Patna HC Judge Form 2026 This is a direct recruitment from Bar under Article 233 of the Constitution of India. Selected candidates are appointed as District Judges (Entry Level) in the Bihar Superior Judicial Service. The recruitment aims to bring experienced legal professionals directly into the higher judiciary.
Application and Examination Name/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Name of Recruitment: Patna High Court District Judge (Entry Level) – Direct From Bar Exam-2026 Conducting Body: High Court of Judicature at Patna (Patna High Court), Bihar Total Posts: 08 |
Important Dates/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 30 March 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 16 April 2026 |
| Application End Date (Online Form) | 15 May 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 15 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Upload Photo / Signature / Declaration | 22 May 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date | To be notified later |
| Examination Date | To be notified later |
| Result Declaration | To be notified later |
Application Fee/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / UR | ₹ 1500/- |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | ₹ 1500/- |
| EWS | ₹ 1500/- |
| EBC (Extremely Backward Class) | ₹ 1500/- |
| BC (Backward Class) | ₹ 1500/- |
| SC / ST (Bihar residents) | ₹ 750/- |
| OH (Orthopaedically Handicapped) – Bihar | ₹ 750/- |
| Payment Method | Online only – Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or e-Challan |
Educational Qualification/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Post Name | Total Post | Eligibility |
| Bihar Patna High Court PHC District Judge HJS | 08 | Bachelor Degree in Law. Minimum 7 Year Advocate Practice. Minimum 24 Cases Each Year in Last 3 Years. |
| ⁕ Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognized University in India. ⁕ Must be enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council. ⁕ Minimum Practice: 7 years or more of continuous practice as an Advocate / Pleader (including Government Pleader / Public Prosecutor / Prosecution Officer) on the date of application. ⁕ Case Appearance Rule: Must have appeared in at least 24 cases per year during the last three years (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25). A declaration to this effect is required. ⁕ Alternative Eligibility: Judicial Officers with 7+ years of combined experience as an Advocate and Judicial Officer are also eligible under Article 233 of the Constitution |
| Three Eligibility Routes 1. Pure Advocate Route: 7 years of continuous Bar practice. 2. Judicial Officer Route: Judicial Officer with prior 7 years of Bar practice. 3. Combined Route: Combined Advocate + Judicial Officer experience totalling 7 years of continuity |
Age Limit (as on 15 May 2026)/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 35 Years |
| Maximum Age | 50 Years |
| Age Relaxation | As per Bihar Government rules for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) and PwD candidates |
Total Number of Vacancies/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Current Vacancies (2023-24 & 2024-25) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 02 (including 01 for women) |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 01 |
| Backlog Vacancies (2021-22 & 2022-23) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 03 (including 01 for women) |
| Extremely Backward Class (EBC) | 01 |
| Backlog Vacancy (2020-21) | |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 01 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 08 |
How to Apply/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
Selection Process and Examination Phases/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Stage 1: Screening Test (Preliminary Examination) • Mode: Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions) • Number of Questions: 100 • Total Marks: 300 • Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer (negative marking) • Duration: Approximately 2 hours • Purpose: To shortlist candidates for the Written Test (approximately 10 times the number of vacancies are called for Mains) • Qualifying Marks: As determined by the High Court |
| Stage 2: Written Test (Mains Examination) • Mode: Descriptive / Theory Papers • Subjects: Civil Law, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Procedural Laws, English (Essay & Comprehension) • Qualifying Marks: Minimum 45% marks in each theory paper • Weightage: 80% of total selection weightage • Ratio of Marks: Theory Papers (80%) + Viva-Voce (20%) |
| Stage 3: Viva-Voce (Interview) • Mode: Personal Interview • Qualifying Marks: Minimum 30% marks in the Viva-Voce (mandatory) • Final Merit List: Based on the combined marks of Written Test (80%) and Viva-Voce (20%) • Topics Assessed: Legal knowledge, judicial temperament, communication skills, current legal awareness, and personality |
| Document Verification: After final selection, candidates must produce original documents for verification before appointment. |
Examination Pattern/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Stage | Type | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary (Screening) | Objective | 100 | 300 | Yes (-1 per wrong) |
| Mains (Written) | Descriptive | Multiple Papers | Varies | No |
| Viva-Voce | Interview | – | 20% of total | No |
Preliminary Exam Pattern:
| Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Law Subjects | – | – |
| English Language | 100 (combined) | 300 |
