This article is written by Advocate Navya Prathipati and edited by Vanshika Kapoor (Senior Managing Editor, Blog iPleaders). This article will cover all the details regarding qualifications, eligibility criteria, application form process, vacancies, syllabus, stage-wise preparation, tips and tricks, books to refer to, and a ton of FAQs that every judiciary aspirant must know and have in mind while preparing for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. 

Introduction

Once in a while, every law student or graduate aspires to become a judicial officer. In fact, a majority of young students pursue law to become judges. Given the role that a judicial officer plays in creating an impact and transforming societal thoughts at young ages, the race for judicial exams is increasing year by year. Cracking the magistrate/junior civil judge exams became tough, vowing to increase competition. Especially in metropolitan states, the competition is at an intense rate. The Karnataka Judicial Services Examination is one such competitive exam in the country. Strategy and the right preparation are crucial to success in the judiciary exams. The format and style of the examination papers for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination differs from that of other states. It tests the practical application of knowledge in addition to the theory. Hence, all Karnataka judiciary aspirants should know the exam pattern, its syllabus, and a basic preparation strategy before beginning the preparation journey. This article covers all the essential aspects that an aspirant must know about the Karnataka Judicial Services Exam. Without further ado, let us dive deep into the intricacies of the exam. 

About the Junior Civil Judge/Magistrate roles 

When we say ‘Judge’, people assume it is a kind of synonym. However, there are different categories of judges in which a legal professional or a common citizen with sound knowledge could decipher the real difference. The first level of judges is the junior civil judges/magistrates. The junior civil judges form part of the initial level of the hierarchy; they play a crucial role at the gross root level. All the junior level judges deal with the gross root level and the decision impacts the citizens. It is a prestigious position that comes with a lot of dedication and sincerity. To weed out the meritorious and talented judicial officers, every exam is conducted in the name of Junior Civil Judge examinations. 

The posts of Junior Civil Judges are filled by direct recruitment through Junior Civil Judge cum Magistrate exams. All law graduates who are enrolled as advocates are eligible to appear for the examination. Initially, there was a requirement of a minimum of three years of practice; however, many states have done away with the requirement. In this way, the selection for the post of Junior Civil Judge is made all over India in each respective state. The position of judge comes with a lot of responsibility along with its perks. 

Outline of the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

In accordance with the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004, every year the High Court of Karnataka invites online applications to fill the posts of civil judges by direct recruitment. In 2023, applications were invited for the recruitment of 57 posts of civil judges, including 16 backlog posts. 

Qualifications and eligibility for Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

Aspirants appearing for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination need to fulfil the following qualifications and eligibility criteria to appear for the exam. 

Qualifications to appear for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination

• A candidate appearing for the exam should be a citizen of India. The term citizen is defined as per Articles 5 and 6 of the Indian Constitution. 
• Every applicant must hold a degree in law from a recognised university or any institution affiliated with any university recognised by the state or central government established by law in India. No other special qualification or professional experience is required except a law degree.
• A candidate should be an ‘advocate’ as per the Advocates Act, 1961 and enrolled with any Bar Council of a State or Union Territory as of the date of notification. 
• A candidate should possess good moral character to be eligible for appointment as a judicial officer. 
• A candidate should be medically fit, as certified by the state health department, to discharge the duties of the post for which he is appointed.

Age criteria to be eligible for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination 

The age limit prescribed for the Karnataka Civil Judge post recruitment is as follows:

• For general candidates (unreserved category), the candidate should be within the age of  35 years as of the date of release of the notification. 
• For Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes (SCs and STs), the age relaxation of 3 years is granted as per provisions of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1992. Hence, a candidate under this category should be at the age of 38 years as of the notification’s release date.
• For ex-servicemen candidates, a relaxation of three years is granted to the upper age limit as prescribed above. 

Qualifications and age-criteria for in-service candidates 

• Applicants should hold a degree in law from a recognised university or any institution affiliated with any university recognised by the state or central government established by law in India.
• A candidate must not be above the age of forty years in case of the general category and forty-three years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 
• In-service candidates- The staff personnel of district courts and high court are eligible to apply for the posts of Civil Judge irrespective of the cadre. However, candidates should possess all the required qualifications.  
• In addition to the in-service candidates, the Additional Government Pleaders, Assistant Public Prosecutors, and those working in Government Litigation and Public prosecutor departments are also eligible for the posts of Civil Judge. 

Verification of age is done through a stringent process. Documents such as a 10th pass certificate, a birth certificate, or any equivalent as prescribed are considered proof of age. On a few occasions, government ID cards can be used as proof of age documents. 

Disqualifications for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination 

• A candidate should not be dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired from service by the government, the High Court, or any statutory/local authority and permanently barred or disqualified by any High Court or any State Public Service Commission from appearing before any exam conducted by it or discharged from service during the probationary period as a judicial officer. 
• A candidate who has been removed from the role of the Bar Council, if he or she influences the recruitment authority directly or indirectly or if he/she has been convicted of moral turpitude, is ineligible and disqualified to appear for the examination. 
• If the candidate is found to be unsuitable for the judicial post due to the penalty or any punishment imposed by the Bar Council or by any disciplinary authority. 
• If the candidate directly or indirectly influences the recruiting authority for his/her application or position. 
• Married candidates (he or she) appearing for the examination should not have more than one spouse. 

Vacancies and pay scale of Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

The vacancies released for the recruitment of junior civil judges are classified into different categories as per the reservations under the state enactments. Below is the tabular presentation of the detailed classification of KJS exam 57 vacancies for 2023. 

Categories	Unreserved	Women candidates	Rural candidates	Kannada Medium	Ex-servicemen	Persons with benchmark disability	Others	Total
General (Unreserved)	5	5	5	1	2	–	–	18
Scheduled Caste	2	2	2	1	–	–	–	7
Scheduled Tribe	–	1	1	1	–	–	–	3
Category-I	–	1+5*	1+1*	2*	2*	1*	–	2+11*
Category-II(A)	1	2	2	1	–	–	–	6
Category-II(B)	–	1	4*	–	–	–	–	1+4*
Category-III(A)	–	1	1*	1	–	–	–	2+1*
Category-III(B)	–	1	–	–	–	–	1	2
TOTAL	8	14+5*	11+6*	5+2*	2+2*	1*	1	41+16*

‘*’ represents backlog posts 

Vacancies and categories under the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination 

Notifications are released inviting applications from eligible candidates based on the yearly available vacancies. The number of posts varies each year, depending on the vacancies. The vacancies are categorised under different quotas as Unreserved (UR), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Persons with Disability (PwD) to promote equal participation and encourage diversity. Reservations are made available for SC and ST candidates under the provisions of state Acts and government orders. Please find below the vacancies from previous years’ examinations. 

