This article has been written by Anushka Saxena. This article discusses everything that a candidate must know while preparing for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Exam.
It has been published by Rachit Garg.
Introduction
Career opportunities for law students are not only limited to becoming advocates; rather, there are certain other career options, such as entering government jobs, corporate jobs or entering in judicial services. Many law students prefer entering the field of judicial services as they find the judiciary as a fascinating career option. You know, there is one thing that makes this career most demanded and this is because students get a chance to enter the judicial services straight after their law schools. But, as per the new amendment to the MPCJ recruitment process, the candidate will be eligible to appear for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) Examination after 3 years of practice as an advocate, or 70% marks in aggregate (General/Other Backward Classes category) and 50% marks in aggregate (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) in graduation. For this you will have to clear the judicial services exam, which is conducted in three stages – Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
Every state conducts its own judicial services exam. Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exams provide entry in the MP lower judiciary as an entry level Civil Judge. Basically, anyone wishing to join the judicial services must have an LLB degree. Now, after attaining the degree, there are two options that allow you to enter the MP judicial services, one is that you can appear for the exam conducted by the MP High Court or the State Public Service Commission for lower judiciary. Another way is that if you are an enrolled advocate with certain years of experience as an advocate, you are eligible to enter the higher judiciary.
The number of vacancies that come out for this exam depends on the requirement and it varies from state to state. Furthermore, thousands of students appear for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Exam every year. The ratio of vacancies to the number of applicants makes this exam more difficult. Students appearing for this exam require a lot of hard work, dedication and proper guidance to successfully pass the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam.
This article will help you understand everything about the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam.
Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ) : brief overview
As soon as a student enters a law school and discovers various career options, entering the lower judiciary is one such option that fascinates every student at one point in their college life. Some choose to follow this path and make a career in judiciary. Students who wish to appear for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exams have to first get an LLB degree from a recognised law college affiliated with the Bar Council of India. Now, there are three levels in this exam namely, the Prelims, Mains, and interview. These levels are conducted one after the other. With each passing stage, students move on to the next level. Generally, the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exams are conducted every year but no one can actually predict the date and time of the exam. Moreover, the vacancies are also not fixed. You might consider yourself lucky if there are more vacancies in the year when you are appearing for the exam. It depends upon the requirement during that particular time.
The official notification for recruitment of 2023-24 is not out yet. Candidates can check the official website of Madhya High Court by clicking here for any notifications pertaining to the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Exam.
The major advantage of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exams is that law students get a chance to enter the lower judiciary after their graduation. Although there have been certain amendments to the new recruitment process that we’ll be discussing further while understanding the eligibility criteria.
So the first level is Prelims and here you get multiple choice questions (MCQs) and the time duration of this exam is two hours. The Prelims exam is of 150 marks. Only those students who have cleared the Prelims are allowed to appear for the Mains exam. Furthermore, the Mains exam consists of four papers of 100 marks each, the total being 400 marks. For this, the time allotted is three hours for each paper.
MPCJ eligibility
- Every person who has completed his or her three or five year LLB from a recognised institute affiliated with the Bar Council of India is eligible to register for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam.
- A law graduate between 21 to 35 years of age can appear for this exam as of January 1, 2023. Moreover, 3 years of relaxation is given to SC/ST, OBC, PwD, specially abled persons, permanent/ temporary employees of MP government, and natives of Madhya Pradesh.
- Specially abled persons will be eligible for such benefit under the amended rules only if they have a valid certificate issued by the Medical Board of central/ state government, and at the time of submitting the application, the applicant’s specially ableness shall not exceed 40%.
- There is a general requirement that the candidate appearing for this exam shall be a citizen of India and shall not have any criminal record. He/she must have a good and decent character in society.
- A new eligibility criteria has been introduced for the MP Judicial Services exam. It says that on the date of submission of application, the candidate must have served as an advocate for a minimum of three years, or you must be a student having a good academic record who has passed all the exams in the first attempt with a minimum aggregate of 70% for General and OBC, and 50% for SC/ST during the course of five-year or three-year LLB Course.
MPCJ disqualification
- A candidate appearing for the the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam may be disqualified by the Recruiting Authority or Appointment Authority or government from admission into the examination or appearing in the interview or taking employment in the government office for the following reasons:
- Candidate has been found guilty of impersonation or submitting fake or incorrect documents.
- Candidate is found to be misleading the authorities by using unfair means for appearing in the interview or examination.
Moreover, the candidate found guilty of the abovementioned acts shall be held liable for criminal prosecution as well.
- A candidate shall be disqualified from direct recruitment for the following reasons:
- He or she has more than one spouse living.
- Has been removed from any state, central, or legal authority for holding any such office;
- Has been convicted for any moral turpitude offence or has been disqualified for recruitment by the Union Public Service Commission or State Public Service Commission or any other service selection board;
- Has been convicted or involved in a case which, according to the Appointing Authority, shall not be conducted by a Judicial Officer;
- Has been found guilty of professional misconduct according to the Advocates Act, 1961 or any other law for the time being in force;
- Has taken dowry at the time of marriage. Here ‘dowry’ will have the same meaning as mentioned in the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
MPCJ age criteria
Candidates who wish to appear for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam will be eligible only if his or her age falls under the age criteria as will be provided under the MP Judicial Services official notification of 2023; otherwise, the candidature will not be accepted. The notification of 2023 is still awaited. For the time being, the previous year’s notification can be taken as a base to understand the age criteria to be followed in the MPCJ Exam.
- Candidates who have attained the age of 21 years are eligible to appear for the exam as per the notification dated January 1, 2023.
- The upper age limit to appear for this exam is 35 years. This means a candidate who is more than 35 years old cannot appear for this exam.
- Furthermore, the government has given 3 years age relaxation to certain groups of people, such as SC/ST, permanent/temporary employees of MP government, and specially abled applicants.
Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Amendment Rules, 2023
There are various amendments brought by the Madhya Pradesh High Court pertaining to the eligibility criteria, disqualification, validity of selected list, etc. We’ll be discussing all the amendments one by one
- Eligibility criteria of the MPCJ Exam – We have already discussed the amendments brought in the eligibility of the MPCJ exam. You can check it by clicking here.
