Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 – 33rd BJSE Civil Judge Recruitment (BPSC Adv. No. 12/2026) for 173 Posts
The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has released Advertisement No. 12/2026 dated 23 February 2026 for the 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination. This Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 will recruit Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Bihar Judicial Services, and this guide covers vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern, revised law syllabus and reservation rules to help aspirants plan their preparation.
Online applications will be accepted on the official BPSC website during the dates notified in Advertisement No. 12/2026:
Official BPSC website (apply online): https://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in
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Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 – Vacancy Details (173 Posts)
A total of 173 Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts have been announced across categories, with horizontal reservation for women and orthopedically disabled candidates.
- Total posts: 173
- Horizontal reservation for women: 35% in each category
- Horizontal reservation for orthopedically disabled (OH): 1% (2 posts)
| Category | Total Posts | Reserved for Women (35%) |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 69 | 25 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 17 | 05 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 28 | 11 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 02 | 01 |
| Extremely Backward Class (EBC) | 36 | 12 |
| Backward Class (BC) | 21 | 07 |
| Total | 173 | 61 |
Additionally, 2 posts are reserved for orthopedically disabled (OH) candidates within the overall total.
Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- A Law Graduate (LLB) degree from a university/institution recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI), New Delhi.
- Candidates must produce a certificate from their institution confirming BCI recognition for the relevant academic session.
Professional Experience
- Minimum 3 years of practice at the Bar as on the advertisement date 23.02.2026.
- Practice is counted from the date of enrolment/registration with the State Bar Council.
- Practice certificates must be authenticated by:
- The Principal Judicial Officer of the court where the candidate practices, or
- An advocate with at least 10 years’ practice, duly authorised by the court.
- Work as a Law Clerk under any judge or judicial officer will also be treated as valid practice experience.
Age Limit
- Minimum age: 22 years
- Maximum age: 35 years
Age will be calculated as per the cut‑off dates specified in Advertisement No. 12/2026. Candidates should carefully verify the “as on” dates in the official notification.
Relaxation:
- For reserved category candidates, women and OH candidates, the upper age limit is relaxed up to 40 years as per Bihar government rules.
- The retirement age for Civil Judges in Bihar is 60 years.
Examination Pattern – 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026
The Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 will be conducted in three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Objective) – Screening
- Main (Written) Examination – Merit deciding
- Interview / Viva‑Voce – Personality assessment
Preliminary Exam (Objective)
The Preliminary Examination may be conducted if the number of applications is higher than expected. It will be an objective‑type exam (MCQ) on OMR sheets, consisting of two papers.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 100 | 1.5 hours | 100 |
| Paper II | Law | 150 | 2 hours | 150 |
Subjects covered in Prelims:
- General Knowledge (including current affairs)
- Elementary General Science
- Law of Evidence & Procedure
- Constitutional & Administrative Law of India
- Hindu & Muslim Law
- Law of Property Transfer, Equity, Trusts & Specific Relief
- Law of Contracts & Torts
- Commercial Law
Qualifying marks (Prelims):
- Unreserved: 45%
- Reserved categories: 40%
The Preliminary Exam is primarily a screening test for the Main Examination and its marks are usually not counted in the final merit.
Main (Written) Examination – Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026
The Main Examination consists of five compulsory papers and three optional papers (chosen from five law subjects).
Compulsory Papers
| Subject | Code | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Hindi | 01 | 100 | 3 hours |
| General English | 02 | 100 | 3 hours |
| General Knowledge (including current affairs) | 03 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Elementary General Science | 04 | 100 | 3 hours |
| Law of Evidence & Procedure | 05 | 150 | 3 hours |
- Minimum qualifying marks in General Hindi and General English: 30 marks each.
- Marks of Hindi and English papers are not added to the merit list; they are qualifying only.
Optional Papers (Choose any 3 out of 5)
Candidates must select three of the following five optional law papers:
| Subject | Code | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional & Administrative Law of India | 06 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Hindu & Muslim Law | 07 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Law of Property Transfer, Equity, Trusts & Specific Relief | 08 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Law of Contracts & Torts | 09 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Commercial Law | 10 | 150 | 3 hours |
The Main Exam marks (excluding Hindi & English) will form the core of the final merit score.
Interview / Viva‑Voce
- Total marks: 100
- Minimum qualifying marks: 35%
Only candidates who qualify the Main (Written) Examination will be called for the Interview. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of the aggregate marks of the Main Examination (compulsory + chosen optional papers) and Interview.
Revised Syllabus – Law of Evidence & Procedure
The Law of Evidence & Procedure paper in the Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 is aligned with the new criminal and procedural codes. Major components include:
- Indian Evidence Act, 2023
- Civil Procedure Code, 1908
- Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
- Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Candidates must focus on both legacy provisions and newly introduced sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitas, as they will shape both case‑law analysis and procedural questions.