S.No.	Year	Unreserved (UR)	Schedule Caste (SC)	Schedule Tribe (ST)	Other Categories	Total Vacancies
1.	2023	18	7	3	29	57
2.	2022	18	6	1	31	56
3.	2021	37	10	4	43	94
4.	2020	21	6	1	28	53

(Table 2: Vacancies in Karnataka Judicial Services (Junior Civil judges) posts from years 2023, 22, 21, and 20) 

In accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, some of the posts are reserved for the PWD category (locomotor) or a similar percentage of disability. As explained above, the number of vacancies is distributed among various categories. 

Can a candidate belonging to a state other than Karnataka apply for the KJS Exam   

The reservations for SCs, STs, and other categories, as explained above, are not applicable to individuals not belonging to Karnataka State or candidates belonging to a state other than Karnataka. Candidates from other states are considered in the general category and cannot claim any reservations in the application form. 

Aspirants or candidates applying for the examination should be aware of the vacancies in various categories. It helps to understand the competition and also helps in the formulation of strategies for preparation. To know more information about reservations and vacancies, click here. 

Payscale of the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination 

The latest unrevised pay scale of the Junior Judge of Karnataka State ranges between Rs. 77,840 – 136520/- per month plus allowances. The Karnataka Judicial Services Rules, 2004 regulate and prescribe the pay scale provisions, which are subject to change as per the amendments to the Act. The allowances, pensions, leave and other conditions of service are regulated corresponding to those of state civil servants.

Number of attempts for the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

The notification and judicial service rules of the State of Karnataka did not prescribe the number of maximum attempts that an applicant has for the exam. The limitation is only concerning the age, i.e., 35 and 38-40 years, respectively. Hence, an aspirant can write/give an attempt at the exam any number of times before the age limit. 

Exam pattern and syllabus for the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

There are three stages in total to qualify for the exam. The aggregate marks obtained in the Mains Written Examination and Viva Voce determine the final merit list based on which the selection of candidates is made. The examination consists of three stages in total: 

1.  Preliminary Examination 
2. Written Examination (Mains) and 
3. Viva-Voce. 

The marks for the Preliminary Exam are only qualifying in nature to appear for the main examination. The marks in Prelims are not added to the final aggregate. The stages and syllabus for each stage are as follows: 

Preliminary examination (100 marks)

This is the first stage of the examination. The paper is for a total of 100 marks, consisting of objective-type questions. Each question carries one mark. The examination duration is two hours. There has been no negative marking announced till now by the Karnataka High Court. The instructions to answer the paper will be given on the first page of the question booklet.

Syllabus 

The topics that cover the prelim exam paper syllabus are given below. The entire syllabus is divided into three parts. They are as follows: 

Part-A: 

1. Constitution of India
2. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 
3. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 
4. Transfer of Property Act, 1882 
5. Indian Contract Act, 1872 
6. Specific Relief Act, 1963 
7. Karnataka Rent Act, 1999 

Part-B: 

1. Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 
2. Indian Penal Code, 1860; and 
3. Indian Evidence Act, 1872 

Part-C:

• General Knowledge (G.K) – To test the mental and reasoning ability 

G.K., Aptitude, and English account for 40 marks, and the remaining law topics for 60 marks. No specific syllabus is mentioned in the Notification. However, previous years’ question papers help to understand the question pattern for that particular segment. To learn more about the preliminary examination syllabus, please refer to the FAQs. 

Qualifying marks for the Karnataka Judicial Services Preliminary Examination 

The preliminary stage is qualifying in nature, as the marks obtained in this stage will not be counted in the determination of the final merit list. The candidates in the general category need to obtain a minimum of 60 marks, whereas the candidates in the reserved category (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) need to obtain a minimum of 50 marks to qualify/pass the preliminary examination. 

With strong basics, candidates can qualify for the exam. The Karnataka Judicial Services Examination marking criteria in the preliminary examination will be notified by the High Court of Karnataka.  

Mains written examination 

All candidates that score minimum qualifying marks as prescribed above in the prelims are eligible to write the main written examination (equivalent to the mains). In the main written examination, there is 1 translation paper and 3 law papers. It contains both objective and descriptive type subjects. Except for the English and Language papers, which are completely descriptive, the other papers contain both objective-based questions (20 marks) and descriptive questions (60 marks). The time allotted for each paper is three hours. 

Syllabus and subjects

S.No.	Subject Papers	Syllabus
	Law Paper -I (100 marks)	The Constitution of India and Principles of Pleading The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
	Law Paper- II (100 marks)	Framing of issues and writing of judgments in Civil cases
3.	Law Paper -III (100 marks)	Framing of charges and writing of judgments in Criminal cases.
4.	Translation Paper (100 marks)	There is one translation paper for 100 marks. The paper contains: Translation of an English Passage into KannadaTranslation of a Kannada Passage into EnglishThe passages given for translation include depositions, judgments, and documents.

(Table 3: KJS junior civil judge mains exam papers’ subjects and syllabus of each paper)

Qualifying marks for Karnataka Judicial Services Mains Examination 

The candidates in the general category need to obtain a minimum of 50 marks in each paper, whereas the candidates in the reserved category (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) obtain 40 marks in each paper to pass the main written examination. This is the crucial stage, as the final list and ranks heavily depend on the marks of the written examination. Without obtaining the minimum number of papers in each paper, a candidate will not be eligible to appear for the Viva-Voce. So, at this stage, each mark counts. For more details, refer to the FAQ’s at the end of the article. 

Viva voce (100 marks)

This is the last and final stage of the KJS exam. Viva Voce, which can also be called an interview, is conducted for 100 marks. The official notification does not prescribe any syllabus for this stage. An interview is nothing but a test of personality rather than theoretical knowledge. Your legal knowledge has already been tested through prelims and mains examinations. Hence, in this stage, aspirants need to focus on the personality development that is expected from a position as a judicial officer. An interviewer tests the thinking ability and communication skills of a candidate. The key sources for this stage are newspapers (focusing mainly on editorials) and legal current affairs. As the questions are unpredictable, aspirants must prepare from all perspectives. The parameters against which the viva voce is marked are the general knowledge of the candidate, grasp of principles of law, and suitability of a candidate for appointment as Civil Judge. 