| General Knowledge & Computer Knowledge | – | – |
| Total Duration: 120 Minutes | – |
Syllabus Overview/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Law Subjects (Core Focus) ⁕ The Constitution of India ⁕ The Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), 1908 ⁕The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 ⁕ The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 ⁕ The Indian Contract Act, 1872 ⁕ The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 ⁕ The Specific Relief Act, 1963 ⁕ The Limitation Act, 1963 ⁕ The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 ⁕ The Indian Partnership Act, 1932 ⁕ The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 ⁕ The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 ⁕ Judgment Writing and Legal Drafting |
| English Language Grammar, Spot the Error, Verbs, Antonyms, Synonyms/Homonyms, Vocabulary, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Structure, Verbal Comprehension Passage, Spellings, One Word Substitutions, Adjectives, Clauses, Idioms and Phrases, Passage Improvement. |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs Science & Technology, Indian Economy, Geography (India & World), History of India, Current Affairs (National & International), History & Culture of India, Indian Constitution, Books & Authors, Important Days, Social Reforms, Who’s Who, General Science, Indian Polity. |
| Computer Knowledge (Basic) Basic Computer Terminology, Software names and usages, Basic Internet Knowledge and Protocols, History of Computer, Computer Hardware Parts and Controls, Operating System, Computer Abbreviation, Database Management Systems, Network Basics, Number System |
Pay Scale and Benefits/Patna HC Judge Form 2026
| Pay Scale: ₹ 1,44,840 – 1,94,660 per month Pay Level: J-5 (Bihar Superior Judicial Service) Pay Matrix (Level J-5) Dearness Allowance (DA) House Rent Allowance (HRA) (if government accommodation not provided) Travel Allowance (TA) Medical Benefits Government Accommodation (subject to availability) Pension and other retirement benefits under NPS Judicial allowances as per Bihar Judicial Service Rules |
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum Pay | ₹ 1,44,840/- per month |
| Maximum Pay | ₹ 1,94,660/- per month |
Important Link
| APPLY ONLINE | CLICK HERE |
| DOWNLOAD NOTIFICATION | CLICK HERE |
| OFFICIAL WEBSITE | CLICK HERE |
| FOR MORE VACANCIES | CLICK HERE |
| JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL | CLICK HERE |
| JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNEL | CLICK HERE |
Q1: What is the last date to apply for Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
Answer: The last date to submit the online application is 15 May 2026 (23:59 hrs). However, the last date to upload photo, signature, and declaration is 22 May 2026.
Q2: Can I apply if I have exactly 7 years of practice as an Advocate?
Answer: Yes, you are eligible. The requirement is 7 years or more of continuous practice as an Advocate/Pleader on the date of application. You must also have appeared in at least 24 cases per year in the last 3 years
Q3: Is there any negative marking in the Preliminary Examination?
Answer: Yes. For the Preliminary (Screening) Test, 3 marks are awarded for each correct answer, and 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
Q4: What is the minimum age required to apply?
Answer: The minimum age is 35 years, and the maximum age is 50 years as on the last date of application (15 May 2026). Age relaxation is available for reserved categories as per Bihar Government rules
Q5: What documents are required for online application?
Answer: You need a scanned copy of your recent passport-size photograph (40 KB, JPEG/JPG), signature (10 KB, JPEG/JPG), and a handwritten declaration (50 KB, JPEG/JPG). You may also need your LL.B. degree certificate, enrollment certificate, and practice experience certificates. Ensure all documents are scanned in the prescribed format before starting the application
Q6: Is the application fee refundable if I am not selected?
Answer: No. The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including if your application is rejected or you are not shortlisted for the examination
Q7: Can I edit my application after final submission?
Answer: No changes can be made after the final submission. A correction window may be provided as per the official schedule. Candidates are strongly advised to review all details carefully before clicking “Final Submit
Q8: What is the selection process for District Judge?
Answer: The selection process consists of three stages: Screening Test (Preliminary) – objective type with negative marking; Written Test (Mains) – descriptive papers; and Viva-Voce (Interview). The final merit list is prepared based on combined marks of Written Test (80%) and Viva-Voce (20%)
Q9: Is there any physical test or medical examination?
Answer: No physical test is required. However, candidates with Orthopaedically Handicapped (OH) status can apply under the 1% horizontal reservation. A medical examination may be conducted at the time of appointment for all selected candidates.
Q10: Where can I download the official notification and apply online?
Answer: You can download the official notification and apply online from the official website of Patna High Court: patnahighcourt.gov.in. Look for the “Recruitments” or “Exam” section. The direct link for District Judge recruitment is: https://patnahighcourt.gov.in/Exam/BSJS2026/DefaultBSJS2026.aspx
