Is there negative marking in Delhi Civil Judge?

25 percent (0.25 mark) deducted for every wrong answer in the preliminary examination; multiple or altered markings are treated as wrong.

In which language is the Delhi Civil Judge exam held?

All questions to be answered in English except as indicated in the syllabus (translation passages Hindi in Devanagari script).

Where is the Delhi Civil Judge notification published?

High Court of Delhi publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, delhihighcourt.nic.in. Check it for the current cycle.

Which bare acts are in the Delhi Civil Judge syllabus?

28 acts are tagged for Delhi Civil Judge here, including the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Commercial Courts Act, 2015, Constitution of India and more. Each can be read section by section.

Delhi · Civil Judge (entry level, Delhi Judicial Service)

Delhi Civil Judge 2026: Syllabus, Previous Year Papers & Bare Acts

Delhi Judicial Service Examination

3
Stages: 15
Past papers: 28
Acts in syllabus: 425
Mains questions: Yes
Negative marking

The High Court of Delhi recruits judicial officers into the Delhi Judicial Service through a competitive examination in three stages: an objective preliminary examination, a written main examination of four papers, and a viva-voce. The preliminary examination is only a screening test and its marks are not counted in the final merit. Final merit is the total of main examination and viva-voce marks.

Conducted by: High Court of Delhi
Official website: delhihighcourt.nic.in
Language: All questions to be answered in English except as indicated in the syllabus (translation passages Hindi in Devanagari script).
Negative marking: 25 percent (0.25 mark) deducted for every wrong answer in the preliminary examination; multiple or altered markings are treated as wrong.
Final selection: Preliminary examination is a qualifying screening test (marks not counted). Final merit is the aggregate of main examination (written) and viva-voce marks.
Last advertisement: 2023 · The 2023 document gives instructions, scheme and syllabus; vacancy count, fee and pay are not in the text. For persons with disabilities: preliminary 55%, mains 35% in each paper and 45% in aggregate, viva-voce 45%. (per Advertisement 2023; the next cycle may differ)

Official website and notifications

Exam pattern and stages

Preliminary examination (objective, screening): One multiple-choice paper of 200 marks in 2.5 hours testing legal knowledge, aptitude and English; qualifying nature, marks not counted for final merit.
Paper Questions Marks Duration
Preliminary paper Qualifying marks 60% (general), 55% (reserved); not more than ten times the vacancies, category-wise, admitted to mains; 25% negative marking 200 2.5 hours

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
Preliminary paper Qualifying marks 60% (general), 55% (reserved); not more than ten times the vacancies, category-wise, admitted to mains; 25% negative marking		200	2.5 hours

Main examination (written): Four papers of 3 hours each: General Legal Knowledge and Language (250 marks) and three law papers of 200 marks each.

Paper	Marks	Duration
Paper I: General Legal Knowledge and Language Section I General Legal Knowledge 100 marks; Section II Language 150 marks	250	3 hours
Paper II: Civil Law I	200	3 hours
Paper III: Civil Law II	200	3 hours
Paper IV: Criminal Law Candidates need 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate (reserved 35% and 45%) to be called for viva-voce	200	3 hours

Viva-voce: 150 marks; candidates called are not more than three times the vacancies, category-wise; minimum 50% (general) or 45% (reserved) in viva-voce to be recommended.
Paper Questions Marks Duration
Viva-voce Marks added to main examination marks 150

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
Viva-voce Marks added to main examination marks		150

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Preliminary examination (200 marks, 2.5 hours)

General legal knowledge, aptitude, power of expression and flair in English
The Constitution of India · Read the act
The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Read the act
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Read the act
The Indian Penal Code
The Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Read the act
The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 · Read the act
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 · Read the act
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Read the act
The Specific Relief Act, 1963 · Read the act
The Limitation Act, 1963 · Read the act
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 · Read the act
The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 · Read the act

Main examination: Paper I General Legal Knowledge and Language (250 marks)