Reservation Rules – Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026
Reservation benefits for the 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination are available only to residents of Bihar.
Key reservation conditions:
- SC/ST candidates: Must produce valid Caste Certificate and Permanent Residence Certificate from Bihar.
- BC/EBC candidates: Must submit a valid Non‑Creamy Layer Certificate as per Bihar government norms.
- EWS candidates: Must produce a valid Income & Asset Certificate issued under Bihar Act 15/2023.
- Married women: Must submit reservation certificates in their father’s name and address, not their husband’s.
Candidates who fail to produce proper, valid certificates in the prescribed format will be treated as Unreserved.
Physical Fitness & Service Conditions
- Candidates must be physically fit and free from any disability that may hinder the discharge of judicial functions.
- Defective colour vision alone will not disqualify a candidate from selection.
- The number of vacancies may increase or decrease based on requisitions received from the State Government.
- Civil Judges who leave service before completing 3 years must give 3 months’ notice or pay an amount equivalent to three months’ salary as per service rules.
How to Apply – Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026
Eligible candidates must submit their applications online only through the official website of BPSC within the dates mentioned in Advertisement No. 12/2026.
Steps to apply:
- Visit the official website of Bihar Public Service Commission: https://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in
- Click on the link for 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination (Advertisement No. 12/2026).
- Complete the registration process with basic details and obtain your registration ID.
- Fill in personal information, educational qualifications, practice details and category/reservation information carefully.
- Upload your photograph, signature and required documents in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the examination fee online through the available payment gateway.
- Submit the application and download/print the final submitted form for future reference.
No offline or handwritten applications will be accepted. Application data once submitted should be assumed final; candidates must therefore check every entry before final submission.
GrowInJob Editorial: Who Should Target Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026?
The 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 is designed for law graduates who have already invested at least three years in actual practice and are now ready to move into a structured judicial career. If you enjoy reading judgments, framing arguments, and thinking like a decision‑maker rather than only as a counsel, this transition to Civil Judge (Junior Division) can give you both intellectual satisfaction and long‑term security.
The updated reliance on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the new Evidence Act makes this exam particularly favourable for candidates who keep their bare acts and notes current instead of relying on older CPC/CrPC/Evidence‑only material. Aspirants should treat this exam as a multi‑stage marathon: build a strong concept base for Prelims, develop structured answers for Mains and then polish articulation, ethics and practical awareness for the Interview.
Related Judicial and Legal‑Sector Opportunities
If you are preparing for Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026, you may also be interested in other court and legal‑sector recruitments:
- Supreme Court of India Recruitment 2026 – Assistant Editor, Assistant Director, Senior Court Assistant & Assistant Librarian
https://growinjob.com/supreme-court-of-india-recruitment-2026-various-posts/
Exploring multiple legal recruitment options can give you a broader safety net while you prepare intensively for Bihar Judiciary.
FAQs – Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 (33rd BJSE)
Q1. What is the Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 and which posts are advertised?
The Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026, also known as the 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination (Advertisement No. 12/2026), is conducted by BPSC to recruit Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Bihar Judicial Services.
Q2. How many vacancies are there in the 33rd Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026?
There are 173 Civil Judge (Junior Division) vacancies across Unreserved, EWS, SC, ST, EBC and BC categories, with 35% horizontal reservation for women and 2 posts reserved for orthopedically disabled candidates (OH).
Q3. What education and experience are required for Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026?
Candidates must have an LLB degree from a Bar Council of India‑recognised institution and at least 3 years of practice at the Bar as on 23.02.2026, counted from the date of enrolment with the State Bar Council, supported by proper practice certificates.
Q4. What is the exam pattern for Bihar Judicial Services 2026?
The exam has three stages: Prelims (objective with papers in General Studies and Law), Mains (five compulsory papers and any three optional law papers), and a 100‑mark Interview, with the final merit based on Mains plus Interview marks.
Q5. Who is eligible for reservation benefits in Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026?
Reservation benefits are available only to permanent residents of Bihar who possess valid SC/ST, BC/EBC or EWS certificates in the prescribed format; otherwise, candidates will be treated as Unreserved even if they belong to reserved communities.
Error and Omission Clause
This article has been carefully compiled to present the Bihar Judicial Services Exam 2026 (33rd BJSE, Advertisement No. 12/2026) in a concise, exam‑oriented format. However, minor errors or later changes in the official notification are always possible. Aspirants should treat this post as an informative guide and must verify all crucial details—dates, eligibility, syllabus, reservation conditions and exam pattern—from the official BPSC advertisement and website.
If you notice any discrepancy, outdated information or missing detail in this article, please inform us so that we can correct it at the earliest.
