Odisha Judicial Services Syllabus 2025, (Prelims & Mains), Exam Pattern, Preparation Tips

Odisha Judicial Services Syllabus 2025 Overview

Exam Stage

Subject/Topics Covered

Details

Preliminary Exam

Constitution of India, Code of Civil Procedure, Code of Criminal Procedure, Evidence Act, Indian Penal Code, Limitation Act, Transfer of Property Act, Contract Act, Law of Succession, Specific Relief Act

Objective-type questions, 100 marks, 1.5 hours, negative marking applicable.

Main Exam (Compulsory Papers)

Paper 1: General English — Essay, Precis writing, Grammar; Paper 2: Procedural Laws

Tests language proficiency, legal procedures. Each paper: 150 marks, 2.5 hours duration.

Main Exam (Optional Papers)

Optional Papers on substantive laws, including Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Indian Evidence Act, Law of Torts, Hindu Law, Mohammedan Law, etc.

Three optional papers, each 150 marks, 3 hours each.

Interview

Personal Interview

Tests personality and suitability for judicial service.

Odisha Judicial Services Syllabus 2025 for Prelims

Subject

Syllabus Details

Constitution of India

- Meaning of Constitution, Sources, Constitutional History

- Features: Citizenship, Preamble, Fundamental Rights & Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy

- Union Government & Administration: Structure of Indian Union, Federalism, Centre-State Relations, President (Role, Power, Position), PM & Council of Ministers, Cabinet & Central Secretariat, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha

- State Government & Administration: Governor (Role & Position), CM & Council of Ministers, State Secretariat (Organization, Structure, Functions)

- Local Administration: District Administration (Head, Importance), Municipalities (Mayor, Elected Representatives, CEO), Panchayati Raj Institutions (Zila Panchayat, Block level hierarchy, Village level roles), Importance of grassroots democracy

- Election Commission: Role, Functioning, Chief Election Commissioner, State Election Commission, Welfare bodies for SC/ST/OBC and women

Code of Civil Procedure

- General Suits: Definitions (Decree, Judgment, Parties, Pleadings, Costs, Interest)

- Jurisdiction of Courts (Subject, Territorial, Pecuniary)

- Concepts: Res subjudice, Res judicata, Foreign Judgments

- Pleadings: Plaint, Written Statement, Set-off, Counter-claim

- Trial and Execution: Summons, Witness attendance, Injunctions, Arrest & Attachment before judgment, Execution of decrees

- Appeals, Reference, Review, Revision: Procedures and powers

- Special suits: Suits involving minors, indigents, Government

- Limitation Act (Sections 1-27): Bar of limitation, Legal disabilities, acquisition/extinguishment of rights by limitation

Code of Criminal Procedure

- Arrest: Meaning, with/without warrant, by private persons, special provisions for women

- Search & Seizure: With/without warrant, legality and consequences

- Investigation: Meaning, police powers, FIR procedure, evidentiary value, unnatural deaths, police custody

- Bail: Concept, constitutional overtones, mandatory/discretionary bail, anticipatory bail

- Charge: Framing, content, separate charges, discharge

- Trials: Court of session, warrant cases, summons cases, summary trials

- Appeal, Reference, Revision, Transfer: Provisions and jurisdiction

- Maintenance of wives, children, parents: Conditions, jurisdiction, alteration, cancellation

Evidence Act

- Doctrines: Res gestae, Conspiracy, Plea of alibi

- Relevant facts and Sections: 7,8,9,12-16,34,42-44

- Admission, Confessions (Ss. 28-31), Dying Declaration

- Evidence relevance for subsequent facts (S.33), Expert testimony, Opinion of 3rd persons

- Character evidence, Oral & Documentary evidence (Ss. 59-65), Public vs Private documents

- Presumptions (Ss. 79,80,85-85C, 88A, 90, 90A)

- Exclusion of oral by documentary, ambiguous documents

- Burden of proof, Estoppel, Witnesses, Privileged communications

- Accomplice, Examination of witnesses (Ss. 136-140, 143-153, 155)

- Leading questions (Ss. 141,142), Hostile witness (S.155), Refreshing memory (S.159)

Indian Penal Code

- Essential elements of crime: Actus Reus, Mens Rea, stages of crime

- General explanations, punishments, general exceptions

- Abetment

- Offences: Hurt & grievous hurt, wrongful restraint & confinement, theft, extortion, robbery, dacoity

- Criminal misappropriation & breach of trust, receiving stolen property, cheating

- Mischief & criminal trespass

- Document-related offences

- Marriage-related offences: Bigamy, adultery, cruelty

- Crimes against women

- Criminal intimidation, insulting modesty of women, defamation

- Attempt to commit offences

Limitation Act

- Definitions (decree, judgment, cause of action, etc.)

