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

Exam pattern and stages

1. Preliminary examination: Objective (OMR) screening test of 100 multiple-choice questions, 100 marks, 3 hours; marks are not counted for final merit; candidates are shortlisted for the main examination at a ratio not exceeding 10 times the vacancies.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   Preliminary paper (Parts A, B and C) Each question carries 1 mark; 0.10 mark deducted per incorrect answer. Minimum pass marks: 30 (SCs, SC(A)s, STs), 35 (BC(OBCM)s, BC(M)s, MBCs/DCs), 40 (others). Paper set in English and Tamil.	100	100	3 hours

2. Main examination: Descriptive written examination of four papers of 100 marks each (3 hours each); a candidate must appear in all four papers for evaluation.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   Translation Paper English to Tamil and Tamil to English; minimum pass 30% (SCs, SC(A)s, STs), 35% (BC(OBCM)s, BC(M)s, MBCs/DCs), 40% (others) in each paper		100	3 hours
   Law Paper I Same minimum pass marks per paper		100	3 hours
   Law Paper II: Framing of Issues and Writing of Judgments in Civil Cases Same minimum pass marks per paper		100	3 hours
   Law Paper III: Framing of Charges and Writing of Judgments in Criminal Cases Same minimum pass marks per paper		100	3 hours

3. Viva-voce test: Oral interview of 60 marks; minimum 18 marks to pass for all categories; marks are added to the main examination total.

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Preliminary examination: Part A

• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Read the act
• The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Read the act
• The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 · Read the act
• The Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Read the act
• The Specific Relief Act, 1963 · Read the act
• The Constitution of India · Read the act
• The Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960
• Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017 (Tamil Nadu Act 42 of 2017)

Preliminary examination: Part B

• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Read the act
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Read the act
• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Read the act
• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Acts
• Criminal Minor Acts (including the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012; minor Acts are illustrative, not exhaustive)

Preliminary examination: Part C

• General Knowledge (degree standard)
• Test of Reasoning and Mental Ability (S.S.L.C. standard)

Main examination: Translation Paper

• Translation of passages from English to Tamil and from Tamil to English
• Passages drawn from pleadings, depositions, orders, judgments and documents

Main examination: Law Paper I

• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Read the act
• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Read the act
• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Read the act
• Principles of Pleading
• The Constitution of India (as amended) · Read the act

Main examination: Law Paper II

• Framing of issues and writing of judgments in civil cases

Main examination: Law Paper III

• Framing of charges and writing of judgments in criminal cases

Bare Acts for this exam

16 acts tagged for Tamil Nadu Civil Judge. Each opens section by section, free to read.

Central acts

• 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
• Indian Penal Code, 1860
• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Limitation Act, 1963
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
• Specific Relief Act, 1963
• Transfer of Property Act, 1882

Tamil Nadu acts

• Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017 (coming soon)

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

Previous year papers

1 prelims and 2 mains papers, 2018 to 2023. All Tamil Nadu Civil Judge papers by year

2023

• Tamil Nadu Civil Judge Mains 2023 21 pages · descriptive

2020

• Tamil Nadu Civil Judge Mains 2020 26 pages · descriptive

2018

• Tamil Nadu Civil Judge Prelims 2018 100 questions · attempt online

Mains questions

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

Eligibility

Degree in law from a recognised university and enrolment as an advocate (practising advocates and Assistant Public Prosecutors need at least 3 years of practice/experience on the date of notification; fresh law graduates must be eligible for enrolment, have at least 50% marks in the law degree (45% for reserved categories) and have obtained the degree within three years before the notification). Candidates who passed the law degree from academic year 2009-2010 onwards must also have passed the All India Bar Examination to count as practising advocates (not applicable to fresh law graduates). Per the 2023 advertisement, as on 1 July 2023: practising advocates/pleaders and Assistant Public Prosecutors 25 to 42 years for SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BCs, BCMs and destitute widows of all castes, 25 to 37 years for others; fresh law graduates 22 to 29 years for all categories. General age concessions do not apply except up to 10 years for persons with benchmark disability. Citizen of India Adequate knowledge to read, write and speak English and Tamil; candidates without adequate Tamil may apply but must pass the Second Class Language Test in Tamil within probation Certificate of character and conduct from three responsible persons, one being a Senior Advocate or an advocate of at least ten years' standing

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

Tamil Nadu Civil Judge: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the Tamil Nadu Civil Judge exam?

Tamil Nadu State Judicial Service (Civil Judge) Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination: Objective (OMR) screening test of 100 multiple-choice questions, 100 marks, 3 hours; marks are not counted for final merit; candidates are shortlisted for the main examination at a ratio not exceeding 10 times the vacancies. Papers: Preliminary paper (Parts A, B and C): 100 questions, 100 marks, 3 hours. Main examination: Descriptive written examination of four papers of 100 marks each (3 hours each); a candidate must appear in all four papers for evaluation. Papers: Translation Paper: 100 marks, 3 hours; Law Paper I: 100 marks, 3 hours; Law Paper II: Framing of Issues and Writing of Judgments in Civil Cases: 100 marks, 3 hours; Law Paper III: Framing of Charges and Writing of Judgments in Criminal Cases: 100 marks, 3 hours. Viva-voce test: Oral interview of 60 marks; minimum 18 marks to pass for all categories; marks are added to the main examination total.

Is there negative marking in Tamil Nadu Civil Judge?

0.10 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer in the preliminary examination (per the 2023 advertisement).

In which language is the Tamil Nadu Civil Judge exam held?

Preliminary paper set in English and Tamil; Law Papers I to III set in English and Tamil and answered in either English or Tamil, not partly in each.

Who is eligible for Tamil Nadu Civil Judge?

Degree in law from a recognised university and enrolment as an advocate (practising advocates and Assistant Public Prosecutors need at least 3 years of practice/experience on the date of notification; fresh law graduates must be eligible for enrolment, have at least 50% marks in the law degree (45% for reserved categories) and have obtained the degree within three years before the notification). Candidates who passed the law degree from academic year 2009-2010 onwards must also have passed the All India Bar Examination to count as practising advocates (not applicable to fresh law graduates). Per the 2023 advertisement, as on 1 July 2023: practising advocates/pleaders and Assistant Public Prosecutors 25 to 42 years for SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BCs, BCMs and destitute widows of all castes, 25 to 37 years for others; fresh law graduates 22 to 29 years for all categories. General age concessions do not apply except up to 10 years for persons with benchmark disability. Citizen of India Adequate knowledge to read, write and speak English and Tamil; candidates without adequate Tamil may apply but must pass the Second Class Language Test in Tamil within probation Certificate of character and conduct from three responsible persons, one being a Senior Advocate or an advocate of at least ten years' standing The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.

Where is the Tamil Nadu Civil Judge notification published?

Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, tnpsc.gov.in. Check it for the current cycle.

Which bare acts are in the Tamil Nadu Civil Judge syllabus?

16 acts are tagged for Tamil Nadu 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.