- Disqualification – Certain people are disqualified from appointment or recruitment in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam, that we already discussed. Check it here.
- Duration of validity of the select list – Rule 5A has been inserted which says that the list of selected candidates of every year is valid for a period of 12 months.
- Reservation for persons with disabilities – Rule 6 talks about the reservation for persons with disabilities along with the SC, ST, and OBC. Furthermore, Rule 6A horizontally reserves 6% seats at the time of initial recruitment for persons suffering from locomotor disability including leprosy cured, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy and acid attack victims (excluding cerebral palsy). Now, in case such seats are not filled due to lack of such candidates, the reserved seats will be carried forward for the next year.
- Person with benchmark disability – Rule 6B clarifies that any candidate except persons with benchmark disability will be treated under general category if he or she does not have a domicile of MP.
- Resignation with Lien and Oath – Rule 16-A and 16-AA relating to such provisions have been omitted now.
Number of vacancies in the MPCJ exam
The number of vacancies coming up for the Civil Judge post varies from year to year. This is because this vacancy is created to fill the vacant position of Civil Judges in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service. Now, vacancies for the year 2023 have not yet been released by the MP High Court, but the notification is expected to be out soon.
Please Note: As per the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Amendment Rules, 2023, the appointment for the post of Chief Judicial Magistrate/ Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate under Section 12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 will be done among the senior Civil Judges on the basis of merit-cum-seniority by the High Court.
Question patterns of MPCJ exam
Prelims – The first level is Prelims; here you get multiple choice questions (MCQs) and the time duration of this exam is two hours. This paper contains 150 marks.
Mains – Only those students who have cleared the Prelims are allowed to appear for the mains exams. Furthermore, the Mains exam consists of four papers of 100 marks each. Therefore, all the four papers contain 400 marks in total. For this, the time allotted is three hours for each paper.
Interview – Candidates who pass the mains exams are eligible to enter the last stage of Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exams, i.e., the interview or viva-voce. This carries 50 marks.
It is to be noted that it is important to pass the Prelims as it only gives you a ticket to appear for the next exam, but the marks of this exam do not form the basis of final selection procedure. This does not mean that the final selection solely depends on the interview; the marks of the Mains and interview are added together to reach a conclusion and complete the selection process.
Tabular representation of details of the MPCJ exam
| Particulars | Details |
| Organiser | High Court of Madhya Pradesh |
| Post offered | Civil Judge, Junior Division (entry level) |
| Age limit | 21 years to 35 years (as of 01.01.2023) |
| Application process | Online |
| Prelims Application Fees | Rs. 1047.82/- (Unreserved) and Rs. 647.82/- (Reserved) |
| Mains Application Fees | Rs. 283.20 |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview |
Syllabus of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ)
The Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam is conducted in three levels and therefore, the syllabus is different for all the levels. We will look at the syllabus of all three exams – Prelims, Mains, and interview one by one.
MPCJ Prelims
Prelims exam is the entry level exam of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services. This paper is of two hours long, where you will get 150 objective type questions and each question will carry 1 mark. Now, the Prelims syllabus is divided into two parts. First part is law, which carries 110 marks, and the second part tests your general knowledge and ability, which carries 40 marks. Additionally, there is no negative marking in this paper.
First Part – Law (Total questions 110 of 110 marks)
- Constitution of India
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Transfer of Property Act, 1882
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Specific Relief Act, 1963
- Limitation Act, 1963
- MP Accommodation Control Act, 1961
- MP Land Revenue Code, 1959
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Indian Penal Code, 1861
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
Second Part – General (Total Questions 40 of 40 marks)
- General Knowledge (Questions – 20, Marks – 20)
- Computer Knowledge (Questions – 10, Marks – 10)
- English Knowledge (Questions – 10, Marks – 10)
MPCJ Mains
Once you clear the Prelims, you can appear for the Mains exam. This exam has four papers, namely,
- Paper I – Constitution, Civil Law, and Procedure
- Paper II – Article Writing, Summarization and Translation
- Paper III – Local Laws, Criminal Laws, and Procedure
- Paper IV – Judgement Writing
Each paper carries 100 marks. Students are given 3 hours of time for each paper.
Paper I – Constitution, Civil Law, and Procedure (Total Marks – 100)
- Constitution of India
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Transfer of Property Act. 1882
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Specific Relief Act, 1963
- Limitation Act, 1963
Paper II – Article and Summary Writing (Total Marks – 100)
- Writing on Social Issue – 20 marks
- Writing on Legal Issue – 20 marks
- Precis Writing – 20 marks
- Translation (Hindi to English) – 20 marks
- Translation (English to Hindi) – 20 marks
Paper III – Local Laws, Criminal Laws, and Procedure (Total Marks – 100)
- MP Accommodation Control Act, 1961
- MP Land Revenue Code, 1959
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
Paper IV – Judgement Writing (Total Marks – 100)
- Framing of Issues – 10 marks
- Framing of Charges – 10 marks
- Judgment/ Order (Civil) Writing – 40 marks
- Judgment/ Order (Criminal) Writing – 40 marks
So, if you analyse the syllabus carefully, you’ll find that Papers I and III will test your theoretical legal knowledge, whereas Papers II and IV will test your practical legal knowledge. In the practical aspect, the candidates are supposed to write about certain legal issues, translation, framing of issues, and charges, etc. Furthermore, for Papers I and III, the candidates are required to equally study all the subjects mentioned in the syllabus. In contrast, in Papers II and IV, the marks are bifurcated as per the topics, so that you already know the high scoring part, where you will certainly have to pay more attention and the less scoring part requires comparatively less attention.
Interview
There is no defined syllabus for the interview or viva-voce. While studying for prelims and mains, you actually cover all the major subjects of law, along with studying and understanding the practical skills that are required in a courtroom. Basically, the interview is the process of testing your overall legal knowledge and communication skills. Furthermore, the interviewer will be more interested in understanding the ways or approaches that you’ll follow in the courtroom to handle unpredictable situations.