- Jurisdiction of courts (subject matter, territorial, pecuniary)

- Concepts: Res subjudice, res judicata, foreign judgment

- Parties and framing suits, pleadings (Orders VI to VIII)

- Appearance and default dismissal

- Costs and interest, filing caveat

- Summons, witness attendance

- Withdrawal and adjustment of suits

- Examination of parties

- Temporary & permanent injunctions

- Arrest and attachments before judgment

- Execution of decrees

- Appeals: first, second, Supreme Court

- Reference, review, revision, inherent powers

- Suits involving minors, unsound mind, indigents, Government

- Legal bars and extensions of limitation (Ss. 1-27)

Transfer of Property Act

- Movable & immovable property

- Instrument, attestation, registration

- Attached to earth, actionable claims, notice

- Transfer: meaning, elements, types of property transferable

- Restrictions on alienation & enjoyment

- Transfer to unborn persons

- Rule against perpetuity, vested & contingent interests

- Conditional transfers, ulterior transfer

- Doctrines: election, apportionment, holding out, estoppel, priority, lis pendens, part performance

- Mortgages: types, right to redeem, foreclosure/sale, priority, marshalling, contribution, subrogation, charges

Contract Act

- Contract: Meaning, nature, types, historical background

- Indian Contract Act, 1872 overview

- Major definitions

- Formation: proposal, acceptance, intention, communication, revocation

- Legal disabilities (minors, unsound mind, disqualified persons), effects

- Consent: free consent, coercion, undue influence, misrepresentation, mistake

- Consideration: meaning, nature, exceptions, adequacy, legality

- Legality of object, void & voidable agreements, agreements against public policy

- Restraints: marriage, trade, legal proceedings

- Uncertain and ambiguous agreements, wagering agreements

- Contingent contracts

- Performance & discharge of contracts: novation, remission, accord & satisfaction, appropriation, impossibility, breach

- Specific relief: recovery of possession, specific performance, injunctions, declaratory and preventive reliefs

Odisha Judicial Services Syllabus 2025 for Mains - Compulsory Paper

Paper

Syllabus

Paper-1 General English

• Translation and Retranslation of ten lines each

• A short essay of about 150 words

• Precis Writing consisting of 300 words

• One passage of about 500 words with 5 questions

Paper-2 Procedural Laws

• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Odisha Judicial Services Syllabus 2025 for Mains - Optional Paper

Name of the Paper

Syllabus

Paper-1 (Law of Crime and Law of Torts)

Law of Crime and Law of Torts

Paper-2 (Personal Law)

• Hindu Law

• Mohammedan Law

Paper-3 (Law of Property)

• Transfer of Property Act, 1882

• Specific Relief Act, 1963

• Indian Limitation Act, 1963

Paper-4 (Law of Contract)

• Indian Contract Act, 1972

• Sales of Goods Act, 1930

• Partnership Act, 1932

• Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881

Paper-5 (Jurisprudence and Constitution of India)

Jurisprudence and the Constitution of India

Odisha Judicial Services Prelims Exam Pattern 2025

Subject

No. of Questions

Total Marks

Duration

Constitution of India

100

100

1 hour 30 mins

Code of Civil Procedure

Code of Criminal Procedure

Evidence Act

Indian Penal Code

Limitation Act

Transfer of Property Act

Contract Act

Law of Succession (Indian Succession Act and Hindu Succession Act)

Specific Relief Act

Odisha Judicial Services Mains Exam Pattern 2025 (Compulsory Paper)

Paper

Subject

Details

Marks

Duration

Paper-1

General English

- Translation and retranslation of ten lines

- A short essay

- Precis writing (300 words)

- Passage with questions

150 marks

2 hours 30 mins

Paper-2

Procedural Laws

- The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

- The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

- The Indian Evidence Act

150 marks

2 hours 30 mins

Total

300

-

Odisha Judicial Services Mains Exam Pattern 2025 (Optional  Paper)

S. No

Subject

Total Marks

Duration

1

Law of Criminal & Law of Torts

150 marks

3 hours

2

Personal Law

150 marks

3 hours

- Hindu Law

- Mohammedan Law

3

Law of Property

150 marks

3 hours

- Transfer of Property, 1982

- Specific Relief Act, 1963

- Indian Limitation Act, 1963

4

Law of Contract

150 marks

3 hours

- Indian Contract Act, 1872

- Sales of Goods Act, 1930

- Partnership Act, 1932

- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

5

Jurisprudence and the Constitution of India

150 marks

3 hours