As per the Bihar Judicial Service Exam pattern for prelims, there are 2 offline objective papers. Paper I carries 100 marks and covers General Studies and General Knowledge. Paper II carries 150 marks and covers Law subjects. The Prelims is conducted for a total of 250 marks.
The Mains is an offline descriptive examination. Bihar Judiciary exam pattern for mains includes 5 compulsory and 3 optional papers. The written examination carries a total of 1050 marks. The compulsory papers total 600 marks. The selected optional papers contribute 450 marks. General Hindi and General English are qualifying papers. Candidates must score 30 marks in each. These marks are not added to the final merit list.
The final stage is a 100-mark Viva-Voce. Candidates must secure 35% marks to qualify. The interview shortlist is prepared in a 1:3 ratio based on Mains performance.
Bihar Judicial Services Exam Pattern 2026: Overview
The table below presents the Bihar judiciary exam pattern, including the Prelims, Mains, and Interview:
| Step | Selection Stage | What It Includes | Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Preliminary Examination | Objective test | 250 | 3.5 hours (Total) |
| 2 | Mains Examination | Descriptive papers | 1050 | 3 hours for each paper |
| 3 | Interview | Personality assessment | 100 | As scheduled |
Explore top Bihar Judiciary Preparation books here.
Bihar Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
The Bihar Judiciary Prelims exam pattern consists of 2 objective papers conducted in offline mode. Paper I covers General Studies and General Knowledge for 100 marks, while Paper II covers Law subjects for 150 marks.
| Component | Paper I | Paper II |
| Subject | General Studies (GK & Elementary Science) | Law Subjects |
| Question Type | Objective (MCQs) | Objective (MCQs) |
| Marks | 100 | 150 |
| Duration | 90 Minutes | 120 Minutes |
| Mode of Exam | Offline | Offline |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 | 1/3 |
Note: Each Bihar Judiciary Prelims question has 5 options (A–E). Choose Option E if not attempting a question. Leaving it blank deducts 1/3 mark.
Bihar Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The Bihar Judiciary Mains exam pattern includes descriptive papers conducted in offline mode. Candidates attempt a total of 8 papers. The written examination carries 1050 marks.
| Exam Feature | Details |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Paper Format | Written descriptive |
| Total Papers | 8 papers |
| Compulsory Papers | 5 papers |
| Optional Papers | Choose 3 out of 5 papers |
| Maximum Marks | 1050 marks |
Also read about the important Bihar Judiciary Subjects.
Compulsory Subjects
The Bihar Judiciary compulsory subjects exam pattern includes 5 descriptive papers carrying 600 marks. Each paper lasts 3 hours. General Hindi and General English are qualifying papers, requiring a minimum of 30 marks each.
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Exam Duration | Paper Type | Selection Criteria |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 150 | 3 Hours | Descriptive | Marks Included in Merit |
| Law of Evidence & Procedure | 150 | 3 Hours | ||
| Elementary General Science | 100 | 3 Hours | ||
| General English | 100 | 3 Hours | Minimum 30 Marks Required (Qualifying Only) | |
| General Hindi | 100 | 3 Hours | ||
| Total | 600 | – | – | – |
Optional Subjects
Here, candidates must select any 3 papers, each lasting 3 hours. The selected papers contribute 450 marks to the final merit.