Qualifying marks for Viva Voce and final merit list for Karnataka Judicial Services Examination

The Viva Voce, which is equivalent to an interview, is the final stage of the exam. The candidates in the general category need to obtain a minimum of 50 marks, whereas the candidates in the reserved category (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) need to obtain a minimum of 40 marks to pass the Viva-Voce. No separate or special syllabus is prescribed for the viva voce. Every candidate needs to obtain minimum qualifying marks to be eligible for the appointment as a Civil Judge. For example: if a candidate obtains maximum marks in the main written examination but fails to obtain minimum marks in the Viva Voce, then such a candidate will not be eligible for appointment. The qualifying marks for the interview are subject to amendments to the Karnataka Judicial Services (Recruitment) Rules, 2004. 

In this way, a candidate must qualify with minimum marks as prescribed to succeed through each stage. Based on the final cumulative scores obtained by candidates from the Mains examination and interview, the final list is prepared. The selection against vacancies is usually in the ratio of 1:7. More about each stage is explained further in the article.

Computer test (25 marks)

The Karnataka Judicial Services Examination has this special test on computer knowledge. The main purpose is to ascertain the suitability and knowledge of the candidate. The marks obtained by a candidate in a computer test are not added to the total marks obtained in the Mains and Viva-Voce. 

How to submit an application for the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

The application for the KJS exam should be made online through the Online Application Portal only. No hard copy applications are considered. The costs for the Prelims, main examination, and Viva-Voce are on the candidates alone. The reading instructions are provided on the website of the Karnataka High Court in a pdf file/notification named ‘General Instructions’. Applicants need to follow the instructions properly before applying to avoid mistakes. The steps that applicants should follow for applying to the KJS Examination are given below: 

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Karnataka High Court, https://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/ where the online application portal for applications is available. 

Step 2: On the Home page, go to the recruitment tab option to apply. 

Step 3: Fill in all the details in the application form for the KJS exam with the help of the reading instructions manual. All the personal details, such as name, gender, category, etc., should be filled out carefully and correctly. A passport size photograph with a signature is to be uploaded along with the application. 

Step 4: Each application form is assigned a unique registration number and a fee must be paid against the form. After the fee payment, click on the ‘submit’ button. Print a copy of the application form for your future reference. Payment of the exam fee can be made in two methods: Online payment and Challan payment. 

• For Online Payment – After submission of the application form, online payment has to be made through the State Bank of India (SBI) gateway. 
• Challan Payment- This is the traditional method of payment where fees can be paid offline through banks. In order to pay through the challan method, after submission of the application form, a challan in pdf format has to be downloaded from the payment gateway. After that, the fee amount has to be paid at the nearest branch of SBI. 

Please note: Avoid submitting multiple applications, which might lead to unnecessary headaches. Complete the form with the utmost dedication and appropriate knowledge about the application procedure. Be mindful of deadlines and extended deadlines, if any. Never neglect the dates; try to submit the form as soon as possible. 

Deadlines are another key aspect that every candidate should be mindful of. The notifications contain the last date for submission of the application and the last date for payment of fees. Hence, accordingly, a candidate has to plan to apply for the exam. Unlike other professional exams like CS, CA, etc., competitive exams like UPSC and judiciary exams do not give a chance for late fees and others. So, deadlines or the last date of payment are important when applying for the judicial service exams. 

To clear up some doubts about the application procedure and admit cards, click here. 

Application fees for the KJS Examination 

The fee structure of the KJS Examination application form is as follows: 

1. The Preliminary exam fee for the General merit and candidates belonging to Category-II(A)/II(B)/III(A)/III(B) is Rs. 500/- 
2. For Reserved category (SC/ST/Category-I) candidates, the exam fee is  Rs. 250/- 

There is no refund option for the application fee and no adjustments can be made for any future events. Payment can be made through any online form, such as Credit/Debit Cards, net banking, wallets, cash cards, and UPI, with respective bank payments. There is also a facility for offline payment, i.e., through the Challan payment method. 

Is there any separate examination fee for prelims-qualified candidates 

Yes, there is a separate main examination fee for the KJS examination. All the candidates who qualify for the preliminary examination successfully and are eligible to appear for the main examination need to pay the main written examination fee within 15 days of the announcement of the results of the Preliminary examination. The fee for candidates belonging to General Merit and Category II is Rs.1000/- and for candidates of SC/ST/Category-I is Rs.500/- 

Note: Candidature of prelims qualified candidates will not be considered if the application fee for mains is not paid within the deadline mentioned. Hence, candidates have to take serious note of the same. 

How to check the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam results 

Verification of final results is the most awaited moment for any aspirant. A candidate can check/verify the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination by following the steps given below: 

1. Open/visit the official website of Karnataka High Court. 
2. Open the ‘Civil Judge Recruitment’ tab on the website 
3. The recruitment tab contains all the notifications and circulars pertaining to the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. Click on the one that displays the final results of the year you appeared, such as No. 2 of 2023. 
4. The link redirects you to a pdf file where the final list of selected candidates is displayed. 
5. You can verify the results with your roll number and name. 
6. If the result is positive, download a soft copy of the results for future reference. 

Stage-wise analysis of the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam

Exam preparation strategy for the KJS Preliminary examination

This is the foremost and yet crucial stage of the KJS examination. The questions in the prelims are objective based Multiple choice questions. Though the questions posed in this stage are direct, they require strong foundations, or the basics of a subject, to be answered correctly. The prelims paper carries 100 questions for a total of 100 marks, with each question scoring 1 mark. The negative marking of the examination will be prescribed in that particular year’s notification. With respect to the preparation strategy, the two effective mantras of this stage are Bare Acts and mock tests. Strong conceptual clarity of legal principles and legal topics is crucial. One can start with the reading of Bare Acts of all the subjects or enactments mentioned in the syllabus. While preparing, the local laws of the state, i.e., the Karnataka Rent Act,1999 should not be ignored. To get clarity on doubts and a better understanding of the concepts, the standard books must be referred to. One must customise the books and materials list; more about this is discussed in the further sections of this article. Because few people can read from different sources and yet retain the key points, while others go by a single book as they easily get confused. Taking all the factors into consideration, one can refer to the standard books listed by them for each subject. One can rely on the materials or books that were used by candidates during their law course. Because it will be convenient and also be like a revision of the previous reading. However, aspirants must make sure that all the important and basic concepts are covered exhaustively by the authors in the book. 

