DELHI JUDICIAL SERVICE EXAMINATION

Judicial Service Examination (District Judiciary) in India is conducted at State-level and Delhi  Judiciary is considered amongst the most prestigious Judicial examinations. As befittingly  quoted by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, ''Judiciary is the guardian of civilized life'', and upholding the  essence of the same a Judicial officer performs certain duties during his/her tenure. It would not  be inaccurate to say that an individual who aspires to be a Judge, must possess a strong-will,  before as well as after the examination.  

For approaching any examination, right planning and strategy is essential. Through this weblog,  besides the syllabus and the marking scheme of the Delhi Judiciary Prelims and Mains, we will  try to understand the plan of action and the right approach while recognizing our strengths and  weaknesses. 

PRELIMS- SYLLABUS AND MARKING SCHEME 

1) The Preliminary Examination will be a screening test of qualifying nature and will consist of  one paper of multiple choice questions carrying maximum of 200 marks. In the preliminary  examination questions will be included on- 

▪ General legal knowledge and aptitude of the candidate,  

▪ English,  

▪ The Constitution of India;  

▪ The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908;  

▪ The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023);  ▪ The Indian Penal Code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023);  

▪ The Indian Contract Act, 1872;  

▪ The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008;  

▪ The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996;  

▪ The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023);  ▪ The Specific Relief Act, 1963; 

▪ The Limitation Act, 1963;  

▪ The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and  

▪ The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 

2) The marks obtained in the preliminary examination by the candidates who are declared  qualified for admission to the Mains Examination (Written) will not be counted for  determining their final order of merit. The duration of the Examination shall be (2½) two  and a half hours.  

PRELIMS- COURSE OF ACTION TO GET UNDERWAY WITH PREPARATION Role of Mentorship 

▪ Coaching and mentoring plays a crucial role throughout the preparation and stages of  examination. Acknowledging the aspirants' dilemma as to join a coaching or not, it is  important to bring up that having a good mentor will foster skill development and  improvement in one's performance.  

▪ As far as question of right time to join a coaching is concerned, it is an individual's  choice, however, the last year or semester of the Law School is preferable.  

▪ Seeking mentorship also keeps your preparation under check as mentors can provide  feedback and correct mistakes in aspirants' preparation. They can review the aspirant's  work, provide feedback, and suggest areas of improvement. Mentors can provide  aspirants with motivation and inspiration to keep going, especially during difficult times. 

▪ The point of paramount at the inception of one's preparation is the role of core  understanding of concepts. The understanding of theoretical law can be extensive and  requires constant revision, thereby, making it a centric task of all, i.e., one's result vitally  depends upon the crystallized understanding of the legal concepts and aptitude. 

▪ Besides, one must go through previous years' question papers to analyze the demand of  the examiner. PYQs also, gives a sense of conviction about the exam. A well structured  time table during exam preparation with clear goals and consistent study habit allows  aspirants to attain an effective results.

Here is the detailed analysis of the 2025 Delhi Judiciary prelims exam pattern 

Now, for different aspirants, there can be different strategies. Example given, there is one  aspirant who has photographic memory might not need constant revision but an aspirant who  although remembers concepts, tends to forget the provisions, would need several rounds of  revision. Thus, one must construct a strategy according to his/her strength and weakness. A  strategy can be altered every month, week or day, considering the completion of tasks or  requirements.  

For specifically Delhi Judiciary Prelims, one can adhere to the following points in order to  strategize their preparation 

i. Thorough analysis of the syllabus to identify the subjects, topics, and their weightage in  the exam. In order to familiarize with the pattern of the exam one need to understand the type of questions, marking scheme, and the overall structure of the exam (prelims, mains,  and interview). 

ii. A structured study plan is of foremost importance and for the execution of the same  one must create a timetable that allocates sufficient time for each subject, based on its  weightage and your learning pace. You can also break down the syllabus into smaller,  manageable chunks and set daily and weekly targets to cover specific portions. Schedule  regular revision sessions to reinforce your understanding of the concepts. 

iii. It is well quoted by Steve Nash that ''You can't skip the practice and rely solely on  talent. Practice is the bridge between your abilities and success.'' It gets important  considering today's level of competition that one must practice solving previous year  papers to understand the exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level. One should  simulate the exam environment by attempting mock tests regularly to assess his/her 

preparation level and identify areas for improvement. 

