“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
The UP Judiciary Exam or UP PCS J Exam is a gateway for those aspiring to serve as civil judges in Uttar Pradesh. It is not just an exam but a journey towards a fulfilling and prestigious career in the judicial system.
With dedication, consistent efforts, and the right preparation strategy, cracking the UP PCS J exam 2025 is achievable. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the exam, from the syllabus and pattern to the best books and preparation tips.
What is UP PCS J Exam?
The UP Judiciary Exam, also known as the UP PCS J Exam, is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) to recruit civil judges for the state judiciary.
This highly competitive exam is divided into three stages: the preliminary exam, the mains exam, and the interview or viva-voce. The preliminary stage consists of objective-type questions that test a candidate’s general knowledge and legal aptitude. The mains stage is a written examination that includes detailed questions on law, language, and essay writing, while the interview assesses the candidate’s overall personality and suitability for a judicial role.
Candidates applying for the UP Judiciary Exam 2025 must meet the eligibility criteria, including an LLB degree from a recognized university and a certain age limit, with relaxations available for specific categories.
The syllabus covers a wide range of subjects, including Constitutional Law, IPC, CPC, and more, along with topics in general studies. The exam is known for its thorough assessment of legal knowledge, reasoning skills, and decision-making abilities.
The UP PCS J Exam offers a prestigious opportunity to work as a judicial officer, with a promising career path, good salary, and several perks such as housing and travel allowances. With thousands of candidates vying for limited seats, the exam requires thorough preparation, practice, and time management.
UP Judiciary Exam 2025: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UP Judicial Service Civil Judge (Junior Division) |
| Conducting Body | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) |
| Official Website | https://uppsc.up.nic.in/ |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Stages of Exam | 1. Preliminary Exam (Multiple Choice Questions) 2. Mains Exam (Conventional Written Paper) 3. Viva-Voce (Personality Test) |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Exam Language | English and Hindi |
| UP PCS J 2025 Vacancies | 218 (expected) |
UP PCS J Notification 2025
The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission is expected to release the UP PCS J 2025 notification between January to March 2025. Once available, candidates interested in the Civil Judge exam can download the official notification from the https://uppsc.up.nic.in/ website.
The UP PCS J Exam is considered as the biggest judiciary exam in India because it brings more than 200 vacancies for Civil Judges, which is higher than other states.
UP Judiciary Exam 2025: Important Dates
The UPPSC will shortly release the UP PCS J exam dates and related information regarding the official notification, application form, prelims exam, mains exam, etc.
| Events | Dates |
| UP PCS J Notification Release Date 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Registration Process 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Fees Payment 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Prelims Admit Card 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Prelims Exam Date 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Prelims Answer Key 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Declaration of Prelims Result 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Mains Admit Card 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Mains Exam Date 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Declaration of Mains Result 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Interview Call Letter 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Interview Round 2025 | To Be Announced |
| UP PCS J Declaration of Final Result 2025 | To Be Announced |
UP PCS J Exam Vacancy 2025
The UPPSC is expected to announce around 218 vacancies across all categories for the UP Judiciary exam 2025.
| Category | Vacancies |
| General | To Be Announced |
| OBC | To Be Announced |
| SC | To Be Announced |
| ST | To Be Announced |
| EWS | To Be Announced |
| Total | 218 |
UP Judiciary Eligibility Criteria 2025
Candidates must adhere to the UP PCS J eligibility criteria to appear for the exam as below:
Age Limit
UP PSC J determines the age requirements for eligibility for UP Judiciary. Aspirants must meet the minimum age requirement of 22 and stay within the maximum age limit of 35 years as of the same date. Age relaxations are as follows for reserved categories:
| Particulars | Details |
| General | 0 years |
| Ex-serviceman, emergency commissioned officers, and short-service commissioned officers | >5 years |
| Schedule Caste (SC) | 5 years |
| Schedule Tribe (ST) | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 5 years |
| Physically Handicapped | 15 years |
| Sports Person | 5 years |
| State Govt. Employees | 5 years |
Educational Qualification Criteria
The educational qualifications criteria for UP Civil Judge are:
- Applicant must hold a Bachelor of Law degree from a university established by law in UP or any other Indian university recognized by the Governor. OR
- Applicant must be an Advocate enrolled under the Advocate Act 1961, a Member of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, or a Barrister of England or Northern Ireland, with the right to practice in the Court or Courts subordinate to it.
- Candidates awaiting the results of their final year law exam are also eligible to apply, provided they can prove they passed the examination at the time of the interview.
- Also, the applicant must understand Hindi well in the Devnagri script.
Nationality Criteria
- Candidate must be a Citizen of India
UP PCS J Exam 2025: Application Process
The UP Judiciary application form will commence soon. Aspirants can refer to the official site for any updates related to the notification. Candidates complying with the eligibility criteria stated by the UPPSC can fill out the application form available on the official website by following the given steps:
- Open the official website of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) at https://uppsc.up.nic.in/
- Go to the Recruitment Page.
- Under the UPPSC Notification Tab, select the Click Here option. A new page will open.
- To register, select the Click Here To Apply option.
