Kerala · Munsiff-Magistrate, Kerala Judicial Service
Kerala Civil Judge 2026: Syllabus, Previous Year Papers & Bare Acts
Kerala Judicial Service Examination (Munsiff-Magistrate)
- 3
- Stages
- 14
- Past papers
- 45
- Acts in syllabus
- 425
- Mains questions
- Yes
- Negative marking
The High Court of Kerala selects Munsiff-Magistrates in the Kerala Judicial Service through two successive stages: a preliminary objective screening test, and a main examination made up of a written examination and a viva-voce. The preliminary test is used only for shortlisting. The papers test civil and criminal law, state laws, personal laws and English.
- Conducted by
- High Court of Kerala
- Official website
- hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in
- Negative marking
- One mark deducted for each incorrect answer in the preliminary examination (each question carries four marks).
- Final selection
- Preliminary examination is for shortlisting only and its marks do not count for merit. Candidates are ranked on total of main written marks plus viva-voce marks, after meeting the cut-offs (40% in each written paper and 45% overall for General candidates; 30% in viva-voce for General, 25% for SC/ST).
Exam pattern and stages
- Preliminary examination: One objective multiple-choice paper of 400 marks and two hours used only for shortlisting; marks are not counted in the final order of merit.
Paper Questions Marks Duration Preliminary objective screening test 4 marks per question, 1 mark deducted per incorrect answer; qualifying cut-off 40% (General), 35% (SC/ST) 100 400 2 hours - Main examination: written: Five written papers totalling 900 marks, three hours each; Paper I carries 100 marks and each of Papers II to V carries 200 marks.
Paper Questions Marks Duration Paper I: English cut-off 40% in each paper (SC 35%, ST 40% overall as printed), overall minimum 45% of total written marks for General candidates 100 3 hours Paper II: Civil law and procedure 200 3 hours Paper III: Property, local and personal laws 200 3 hours Paper IV: Criminal procedure and evidence 200 3 hours Paper V: Substantive criminal and special laws 200 3 hours - Main examination: viva-voce: 100 marks; assesses general knowledge, grasp of general principles of law, analytical ability and suitability for appointment as Munsiff-Magistrate; cut-off 30% (General) and 25% (SC/ST); marks are added to the main written marks.
Syllabus
Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.
Preliminary examination Part A (civil)
- Code of Civil Procedure · Read the act
- Negotiable Instruments Act
- Transfer of Property Act
- Contract Act
- Specific Relief Act · Read the act
- Kerala Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act
Preliminary examination Part B (criminal)
- Code of Criminal Procedure · Read the act
- Indian Penal Code
- Indian Evidence Act
Preliminary examination Part C
- General Knowledge
- Test of Reasoning and mental ability
Main examination: Paper I (English, 100 marks)
- English Grammar
- General essays (two)
- Translation of Malayalam depositions / documents into English
- Precis writing (English)
Main examination: Paper II (200 marks)
- Code of Civil Procedure · Read the act
- Civil Rules of Practice
- Limitation Act · Read the act
- Contract Act
- Partnership Act
- Specific Relief Act · Read the act
- Kerala Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act
- Stamp Act (State and Central)
- Kerala Civil Courts Act
- Law relating to ADR
- Kerala Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act
Main examination: Paper III (200 marks)
- Transfer of Property Act
- Panchayat Raj Act
- Municipalities Act
- Family Courts Act · Read the act
- Revenue Recovery Act
- Negotiable Instruments Act (except Chapter XVII)
- Easements Act
- Registration Act · Read the act
- Personal Laws: Hindu, Muslim and Christian
Main examination: Paper IV (200 marks)
- Part A: Code of Criminal Procedure · Read the act
- Part A: Criminal Rules of Practice
- Part A: Information Technology Act · Read the act
- Part A: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act · Read the act
- Part B: Indian Evidence Act
- Part B: General Principles of Criminal Jurisprudence
Main examination: Paper V (200 marks)
- Indian Penal Code
- Kerala Police Act
- Abkari Act
- Probation of Offenders Act · Read the act
- Prevention of Food Adulteration Act
- Forest Act
- N.D.P.S. Act
- Negotiable Instruments Act, Chapter XVII
Bare Acts for this exam
45 acts tagged for Kerala Civil Judge. Each opens section by section, free to read.