iv. Since legal knowledge is an essential part of Delhi Prelims, one must stay updated with  the latest legal developments and current affairs. Stay informed about important court  decisions, legislation, and other legal developments. 

v. Considering the Bare acts are the foundation of law and understanding them is crucial  for success in the judiciary exam, it must be candidate's prime focus. One must make it a  habit to read bare acts daily to improve the understanding of legal concepts. 

vi. Develop effective time management skills to allocate sufficient time to each subject  and complete the syllabus within the stipulated timeframe. Practice solving previous  year papers within the allocated time limits to simulate exam conditions accurately.  Speed check plays an important role for Delhi Prelims, as the questions usually are  lengthy and practical based. 

vii. Maintain a positive attitude and stay consistent with your preparation and have faith in  your abilities and work towards achieving your goal. One can also consult experienced  professionals or mentors for guidance and support. 

The Prelims examination is the first hurdle in the Judicial Services selection process as it  assesses a candidate's foundational legal knowledge and legal acumen. Keeping in view the  nature of Delhi Judicial Services, the preparation for prelims should focus on fundamental legal  principles and legal awareness. 

MAINS SYLLABUS AND STRATEGY  

The Judiciary Mains examination is crucial because it's a subjective assessment, requiring  candidates to demonstrate in-depth legal knowledge and strong writing skills to present their  arguments clearly and logically, ultimately determining their suitability for a Judicial role. 

In Delhi Judiciary the Mains Examination (Written) will include the following subjects (each  subject to carry the number of marks shown against it)- 

1. GENERAL LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND LANGUAGE  

This paper shall comprise of two Sections 

Section I: General Legal Knowledge:- This is to test the candidate’s knowledge of current legal  affairs etc. (100 Marks)  

Section II: Language (Essay, Translation and Precis Writing):- This is to test the candidate’s  knowledge and power of expression in English. Credit will be given both for substance and 

expression. Conversely deduction will be made for bad expression, faults of grammar and misuse  of words etc. There will be two passages for translations, one in English which will be required  to be translated into Hindi (in Devnagri Script) and the second passage in Hindi (in Devnagri  Script) shall be required to be translated into English. (150 Marks)  

2. Civil Law-I  

The Indian Contract Act, 1872; The Sale of Goods Act, 1930; The Transfer of Property Act,  1882; The Specific Relief Act, 1963; Hindu Law; Mohammaden Law; The Delhi Rent Control  Act, 1958; Law of Torts; The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994; The Delhi Municipal  Corporation Act, 1957 and The Commercial Courts Act, 2015. (200 Marks)

3. Civil Law-II 

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; The Indian Evidence Act, 1872; The Limitation Act, 1963;  The Registration Act, 1908; The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; The Trade Marks Act,  1999 and The Copyright Act, 1957. (200 Marks)  

4. Criminal Law  

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; The Indian Penal Code; The Indian Evidence Act, 1872;  The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; The Negotiable Instruments Act,  1881; The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)  Act, 2013 and The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. (200 Marks) 

The duration of Papers I, II, III and IV shall be 3 hours each. 

To ace the Mains examination, one should focus on thorough syllabus understanding, structured  note-making, consistent practice with previous years' papers, and sharpening the answer-writing  skills with a focus on clarity, legal terminology, and case law integration. 

The following points can be taken note of for a sound mains preparation 

i. Constructive note-making- Every aspirant must organize his/her notes in a logical  manner, using headings, sub-headings, and bullet points; synopsis note making can also  work effectively. One must include relevant case laws and examples to illustrate the 

concepts and also keep the notes updated with the latest developments in law and  jurisprudence. 

ii. Practice answer writing and improve writing skills- Analyze the questions and answer  patterns to understand the examiner's expectations. One should get feedback on his/her  answers to identify areas for improvement. Write clear, concise, and well-structured  answers. Refer to relevant case laws to support your arguments. 

iii. Enhance legal knowledge and current affairs- One should follow legal news and  developments in the field of law and expand his/her knowledge of legal concepts and  principles. 

iv. Time management- Since in Mains examination it is important to keep a good track of  speed and time, one should plan time effectively in order to complete all the papers  within the allotted time. Allocate time for each question and stick to the time limit. 

v. Revision and practice- One should review his/her notes regularly to reinforce the  understanding of the concepts and take mock tests to assess the preparation level and  identify areas for improvement. Staying positive and motivated throughout your  preparation is vital.  

