Bihar Judiciary Selection Process: Prelims, Mains, and Interview

The Bihar Judiciary Selection Process for Civil Judge (Junior Division) consists of the Preliminary Examination, Written (Main) Examination, and Interview/Personality Test. The Preliminary Examination is objective and is used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. The Main Examination is subjective and includes compulsory and optional papers.

The Interview is conducted after the Main Examination. The final merit list is prepared using the marks counted from the Written (Main) Examination and Interview. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not added to the final merit list.

You should understand each stage, its qualifying requirements, and the shortlisting rules before starting your preparation.

Bihar Judiciary Selection Process: Overview

The selection process has three main stages:

The Preliminary Examination is conducted as the screening stage for candidates. Those who qualify are shortlisted for the Main Examination according to the applicable recruitment rules.

Candidates who qualify in the Main Examination are called for the Interview. The final merit list is prepared from the marks obtained in the Main Examination and Interview.

Bihar Judiciary Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the Bihar Judiciary Selection Process. It consists of two objective papers. The questions are multiple-choice in nature, and the examination is conducted through an OMR answer sheet.

The Preliminary Examination carries 250 marks in total.

Bihar Judiciary Prelims Shortlisting

The Preliminary Examination is used to shortlist candidates for the Written (Main) Examination. Candidates can be shortlisted up to 10 times the number of available vacancies, as applicable under the recruitment rules.

Candidates who secure the same marks as the last shortlisted candidate are also eligible for the Main Examination.

Bihar Judiciary Prelims Qualifying Marks

The minimum qualifying marks in the Preliminary Examination are:

The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted in the final merit list. Therefore, the Prelims are used for screening candidates for the next stage.

Bihar Judiciary Main Examination

Candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Examination can appear for the Written (Main) Examination. Unlike the Prelims, the Main Examination is subjective and tests your ability to write and explain answers.

The Main Examination consists of five compulsory papers and three optional papers. The compulsory papers carry a total of 600 marks, while each selected optional paper carries 150 marks.

Bihar Judiciary Mains Compulsory Papers

The compulsory papers are:

General Hindi and General English are qualifying papers. You need to secure at least 30 marks in each paper. Their marks are not added to the merit calculation.

Bihar Judiciary Mains Optional Papers

You have to select three subjects from the prescribed optional subjects. Each selected optional paper carries 150 marks.

The prescribed optional subjects include:

• Constitutional and Administrative Law of India

• Hindu Law and Muhammadan Law

• Law of Transfer of Property, Principles of Equity, Law of Trusts and Specific Relief

• Law of Contracts and Torts

• Commercial Law

The marks obtained in the merit-counting papers of the Main Examination are considered for the final selection along with the Interview marks.

Bihar Judiciary Mains Qualifying Requirement

General Hindi and General English are qualifying papers. You must obtain the prescribed minimum marks in these papers to qualify for the next stage.

The applicable relaxation in qualifying requirements for reserved categories is governed by the relevant Bihar government rules and recruitment notification.

Bihar Judiciary Interview/Personality Test

Candidates who qualify in the Written (Main) Examination are called for the Interview or Personality Test.

The Interview carries 100 marks.

Candidates who qualify in the Written Examination are called for the Interview in a 1:3 ratio, based on their Main Examination performance and the applicable recruitment rules.

If you are called for the Interview, appearing in it is mandatory. The marks obtained in the Interview are added to the applicable Main Examination marks for preparing the final merit list.

Bihar Judiciary Final Merit List

The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained from the Written (Main) Examination and Interview.

The Preliminary Examination marks are not included in the final merit list. Similarly, the marks obtained in General Hindi and General English are not added to the merit calculation because these papers are qualifying in nature.

Therefore, the selection process can be understood as follows: Prelims → Shortlisting for Mains → Mains → Shortlisting for Interview → Interview → Final Merit List

You must also fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions and complete the required document verification. Qualifying an examination stage does not by itself guarantee final selection.

Bihar Judiciary Document Verification

Document verification is an important part of the recruitment process. You may be required to produce original certificates and other documents during the Interview or at the stage specified by the Commission.

The documents may include:

• Matriculation certificate or marksheet: Proof of date of birth.

• Law degree certificate: Proof of educational qualification.

• Law degree marksheet: Proof of academic qualification.

• BCI recognition certificate: Proof of recognition for the relevant academic session.

• State Bar Council enrolment or registration certificate: Proof of enrolment.

• Experience certificate: Proof of required legal practice experience.

• Character certificate: Verification of character.

• Category certificate: Required for claiming reservation, where applicable.

• Permanent residence certificate: Required for claiming Bihar domicile, where applicable.

• EWS certificate: Required for claiming EWS reservation, where applicable.

• Orthopedic disability certificate: Required for claiming disability reservation, where applicable.

• No Objection Certificate: Required for candidates who need to submit it.

• Photo identity proof: Required for identity verification.

• Recent passport-size photographs: Required for application and verification.

• Online application hard copy: Proof of the submitted application record.

You should keep the original documents and valid copies ready as required by the recruitment notification.

If a certificate or document is incomplete or contains an error, the Commission may provide an opportunity for correction, subject to the conditions and time limit specified in the notification.

Failure to provide the required valid documents within the prescribed period may affect your eligibility.

Number of Attempts for Bihar Judiciary Exam

The recruitment rules prescribe an attempt limit for candidates who do not fall under the categories eligible for relaxation.

For the applicable non-reserved candidates, the maximum number of attempts is 5. However, the attempt rule should be read along with the category-wise provisions and the recruitment notification applicable to your examination cycle.

You should check the current notification before determining your eligibility based on the number of attempts.

Bihar Judiciary Selection Process: Important Points

Keep these points in mind while understanding the Bihar Judiciary Selection Process:

• The selection process has three main examination stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview.

• The Preliminary Examination is objective.

• The Main Examination is subjective.

• The Preliminary Examination has two papers.

• The Prelims carry 250 marks in total.

• Candidates can be shortlisted for the Main Examination up to 10 times the number of vacancies, as applicable.

• Candidates securing the same marks as the last shortlisted candidate are also eligible for the Main Examination.

• The minimum qualifying marks in Prelims are 45% for the unreserved category and 40% for reserved categories.

• Prelims marks are not included in the final merit list.

• General Hindi and General English are qualifying papers in the Main Examination.

• You need at least 30 marks in each qualifying language paper.

• The Interview carries 100 marks.

• The minimum qualifying marks in the Interview are 35%.

• Candidates are called for the Interview in a 1:3 ratio based on their Main Examination performance.

• The final merit list is prepared using the applicable merit-counting marks from the Main Examination and Interview.

• Original documents must be produced when required for verification.

• You must satisfy the prescribed educational qualification, legal practice experience and other eligibility conditions.

• The current recruitment notification should be checked for any change in examination rules or document requirements.

The Bihar Judiciary Selection Process begins with the Preliminary Examination, followed by the Written (Main) Examination and Interview/Personality Test. The Prelims are used to shortlist candidates, and their marks are not included in the final merit list.

The Main Examination includes compulsory and optional papers, with General Hindi and General English being qualifying papers. Candidates who qualify in the Main Examination are called for the Interview, which carries 100 marks.

The final merit list is prepared using the applicable merit-counting marks from the Main Examination and Interview. You should also keep the document verification requirements, eligibility conditions, and attempt rules in mind while preparing for the examination.

Preparation Resources

• Bihar Judiciary Exam Pattern 

• Bihar Judiciary Eligibility Criteria 

• Bihar Judiciary Syllabus 

• Bihar Judiciary Exam Date 

• Bihar Judiciary Cut Off