Karnataka · Civil Judge (direct recruitment)

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

Karnataka Judicial Service Examination (Civil Judge) - Direct Recruitment

4
Stages
11
Past papers
14
Acts in syllabus
425
Mains questions
90
Posts (2026)

The High Court of Karnataka recruits Civil Judges directly through a competitive examination of three stages: an objective preliminary examination, a main written examination and a viva-voce, followed by a computer test used only for suitability. The main examination has a Kannada-English translation paper and three law papers, including civil and criminal judgment writing.

Conducted by
High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru
Official website
karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in
Language
Candidates may write the main examination either in English or in Kannada.
Final selection
Appointment is on aggregate marks in the written examination and viva-voce; the computer test is not aggregated. Minimum marks: preliminary 60 (50 for SC/ST/benchmark disability), each main paper 50 (40 for those categories), viva-voce 25% (20%). SC/ST/PwBD candidates seeking selection under General Category need 60 in preliminary, 50 in each main paper and 25 in viva-voce.
Last advertisement
2026: 90 posts · 90 posts (15 fresh and 75 backlog); pay scale Rs. 77,840-1,36,520. Preliminary fee Rs. 1,000 (General Merit and OBC Cat II(A)/II(B)/III(A)/III(B)), Rs. 500 (SC/ST/Category-I/PwBD); main examination fee Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 750 respectively. The notification is subject to the outcome of pending writ petitions in the High Court. (per Adtt 2026 (90 Posts).pdf (Notification No. HCRB/CJR-9/2026); the next cycle may differ)

Official website and notifications

Exam pattern and stages

  1. Preliminary examination: One objective-type paper of 100 marks used to screen candidates; minimum pass marks 60 (50 for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disability), and candidates equal to ten times the vacancies are called for the main examination.
    PaperQuestionsMarksDuration
    Preliminary paper (Parts A, B, C) objective type; questions and duration not stated100
  2. Main written examination: Four papers of 100 marks each (400 marks); minimum pass marks in each paper are 50 (40 for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disability), and candidates equal to three times the vacancies are called for viva-voce.
    PaperQuestionsMarksDuration
    Translation Paper English to Kannada and Kannada to English; passages from depositions, judgments and documents100
    Law Paper I100
    Law Paper II: Framing of issues and writing of judgments in civil cases100
    Law Paper III: Framing of charges and writing of judgments in criminal cases100
  3. Viva-voce: 100 marks; tests general knowledge, grasp of principles of law and suitability for appointment as Civil Judge; minimum 25% (20% for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disability).
  4. Computer test: 25 marks; used only to assess suitability and computer knowledge and not added to the written and viva-voce marks.

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Preliminary examination Part A

Preliminary examination Part B

  • Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
  • Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
  • Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Read the act

Preliminary examination Part C

  • General knowledge
  • Test of reasoning and mental ability

Main examination: Translation Paper (100 marks)

  • Translation of passages from English into Kannada and Kannada into English
  • Passages from depositions, judgments and documents

Main examination: Law Paper I (100 marks)

  • Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · 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
  • Principles of Pleading
  • Constitution of India · Read the act

Main examination: Law Paper II (100 marks)

  • Framing of issues and writing of judgments in civil cases

Main examination: Law Paper III (100 marks)

  • Framing of charges and writing of judgments in criminal cases

Bare Acts for this exam

14 acts tagged for Karnataka Civil Judge. Each opens section by section, free to read.

Central acts

Karnataka acts

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

Previous year papers

11 prelims papers, 2015 to 2025. All Karnataka Civil Judge papers by year

2025

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Mains questions

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

Eligibility

Degree in law from a university established by law in India. Per the 2026 notification: must not have completed 45 years (SC, ST, OBC Category-I), 43 years (OBC Category II(A), II(B), III(A), III(B)) or 40 years (others); further 3 years' relaxation for ex-servicemen. No minimum age is stated in the notification text read. As on the last date for applications, must be practising as an advocate in the Supreme Court, High Courts or district and trial courts and have so practised continuously for not less than three years, or have worked full time as Public Prosecutor / Assistant Public Prosecutor / Government Counsel of the Central or a State Government for not less than three years (per the 2026 notification) Selected candidates serve two years' probation and undergo at least one year's training, and must pass the Kannada Language Examination of the Karnataka Public Service Commission

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

Karnataka Civil Judge: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the Karnataka Civil Judge exam?
Karnataka Judicial Service Examination (Civil Judge) - Direct Recruitment has 4 stages. Preliminary examination: One objective-type paper of 100 marks used to screen candidates; minimum pass marks 60 (50 for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disability), and candidates equal to ten times the vacancies are called for the main examination. Papers: Preliminary paper (Parts A, B, C): 100 marks. Main written examination: Four papers of 100 marks each (400 marks); minimum pass marks in each paper are 50 (40 for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disability), and candidates equal to three times the vacancies are called for viva-voce. Papers: Translation Paper: 100 marks; Law Paper I: 100 marks; Law Paper II: Framing of issues and writing of judgments in civil cases: 100 marks; Law Paper III: Framing of charges and writing of judgments in criminal cases: 100 marks. Viva-voce: 100 marks; tests general knowledge, grasp of principles of law and suitability for appointment as Civil Judge; minimum 25% (20% for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disability). Computer test: 25 marks; used only to assess suitability and computer knowledge and not added to the written and viva-voce marks.
In which language is the Karnataka Civil Judge exam held?
Candidates may write the main examination either in English or in Kannada.
Who is eligible for Karnataka Civil Judge?
Degree in law from a university established by law in India. Per the 2026 notification: must not have completed 45 years (SC, ST, OBC Category-I), 43 years (OBC Category II(A), II(B), III(A), III(B)) or 40 years (others); further 3 years' relaxation for ex-servicemen. No minimum age is stated in the notification text read. As on the last date for applications, must be practising as an advocate in the Supreme Court, High Courts or district and trial courts and have so practised continuously for not less than three years, or have worked full time as Public Prosecutor / Assistant Public Prosecutor / Government Counsel of the Central or a State Government for not less than three years (per the 2026 notification) Selected candidates serve two years' probation and undergo at least one year's training, and must pass the Kannada Language Examination of the Karnataka Public Service Commission The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.
Where is the Karnataka Civil Judge notification published?
High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in. Check it for the current cycle.
Which bare acts are in the Karnataka Civil Judge syllabus?
14 acts are tagged for Karnataka Civil Judge here, including the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Constitution of India, Indian Contract Act, 1872, Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and more. Each can be read section by section.
Which Karnataka Civil Judge previous year papers are available?
11 papers from 2015 to 2025: 11 prelims papers to attempt online with answers.

Facts on this page are read from Karanataka (CJ) Syllabus, Adtt 2026 (90 Posts) and may change with each notification. Dates, vacancies and cut-offs for the coming cycle are not stated here; the official website has them.