Jharkhand Judicial Service · JPSC
Jharkhand tests a Rent Control law every other state ignores — and no negative marking to hide behind.
We map where the marks actually sit subject-by-subject across four prelims and four mains papers, the Jharkhand-only Rent Control Act, and the shift to the new criminal codes.
- Conducting body JPSC, Ranchi (on High Court requisition)
- Post Civil Judge (Junior Division) / Munsif
- Eligibility LLB + enrolled advocate (Advocates Act, 1961)
- Age 22–35 (+3 yrs women / SC / ST)
- Stages Prelims → Mains → Viva-Voce
- Language Hindi & English (Paper-IV in Mains)
Three stages, and only two of them count toward your rank.
Prelims is a pure filter — its marks are never added to your total. Your entire merit is built in the Mains and the viva-voce, so plan your time accordingly.
Stage 1 · Screening
Preliminary Test
Objective · single paper
One MCQ paper of 100 marks, 2 hours, NO negative marking. Held only to limit the field — PT marks do NOT count toward final selection.
- Single paper
- 100 marks · 2 hr
- Negative marking
- None
- Counts toward merit
- Zero (screening only)
Stage 2 · Selection
Main (Written) Exam
Descriptive · 4 papers
Four compulsory papers of 100 marks each, 3 hours each. Up to 15× category vacancies are called. This is where your rank is built.
- Papers I–III (law)
- 100 marks each · 300
- Paper-IV (Language)
- 100 marks · Hindi & English
- Total written
- 400 marks
Stage 3 · Final
Viva-Voce Test
Oral · 100 marks
Up to 3× category vacancies are called on Mains marks. Min. qualifying viva: 25% general / EWS, 20% SC / ST / EBC / BC.
- Marks
- 100
- Basis of call
- Mains written score
- Final merit
- Mains + Viva-Voce
Can you apply? Check this before anything else.
Qualification
A Law graduate (LLB) from a recognised university AND enrolled as an advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961, by the last date of application.
Age
Above 22 and below 35 years on the cut-off date. +3 years for women and SC / ST; up to 10 years for disabled candidates.
Bar enrolment
Required — you must be an enrolled advocate. Fresh, un-enrolled graduates are not eligible, unlike some other states.
Nationality
Indian citizen of sound health and good moral character, with no involvement in any case of moral turpitude.
Language
Comfort with both Hindi and English — Mains Paper-IV tests essay, precis, translation and paraphrase in both.
Attempts
No attempt limit specified in the notification — only the age ceiling applies.
The full syllabus, paper by paper.
Prelims screens you on one objective paper; Mains tests four compulsory papers that build your rank.
Prelims
General English · General Knowledge incl. Current Affairs · Code of Civil Procedure 1908 · Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 · Indian Evidence Act 1872 · Law of Contract 1872 · Indian Penal Code 1860.
Mains — 4 papers
- Paper-I — Procedural Law (CPC & CrPC), IPC, Evidence, Limitation Act100
- Paper-II — Contract, Sale of Goods, NI Act, Arbitration, Transfer of Property100
- Paper-III — Hindu & Mohammedan Law, Rent Control, Specific Relief, Jurisprudence100
- Paper-IV — Language (Hindi & English: essay, precis, translation)100
The five law subjects, ranked by how hard prelims actually tests them.
Share of the 400 classified prelims questions across 2014, 2015, 2015-backlog and 2018 (1 question ≈ 1 mark of 100). These five law subjects make up ~80% of every paper.
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC / BNSS)
16.75%Single largest law subject
Arrest, bail incl. anticipatory, maintenance u/s 125, cognizance, charge, summary trial, security for good behaviour, plea bargaining. Peaked at 19 Qs in 2015-backlog.
Indian Penal Code (IPC / BNS)
16.5%Core — slightly volatile
General exceptions, private defence, theft/extortion/robbery/dacoity, kidnapping, common intention vs object (s.34 vs 149), Virsa Singh, Bachan Singh, Navtej Johar, Joseph Shine.
Law of Contract, 1872
16.25%Rising sharply — 20 Qs in 2018
Offer/acceptance/consideration, void vs voidable, contingent & quasi-contracts, guarantee, bailment/pledge, English cases (Carlill, Harvey v. Facey, Adams v. Lindsell). Largest single block in 2018.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
15.75%Very stable heavyweight
Heavy on Orders & section numbers — execution, pleadings, interpleader, summary procedure (O.37), indigent persons (O.33), suits vs government (s.80). Fact-pattern style added in 2018.
