What is the pattern of the Gujarat Civil Judge exam?

Gujarat Judicial Service (Civil Judge) Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination (Elimination Test): Objective test of 100 marks, 2 hours, one mark per MCQ with negative marking, question paper in English only; marks are not counted in final merit. Papers: Paper I: Part A (criminal and allied laws), Part B (civil and allied laws), Part C (general ability): 100 marks, 2 hours; Paper II: Test of Gujarati Language: 50 marks, 1.5 hours. Main written examination: Descriptive, two papers of 100 marks each; minimum 40% in each paper and 50% overall (45% for reserved categories) to be called for the viva-voce. Papers: Paper I: Criminal: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper II: Civil: 100 marks, 3 hours. Viva-voce: Oral interview of 50 marks; a minimum of 40% is needed to be included in the select list. Papers: Viva-voce: 50 marks.

Is there negative marking in Gujarat Civil Judge?

0.33 mark deducted for each wrong or multiple answer in the preliminary examination.

In which language is the Gujarat Civil Judge exam held?

Preliminary paper in English only; main examination question papers are in English and answers may be given in English or Gujarati.

Where is the Gujarat Civil Judge notification published?

High Court of Gujarat, Sola, Ahmedabad publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, gujarathighcourt.nic.in. Check it for the current cycle.

Which bare acts are in the Gujarat Civil Judge syllabus?

40 acts are tagged for Gujarat 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.

Gujarat · Civil Judge (Gujarat State Judicial Service)

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

Gujarat Judicial Service (Civil Judge) Examination

3
Stages: 10
Past papers: 40
Acts in syllabus: 425
Mains questions: Yes
Negative marking: 212
Posts (2025)

The High Court of Gujarat recruits civil judges through a preliminary elimination test, a descriptive main examination of two papers (criminal and civil) and a viva-voce. Candidates who did not study Gujarati at SSC or HSC level must also pass a Gujarati language test. The preliminary test and the Gujarati test are qualifying only and do not count for final merit.

Conducted by: High Court of Gujarat, Sola, Ahmedabad
Official website: gujarathighcourt.nic.in
Language: Preliminary paper in English only; main examination question papers are in English and answers may be given in English or Gujarati.
Negative marking: 0.33 mark deducted for each wrong or multiple answer in the preliminary examination.
Final selection: Final merit is based on the main written examination and the viva-voce; preliminary examination and Gujarati test marks are not counted.
Last advertisement: 2025: 212 posts · Pay Rs 77,840-1,36,520; fee Rs 2000 (General) and Rs 1000 (SC/ST/SEBC/PwBD/EWS) plus bank charges. A later High Court notification dated April 2026 (Advertisement 2026.txt) notifies approximately 237 vacancies for Civil Judges and states that the recruitment process will be initiated shortly; it does not restate the scheme. (per Advertisement 2025.txt (RC/0719/2024-25); the next cycle may differ)

Official website and notifications

Exam pattern and stages

Preliminary examination (Elimination Test): Objective test of 100 marks, 2 hours, one mark per MCQ with negative marking, question paper in English only; marks are not counted in final merit.

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I: Part A (criminal and allied laws), Part B (civil and allied laws), Part C (general ability) qualifying: 50% (unreserved), 45% (SC, ST, SEBC, EWS, PwBD)		100	2 hours
Paper II: Test of Gujarati Language only for candidates who have not passed SSC/HSC with Gujarati; minimum 40%		50	1.5 hours

Main written examination: Descriptive, two papers of 100 marks each; minimum 40% in each paper and 50% overall (45% for reserved categories) to be called for the viva-voce.
Paper Questions Marks Duration
Paper I: Criminal 100 3 hours
Paper II: Civil 100 3 hours
Viva-voce: Oral interview of 50 marks; a minimum of 40% is needed to be included in the select list.
Paper Questions Marks Duration
Viva-voce 50

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I: Criminal		100	3 hours
Paper II: Civil		100	3 hours

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
Viva-voce		50

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Preliminary examination Paper I, Part A

Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Read the act
Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949 · Read the act
Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 · Read the act
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 · Read the act
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 · Read the act
Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 · Read the act
Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 · Read the act
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Read the act
Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 · Read the act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 · Read the act
Information Technology Act, 2000 · Read the act
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 · Read the act