Central acts
- 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
- Constitution of India
- Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939
- Divorce Act, 1869
- Family Courts Act, 1984
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956
- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956
- Hindu Succession Act, 1956
- Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Indian Easements Act, 1882
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Indian Forest Act, 1927
- Indian Partnership Act, 1932
- Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Indian Stamp Act, 1899
- Indian Succession Act, 1925
- Information Technology Act, 2000
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
- Limitation Act, 1963
- Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937
- Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986
- Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
- Probation of Offenders Act, 1958
- Registration Act, 1908
- Specific Relief Act, 1963
- Transfer of Property Act, 1882
Kerala acts
- Buildings (Lease and Rent Control)Act (Kerala) (coming soon)
- Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965
- Kerala Civil Courts Act, 1957 (coming soon)
- Kerala Civil Courts Act, 1957 (President's Act No.1 of 1957) (coming soon)
- Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959 (No.10 of 1960) (coming soon)
- Kerala Forest Act, 1961 (coming soon)
- Kerala Panchayat Raj Act (coming soon)
- Kerala Police Act, 2011 (coming soon)
- Kerala Stamp Act, 1959 (No.17 of 1959) (coming soon)
Old law → new law tables: IPC → BNS · CrPC → BNSS · Evidence Act → BSA
Previous year papers
10 prelims and 4 mains papers, 2007 to 2023. All Kerala Civil Judge papers by year
2023
- Kerala Civil Judge Mains 2023 28 pages · descriptive
2022
- Kerala Civil Judge Mains 2022 32 pages · descriptive
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2022 100 questions · attempt online
2020
- Kerala Civil Judge Mains 2020 26 pages · descriptive
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2020 100 questions · attempt online
2019
- Kerala Civil Judge Mains 2019 27 pages · descriptive
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2019 101 questions · attempt online
2017
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2017 100 questions · attempt online
2016
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2016 100 questions · attempt online
2013
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2013 100 questions · attempt online
2012
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2012 100 questions · attempt online
2011
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2011 100 questions · attempt online
2009
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2009 100 questions · attempt online
2007
- Kerala Civil Judge Prelims 2007 100 questions · attempt online
Mains questions
425 mains questions with model answers for Kerala and all-India judiciary mains. Open the mains question bank
Eligibility
A degree in law from a recognised university; the notification has the full conditions.
Relaxations, attempts and category rules are in each cycle's notification.
Kerala Civil Judge: frequently asked questions
- What is the pattern of the Kerala Civil Judge exam?
- Kerala Judicial Service Examination (Munsiff-Magistrate) has 3 stages. Preliminary examination: One objective multiple-choice paper of 400 marks and two hours used only for shortlisting; marks are not counted in the final order of merit. Papers: Preliminary objective screening test: 100 questions, 400 marks, 2 hours. Main examination: written: Five written papers totalling 900 marks, three hours each; Paper I carries 100 marks and each of Papers II to V carries 200 marks. Papers: Paper I: English: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper II: Civil law and procedure: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper III: Property, local and personal laws: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper IV: Criminal procedure and evidence: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper V: Substantive criminal and special laws: 200 marks, 3 hours. Main examination: viva-voce: 100 marks; assesses general knowledge, grasp of general principles of law, analytical ability and suitability for appointment as Munsiff-Magistrate; cut-off 30% (General) and 25% (SC/ST); marks are added to the main written marks.
- Is there negative marking in Kerala Civil Judge?
- One mark deducted for each incorrect answer in the preliminary examination (each question carries four marks).
- Who is eligible for Kerala Civil Judge?
- A degree in law from a recognised university; the notification has the full conditions. The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.
- Where is the Kerala Civil Judge notification published?
- High Court of Kerala publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in. Check it for the current cycle.
- Which bare acts are in the Kerala Civil Judge syllabus?
- 45 acts are tagged for Kerala 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, Constitution of India, Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 and more. Each can be read section by section.
- Which Kerala Civil Judge previous year papers are available?
- 14 papers from 2007 to 2023: 10 prelims papers to attempt online with answers and 4 mains papers.
Facts on this page are read from Kerala (CJ) Syllabus and may change with each notification. Dates, vacancies and cut-offs for the coming cycle are not stated here; the official website has them.