No one knows what exactly will be asked in the interview, but you must be prepared to answer both the legal and situation based questions with full confidence. The interview round is of 50 marks.
Publication of final merit list of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam
It must be noted that the publication of the merit list is the last stage of the MP Judiciary Service exam, and this process takes place when all the stages – Prelims, Mains, and interview are completed. Now, you must always remember that the merit list does not count the marks of the Prelims exam.
Even if you get just passing marks in the Prelims exam, it is more than enough. The main aim of passing the Prelims is just to be eligible for the Mains exams and nothing else. Furthermore, mains and viva voce are equally important stages of the MPCJ Exam. As soon as you pass every step, you’ll reach the next level. But, rather merely passing the Mains exams, you should focus on getting good marks. This is because at the end, the merit list will be prepared by calculating the marks from the Mains exam and interview. Therefore, the most important stage of the MPCJ Exam is the Mains level because if you pass this exam with a good score, you’ll ultimately get entry in the interview round and which will help you in getting a higher position in the merit list.
When to start preparing for the MP Judicial Services exam
The answer to this question cannot be the same for everyone. The very first requirement for appearing in this exam is that you must be a law graduate. Now, there are two ways through which you can complete your law degree. The very first and most demanded is the 5-year integrated law course, and the other is the 3-year LL.B. Both are good options, but if you are sure from the very beginning that you want to pursue law, a 5-year integrated course will be more suited for you than doing 3 years of graduation and then opting for 3 years of LL.B.
Let’s move ahead and discuss when the correct time is to start preparing for the MP Judicial Services exam. We’ll first begin with those pursuing 5 years LL.B. and then move ahead with those pursuing 3 years LL.B.
Students pursuing integrated LL.B. course
Students pursuing 5 years B.A. LL.B., BBA LL.B., etc. have ample time to select their field of interest and then proceed ahead with the career option that suits them best. Now, from the first year of law school, students are being taught different legal subjects, eventually you start knowing your likes and dislikes. Every law school allows their students to go for internships during semester breaks. This is one such time and opportunity where students can explore different fields of law and determine their interest.
Till the third year of your law school, you must experience different things starting with litigation, corporate world, government, judiciary and its better to have knowledge of all these career options. At the end of three years, you will be sure about the career option you wish to select. If your interest is in the judiciary, then from your fourth year, you can start preparing for the same. For this exam, you have to start focusing on the legal subjects that are being taught in your college.
You will have ample time to cover the whole syllabus in the course of two years and then revise it. The correct approach is to study the syllabus as a whole rather than studying for the Prelims first and then switch to the syllabus of the Mains exam. Two years are sufficient for you to cover the whole syllabus because it will be the legal subjects that you have already studied in your college and you have a general idea of the subjects. So, for those enrolled in the 5-year integrated course, it is important to explore the available options in the first three years and then, if you are sure of the judiciary, start preparing from the fourth year.
Students pursuing 3-year LL.B. course
For those pursuing a 3-year LL.B. course, you do not have ample time to explore and decide your interest. You can use the first year of your law school to try different things and identify your interests. Even a year’s time will be enough for you because, unlike the students pursuing 5 years LL.B., you will have the advantage of studying the major legal subjects from 1st semester. So, it will be easy for you to determine your field of interest even in one year.
In the same way, when you are sure that you really want to build a career in the judiciary, you can certainly start studying from the second year and you will have ample 2 years time to finish the syllabus and revise it before the exams. Study all the subjects, be it of Prelims or Mains. Don’t wait for the Prelims result and then start studying the Mains syllabus as the subjects are almost same; only the level of questions varies. Although the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam is conducted in three stages, we have to be prepared for all the stages.
MPCJ exam preparation strategies
The exam itself is not that difficult, but it becomes difficult due to the vast syllabus and the level of competition. So, let’s understand the preparation strategy for all the stages of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service exam.
Strategy for MPCJ Prelims
Now, we’ll be discussing a strategy that will help you clear the Prelims Exam. Moreover, we will also understand the subject breakdown along with the marking scheme that is generally seen in the previous years’ question papers of the MPCJ Prelims Exam.
Part – I
| Subjects | Marks |
| Constitution | 10 Questions |
| Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | 15 Questions |
| Transfer of Property Act, 1882 | 7 Questions |
| Indian Contract Act of 1872 | 8 Questions |
| Specific Relief Act of 1963 | 6 Questions |
| MP Accommodation Control Act of 1961 | 5 Questions |
| Limitation Act, 1963 | 4 Questions |
| MP Land Revenue Act of 1959 | 5 Questions |
| Indian Evidence Act of 1872 | 15 Questions |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | 15 Questions |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 | 15 Questions |
| Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 | 5 Questions |
Part – II
| Topics | Marks |
| General Knowledge | 20 Questions |
| Computer Knowledge | 10 Questions |
| English Knowledge | 10 Questions |
The Prelims exam is divided into two parts, the first part consists of twelve law subjects, and the other parts includes general knowledge, computer, and English. Now, first you need to check the syllabus and make a list of subjects that you are required to study. Also, you must do a trend analysis and see which subjects carry more weightage. Among the twelve subjects, you’ll see that 75% of the paper will include only five subjects, the Indian Penal Code (15 marks), the Indian Evidence Act (15 marks), Code of Criminal Procedure (15 marks), Code of Civil Procedure (15 marks), and the Constitution (10 marks). So, you must focus on these subjects first.
Now, after completing these major subjects, you can start the other law subjects. Remember, when you start preparing two years before the exam date, you have ample time. So, from the very first day, think of the big picture and also start preparing for Mains. This means that you must study and understand all the subjects properly rather than just memorizing them in order to pass the Prelims exam. This will be the wrong approach. Therefore, after completing the major subjects, you can take up the Indian Contract Act of 1872, Specific Relief Act of 1963, Limitation Act, and Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881. First, start with the Contract Act and Specific Relief Act as they carry 8 and 6 marks, respectively, and then move on to the Limitations Act and Negotiable Instrument. These two subjects carry a weightage of 4 and 5 marks respectively.
