Uttar Pradesh · Higher Judicial Service (District Judge, Entry Level), direct recruitment from the Bar

UP Higher Judiciary 2026: Syllabus, Previous Year Papers & Bare Acts

Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service Examination

3
Stages
3
Past papers
59
Acts in syllabus
425
Mains questions
No
Negative marking

The Allahabad High Court holds the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service Examination under the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1975. The pattern has a 100-question objective preliminary examination, a main written examination of four papers (mainly subjective), and a 100-mark interview. Law papers test drafting, conveyancing, pleading and judgment-writing skills along with the listed Central and Uttar Pradesh laws.

Conducted by
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
Official website
allahabadhighcourt.in
Language
Candidates may answer the main written examination in Hindi or English, except where instructed otherwise.
Negative marking
No negative marking in the preliminary examination (2023 pattern).
Final selection
Final category-wise merit list is made on the aggregate of main written examination marks and interview marks; the preliminary examination is a screening stage only.

Official website and notifications

Exam pattern and stages

  1. Preliminary examination: Objective MCQ test of 2 hours with 100 questions of 1 mark each and no negative marking; qualifying marks 45%; twenty times the number of vacancies category-wise are called to the mains.
    PaperQuestionsMarksDuration
    Preliminary paper No negative marking; qualifying marks 45%1001002 hours
  2. Main written examination: Four compulsory papers totalling 700 marks, primarily subjective; candidates need 40% in each paper and 45% in aggregate to qualify for the interview.
    PaperQuestionsMarksDuration
    Paper 1: General Awareness and Legal Language Section A General Awareness 50 marks; Section B Legal Language 50 marks1003 hours
    Paper 2: Law I Focused on practical legal acumen2003 hours
    Paper 3: Law II Focused on practical legal acumen2003 hours
    Paper 4: Law III2003 hours
  3. Interview: Interview of 100 marks assessing knowledge of substantive and procedural law, practical understanding, personality, professional ability and communication skills; 45% needed to qualify; candidates called are three times the vacancies category-wise.

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Main Paper 1: General Awareness (50 marks)

  • History of India and Indian Culture
  • Geography of India
  • Indian Polity
  • Current National Issues and Topics of Social Relevance
  • India and the World
  • Indian Economy
  • Development in the field of Science and Technology, Communication and Space

Main Paper 1: Legal Language (50 marks)

  • Critical analysis of a given judgment
  • Expression in legal language (Hindi and English)

Main Paper 2: Law I (200 marks)

Main Paper 3: Law II (200 marks)

  • 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
  • Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Read the act
  • Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 · Read the act
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 · 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
  • The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 · Read the act
  • The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 · Read the act
  • Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986 · Read the act
  • The Arms Act, 1959 · Read the act
  • Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 · Read the act
  • The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 · Read the act
  • Uttar Pradesh Dacoity Affected Areas Act, 1983 · Read the act
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 · Read the act
  • The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 as applicable to the aforesaid laws · Read the act

Main Paper 4: Law III (200 marks)

  • The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 · Read the act
  • The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 · Read the act
  • The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 · Read the act
  • The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 · Read the act
  • Mohammedan Law
  • The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 · Read the act
  • Indian Succession Act, 1925 · Read the act
  • Special Marriage Act, 1954 · Read the act
  • Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 · Read the act
  • Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 · Read the act
  • Guardian and Wards Act, 1890
  • Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 · Read the act
  • The Family Courts Act, 1984 · Read the act
  • Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 and Rules of 2016
  • The Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021 · Read the act
  • Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973
  • The Uttar Pradesh Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953
  • The Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916
  • The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 · Read the act
  • The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 · Read the act
  • Essential Commodities Act, 1955 · Read the act
  • The Land Acquisition Act, 1894
  • Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 · Read the act
  • Electricity Act, 2003 · Read the act
  • The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 as applicable to the aforesaid laws · Read the act

Bare Acts for this exam

59 acts tagged for UP Higher Judiciary. Each opens section by section, free to read.

Central acts

Uttar Pradesh acts

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

Previous year papers

3 prelims papers, 2018 to 2025. All UP Higher Judiciary papers by year

2025

2020

2018

Mains questions

425 mains questions with model answers for Uttar Pradesh 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.

UP Higher Judiciary: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the UP Higher Judiciary exam?
Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination: Objective MCQ test of 2 hours with 100 questions of 1 mark each and no negative marking; qualifying marks 45%; twenty times the number of vacancies category-wise are called to the mains. Papers: Preliminary paper: 100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours. Main written examination: Four compulsory papers totalling 700 marks, primarily subjective; candidates need 40% in each paper and 45% in aggregate to qualify for the interview. Papers: Paper 1: General Awareness and Legal Language: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper 2: Law I: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper 3: Law II: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper 4: Law III: 200 marks, 3 hours. Interview: Interview of 100 marks assessing knowledge of substantive and procedural law, practical understanding, personality, professional ability and communication skills; 45% needed to qualify; candidates called are three times the vacancies category-wise.
Is there negative marking in UP Higher Judiciary?
No negative marking in the preliminary examination (2023 pattern).
In which language is the UP Higher Judiciary exam held?
Candidates may answer the main written examination in Hindi or English, except where instructed otherwise.
Who is eligible for UP Higher Judiciary?
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 UP Higher Judiciary notification published?
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, allahabadhighcourt.in. Check it for the current cycle.
Which bare acts are in the UP Higher Judiciary syllabus?
59 acts are tagged for UP Higher Judiciary here, including the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Arms Act, 1959, 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 and more. Each can be read section by section.

Facts on this page are read from UP ADJ 2023.pdf (Pattern for UP Higher Judicial Service Examination, 2023) and may change with each notification. Dates, vacancies and cut-offs for the coming cycle are not stated here; the official website has them.