Section I: General Legal Knowledge, current legal affairs (100 marks)
Section II: Language, essay, translation (English to Hindi and Hindi to English, Devanagari) and precis writing (150 marks)

Main examination: Paper II Civil Law I (200 marks)

The Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Read the act
The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 · Read the act
The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 · Read the act
The Specific Relief Act, 1963 · Read the act
Hindu Law
Mohammaden Law
The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 · Read the act
Law of Torts
The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994
The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 · Read the act

Main examination: Paper III Civil Law II (200 marks)

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Read the act
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Read the act
The Limitation Act, 1963 · Read the act
The Registration Act, 1908 · Read the act
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 · Read the act
The Trade Marks Act, 1999
The Copyright Act, 1957

Main examination: Paper IV Criminal Law (200 marks)

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Read the act
The Indian Penal Code
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Read the act
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Bare Acts for this exam

28 acts tagged for Delhi Civil Judge. Each opens section by section, free to read.

Old law → new law tables: IPC → BNS · CrPC → BNSS · Evidence Act → BSA

Previous year papers

9 prelims and 6 mains papers, 2010 to 2023. All Delhi Civil Judge papers by year

2011

Delhi Civil Judge Prelims 2011 186 questions · attempt online

2010

Delhi Civil Judge Prelims 2010 169 questions · attempt online

Mains questions

425 mains questions with model answers for Delhi and all-India judiciary mains. Open the mains question bank

Eligibility

Practising Advocate in India, or a person qualified to be admitted as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 (Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970, Rule 14). Not more than 32 years on 1 January of the year in which applications are invited (Rules 1970, Rule 14(c), text as on ); the 2023 instructions did not restate age and relaxations are per the notification. Citizen of India Application form to be filled in English only Candidates answer all questions in English except where the syllabus indicates otherwise

Relaxations, attempts and category rules are in each cycle's notification.

Delhi Civil Judge: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the Delhi Civil Judge exam?: Delhi Judicial Service Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination (objective, screening): One multiple-choice paper of 200 marks in 2.5 hours testing legal knowledge, aptitude and English; qualifying nature, marks not counted for final merit. Papers: Preliminary paper: 200 marks, 2.5 hours. Main examination (written): Four papers of 3 hours each: General Legal Knowledge and Language (250 marks) and three law papers of 200 marks each. Papers: Paper I: General Legal Knowledge and Language: 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper II: Civil Law I: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper III: Civil Law II: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper IV: Criminal Law: 200 marks, 3 hours. Viva-voce: 150 marks; candidates called are not more than three times the vacancies, category-wise; minimum 50% (general) or 45% (reserved) in viva-voce to be recommended. Papers: Viva-voce: 150 marks.
Is there negative marking in Delhi Civil Judge?: 25 percent (0.25 mark) deducted for every wrong answer in the preliminary examination; multiple or altered markings are treated as wrong.
In which language is the Delhi Civil Judge exam held?: All questions to be answered in English except as indicated in the syllabus (translation passages Hindi in Devanagari script).
Who is eligible for Delhi Civil Judge?: Practising Advocate in India, or a person qualified to be admitted as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 (Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970, Rule 14). Not more than 32 years on 1 January of the year in which applications are invited (Rules 1970, Rule 14(c), text as on ); the 2023 instructions did not restate age and relaxations are per the notification. Citizen of India Application form to be filled in English only Candidates answer all questions in English except where the syllabus indicates otherwise The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.
Where is the Delhi Civil Judge notification published?: High Court of Delhi publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, delhihighcourt.nic.in. Check it for the current cycle.
Which bare acts are in the Delhi Civil Judge syllabus?: 28 acts are tagged for Delhi Civil Judge here, including the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Commercial Courts Act, 2015, Constitution of India and more. Each can be read section by section.

Facts on this page are read from Delhi (J) Syllabus, Advertisement 2023, Delhi Recruitment Rules, 1970 and may change with each notification. Dates, vacancies and cut-offs for the coming cycle are not stated here; the official website has them.