Now, you are only left with the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 and MP land laws. So, this will be the correct time to study the MP land laws, as these subjects are comparatively smaller and you will be able to cover them in less time along with revising the already studied subjects. With this, you’ll be able to complete Part-I that carries 110 marks for the entire paper. Now, you will be left with Part – II that carries 40 marks in total. Here, General Knowledge will carry 20 marks, Computer knowledge and English will carry 10 marks each. So, GK is a subject that does not have a defined syllabus, it will have 8 marks for static GK and 12 marks are allotted to MP specific GK questions. The ideal approach should be to study the MP specific GK first and then switch to static GK. Moreover, GK actually has a never-ending syllabus, and for scoring average marks in the same, you will have to inculcate the regular habit of staying updated with the daily trends. Now, you are only left with the basic Computer and English part. These are the subjects where you can easily score 7-8 marks with little effort and understanding.
Strategy for MPCJ Mains
The strategy for mains will be different, as here you will be judged based on your understanding and practical knowledge as well. So, here we’ll discuss the strategy to write proper answers along with certain other important things.
Paper – I (Constitution, Civil Law, and Procedure)
| Subject | Marks |
| Constitution | 16 Marks |
| Code of Civil procedure, 1908 | 16 Marks |
| Indian Contract Act, 1872 | 16 Marks |
| Transfer of Property Act, 1882 | 16 Marks |
| Specific Relief Act, 1963 | 16 Marks |
| Limitation Act, 1963 | 08 Marks |
| Other laws | 12 Marks |
This is the most scoring paper if you follow a smart study pattern. Constitution is a vast subject, and therefore, it carries 16 marks, which is understandable, but, subjects like Transfer of Property Act and Specific Relief Act are small subjects, and allotting 16 marks for these subjects is a huge number. Here, you can actually study smartly. Start with the Constitution, CPC and Contract Act, as these are lengthy subjects and carry huge weightage. Then take up the Specific Relief Act and Transfer of Property Act, as these are comparatively small subjects but again carry huge weightage. Furthermore, the Constitution is one such subject that you have been studying for a very long time if you have prepared for CLAT UG or other such entrance exams. So, this will be an easy subject for you, as it has been observed that only basic questions are asked from the Constitution.
Paper II – Article and Summary Writing
Paper-II can prove to be the most scoring one for you, as you can actually get full marks in translation, but it requires practice. For this, you are required to be well-versed with both Hindi and English words. This will eventually come with practice and for this you will have to start preparing at least a year ago. Try solving previous years’ question papers, always search for the Hindi translation of every word you come across because this is a natural process that will come with practice. It is not something that you can simply learn and go with.
The same is the case with writing on social and legal issues; you must keep up with the trending issues of the 9-10 months before the exam. Also, merely knowing about the recent issue is not enough; rather you must know its history, legal, social, and political impacts, its legality, etc. This means you must have complete knowledge of everything. Eventually, this is also not something that you can learn and go; start preparing for it by writing at least two essays in a week on trending social and legal issues. Through this, by the time of your exams, you will already have a lot of essays written by you. This will help you inculcate a writing habit as well as provide knowledge.
Paper III – (Local Laws, Criminal Laws, and Procedure)
| Subjects | Marks |
| MP Accommodation Control Act, 1961 | 16 Marks |
| MP Land Revenue Act, 1959 | 16 Marks |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | 16 Marks |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | 16 Marks |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 | 16 Marks |
| Negotiable Instrument | 08 Marks |
| Other laws | 12 Marks |
This is the main paper where you have to start studying from the Prelims as here you’ll get the major criminal subjects along with the Madhya Pradesh land laws. You are supposed to prepare the major three criminal subjects properly and in depth, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Indian Penal Code, 1860; and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Now, you can act smart while studying the local land laws, as MP Land Revenue Act, 1959 is a vast subject that carries 16 marks. So ideally, you should study this after completing the major criminal subjects. Furthermore, MP Accommodation Control Act, 1961 is comparatively smaller topic and it still carries the same 16 marks weightage.
Studying local laws can be easy and difficult at the same time, difficult in the sense that there are various provisions related to a particular state that you are supposed to remember. In contrast, they are easy as you only have to study the bare act thoroughly; no additional reference book is required.
In the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service Exam, a decent weightage is given to MP land laws, and if you study them with dedication for 20-30 days, you’ll be able to cover the whole land laws. The only thing required is revision, and then you can easily answer the questions by applying simple logic. The questions related to land laws are basic and easy.
Paper IV – Judgement Writing
| Topic | Marks |
| Judgement/ order (civil) writing | 40 marks |
| Judgement/ order (criminal) writing | 40 marks |
| Framing of charges | 10 marks |
| Framing of issues | 10 marks |
After passing this exam, you will enter the judiciary, where you’ll give judgements, and this is a very important role that someone can ever play. For this, it is important to judge your decision making skills. The judgement writing paper evaluates your understanding of the facts, law, court procedure, and the judgements you make. Judgement can be different for different people and depends on the view of a person on a particular matter; therefore, when a judge passes an order, it is done by properly understanding the facts, applying the law, and then reaching a conclusion.
In the judgement writing paper, the students are asked to write a civil or criminal judgement by evaluating the evidence and issues. This is solely to understand the analytical ability of an individual and to determine whether he or she is fit for delivering justice to the people.
The basic tip to score well in this paper is to avoid harsh English and write easy to understand English words that can be understood by anyone. Try to use short sentences and refrain from using repetitive words or sentences.
Books to refer for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ)
Preparation for each level of the MPCJ Exam will require you to refer to a different set of books. Now, it is not important for you to refer to all the books that are recommended. We try to make everything easy for you, and therefore, we will be suggesting the books that, according to us, will help you in your complete preparation of the MPCJ Exam. From the list of recommended books, you can select the ones that you find important and relevant to the study pattern that you follow. Furthermore, the books that we have mentioned here in this article are not promotional.