| Optional Subject | Marks | Duration | Paper Type |
| Commercial Law | 150 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Law of Contracts & Torts | 150 | 3 Hours | |
| Constitutional & Administrative Law of India | 150 | 3 Hours | |
| Transfer of Property, Equity, Trusts & Specific Relief | 150 | 3 Hours | |
| Hindu Law & Muhammadan Law | 150 | 3 Hours |
Other Important Resources for Bihar Judiciary Exam:
| Bihar Judiciary Application Form | Bihar Judiciary Vacancy Notification |
| Bihar Judiciary Admit Card | Bihar Judiciary Eligibility |
Bihar Judiciary Interview Exam Pattern
The Bihar Judicial Service exam pattern concludes with a 100-mark Viva-Voce. Candidates must score at least 35% to qualify. Only candidates shortlisted in a 1:3 ratio based on Mains marks appear for the interview. The interview marks are added to the final merit list and assess legal awareness, communication, personality, presence of mind and ethics
| Interview Component | Details |
| Stage | Interview (Viva-Voce) |
| Assessment Type | Oral Personality Test |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 35% |
| Shortlisting Criteria | Candidates are shortlisted in a 1:3 ratio based on Mains marks. |
| Eligibility | Only candidates who qualify the Mains are considered. |
| Merit Weightage | Interview marks are added to the final merit list along with Mains marks. |
Everything You Need to Know About the Bihar Judiciary Exam
| Bihar Judiciary Exam Age Limit | Bihar Judiciary Exam Date |
| Bihar Judiciary Exam Preparation | Bihar Judiciary Exam Results |
Bihar Judiciary Exam Syllabus
The Bihar Judiciary exam syllabus covers both the Prelims and Mains stages. The Prelims include Law and General Studies subjects. The Mains compulsory papers cover General Hindi, General English, General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Elementary General Science, and Law of Evidence & Procedure.
| Examination | Subjects |
| Prelims: Law | Law of Evidence & Procedure, Constitutional & Administrative Law of India, Hindu Law & Muhammadan Law, Transfer of Property, Equity, Trusts & Specific Relief, Law of Contracts & Torts, Commercial Law |
| Prelims: General Studies | General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Elementary General Science |
| Mains: Optional Papers | Constitutional & Administrative Law of India, Hindu Law & Muhammadan Law, Law of Transfer of Property, Principles of Equity, Law of Trusts & Specific Relief, Law of Contracts & Torts, Commercial Law |
| Mains: Compulsory Papers | General Hindi, General English, General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Elementary General Science, Law of Evidence & Procedure |
Find out more about Bihar Judiciary cut-off marks.
Latest Changes in the Bihar Judiciary Exam Pattern for MCQ Papers
The Bihar Judiciary Prelims exam pattern now follows the revised BPSC MCQ response system. Every question includes 5 options (A, B, C, D, and E). Option E represents “Not Attempted.” Option E must be selected if the candidate chooses not to answer a question. Leaving a question completely blank will lead to a deduction of one-third mark. Candidates must select an option for every question.
| Aspect | Previous System | Revised System |
| Options Available | 4 Options (A, B, C, D) | 5 Options (A, B, C, D, E) |
| Not Attempted Questions | Could be left blank | Select Option E |
| Attempted Questions | Choose one of A, B, C, or D | Choose one of A, B, C, or D |
| If No Option Is Marked | No specific penalty | 1/3 mark deducted for every unmarked question |
Do checkout Bihar Judiciary Previous Year Papers.
FAQs on Bihar Civil Judge Exam Pattern 2026
The Bihar Judiciary exam has 3 stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. Candidates must qualify each stage to proceed to the next.
The Bihar Judiciary Prelims exam pattern includes 2 objective papers. Paper I covers General Studies and General Knowledge, while Paper II covers Law subjects.
The Prelims carries 250 marks. The total exam duration is 210 minutes, with 90 minutes for Paper I and 120 minutes for Paper II.
The Mains examination consists of total 8 descriptive papers. These include 5 compulsory papers and 3 optional papers selected by the candidate. The written exam carries 1050 marks.
Yes. General Hindi and General English are qualifying papers. Candidates must score at least 30 marks in each. Their marks are not included in the final merit list.
The interview is a 100-mark Viva-Voce. Candidates must secure at least 35% marks to qualify. Interview marks are added to the final merit list.
Know more about other Judiciary Exams:
| Rajasthan Judiciary Exam | MP Judiciary Exam |
| UP Judiciary Exam | Gujarat Judiciary Exam |
| Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Exam |
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