Indian Evidence Act (Evidence / BSA)
14.75%Stable — mild decline
Admissions/confessions, dying declaration, burden of proof, estoppel, expert opinion, s.65B computer output, presumptions, examination of witnesses. Dipped to 14 in 2018 but still core.
What to study first, and what gives the most marks per hour.
- Do first CrPC + IPC
The two biggest prelims law subjects (16.75% + 16.5%) and a full ~20-mark Mains Paper-I section each. Highest marks per hour.
- High return Contract + CPC
16.25% + 15.75% in prelims. Contract surged to 20 Qs in 2018; CPC rewards rote precision on Orders and section numbers.
- Core — don’t drop Evidence
Smallest of the five law subjects at 14.75% and dipping, but still a 20-mark Mains section. Keep it core.
- Cheap & fixed General English + GK
A guaranteed 10 + 10 = 20 marks in every prelims paper. The most predictable points on offer — never skip.
- Mains-only Rent Control Act + Limitation
Rent Control (the state Act) and the Limitation Act each get a full ~20-mark Mains section every year despite thin notification mention.
The state-specific edge most all-India material skips.
Jharkhand Building (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 2011
The one Jharkhand-specific statute in the whole exam — and it is heavily, predictably tested. It fills the entire Rent Control Section (≈20 marks) of Mains Paper-III every year: standard rent, grounds & special procedure for eviction (bona fide requirement), Controller’s powers, appeal/revision, exempted buildings. Read it bare-Act. Prelims stays on the seven central heads — no state statute appears there.
Study the new codes — BNS, BNSS, BSA
The notified syllabus still names IPC 1860, CrPC 1973 and Evidence Act 1872, and every available PYQ (2014–2019) uses them. Current cycles should expect questions framed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (2023) — re-map section numbers; the concepts (bail, dying declaration, charge, private defence) still recur.
Everything you need to practise Jharkhand Judiciary — free.
Past Jharkhand prelims papers (2014, 2015 and the 2015 backlog cycle, 2018), solved and arranged like the real exam.
Open Mains Mains Questions & SolutionsJharkhand mains papers (2014, 2015, 2015-backlog, 2019) with model answers for the four-paper scheme.
Open Notes Free Notes & LecturesSubject-wise notes — CPC, CrPC, Contract, Evidence, Hindu & Muslim Law, the Rent Control Act and more.
OpenRead the actual Jharkhand papers this analysis is built on.
Start with the distribution files for the big picture, then solve full papers in timed blocks.
Method: every question in four prelims papers (400 total, 100 per paper) and four mains paper-sets was read and classified by legal subject — not inferred from headings. The 2015-backlog and 2019 files are the cleanest; the 2015 mains file has slipped numbering and the 2019 mains file omits Paper-IV, so treat those mains counts as best-effort estimates.
Jharkhand Judiciary — quick answers.
Who conducts the Jharkhand Judiciary exam?
The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), Ranchi, recruits for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) / Munsif on the requisition of the High Court of Jharkhand.
What is the eligibility for Jharkhand Judiciary?
A Law degree (LLB) from a recognised university and enrolment as an advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961, plus age above 22 and below 35 (with +3 years for women / SC / ST). Unlike some states, fresh un-enrolled graduates cannot apply.
Is there negative marking in the Jharkhand prelims?
No. The Preliminary Test is a single 100-mark objective paper of 2 hours with no negative marking — so attempt every question.
Does the Prelims score count in the final merit?
No. The Preliminary Test is purely a screening stage. Final selection is decided by the Mains (written) marks and the Viva-Voce taken together.
How many papers are in the Jharkhand Mains?
Four compulsory papers of 100 marks each (3 hours each): three law papers (I–III) and a Language paper (IV) in Hindi and English.
Should I study IPC/CrPC or the new criminal codes?
The notified syllabus still names IPC 1860, CrPC 1973 and the Evidence Act 1872, and all PYQs (2014–2019) use them, but current cycles should prepare the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023, and re-map section numbers.
Is Hindi compulsory for Jharkhand Judiciary?
Yes. Mains Paper-IV is a Language paper testing both Hindi and English through essay, precis, translation and paraphrase, so working comfort with Hindi is essential.
What is the one Jharkhand-specific law I must read?
The Jharkhand Building (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 2011 — it fills the entire Rent Control section (≈20 marks) of Mains Paper-III every year and should be read bare-Act.
Practise on questions built to this exact weightage.
Free mock series modelled on the JPSC pattern — the single-paper prelims, the four mains papers, the Jharkhand Rent Control Act, and BNS/BNSS/BSA-mapped questions.