rewards understanding, not cramming.
Paper II – Law (300 marks)
This one decides everything. The up judiciary syllabus includes Jurisprudence, Constitution, International Organisations, Contract, Transfer of Property, CPC, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, and Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita. In short, almost every core law you studied in college. You’ll need both clarity and speed here.
Mains Examination
Once you clear prelims, you reach the real test. Mains are descriptive, written answers. This stage measures depth, logic, and how clearly you can express law on paper.
- Total marks: 1000
- Six papers
- Answers allowed in English or Hindi (except the language papers)
Paper I – General Knowledge (200 marks)
Broad awareness again — history, polity, economy, science, technology, world affairs. Nothing too technical, just thoughtful writing.
Paper II – English Language
Essay, precis, and translation from Hindi to English. The aim is clarity of thought.
Paper III – Hindi Language
Essay, precis, and translation from English to Hindi — this shows your command over official court language.
Paper IV – Law I (Substantive Law)
Covers Contracts, Partnership, Torts, Easements, Transfer of Property, Trusts, Specific Relief, Hindu and Mohammedan Law, plus Constitutional Law. Here conceptual clarity beats memorisation.
Paper V – Law II (Procedure and Evidence)
One of the most practical sections. It deals with CPC, Evidence, Pleadings, Framing of Charges, and Judgment Writing under Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. This paper often decides the merit list.
Paper VI – Law III (Penal, Revenue & Local Laws)
Includes Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Revenue Code, Urban Tenancy, Panchayat Laws, Consolidation of Holdings, and Planning Acts. Knowing state-specific laws gives you an edge.
UP PCS J Interview
After mains, comes the viva-voce of 100 marks. The board looks at personality, legal awareness, and overall judicial temperament. They want calm thinkers, not just bookworms. Marks from mains + interview decide the final rank list.
Why the UP Judiciary Syllabus Matters
The up judiciary syllabus isn’t just a list of topics; it’s the map that tells you how to study. Once you grasp it, you stop wasting hours on irrelevant material. The up judiciary syllabus 2026 pushes you to stay disciplined, practise answer writing, and build the patience a judge needs. Random reading won’t take you far — focused, repeated practice will.
Final Words for Judiciary Aspirants
When you sit down to plan for the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Exam, don’t rush it. Take a breath, look at the up pcs j syllabus 2026, and see it for what it really is — a road map, not a mountain.
If you study the right topics at the right pace, you’ll notice the pressure ease up.
The up judiciary exam syllabus is long, sure, but it’s also logical.
Each subject connects to another.
Once you start seeing those links, the whole thing makes sense.
Read the bare acts, write small answers every day, revise often.
That’s how toppers do it — slow, steady, focused.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the up judiciary syllabus 2026 very different from earlier years?
Not really; only the new criminal laws and eligibility tweaks matter.
2. Is three-year practice compulsory?
Yes, it’s mandatory before appointment.
3. Are prelims marks added to final merit?
No, they’re qualifying only.
4. Can I write mains in English?
Yes, except the Hindi paper.
5. Which paper carries most weight?
Procedural Law and Judgment Writing matter the most.
6. Do new criminal laws appear in questions?
Yes, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and others are included.
7. Do I need coaching?
Not compulsory, but guidance saves time.
8. Is judgment writing compulsory?
Yes, and it’s crucial.
9. Where can I find the official syllabus?
On the UPPSC website.
10. How should I start?
Understand the up judiciary syllabus, then plan subject-wise study and regular revision.
11. What’s actually inside the up pcs j syllabus?
Pretty much everything that shapes a young judge — General Knowledge, English, Hindi, and all the major law papers you’ll find in the up judiciary exam syllabus.
12. How do I balance the up judiciary prelims syllabus and mains?
Think of prelims as practice for mains.
Build concepts once and use them twice.
13. Is the up pcs j syllabus 2026 very hard?
Not really. It’s updated, not impossible.
Learn the new criminal laws early and you’ll be fine.
14. How much current-affairs prep fits under the up judiciary prelims syllabus?
Half a year of national and legal issues is plenty.
Focus on relevance, not volume.
15. Can someone clear mains without coaching?
Yes — discipline replaces coaching if you’re consistent.
Still, a mentor helps you avoid silly mistakes in the up judiciary mains syllabus.
16. How many papers are there in mains?
Six — the same classic structure under the up pcs j syllabus that UPPSC keeps.
17. Do the new criminal laws matter a lot?
Absolutely.
They’re central to both prelims and mains in the up judiciary exam syllabus.
18. When does UPPSC update the up pcs j syllabus?
Whenever new Acts arrive or patterns change.
Check the official site once in a while; it’s easy to miss notices.
19. Is language testing part of the up judiciary mains syllabus?
Yes, both English and Hindi papers judge clarity and translation.
You’ll use those skills daily once you’re on the bench.
20. How do toppers handle the up pcs j syllabus 2026?
They treat it like a checklist.
Cover one bit, test yourself, move on — no drama, just routine.
A Quick Word of Motivation
You know what? Every civil judge once sat where you are now — half confident, half scared.
The only difference is persistence.
If you respect the up judiciary syllabus, stick to it, and keep writing, you’ll move forward faster than you expect.The syllabus isn’t your enemy; it’s your direction.
Follow it with faith and patience, and results take care of themselves.