In the prelims examination paper for KJS, the general knowledge part is a bit tricky, as the syllabus mentioned in the notification is not clear or precise. Yet, it cannot be ignored because it constitutes nearly 15 to 20 marks. At this point, the previous year’s question paper plays a significant role. The pattern and trend of the questions in this section can be analysed by analysing the previous year’s papers. The topics can be traced to the previous year’s question papers. Apart from previous year question papers, newspapers are another good source for general knowledge and current affairs. The subject-wise strategy for the prelims examination is as follows: 

Part-A 

Constitution of India – It is one of the lengthiest subjects of law. A good grip on the basic provisions of the Constitution, like the Preamble, amendments, key articles, etc., is a must. It is necessary to be thorough on article numbers, important amendments, and landmark judgments on the subject. 

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – CPC is a very useful subject both theoretically and practically. Going through and reading all the sections, orders and schedules is important to gain a good score, even when expected questions are asked. Nonetheless, the important provisions and core areas of CPC for preparation are Sections 1-25, 26-30, 33, 34, 38-40, 45, 50, 55, 57, 60, 61, 35, 35A, Order 1-10, 27-37.  

The Indian Contract Act, 1872 – It is the foundational enactment for civil and commercial cases under substantive law. All the provisions related to contract law should be read. Aspirants should be thorough with the basic concepts and principles. In prelims, the MCQs are straightforward and can be answered with a good understanding of the basics. For the Main written examination paper, a deep understanding of concepts is needed to score good marks. The landmark judgments, such as the Carbolic Smoke Ball Company, Lalman Shukla v. Gauri Datt, etc., and important definitions of keywords should be covered. 

The Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act, 1981–  The NI Act is an important Act for the preliminary paper of the Karnataka Judiciary. As it is a simple Act with no complex concepts, covering all Sections is highly advisable. The definition clauses should be read well, as should topics related to cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange, drawers, and others. 

Karnataka Rent Act, 1999 – Rent Acts are state-specific legislations. Provisions of the enactment vary from state to state, certain sections that aspirants need to focus on are the number of days for eviction, notice period, rent scale, and other key provisions. No special strategy is required for the subject. As the minimum questions are asked from the act, a  detailed study of the entire Act with an understanding of the topic will be sufficient to answer the questions. 

Part-B 

Part B contains criminal law subjects, i.e., Cr.P.C., Indian Penal Code, and Indian Evidence Act. 30 to 35 questions are from this section of the paper in the prelims. Though half of the questions are direct provisions from the enactment, the remaining questions are illustration-based type questions. A thorough revision of the bare acts helps to prepare for the direct questions; however, the illustration-based questions require a sound conceptual understanding of the basics of the provisions. Otherwise, candidates might get confused and choose the wrong answers to the questions. For the Indian Evidence Act, I.P.C., and Cr.P.C. Subject practice of illustration-based questions is crucial because questions related to I.P.C. and the Evidence Act are not direct and are based on illustration or analysis. 

Indian Evidence Act, 1872 – It is one of the important subjects both for prelims and main examinations. A candidate should focus on the basics of the subject and concepts related to presumptions. The Sections that require in-depth reading are Sections 1-32, 101-146 and 136. 

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – Definitions of key terms like inquiry, investigation, complaint, bail, anticipatory bail, etc. are important. For purposes of Karnataka judiciary trials, Sections of the CrPC should be read thoroughly. An in-depth study of the investigation and charges is essential. Important provisions are Sections 1-40, 41-60, 154, and Sections 190-210. 

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 – IPC subject should be read thoroughly. Along with conceptual understanding, the practice of applying concepts in MCQ form or illustration-based questions should be encouraged. Some of the important sections are 34, 35, 149, and 320. All the latest amendments made to the subject, such as Criminal Law Amendments should be studied. 

Please note that the important Sections mentioned are only for reference purposes and no accuracy should be attributed to the above guidance. The important topics and Sections vary each year based on exam papers’ trends and patterns. 

Part-C 

General knowledge is the only subject of this section. Every year, between 15 and 20 questions are from the section of G.K. The pattern of questions that can be drawn from the previous years’ question papers is that they cover legal knowledge/affairs questions related to legal and political history. Hence, the best strategy is to focus on legal history and political questions related to law. Candidates can take the help of guides to prepare well for this paper. 

You can also access newspaper analysis and current affairs (from standard papers such as The Hindu and Indian Express) from Lawsikho’s Judiciary Prep Official YouTube channel free of cost.  

Some of the crucial tips and tricks that aspirants should be mindful of to successfully crack the KJS examination are as follows: 

• There are two patterns of questions asked in the prelims paper. They are concept based questions and provision based questions. For subjects like contract law, it can be observed that questions are usually concept based unlike those in CPC, which are provision based. Similarly, aspirants need to analyse the previous year’s questions and study accordingly. 
• The general knowledge questions include both static and current affairs. Important concepts and static knowledge of subjects like the Constitution should be read.
• Candidates appearing for the exams should be aware of the rules and conduct of the exam. Whether any negative marking is announced should be seen. The practice of OMR marking should be taken care of. Admit cards issued by the examination authorities should be read thoroughly to avoid missing any important instructions.  

Exam preparation strategy for the KJS Mains (Written) examination

Generally, the preparation for prelims and written examinations go hand-in-hand for judiciary exams in most of the states. However, the strategy and approach for the Karnataka judiciary exam should/must vary as the syllabus and pattern of prelims and mains examinations are different. The syllabus for both the preliminary and final written examinations is almost similar, pertaining only to Law Paper-I though the nature and depth of questions vary at each stage. Law Papers- II and III are practical application papers of theory and practice. Hence, a different approach should be followed for these two papers. Nonetheless, the preparation for both stages has to go simultaneously with differences in approach. This stage is crucial and also tough to clear. Mains determine the listing of your name in final selections. A different strategy has to be adopted for each paper. 

Law Paper-I (100 Marks)

This paper contained the Constitution and the major civil and criminal enactments. It contains four subjects in total, in addition to the principles of pleadings. The paper is divided into four parts. The CPC, including the principles of Pleadings and CrPC, shares 30 marks each in the entire paper, totalling 60 marks. The Indian Evidence Act and the Constitution of India contain 20 marks each. The weightage is divided between 60 and 40 percentages. There are 5 marks and 10 marks questions. The subjects of CPC and CrPC can be said to be the foundations for these papers. The questions are simple and direct, based on the provision of a law, a concept or a legal draft. Parts I and II also contain analytical questions for 20 marks. As the questions are direct in this paper, aspirants need to utilise their critical and analytical skills while presenting the answers. Using these skills will help you gain a competitive edge over others. 

