Delhi Judicial Services exam pattern & paper structure
The Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) examination has three successive stages: the Preliminary Examination, the Mains Examination, and the Viva-Voce Interview.
Stage 1: Preliminary Exam (Objective Type)
- The Prelims exam will be OMR Based and will consist of multiple-choice questions.
- 1 mark will be awarded for every correct answer and a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong/multiple answers.
- The language of the question paper of the Prelims Exam will be in English only.
- The qualifying marks is 60% for General category and 55% for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC). Actual cut-off varies yearly and depends on the paper difficulty and application score.
| Paper | Subjects Covered | Maximum Marks | Allotted Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | • Constitution of India • Civil Laws • Criminal Laws • Commercial & Business Acts • Special Welfare Acts • General Knowledge • English Language | 200 | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Subject wise question count distribution:
| Subject | Questions Count |
|---|---|
| Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) | 30 |
| Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) | 30 |
| Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) | 25 |
| Indian Evidence Act / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) | 18 |
| Arbitration and Conciliation Act | 16 |
| Constitution of India | 12 |
| Limitation Act | 10 |
| Commercial Courts Act | 10 |
| Indian Contracts Act | 8 |
| Specific Relief Act | 5 |
| Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) | 5 |
| Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act | 3 |
| Legal Maxims | 2 |
| Delhi Rent Control Act | 1 |
| English Language | 15 |
| Legal General Knowledge | 10 |
Stage 2: Main Examination
Candidates shortlisted from the Prelims advance to the Main Examination. Performance in this written phase serves as the fundamental criteria for preparing the final selection merit list.
- Exam Format: Descriptive written papers.
- Qualifying Benchmarks:
| Category | Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 40% marks in each individual paper & 50% marks in the aggregate across all four papers (i.e., at least 425 out of 850) |
| Reserved (SC/ST/PwD) | 35% marks in each individual paper & 45% marks in the aggregate across all four papers (i.e., at least 382.5 out of 850) |
- Language: Candidates can choose to write answers in English only
Exam pattern and marks distribution:
| Paper | Subjects covered | Core Components | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Legal Knowledge & Language | • Section I (100 Marks): Legal GK, landmark judgments, current affairs. • Section II (150 Marks): Essay writing, précis writing, Hindi-English translations. | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper 2 | Civil Law – I | • Personal Laws (Hindu & Muslim Law) • Law of Torts • Indian Contract Act • Sale of Goods Act • Specific Relief Act • Transfer of Property Act • Delhi Rent Control Act • Commercial Courts Act | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper 3 | Civil Law - II | • Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) • Indian Evidence Act, Limitation Act, Registration Act • Intellectual Property Rights (Copyright Act & Trade Marks Act | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper 4 | Criminal Law | • Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) • Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) • Indian Evidence Act / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) • POSCO Act • Negotiable Instruments Act | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Total | 850 | 12 Hours |
Stage 3: Viva-Voce (Personal Interview)
- Marks: 150 marks.
- Qualifying Marks: Minimum 50% marks required for general category. 45% for reserved categories (SC/ST/PwD)
- Focus: Tests Legal Insights & Temperament, Current Legal Awareness and Personality Assessment