- Enter the mandatory details such as name, address, email address, etc, and upload scanned copies of your mark sheets, signatures, and photograph in the prescribed format stated in the official notification.
- After completing the form with the required details, pay the application fee.
- Submit the application form.
- Keep a printout copy of the application form and payment receipt for future reference.
UP PCS J Exam 2025: Application Fee
The table below presents the expected UP Judiciary exam application fees for 2025 in detail:
| Category | Application Fee |
| Unreserved / Other Backward Class/ Economically Weaker sections | ₹100/- + Online processing fee ₹25/- Total =₹ 125/- |
| SC/ST | ₹40/- + Online processing fee 25/- Total = ₹ 65/- |
| Persons with Disabilities | Online processing fee ₹25/- Total = ₹25/- |
| Ex-Servicemen | ₹40/- + Online processing fee ₹ 25/- Total = ₹65/- |
| Dependents of the Freedom Fighters/ Women | According to their original category |
UP Judiciary Exam Pattern 2025
The UP Judiciary exam 2025 will be conducted in 3 stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview rounds.
Candidates must clear the subsequent stage to appear for the next one. While the prelims is a qualifying exam, the mains and interview rounds are considered for the final selection.
Below is the UP PCS J exam pattern 2025:
Prelims Exam Pattern
The UP Judiciary prelims is an objective exam based on general knowledge and law-related topics. The table presents the expected UP Judiciary prelims exam pattern 2025 in detail:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| I | General Knowledge | 150 | 2 Hours |
| II | Law | 300 | 2 Hours |
The marking pattern for the prelims is as follows:
- Each correct answer carries a certain weightage (1 mark)
- There is a negative marking (0.33) for incorrect answers
Mains Exam Pattern
The UP Judiciary mains exam is descriptive and consists of 6 papers. The questions are based on the fundamentals and concepts of law and general knowledge, and they include 2 language papers. The table breaks down the expected UP Judiciary mains exam pattern 2025 in detail:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| I | General Knowledge | 200 | 3 Hours |
| II | English Language | 100 | 3 Hours |
| III | Hindi Language | 100 | 3 Hours |
| IV | Law-I (Substantive Law) | 200 | 3 Hours |
| V | Law-II (Procedure and Evidence) | 200 | 3 Hours |
| VI | Law-III (Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws) | 200 | 3 Hours |
The marking pattern for the mains is as follows:
- Each correct answer carries 2 marks
- There is no negative marking for incorrect answers
Viva-Voce Exam Pattern
This is the final assessment stage of the UP Judiciary exam selection process. Candidates who successfully qualify for the preliminary and mains examinations are called for the interview process, after which the final selection is made.
A panel of judges interviews to assess candidates’ personalities and communication skills. The interview round consists of 100 marks and is usually held in December/January.
UP Judiciary Syllabus 2025
Below is the syllabus of UP PCS J exam:
Prelims Syllabus
Candidates preparing for the UP Judiciary exam must know the prelims syllabus, which is given in the table below:
| Paper | Topics Covered |
| Paper I (General Knowledge) | – Current Affairs – History & Geography of India – Indian Economy – Economic and Social Development – Information Technology, Internet, Social Media – Science and Technology – Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act – Dowry Prohibition Act – Important Events – Constitutional & Administrative Law, its Features – Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act – Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)Act and other important acts – Judicial System – Citizenship – Fundamental Rights – Duties of the citizens – Preamble of the Indian Constitution |
| Paper II (Law subjects) | – Law of Contract – Criminal Procedure Code – Indian Evidence Act – Civil Procedure Code – Indian Penal Code – Transfer of Property Act – Indian Evidence Act – Current International Affairs – Jurisprudence – Indian Constitution – International Organizations |
Mains Syllabus
Candidates preparing for the UP Judiciary mains exam must have a thorough idea of the syllabus, which is given in the table below:
| Paper | Topics Covered |
| Law I | – Law of contracts – Law of Partnership – Law concerning easements and torts – Law related to property transfer, including the principles of equity – Principal of Equity with particular reference to the Law of trust and specific relief – Hindu Law and Mohammedan Law – Constitutional Law |
| Law II | – The law of evidence – The Criminal Procedure Code – The Code of Civil Procedure – Principles of pleading – Practical matters like the framing of charges, etc. |
| Law III | – Indian Penal Code – UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1951 – Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent, and Eviction) Act, 1972 – Municipalities Act, UP – Panchayat Raj Act, UP – Consolidation of Holding Act, 1953 – Uttar Pradesh Urban (Planning and Development) Act, 1973 |
| Hindi | – Essay – Precis writing – Translation of passage from English to Hindi |
| English | – Essay – Precis writing – Translation of passage from Hindi to English |
| General Knowledge | – History of India and Indian Culture – Indian Geography – Indian Polity – Current National Issues and Social Relevance Topics – India and the World – Indian Economy – International Affairs and Institutions – Science and Technology – Communications and Space |
UP PCS J Admit Card
UPPSC releases the UP Judiciary admit card on its official portal 2 weeks before the examination’s commencement. Aspirants can download the admit card by logging in using their user ID and password.