Law Paper II (100 Marks)

This paper contains questions relating to framing issues and writing judgments in civil cases. There is no prescribed syllabus for this paper.  It contains questions relating to framing issues for 25 marks and judgement writing for the remaining 75 marks. Hence, judgement writing occupies a huge chunk of the paper. The strategy for this paper should be to mainly focus on the judgement writing. Unlike the main papers of other state judiciaries’, where theory plays a key role, the Karnataka judiciary’s mains examination papers’ question patterns focus on the practical application of the law rather than being purely theoretical. This prepares and requires a candidate to gain knowledge of the practical application of theory in court practice. Case studies are given in each section of the paper, through which a candidate will get hands-on experience by presiding as a judge in real court scenarios. Hence, the best strategy that aspirants should adopt for papers like these is: 

Practice. Yes, a lot of practice is required to gain maximum efficiency for this paper. Because this paper contains practical questions, i.e., framing of issues and judgement writing. In addition to the strong basics of the subjects or syllabus of civil law, only through consistent practice can one achieve good scores. 

Law Paper-III (100 Marks)

Law Paper-III contains questions related to the framing of charges and judgments in criminal cases. The pattern of this paper is similar to that of Law Paper-II, the difference is only in the subjects, i.e., civil and criminal laws. 25 marks are allotted for framing of charges and 75 marks for judgement writing. In this paper, the questions are from criminal law. The Evidence Act is the common subject for both Law Paper-II and Law Paper-III. 

The strategy for this paper is similar to that of Law paper-II. One should try to leverage the differences between the subjects. For example: in criminal law, the burden of proof is beyond reasonable doubt, whereas under civil law, the preponderance of probabilities is the proof. Similarly, one should identify the differences or variations of civil and criminal laws and focus on the relevant points. One should practise judgement writing for this paper too. The difference between the judgement writing of a civil and criminal varies from each other. Hence, a specific focus on the differences is essential.  

Translation Paper (100 Marks)

This is the language paper for the KJS Examination. Generally, for a native speaker of Kannada, no specific books are required for the paper. Usually, there is a tendency among the aspirants where they ignore the language paper, assuming that they could clear it effortlessly. The translations, essay writing, and social context questions in the KJS Translation paper require aspirants to answer the questions in the grammatically correct local language. Questions or passages need to be translated from English to Kannada and from Kannada to English. The questions or passages in the translation paper are in the form of depositions, judgments and documents. The paper is divided into two parts, where the translation questions are for 30 marks and the essay writing is for 70 marks. 

The preparation strategy for the paper would be: first, reading legal journals and daily newspapers to improve the language. A glossary of words can be prepared from the daily newspaper readings, which can be utilised for the exam. Second, through reading a local language newspaper (i.e., the Kannada language) and grammar practice, candidates can also try giving 2–3 mocks of the Kannada language paper to test their comfort with the language. A special focus on the language paper must be made by the candidates who hail from other or non-native states and are appearing for the Karnataka Judicial Service examination. 

In this way, candidates can prepare for the Karnataka Judicial Services Mains Examination.   

Some of the crucial tips and tricks that aspirants should be mindful of  for successfully cracking the KJS mains examination are as follows: 

• Most of the preparation time should be allotted for the mains examination, as the majority of the marks of mains determine the final list. The mains preparation should be started along with the prelims for the initial few months; after that, the focus should be on the mains alone. Again, a month or so before prelims, one should go for revision and mock tests.
• A schedule for the entire year must be prepared by aspirants to utilise the time effectively. 
• The preparation strategy and practice should be different for Law Paper-I and Law Paper-II, III. Because question patterns and answer writing styles are completely different for each paper. Hence, focus should be on effective practice of answer writing to score good marks. 
• For translation papers, a minimum amount of time should be allocated. Solving previous year question papers and regular practice would be sufficient to score good marks. The natives of the language, i.e., Kannada, need not worry much about the translation paper as the questions are simple and direct in nature. Weightage must be given to Mains Law-I, II, and III in comparison to translation paper. 
• Conceptual clarity and writing skills are essential to acing the Karnataka judiciary exam. For Karnataka, one should be able to write judgments to qualify for the examination. Special emphasis should be given to judgement writing, which is a crucial and unique part of the KJS Exam. 

Writing practice for KJS Mains examination 

Mains is one of the crucial and toughest stages of the KJS Examination. Because it is descriptive in nature, unlike objective in prelims. It is a subjective stage where there are no set standards. The marks are highly dependent on the quality of the answers that aspirants write. It is a competitive stage where each mark makes a huge difference. Hence, answer writing skills play a significant role for the mains. In addition to the number of hours an aspirant studies or reads content, if the aspirant fails to put it in writing appropriately, then the entire effort would be futile. 

In the main stage, the knowledge has to be expressed in writing in a clear and precise way. In a given time, aspirants need to answer the questions, meeting the demands of the question and quality. Each candidate writes answers in their own style. Hence, the strategic edge of writing answers should be framed to gain extra marks. The answer writing practice tips for the KJS Mains examination are given below. Read further. 

Answer writing practice for KJS Law Paper – I, II, and III  

Writing is a skill in itself and requires lots of hard work and dedication to learn. Answer writing is an art that can be gained only through practice. One can start the answer writing practice tentatively after the first revision of the syllabus. The law paper-II of the Karnataka judiciary contains descriptive questions in question answer format. The paper is divided into Part-I, Part-II, Part-III and Part-IV based on the arrangement of syllabi. There are 5 marker and 10 marker questions. Similarly, in Papers II & III there are framing of issues questions for 25 marks. The practice for these questions can be carried along with the Paper-I questions. 

Almost all the questions are direct in nature. Initially, one can start the answer writing practice topic wise or subject wise. After gaining a good grip on the basics, one can go for full length tests. During the practice, aspirants should be mindful of the structure of the answer, quality and time management. Quality content should be written within the given time. Answering the demands of the question is important. One more crucial aspect with respect to answer writing is consistency. Thorough practice is essential to increasing the ability to write quality answers. A study plan for answer writing practice must be prepared with targets. This way, fruitful results will be obtained. Attempting full pledged mock tests before the final main examination helps the aspirants identify their potential weaknesses and strengths.  

Judgement writing practice for the KJS Mains Paper-II & III 

Judgement writing plays a crucial role in the KJS Mains examination. Both Law Paper -II and Law Paper-III contain 75 marks solely for the judgement writing, i.e., almost half of the mains marks are covered by judgement writing. Hence, aspirants need to have a special focus on this aspect because judgement writing is usually not taught in law colleges. In fact, only states such as Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have judgement writing. So, all KJS aspirants need to take guidance and formulate a strategy for judgement writing to score good marks. This segment is also a competitive edge for the candidates. 