The Mains examination goes beyond basic knowledge, testing a candidate's ability to apply legal  principles, analyze complex situations, and formulate well-reasoned arguments. It is to be noted  that the mains exam helps evaluate a candidate's legal acumen, analytical abilities, and writing  skills, which are crucial for a judicial officer's role. Since the score in the Mains exam is a  significant factor in determining eligibility for the interview round, and ultimately, for selection  as a judicial officer, the candidates need to prepare thoroughly for the mains exam, focusing on  in-depth knowledge of law, case laws, and legal principles, as well as practicing answer-writing  skills.

VIVA-VOCE 

The viva voce (interview) stage of the judiciary exam is crucial for assessing a candidate's  suitability for a judicial role, evaluating legal knowledge, personality, communication skills, and  ethical outlook, alongside the written exams. 

Viva-Voce, with respect to Delhi Judiciary examination, will carry 150 marks. Candidates of  general category must secure minimum 40% marks in each written paper and 50% marks in the  aggregate and candidates of reserved categories, i.e., Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and  eligible categories of Persons with Disabilities as specified for this Service must secure  minimum 35% marks in each written paper and 45% marks in the aggregate in Mains  Examination (Written) to be eligible for being called for Viva Voce. 

SIGNIFICANCE OF MOCK INTERVIEWS 

Mock interviews allow candidates to practice, build confidence and receive feedback to improve  their performance and communication skills. Mock interviews also replicate the real interview  environment which helps candidates to have a fair experience before the interview day. Making  it easier for a candidate, we have a detailed analysis as follows 

i. Role of personality- We have often heard that Viva voce is not a test of one's knowledge  but of one's personality. Personality is a prime factor for Judiciary interviews and to  excel, one should showcase a positive and adaptable personality, highlighting traits like  honesty and integrity. 

ii. Nature of questions asked- In Judiciary, when a candidate reaches an interview stage,  s/he may be asked questions related to Major laws, Minor laws, Local laws, General  Knowledge or domain based questions. The interview panel is mainly interested in  knowing whether a candidate is well versed with certain legal aspects and how well  she/he manages to appear composed. The candidates are often asked questions about their  practice/litigation, areas of interest in law, research areas, publications (if any), etc.,  thereby, making it difficult to think of a limit to the nature of questions. A candidate  ought to be thoroughly prepared.

iii. Legal knowledge- Since the trend is evolving, we see that the more questions been  asked from landmark as well as ongoing legal developments, so it becomes important for  a candidate to be updated and on point. Mock interviews can help candidates test their  knowledge of legal concepts, constitutional provisions, landmark judgments, and current  legal issues. They can also help candidates stay updated on recent developments and  amendments in the law. By practicing with mock interview questions, candidates can  ensure they are well-prepared for the interview's legal content. 

iv. Identifying areas for improvement- Mock interviews offer an opportunity to receive  constructive feedback from experienced individuals, such as legal experts or mentors.  This feedback helps candidates identify areas where they need to improve, such as their  legal knowledge, communication skills, or overall approach to the interview. By  addressing these areas, candidates can significantly enhance their chances of success in  the actual interview. 

v. Understanding the selection process- Mock interviews provide insights into the  selection committee's expectations and assessment criteria. They help candidates  understand what the panel is looking for in a potential judge, such as demeanor, legal  acumen, and ethical values. This knowledge allows candidates to tailor their preparation  and approach to the interview accordingly. 

To sum up, as we all know the Judiciary exam is known for its high level of competition, with  many candidates vying for a limited number of positions, is considered to be one of the most  difficult exams of the country. That being said, it often gets challenging for candidates to keep up  with the preparations and not to lose the enthusiasm, for which there is a sweet and short quote  which says 'Believe in yourself'. Though the quote is short, it gives immense strength to endure  the challenges throughout the preparation.