Books for MPCJ Prelims preparation
In the Prelims exam, you are asked questions on the basic legal subjects, and other subjects such as General Knowledge, Computer awareness, and English language. Therefore, here are a few books that you can use as references while preparing for the MPCJ Prelims Exam:
| Subject | Name of the Books | Author |
| Constitution | Introduction to the Constitution of India | Durgadas Basu |
| Civil Procedure Code | Civil Procedure (CPC) with Limitation Act, 1963 | C.K.Takwani (Thakker) |
| Indian Contract Act | Property Law | Poonam Pradhan Saxena |
| Specific Relief Act | Law of Contract & Specific Relief | Dr Avtar Singh |
| Limitation Act | Bare Act | J.D. Jain |
| Indian Evidence Act | Law of Evidence | KD Gaur |
| Indian Penal Code | The Indian Penal Code | KD Gaur |
| Code of Criminal Procedure | Criminal Procedure Code | Ratanlal & Dhirajlal |
| Negotiable Act | Introduction to the Law of Negotiable Act | P L Malik |
| Basic Book | MP Civil Judge Exam | Dr. Jayantilal Bhandari |
Books for MPCJ Mains preparation
Basically in the Mains exam, your whole knowledge of law is tested; apart from the legal subjects that you have studied in the Prelims exam, the judgement and essay writing skills of the candidate are also checked. Therefore, we have listed some books that you can refer while studying for the MPCJ Mains exam:
| Subject | Name of the Book | Author |
| Indian Penal Code | Commentary on the Indian Penal Code | Gaur KD. |
| P.S.A. Pillai’s Criminal Law | Rattan Lal and Dhiraj Lal | |
| Criminal Law | RV Kelkar’s Lectures on Criminal Procedure | Dr. K.N. Chandrasekharan Pillai |
| Indian Evidence Act | The Law of Evidence | Avtar Singh |
| The Law of Evidence | Batuk Lal | |
| Law of Torts | The Law of Torts | Rattan Lal and Dhiraj Lal |
| Negotiable Instrument Act | The Negotiable Instrument Act | O.P. Faizi |
| Judgement Writing | Singhal’s An Insight Into Judgement Writing | Arjinder Kaur and Robin Jeet Singh |
| International Law | International Law and Human Rights | Dr H.O. Agarwal |
| Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice | UN Chapter | |
| Administrative Law | Administrative Law | Dr U.P.D Kesari |
| Hindu Law | Modern Hindu Law | Paras Diwan and Peeyushi Diwan |
| Muslim Law | Muslim Vidhi | Aqil Ahmed |
| General Mains Guide | Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge (Mains) Exams. Guide | B.S. Khetrapal, Shefali Mishra |
| Guide to Judicial Service Mains examination – Vol. 1 | Dr P.K. Pandey, Dr V.S. Tripathi |
Books for MPCJ Interview preparation
Here is the list of a few books that you can refer to while preparing for the MPCJ Interview or Viva-Voce:
| Title | Author |
| Mastering Interviews and Group Discussions | Dinesh Mathur |
| Cracking the Code to A Successful Interview | Evan Pallett |
| Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions | Rob Yeung |
Salary and allowances after clearing the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ)
There is an interesting fact about this exam, and that apart from the salary, it is the allowances that fascinates an individual to appear for this exam. We’ll be talking about both the salary and the allowances that a civil judge is entitled to.
Salary of MP Civil Judge
The MP Civil Judge is a Class II Gazetted Officer. Therefore, the salary of a Civil Judge, Junior Division (Entry Level) is Rs. 77,480 – 1,36,520. Furthermore, the salary of a Civil Judge, Junior Division Grade-II, 1st ACP will vary between Rs. 92,960 and Rs. 1,36,520 per month. These salary figures are as per the latest amendment rules of 2023. Moreover, the salary figure keeps on revising as per the notification of the pay commission. So this is the basic pay of a Civil Judge; it does not include any other allowances.
Allowances of MP Civil Judge
A civil judge is entitled to many allowances that are mentioned below:
- House Rent Allowances
The House Rent Allowances (HRA) is not fixed for all civil judges. It is calculated depending upon the location where an individual is posted. Furthermore, the amount of HRA is also revised based on the recommendations of the pay commission.
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
This is the cost of living adjustments and it is calculated as per the consumer price index. Furthermore, the cost of DA is revised in January and July every year.
- Travel Allowances
Wherever a Civil Judge travels for official purposes, he is entitled to get travel allowance for the same.
- Medical Allowances
All the medical expenses of a Civil Judge and his family members are entitled to reimbursement.
- Leave Travel Allowances (LTA)
There are instances when the Civil Judges have to travel during official leaves, and they are entitled to LTA for the same.
- Pension
Civil Judges are entitled to get pension after their retirement. The pension amount is calculated based on the last drawn salary.
Training and probation of Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge
It is important for all the candidates selected for the post of Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge to undergo the training period as per the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994. The training will be conducted in two phases, one is the field training course and other is the institutional training course. Moreover, the field training will be held at the place of posting for the Civil Judge. Whereas, the institutional training will be conducted at Madhya Pradesh State Judicial Academy or any other place as prescribed during that time.
Furthermore, the MP Civil Judge will have to serve a probationary period of 2 years.
The tenure of this training course will be for two years, i.e, 24 months or 104 weeks. Furthermore, the breakup of the training programme, as per the official notification of Scheme of training for Civil Judge 2022, is mentioned as under:
| Phase | Nature of Training Course | Break-up (duration in weeks) |
| First Phase | Field Training | 8 weeks |
| First Phase | Institutional Training Course | 8 weeks |
| Second Phase | Field Training | 36 weeks |
| Second Phase | Institutional Training Course | 8 weeks |
| Final Phase | Field Training | 36 weeks |
| Final Phase | Institutional Training Course | 8 weeks |
Job profile and responsibilities of Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge after training and probation
The Civil Judge’s job profile can be determined as a presiding authority over all the civil cases in the court. He is responsible for ensuring justice to the people of Madhya Pradesh and making sure that all civil cases are decided while following the proper court procedure in an impartial manner. The roles and responsibilities of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Judge after training and Probation will include the following:
- Hearing civil matters – The Civil Judge is responsible for hearing and adjudicating all civil matters related to property, contracts, etc.