Law Paper -II contains judgement writing for civil cases and Law Paper-III for criminal cases. In civil and criminal cases, judgement writing differs from each other. In civil cases, issues are framed, whereas in criminal cases, charges are framed. Similarly, the law, pattern and format are different. A basic template for a judgement includes the following contents: 

1. Title of Judgment- It contains the name of court, designation of judge and the place of court. In civil cases, the suit number, and similarly in criminal cases, the case numbers, along with the FIRs, police station, etc., have to be mentioned. The names of the parties should also be included. 
2. Facts- The facts that are admitted by both parties should be written. A general overview of the admitted facts should be given first, followed by the facts at issue. The factual content depends on case to case. The disputed facts in both civil and criminal cases can be mentioned briefly. 
3. Issues- This is the most important segment of a judgement. Candidates need to use their presence of mind and logic to frame the issues because correct framing of issues navigates a case through proper adjudication.
4. Evidence and applicable law- The evidence given in the question paper and also relevant law that decides the issue in hand need to be incorporated in this section. 
5. Ratio of the decision- This is the most crucial part of the judgement. It explains or contains the reasoning for arriving at a particular conclusion in the case. 

Exam strategy for KJS interview 

Half the journey is done by the candidates who reach the stage of viva voce or interview. Nonetheless, the other half of the journey, i.e., the interview, is equally important. Aspirants continue to maintain equal amounts of energy consistently. During the course until the final stage, aspirants need to be engaged in the process. All the candidates who qualified in the mains will be called for the interview stage. There is no prescribed separate theoretical syllabus for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. The knowledge or preparation for the mains would be sufficient and could be used in the interview stage. 

The right approach for the interview stage can be adopted when the purpose is understood. An interview is a personality test. The candidate’s capability and suitability for the position will be tracked down at this stage. Personality development is crucial to ace the interview. Aspirants need to start from day 1 of the preparation journey working on their personality development through a schedule. Newspaper reading and reading on legal issues should be part of the curriculum. Staying updated on news and legal issues is also important. Aspirants must be able to display or showcase their honesty, commitment, confidence and ability to the interview board. Guidance from experts and experienced individuals would be an added advantage. 

Some of the crucial tips and tricks that aspirants should be mindful of for successfully cracking the KJS mains examination are as follows: 

• Aspirants who reach the stage of interview are only one step away from being on the final list. Hence, preparation for the interview should be equally focused on by the aspirants. Candidates should prepare themselves for the final stage throughout the year by working on personality development. 
• Never carry any burden in mind about the mistakes happening in the mains examination papers to the interview stage. One should be calm and composed during the interview. It will be achieved only when all the disturbances are cleared from the mind. 
• One key aspect is that candidates must show and display that they have traits to be a judicial officer and are the best fit for the position. In addition to knowledge, the personality of a candidate is tested. Confidence, ability and communication—all three are essential. 
• Mock interviews and feedback from experts or experienced people will be an added advantage to the preparation. 

List of books and materials for the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam

Bare Acts are the primary source of study for all law subjects. After that, the selection of books and materials that candidates rely on for competitive exams like the judiciary is crucial. At this point, almost every candidate will be in a confused state and have a number of doubts about the books/materials. Do not worry; it is a natural tendency. 

Though the judiciary exams are held by states independently, the subjects of the syllabus are almost the same in all states except language papers. States such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have additional questions like that of judgement writing. However, standard subjects such as the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) and CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure), Constitution, Indian Evidence Act, etc., are part of the syllabus across all the state judiciary exams in India. The notable differences can be found in the pattern of questions.   

After Bare Acts, standard books are a key source of materials for the judiciary exams. There are more than two standard books authored by different persons available on the market. We advise the aspirants to select the standard books which a candidate is well-equipped or find easier to study and understand. For example: one might have already read or followed one author’s books during law school. One can continue with the same standard books, which will help in revision. One can use their class notes or any kind of study materials from the law course. Some of the standard books that we suggest are provided in tabular form. 

Subjects	Standard books
Karnataka Rent Act, 1999	Bare Act of any notable publishers
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881	The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, authored by R.K. Bangia
Judgments and How to Write them	A book authored by S.D. Singh
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872	Indian Evidence Act books authored by KD Gaur and Avtar Singh
Transfer of Property Act, 1882	The Transfer of Property Act by Mulla
Constitution of India	Indian Constitutional law books by M. P. Jain and A. K. Jain, or Avtar singh
Indian Penal Code, 1860	Indian Penal Code by K.D. Gaur
Indian Contract Act, 1872	Contract and Specific Relief Act by Avtar Singh
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	Mulla’s Code of Civil ProcedureCivil Procedure Code by C.K. Takwani
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973	Code of Criminal Procedure by authors  Sarkar or Ratanlal & Dhirajlal

(Table 4: Subjects of KJS junior civil judge exams and standard books list for each subject)

Please note: The book list is not exhaustive and merely suggestions. It can be modified by each aspirant based on one’s own preferences. 

The book list needs to be customised by the aspirants rather than blindly following any toppers list or coaching materials. Depending on their efficiency and quality, the books of reputed authors can be selected. One can find state specific books for subjects such as the Karnataka Rent Act and Kannada language papers. 

Important pointers and preparation tips for theKarnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

Competitive exams like those in the judiciary demand a lot from aspirants. Patience and determination are two such crucial elements. Throughout the preparation process, aspirants  In this section, some of the significant preparation tips are that every aspirant should be determined and stick to the schedule with patience. There is no one size fit exam strategy for all the aspirants. With the guidance of seniors, faculty members, and friends, one can formulate their own strategy for preparation. 

Analysis of previous years’ question papers and syllabus 

This is the foremost step that aspirants must follow without fail. Analysing the syllabus and previous year’s question papers for the KJS Exam. The syllabus for each paper should literally be at your fingertips because it helps aspirants make notes and read only relevant laws or content for the exam. Past year question papers help to understand the question paper pattern, trends, and demand of the questions. Aspirants will also get a fair understanding of important topics and scoring sections in each paper. However, it should be noted that scanning through the syllabus and previous year’s papers daily is important. A glimpse once or twice would not help much. So, some time must be allotted daily for the analysis of the previous year’s papers and syllabus. This step helps you score good marks. 

Schedule for exam preparation 

A schedule must be prepared for the preparation of the exam in the form of a timetable. It should list the timelines for each stage of the exam, starting from the Prelims to the viva voce. The allocation of time period for each phase and each paper of the exam has to be based on the toughness of the paper or subjects and the aspirant’s strengths and weaknesses on the subjects.  