Details mentioned on the UP PCS J Admit Card are:
- Name & Date of Birth
- User ID/Registration Number
- Category
- Exam Date and Time
- Exam Center
- Signature & Photograph
UP PCS J Exam Answer Key
After successfully conducting the examination, the commission releases the Uttar Pradesh PCS J answer key at its official portal.
Candidates can download and cross-check all their answers from the UP Judiciary exam answer key PDF by clicking the Key Answer Sheet.
Check the answer key of UP PCS J by following the steps below:
- Visit the official website
- Click on the UP PCS J Key Answer Sheet
- Download the Key Answer Sheet
- Match your response with the answer mentioned
- Download and keep a copy for prospects
UP Judiciary Exam Result
The UP Judiciary exam prelims and mains results are accessible on the official website using the registration number. First, after completing the preliminary exams, the commission publishes the merit list of the eligible candidates selected for the UP Judiciary mains exam.
The mains exam result is announced along with the list of qualified candidates who will be invited for the interview round. Even after the interview round, the candidates can check the final result on the same website.
Candidates can check the UP Judiciary exam results from the official website by following the steps below:
- Visit the official website
- Click on the UP PCS J result link
- Enter your username and password, and submit
- The result and merit list will be displayed on the screen.
- Download the merit list in PDF format
UP Judiciary Exam Cut-off
The UP Judiciary cut-off marks are one of the most vital aspects of the selection process for the candidates appearing for the examination. It’s the minimum score a test taker must obtain to qualify for the following stage of the recruitment process.
Based on factors such as the examination difficulty level, the number of candidates appearing for the examination, and the number of vacancies, the cut-off marks are determined. The UP Judiciary cut-off varies for every category of candidates. Only those who meet the criteria are selected for the subsequent round.
UP PCS J Exam 2025: Minimum Qualifying Marks
The details about the minimum qualifying marks for each category are mentioned below:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying % |
| SC & ST | 35% |
| Other Categories | 40% |
Note:
The above information is based on the trend of the previous years.
UP Civil Judge Salary
The salary of a UP PCS Judicial officer is based on the pay scale of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service. In addition to the base salary, UP PCS J officers are also entitled to numerous allowances and perks, such as:
- House rent allowance
- Travel allowance
- Electricity bill
- Phone bill
- Water bill
- Car facility
- Vehicle maintenance
- Pension after retirement
The total salary package of a UP PCS J officer includes all allowances; however, the salary may vary depending on the city where the job is posted and other factors. Therefore, checking with the relevant authorities for the latest salary information is always advisable.
How to Prepare for UP PCS J Exam?
Below is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare effectively:
Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Begin by thoroughly reviewing the syllabus and exam pattern for the UP PCS J Exam 2025. Know the subjects covered in both prelims and mains, and focus on important topics like the Constitution, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, IPC, and general knowledge. This will give you clarity on what to study.
Create a Study Plan: A well-structured study plan is essential for proper time management. Divide your time between legal and non-legal subjects, and allocate extra time to weaker areas. Set short-term and long-term goals to stay on track and cover the entire syllabus in a systematic manner.
Refer to Standard Books: Use recommended books and study materials for each subject. Books like Mulla for CPC, Ratanlal & Dhirajlal for IPC, and KD Gaur for CrPC are often suggested by experts. Additionally, study the Bare Acts thoroughly to grasp the fundamental concepts.
Make Notes: While studying, prepare concise notes for each subject. Highlight key sections, articles, and case laws. These notes will be very useful during revision and help you recall important points quickly.
Solve Previous Year Papers: Practicing previous year question papers is crucial for understanding the type of questions asked and the exam’s difficulty level. It will also improve your speed and accuracy. Analyze your mistakes and work on them consistently.
Practice Writing: Since the mains exam is descriptive, practice answer writing regularly. Focus on writing clear, concise, and structured answers. Time yourself during these writing sessions to improve speed and avoid verbosity.
Take Mock Tests: Mock tests will help you simulate the actual exam environment. They are useful for self-assessment and help you track your progress. Focus on improving your weak areas based on your mock test performance.
Stay Updated on Current Affairs: For both prelims and mains, keep yourself updated on judiciary current affairs, especially legal developments. Reading newspapers like The Hindu or The Indian Express and following legal news regularly will help you score well in the general knowledge section.
Revision is Key: Continuous revision is essential to retain what you’ve studied. Revise your notes regularly and pay special attention to important sections, landmark judgments, and critical legal provisions.
Stay Positive and Focused: Preparing for the UP Judiciary Exam can be challenging, but maintaining a positive attitude and staying focused on your goals will keep you motivated throughout the journey. Regular breaks and self-care are also important to avoid burnout.
FAQs About UP PCSJ Exam 2025
The UP PCS J Exam, or Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service Civil Judge Examination, is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) to recruit civil judges (junior division) for the state judiciary.
The selection process consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview (viva-voce). Candidates must pass each stage to progress to the next.
There is no specific limit on the number of attempts for the UP PCS J Exam, but candidates must fall within the prescribed age limit to be eligible.
No, there is no negative marking in the Prelims stage of the UP PCS J Exam.