- Conducting proper trial – It is the responsibility of the Civil Judge to gather evidence, hear witnesses, and conduct trial accordingly. Furthermore, he is also responsible for delivering fair and impartial judgement.
- Maintaining decorum – The Civil Judge is required to maintain decorum in the courtroom at the time of hearing or trial.
- Writing Judgement – The Civil Judge after hearing the case, and gathering evidence, is also responsible for writing detailed judgement, providing the legal reasoning established with the judgement. This is the reason why judgement writing is a compulsory subject in the Mains Exam of MPCJ.
- Enforcing the order of the court – It is also the responsibility of the Civil Judge to enforce the order of the courts, including an order, summons, etc.
- Interpretation of Law – The candidate selected for the position of Civil Judge is expected to have proper knowledge of law so that he or she is able to properly deliver judgement while interpreting the law.
- Take part in Legal Educational Programs – In order to stay updated with all the legal updates, the Civil Judge is required to take part in the legal educational programs.
What is the application procedure of the MPCJ exam
The online application forms for the Madhya Pradesh Judiciary Exam can arrive unexpectedly at any time in the year. This means there is no specific date or month for the release of MPCJ application forms. Generally, the Prelims exam is conducted after a month of the release of application forms, but it is not advised to wait until the last date of form filing. Therefore, you must priorly have an idea about the documents required, fee structure, filing procedure, etc. Now, we’ll be understanding the whole application procedure of the MPCJ exam that will include the application process, documents required, fee structure, along with the steps to pay the fees in order to make things much clearer and easier for the Madhya Pradesh Judiciary aspirants.
The application process is online, and registration is done by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. So, as the registration process starts, you must fill out the form as soon as possible. Make sure to have a decent internet connection to avoid any kind of interruption while filling the registration form. Furthermore, you must always keep the required documents ready before initiating the process.
Documents required for the MPCJ Exam
Here are some of the documents that you will require while filling out the MPCJ application form:
- A valid and correct email address
- Mobile Number
- Graduation Marksheet
- Passing Certificate of the Graduation
- ID Proof (Aadhar Card, Pan Card, Voter ID card, Passport, etc)
- Category Certificate (SC, ST, OBC)
- Passport Size Photograph
- Signature
Make sure to provide the correct information and documents while applying for the MPCJ Exam because even a minute mistake might lead to the rejection of your application.
What is the application fee for the MPCJ exam
The application fee is different for unreserved and reserved category students. Also, the fee structures vary for MP and Non-MP candidates. If you are a general category candidate who does not belong to MP, you will have to pay INR 1,047.82 for the Preliminary examination. Furthermore, candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC and anyone who is a native of MP, will have to pay INR 647.82 as the fee for the Preliminary Examination. In contrast, the fees for the Mains Exam are the same for everyone, which is INR 283.20.
Tabular representation of fee structure of the MPCJ exam
Here is a tabular format of the fee structure that a candidate needs to pay for the MPCJ Exam:
| Category | Examination | Fees |
| Unreserved candidates and/or Applicants who are not the natives of Madhya Pradesh | Preliminary Exam | INR 1,047.82 |
| Reserved Category (OBC, SC and ST category who are the natives of Madhya Pradesh and Divyang applicants) | Preliminary Exam | INR 647.82 |
| All Applicants | Main Written Examination | INR 283.20 |
Tabular representation for the format of documents to be submitted in the MPCJ Exam
There are certain documents that you need to submit in the specified format as shown below:
| Scanned Images | Size | Dimension | Format |
| Photograph | 20kb – 50kb | 200 x 230 Pixels | .jpg or .jpeg |
| Signature | 10kb – 20kb | 140 x 60 Pixels | .jpg or .jpeg |
Tabular representation of the details that you need to fill in MPCJ Application form
Below mentioned are some of the details that you will be required to fill out in the MPCJ application form:
| Name | Mention your full name as mentioned on your Class X certificate |
| Date of Birth | Mention your date of birth in the format DD/MM/YYYY as mentioned in your Class X Certificate. |
| Gender | Mention Male/Female/Transgender |
| Mobile Number | Enter the Correct and Valid mobile number (10 digits) |
| Address | Mention complete address |
| Nationality | Choose the correct nationality, i.e. Indian Nationals |
| Pin code | Mention pin code of your area |
| State | Enter your state name |
| District | Mention your district (if any) |
| Town/City | Enter the name of your town/city with the correct spelling |
| Language Known | Mention the languages you know how to speak, write, and read |
| Category | Mention your category correctly, i.e., General, OBC, SC, ST |
What are the steps to fill the MPCJ application form
The whole application form filling process can be covered in four different stages, and we will be covering each stage one by one:
Registration: Stage 1 of MPCJ application form
- The very first step is to visit the official website of the MP High Court – https://mphc.gov.in.
- Now, on the home page, you will find the option which says, click here – online application forms/ admit card tab.
- You need to click on that option and enter the requested details, such as name, email ID, mobile number, and date of birth. Enter all the information correctly.
- After that, you will be asked to enter the captcha, and then you can proceed ahead by clicking on the submit button.
- Now, you will automatically receive the login credentials on your registered mobile number.
Filling in the required details: Stage 2 of MPCJ application form
- Now, you need to login to the MP High Court website using the credentials that you have received on your mobile number.
- In order to move ahead with the application procedure, you will be required to enter certain details, such as personal, educational, and parental.
- Make sure to save every page of the details that you have filled in.
- If you wish to make any changes to the application form, you can do that before submitting.
- In case of any correction or change in information after submitting the application form, you must immediately inform the concerned authorities.
Document uploading: Stage 3 of MPCJ application form
After filing the application form, the next step is to submit the required documents in the specified format, as mentioned below:
- Candidate’s passport size photograph is required to be submitted in JPG or JPEG format. Make sure to keep the correct dimensions as 200 x 230 pixels and the image size must be between 20KB to 50KB.