More months have to be allocated for the mains as it is the scoring phase of the exam. For the KJS exam, in addition to the critical answer questions, judgement writing plays a key role. Hence, candidates need to allocate time for each paper accordingly and schedule the preparation strategy. As prelims is a qualifying paper, the strong basics of every subject are sufficient. A maximum of two to three months would be sufficient for the prelims. Similarly, depending on the subject, the toughness of the concept, etc., an exam preparation schedule must be prepared. Remember that exam preparation strategy plays a key role in success. It is advisable to seek guidance and suggestions before preparing a schedule for preparation. The scoring concepts, questions, etc. should also be taken into consideration. 

Preparation – setting goals 

Now that you are better equipped with the exam’s pattern and previous year’s questions, prepare a timetable. The real game begins now. Law subjects are lengthy and subjective; hence, maintaining consistency throughout the process is a challenge. To overcome this, candidates need to set daily, weekly and monthly targets. It helps to focus on the useful content and increases efficiency. Again, setting targets varies; first, there is a target schedule for reading a subject or topic; second, there are targets for revision. For in depth reading and analysis of concepts, sufficient weekly or monthly targets have to be set. In the end, each goal and target must be realistic. Following the realistic timetable will be easy to follow.  

Answer writing and judgement writing practice 

Answer writing practice and judgement writing practice are crucial aspects of the KJS Exam. Without proper practice, candidates won’t be able to complete the question paper within time with quality answers. Hence, thorough practice is crucial to successfully cracking the exam. The writing skills should be sharpened. Separate practice should be done for different patterns of questions. In Law Paper-I, there are short, descriptive questions that are direct. Whereas in Law Paper-II and Law Paper-III there is the framing of issues, questions and judgement writing. The importance of judgement writing in the KJS exam cannot be emphasised enough. So, special practice for judgement writing is essential. The answering techniques and structure or styles should be adopted based on the type of question. Practice and analysis of the answers should be conducted separately for each question. Mock tests play a crucial role in writing practice. 

Writing plays a crucial role in the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. Candidates need to complete the paper within three hours. This means the candidate must be quick enough in not only the writing but also the content. Practising writing skills depending on context, such as a question, answer or judgement, helps to present the answers in an appropriate way. Daily or at least weekly answer writing and judgement writing will benefit the candidate immensely and add value to the preparation process. 

Last minute tricks for the exam days of Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam 

For competitive exams like the judiciary, all aspirants put in years of study and preparation with a lot of patience and dedication. Nonetheless, your attitude on the final exam days ultimately reflects in the results. The few hours of examination time determine your future and test your years of hard work. Hence, being equally prepared for ‘the Day’ is crucial. Some of the pointers that aspirants should be mindful of are: 

• Revision – No matter how much content you might have read throughout the preparation journey, if you can’t revise and allocate time for revision, then it can become an impediment to succeed in the exam.  Hence, during examination days, aspirants should focus only on revision, preferably the revision of short notes. Relax and concentrate on revision. Do not overthink anything during these days. 
• For all mains papers, attempt all the questions (mandatory questions that are out of your choice). Entire 100 marks should be attempted without leaving any questions behind. Even the questions for which you did not know or were unsure about the answer, try to understand and attempt. The entire question paper should be completed within three hours. This is the crucial point that aspirants often neglect. 
• Remember, the interview is a ‘personality test’ more than a test of knowledge. Do not overread and struggle with your mind. Try to improvise on your personality and how to showcase your abilities to prove that you are the right candidate for the post of judicial officer. Have a positive thought process and presence of mind during interviews. 

Role of coaching in the Karnataka Judiciary (KJS) exam preparation

This is the foremost and most important question that arises in the minds of aspirants. Whether  there is a need for coaching? Before answering this question, let us first understand the role of coaching and to what extent it helps in the preparation process. Firstly, coaching provides guidance to the students/aspirants. An aspirant who newly enters the competition will not be in a position or might not accurately access the exam trends and patterns. That too within a short time (I am talking only in the context of freshers, not experienced aspirants). The tutors, who are experienced, can guide the aspirants about the syllabus, exam pattern, trends, preparation strategy, etc. In addition to that, notes will also be provided and topics of the syllabus will be explained either in audio or video format in context relevant to the examinations. Hence, coaching can lay the bedrock for your judiciary preparation journey. 

Karnataka Judicial Services Examination, especially Mains examination papers, require keen analysis and an appropriate approach to crack the exam successfully. The questions in Law Papers -I and II are application based and require proper guidance to score well in the papers. Also, sharpening one’s skills in tasks such as judgement writing is nearly impossible without coaching or guidance. Strong basics and knowledge of concepts are also crucial. Through thorough practice, mock tests, and feedback, one can improve their performance. Coaching helps aspirants in terms of extra support, guidance and feedback. Having said that, ultimately, it is the personal choice of the individual as to whether to opt for coaching or not. In the end, an individual’s determination and perseverance ultimately determine success. One should know how to utilise coaching effectively to its fullest potential, such as mock tests, guidance, constructive feedback, practical insights, etc. 

As explained above, there are several benefits that can be attributed to coaching. Ultimately, the decision depends on the financial capacity and capability of an aspirant. It is purely an individual choice. One sincere suggestion from our side is that every aspirant needs to take guidance from experts or experienced people or through a coaching institute before and during the preparation.  

Karnataka Judicial Officers’ selection procedure and service conditions  

Successfully cracking the judicial services exam is only half the race. The post-selection procedure is equally crucial and more challenging. Because it is the time when a candidate enters and deals with the professional world. The candidates from the first generation need to be aware and cautious, as they might not be aware of the nuances of the system. We suggest that every candidate who successfully cracks the judiciary service interacts with the judicial officers in service to gain practical insights into the workings of the system and the handling of responsibility. From our side, in this article, the significant post-selection steps and service conditions from the rule book are given for your reference. 

Probation and service conditions for the Judicial Officers (junior -civil-judge) of Karnataka  

• A list of selected candidates for the post of judicial officer (junior civil judge) will be published on the official website of the High Court of Karnataka. Subsequently, posting orders will be issued to the selected candidates, upon which one officially joins the judicial services. 
• After the posting of orders, all the selected officers who joined the service will be sent for training at the Judicial Academy of the state. All officers will be paid salary even during the training period and provided with free food and accommodation at the academy. The initial period of training is crucial for the judicial officers. This training phase should be distinguished from the training provided during the service in the form of refresher courses. Candidates who didn’t pass or qualify for the Kannada language test need to clear it during this period. 
• After training at the Judicial Academy, an appointment order for official joining of duty will be issued to the officers. All the judiciary officers need to join the service and be on duty without any delay. Any officer who fails to join needs to go through the procedure or action prescribed in the service rules. 
• All the judicial officers need to go through a probationary period of two years as per the Karnataka Civil Services Rules. The one year training period is part of probation. During the probationary period, the performance of the officers is evaluated by the responsible authorities. Officers who successfully crack the probationary period will be posted with a formal regular appointment letter along with performance based pay scale. 