Preliminary examination Paper I, Part B

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Read the act
Limitation Act, 1963 · Read the act
Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Read the act
Constitution of India · Read the act
Indian Partnership Act, 1932 · Read the act
Specific Relief Act, 1963 · Read the act
Gujarat Court Fees Act, 2004
Sale of Goods Act, 1930 · Read the act
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 · Read the act
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 · Read the act
Commercial Courts Act, 2015 · Read the act
Succession Laws, Personal Laws (Hindu, Muslim and Christian)
Legal Maxims

Preliminary examination Paper I, Part C

General Knowledge
English Language
Test of Reasoning
Numerical and Mental Ability
Basics of Computer Applications

Main examination Paper I: Criminal (100 marks)

Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Read the act
Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949 · Read the act
Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 · Read the act
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 · Read the act
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 · Read the act
Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 · Read the act
Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 · Read the act
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Read the act
Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 · Read the act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 · Read the act
Information Technology Act, 2000 · Read the act
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 · Read the act

Main examination Paper II: Civil (100 marks)

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Read the act
Limitation Act, 1963 · Read the act
Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Read the act
Constitution of India · Read the act
Indian Partnership Act, 1932 · Read the act
Specific Relief Act, 1963 · Read the act
Gujarat Court Fees Act, 2004
Sale of Goods Act, 1930 · Read the act
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 · Read the act
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 · Read the act
Commercial Courts Act, 2015 · Read the act
Succession Laws, Personal Laws (Hindu, Muslim and Christian)
Legal Maxims

Bare Acts for this exam

40 acts tagged for Gujarat Civil Judge. Each opens section by section, free to read.

Central acts

Gujarat acts

Gujarat Court-fees Act, 2004 (coming soon)
Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887 (coming soon)
Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949

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

Previous year papers

5 prelims and 5 mains papers, 2017 to 2025. All Gujarat Civil Judge papers by year

Mains questions

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

Eligibility

Degree in law from a recognised university; Gujarati language proficiency (SSC/HSC with Gujarati, or pass the Gujarati test); certificate of basic computer knowledge. Per the 2025 advertisement: not above 35 years for General category and not completed 38 years for SC, ST, SEBC, PwBD and EWS, on the last date for online applications; employees of courts and allied departments get up to 5 years relaxation, capped at 40 years. Must be practising as an advocate in civil or criminal courts on the last date of application, or working in the courts or allied departments. Law graduates from academic year 2009-10 onwards must have passed the All India Bar Examination to count as practising advocates.

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

Gujarat Civil Judge: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the Gujarat Civil Judge exam?: Gujarat Judicial Service (Civil Judge) Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination (Elimination Test): Objective test of 100 marks, 2 hours, one mark per MCQ with negative marking, question paper in English only; marks are not counted in final merit. Papers: Paper I: Part A (criminal and allied laws), Part B (civil and allied laws), Part C (general ability): 100 marks, 2 hours; Paper II: Test of Gujarati Language: 50 marks, 1.5 hours. Main written examination: Descriptive, two papers of 100 marks each; minimum 40% in each paper and 50% overall (45% for reserved categories) to be called for the viva-voce. Papers: Paper I: Criminal: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper II: Civil: 100 marks, 3 hours. Viva-voce: Oral interview of 50 marks; a minimum of 40% is needed to be included in the select list. Papers: Viva-voce: 50 marks.
Is there negative marking in Gujarat Civil Judge?: 0.33 mark deducted for each wrong or multiple answer in the preliminary examination.
In which language is the Gujarat Civil Judge exam held?: Preliminary paper in English only; main examination question papers are in English and answers may be given in English or Gujarati.
Who is eligible for Gujarat Civil Judge?: Degree in law from a recognised university; Gujarati language proficiency (SSC/HSC with Gujarati, or pass the Gujarati test); certificate of basic computer knowledge. Per the 2025 advertisement: not above 35 years for General category and not completed 38 years for SC, ST, SEBC, PwBD and EWS, on the last date for online applications; employees of courts and allied departments get up to 5 years relaxation, capped at 40 years. Must be practising as an advocate in civil or criminal courts on the last date of application, or working in the courts or allied departments. Law graduates from academic year 2009-10 onwards must have passed the All India Bar Examination to count as practising advocates. The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.
Where is the Gujarat Civil Judge notification published?: High Court of Gujarat, Sola, Ahmedabad publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, gujarathighcourt.nic.in. Check it for the current cycle.
Which bare acts are in the Gujarat Civil Judge syllabus?: 40 acts are tagged for Gujarat 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 GJS Syllabus 2025, Advertisement 2025, Advertisement 2026 and may change with each notification. Dates, vacancies and cut-offs for the coming cycle are not stated here; the official website has them.