- Scanned picture of the candidate’s signature with a black ink pen on a white paper is required to be attached in JPG or JPEG format. Make sure to keep the correct dimensions as 140 x 60 pixels and the image size must be between 10KB to 20KB.
Payment of application fee: Stage 4 of MPCJ application form
Now the last step in filing the application form is the payment of the application fee.
- Here, you will be required to submit the fee via online mode, using UPI, net banking, or debit card.
- After successful submission of the fee, you are only required to click on the submit button and you’ll be done with the application process. Until the fee is paid successfully, make sure not to refresh the page in between.
How to check results of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ)
As we know, the exam is conducted in three stages, and therefore, we will understand the procedure for checking the results of each level. Candidates who pass the Prelims Exam are eligible to appear for the Mains exam. Furthermore, the candidates passing the Mains exam will be appearing in the Interview, and the merit list of the selected students is prepared on the basis of the marks of Mains and Interview. Number of students selected for MPCJ in a year depends upon the number of vacancies available in the particular year.
How to check the Prelims and Mains results for MPCJ
Here are the steps that you can follow for downloading the MPCJ Examination result:
- As this exam is conducted by the MP High Court, so for checking the result, you’ll again have to visit the MP High Court’s official website, i.e. https://mphc.gov.in.
- Click on the latest updates and notifications option.
- Now, when the results are out, you’ll find the “MP Civil Judge Final Result” link in the notification menu.
- After clicking on that option, a new screen will pop-up where you will be required to press Ctrl F and enter your roll number.
- Now, you can simply download this result as a PDF and save it in your laptop or PC.
Factors affecting MPCJ cut-off
The cut-off marks of the MPCJ are not similar every year, whereas they keep changing every year depending certain factors discussed below:
- Number of candidates – The number of candidates appearing for an exam determines the difficulty level of the exam. The more people will appear in the exam, the more will be the cut-off. On the other hand, if less people appear for the exam, then eventually the cut-off for that particular year will be less.
- Number of vacancies – The number of vacancies in a particular year also varies depending upon the requirement for Civil Judges at that time. It can be easily understood that the more vacancies, the less will be the cut-off.
- Level of the question paper – Level of the question paper depends upon the difficulty. This is also one of the factors that affects cut-off because if the paper will be difficult then students will ultimately score less and eventually the cut-off will be less.
Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ) final merit list
Preparation of merit list is the last stage of the MPCJ Exam that takes place after the interview. Number of students appearing in the merit list depends upon the number of vacancies. The basic requirement for appearing in the merit list is that you must score more than the cut-off in your mains exam. There are certain factors that determine the merit list, such as the number of candidates appearing for the exam, difficulty level of the question paper, number of vacancies and the category from which the candidate belongs.
Furthermore, in order to check the merit list, you again have to go to the MP High Court’s official website and you will find the MPCJ Merit list link of the final merit list in the notification tab. You can simply click on it and check the merit list.
How to check cut-off marks for the MPCJ exam
Cut-off marks are the minimum required marks that you need to score in order to proceed to the next stage. As the exam is conducted by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the cut off list and results are also declared by the MP High Court itself. If you score above the cut-off marks, you must be sure that you will definitely pass the exam and appear for the next stage. Follow the steps mentioned below to check the cut-off marks of the MPCJ Exam:
- Firstly, you need to visit the official website of MP High Court (https://mphc.gov.in).
- In the notification tab, you’ll find a link for the “Result of online Prelims of M.P Civil Judge Class – II (entry level) exam – 2023”.
- Here, you will find the answer key, and at the end of the pdf, the cut-off marks will be mentioned.
- You can also download the file and keep it for future reference.
What to do after the MPCJ Prelims or Mains exam
After the Prelims or Mains exam, you have a minimum of one month’s time before the actual results are out. Now, you should never waste that time. If you’re confident enough that you’ll clear the Prelims exam, then without waiting for the results, you must start focusing on the preparation of Mains. If you are not sure whether the result will be in your favour or not, still you should not waste time, rather start preparing for Mains. If the result comes out to be in your favour, it will be a winning position for you as you have already started preparing for the Mains exam. In case the results are not in your favour, still you should not lose hope, and the preparation that you have already started will help you in attempting the exam in the next year. With this approach, the chances of you passing the exam next year will increase as you will have a lot of time to study and have already started with the preparation. You must always understand that knowledge never goes for waste.
The same goes for the preparation after the Mains exam, if you’re sure that you’ll pass the exam then start preparing for the Interview. Even if you are not sure about the results, still you must start preparing. There is no harm in it, because ultimately, you will be studying the same legal subjects, there is nothing special that you’ll study for an interview that won’t be useful for you in the future.
Next steps after MPCJ Prelims and Mains Results are out
As soon as the MPCJ Prelims results are out, the candidates who pass the exam become eligible for appearing in the Mains exam. This consists of four papers of 100 marks each. You will be asked questions on civil law, criminal law, judgement writing, etc. Furthermore, if you score more than the cut-off marks in the Mains exam, you will be said to have cleared the exam. Such students will be called for an interview round, which is also known as viva-voce. The interview is conducted for a total of 50 marks. After successful conduction of the interview stage, a merit list is prepared on the basis of the marks of both Mains and the Interview. Students whose name appears in the merit list are the selected candidates for the post of Civil Judge.
Tips and tricks to pass the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam (MPCJ)
Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service is regarded as one of the most difficult judicial service state exams. With the right approach, strategy, and consistency, you can clear this exam in a single attempt. Memorizing the concepts can only help you pass the Prelims, but with this approach, it will become very difficult for you to clear the mains level. You must understand the concepts, as in this paper, you get both theoretical and practical based questions which you can only solve if you actually know the concepts. Let’s discuss further and look at some tips and tricks that will help you in passing the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service exam.