Perks and benefits of the Karnataka Judicial Officers post 

For judicial aspirants, cracking the judicial services exams is a milestone. However, if you are doubtful about the career prospects of the judicial services, then definitely one should know about the perks that the position offers. Judicial services are one of the most respectable and highest paid government services. Though the salary might vary from state to state, judicial officers receive a handsome salary with perks. Some of the perks and benefits provided for Karnataka judicial officers are as follows: 

• The pay scale for the judicial officers depends on the recommendation of the pay commission and on official orders or policies by the Karnataka state government. In addition to the salary, whose pay scale is currently ranging between Rs. 77,840 – 136520/- per month, allowances are provided to the judicial officers. The allowances include Dearness Allowance, Travel Allowances, House Rent Allowance and HRA. 

• Under Karnataka Judicial Officers (Medical Attendance) Rules, 2009, a judicial officer and his/her family members are provided with free-of-charge medical treatment, including medical attendance. Medical expenses and medical charges are reimbursed wherever applicable. 
• Retirement benefits are provided to the judicial officers in case one remains in service till the superannuation or qualifying service. The retirement benefits that can be availed of by judicial officers are death-cum-retirement gratuity, pension, service gratuity, and family pension. 
• The non-monetary benefits that judicial officers gain are reputation and honour in society. It is one of the most respectable and responsible positions that one can aim for. 

Conclusion 

In a state like Karnataka, which is metropolitan, high-end competition can be observed in professional exams, including the judiciary. Nonetheless, the exam pattern of the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination, especially the main examination paper, is designed in such a way that only truly talented and meritorious candidates will get shortlisted. Without a proper strategy and preparation plan, even a desired and talented candidate may miss out on the opportunity to crack the prestigious Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. Please reach out to us for any doubts or queries. All the best for the upcoming Karnataka Judicial Services Examination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is the language paper of the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination different from that of other state judiciaries? 

Every state judiciary exam has a language paper, also known as a translation paper. 

What is the medium of language available for the main written examination papers and viva voce? 

Though the papers are available in standard English, candidates can choose Kannada for both the main written examination and the Viva Voce. 

How are candidates categorised under the general category? 

All the unreserved candidates as per the state reservation policy fall under the ‘General’ category. A candidate belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe to be considered under the General category needs to obtain minimum qualifying marks as prescribed for general category candidates in all Preliminary, main written examinations and Viva-Voce. 

Are all candidates eligible for Viva Voce shall be called for the final stage, i.e., Viva Voce? 

Depending on the number of vacancies notified for a particular year, the candidates called for Viva Voce are equal to 7 times the number of vacancies. This particular selection or filtering of candidates is made as per Rule II (1)(e)(ii) of Rule 5 of the Karnataka Judicial Services(Recruitment) Rules, 2004 and subsequent amendments in the years 2011, 2015 and 2016. 

What are the different categories of reservations that a candidate can claim while applying for the KJS Examination? 

The Karnataka judiciary provides different categories of reservations for the candidates. The types of reservations and the process to claim the same are provided below: 

1. Reservations for SC/ST/Category-I, II, III – To claim reservation under SC/ST/Category-I/II(A)/II(B)/III(A)/III(B), a candidate should possess with a valid caste certificate issued by the authorised authority in the prescribed format by the Government of Karnataka. It has to be submitted in pdf format while submitting the online application. The original copy should be produced before the selection committee. 
2. Reservations for Persons with benchmark disability- To claim a reservation under this category, candidates need to produce a certificate such as a disability certificate issued by the competent authority and produce a copy to the selection committee whenever necessary. 
3. Reservations for Ex-servicemen- Candidates should possess a certificate of release or discharge from military service to claim reservation under this category. 
4. Reservations under the Rural category- Candidates who studied 1st to 10th standard in rural areas are eligible to claim the reservation. The rural study certificate in the prescribed format by the Government of Karnataka attested by the Headmaster of the School is necessary. A  General Merit candidate should also possess the Form-1 certificate from the concerned Tahsildar certifying that the person does not belong to any creamy layer. Candidates who want to claim reservations under the rural category need to submit the documents online and also produce them before the selection committee whenever necessary. 
5. Reservations under the Kannada Medium category- State candidates who studied 1st to 10th standard in Kannada medium can claim reservation with an appropriate certificate from the concerned authority with an attestation by the Headmaster of the School. 
6. Reservations under the ‘Others’ category- The reservation under this category is in accordance with Section 6 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. A candidate eligible can claim the reservation with the support of appropriate certificates. 
7. Reservation for in-service candidates – The in-service candidates need to produce a “No Objection Certificate” from the concerned department as per the Karnataka Civil Service (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 if the candidate is selected for the exam. 

What are the details of the KJS Exam documents verification stage? 

A. At the stage of Viva-Voce, candidates selected for the final stage will be called for document verification. Candidates need to submit three sets of self-attested copies of the following documents: 

1. SSLC or equivalent examination certificate for the purpose of Date of Birth proof 
2. ID Proof 
3. Marksheet of the Law degree 
4. Convocation Certificate 
5. Certificates with respect to reservations claimed by the candidate 
6. Two character certificates from a respectable person who is well acquainted with the candidate except a relative. 

How to download the admit cards for the KJS Exam? 

After submission of the application form for the KJS Exam, all the eligible candidates will be issued an admit card to appear for the exam. No person will be allowed to write the exam without an admit card. Hence candidates need to carry the admit card without fail to the examination hall. Admit cards are released at least before 15 days by the authority. It can be downloaded only from the Official website of the High Court of Karnataka. Where a link will be displayed on the website, after entering the registration or application number and password, do not forget to preserve the hall ticket till the last stage of the selection process. 

What are the tips for the preparation of the timetable/schedule? 

The more practical a candidate is towards the approach the better it is. Depending on work (if you are working or in practice) the schedule must be prepared. One size fits all approach does not work in preparation strategy. Maximum time should be allotted for law papers. A time table prepared by a candidate depending on one’s strengths and weaknesses would be the ultimate schedule anyone could ever prepare. 

References 

• https://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/recruitmentNotifications/cjr2022/. 
• https://www.google.co.in/url?www.toprankers.com%2Fkarnataka-judiciary&usg=AOvVaw0jCtFJyv60ypJQBvuUlnrM&opi=89978449.