Be consistent
Consistency is very important as you have a vast syllabus to cover, and it is a human behavior that we have a habit of delaying things. Now, if you skip your two day study schedule, then naturally you won’t be able to study with the same level of dedication on the third day. Once you start skipping your study schedule, it’s not just one day, it becomes one month and you won’t even realise it. So, if you really want to achieve something, you must actually work hard for it. Taking a break for a day is fine; everyone needs a break, but remember to come back to the old schedule the next day rather than delaying it.
Start by making a personalised study plan
Hard work is important, but smart work is also important. Before starting your preparation, you must be aware of what and how to study, and for this making a personalised study plan or time table is very important. It is something that you can’t copy as everyone has different skills, interests, and capabilities, and it will be better to make a personalised study plan keeping your likes, dislikes, and interests in mind. Once you have a plan ready, you can start studying accordingly, and it is not a hard and fast rule that you will always have to follow the same plan rather you can change or edit it whenever required.
Choose the correct sources
There is no better source than bare Acts for passing any legal competitive exam. All the laws are mentioned in the bare acts; you must have the knowledge to interpret it. Books can never be the alternatives to bare acts; rather, books are only there to make you understand the concept better with clear explanation, examples, and case laws. Therefore, instead of purchasing different books, you must read the bare Acts and once you are done with this, you can refer to books for better understanding.
Attempt all the questions
There is no negative marking in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service exam and this is the major benefit. Now, when there is no negative marking, there is no risk in attempting all the questions. The cut-off goes really high, and the more questions you attempt, the higher are your chances of getting selected. Even if you are completely clueless about any question, even then there is no harm in answering the question by selecting the most relevant option.
Previous Years Cut off of MPCJ (2022 – 2018)
The cut-off marks for Prelims and Mains are published separately on the Madhya Pradesh High Court, generally after a month of successful conduction of the exam. You need to score above the cut-off marks to be eligible for the next stage.
MPCJ Prelims Cut-off
Cut-off marks of the previous year’s Prelims Exams are mentioned below in year wise format:
2021 Prelims Cut-off
Check out the cut-off of the Prelims exam that was held in 2021 here:
| Category | Cut-off Marks |
| UR | 125 and 90 (PH) |
| OBC | 108 |
| SC | 94 and 86 (PH) |
| ST | 83 |
2019 Prelims Cut-off
Check out the cut-off of the Prelims exam that was held in 2019 here:
| Category | Cut-off Marks |
| General (Unreserved) | 118 |
| OBC (Other backward classes) | 113 |
| SC (Schedule caste) | 94 |
| ST (scheduled tribe) | 82 |
2018 Prelims Cut-off
Check out the cut-off of the Prelims exam that was held in 2018 here:
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | Cut-off Marks |
| General (Unreserved) | 121 |
| OBC (Other backward classes) | 116 |
| SC (Schedule caste) | 101 |
| ST (scheduled tribe) | 82 |
MPCJ Mains cut-off
Cut-off marks of the previous year’s mains exams are mentioned below in year wise format:
2019 Mains cut-off
Check out the cut-off of the Mains exam that was held in 2019 here:
| No. of Posts | Cut-off Marks |
| General (Unreserved) | 211.5 |
| OBC (Other backward classes) | 200.5 |
| SC (Schedule caste) | 181 |
| ST (scheduled tribe) | 180.5 |
2018 Mains cut-off
Check out the cut-off of the Mains exam that was held in 2018 here:
| Category | Cut-off Marks |
| General (Unreserved) | 222 |
| OBC (Other backward classes) | 212 |
| SC (Schedule caste) | 183.5 |
| ST (scheduled tribe) | 180 |
Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam centres
The exam centres for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Exams are in the following cities of Madhya Pradesh:
- Jabalpur
- Bhopal
- Indore
- Gwalior
- Sagar
- Satna
- Ujjain
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Prelims exam
How can I prepare for the MPCJ Prelims exam?
There are a few subjects, such as the Constitution, the Indian Evidence Act 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, that carry more weightage in the Prelims exam. So, you must first check the syllabus properly and then start preparing, focusing first on the subjects that hold more weightage.
Is it important to solve mock tests before appearing for the Prelims exam? If yes, how many mocks shall I solve?
Yes, it is important to solve mock exams before the final exam as to understand the pattern of the question paper and to track the candidate’s performance and preparation level. No one can actually tell the exact number of mocks that a student must solve before the exam; it depends on how many mocks you can solve as per your ability. The more mocks you solve, the more it will be beneficial for you.
What is the fee charged for appearing in the MPCJ Prelims exam?
The unreserved/Madhya Pradesh candidates will have to pay Rs. 1,047.82 along with the application form. The reserved category students are required to pay Rs. 647.82.
Is there a particular method to follow for preparation of the MPCJ exam?
There is no particular method to follow, but there are certain things that can be done for effective preparation. Starting with the syllabus, you should first check it thoroughly and understand the marking scheme. After that, you can go through the previous years’ question papers, understand the pattern of the exam and start studying accordingly. The subjects having more weightage shall be studied first, and so on. Also, never refrain from solving previous years’ question papers or mock tests as it will help you to track your progress.
Should I start preparing for Mains after successfully clearing the Prelims exam?
No, the ideal strategy should be that you must start preparing for Mains from day one of your preparation, as the subjects asked in both the exams are the same. Questions asked in Mains are difficult questions than Prelims. So, if you start preparing for Mains, you’ll be simultaneously preparing for Prelims as well.
How long will the Prelims exam last?
The MPCJ Prelims Exam will last for a total of two hours, during which you will be required to solve 150 questions, carrying one mark each.
Is the Prelims exam judiciary paper pattern same for every state?
No, as the judiciary exams are conducted by the High Court of every state, and therefore, the pattern of the Exam varies from state to state. You can always check the pattern of any state’s exam by visiting the website of the respective state’s High Court. For MPCJ, students can find the details here – https://mphc.gov.in/exam-details.
When will the MPCJ Prelims exam take place in 2023?
The notification for the MPCJ Prelims Exam for 2023 is not out yet, but we can expect the notification to be out in a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Mains exam
Can you provide some tips for writing answers in the MP Judicial Service exam?
Answer writing is the most crucial aspect of the Mains exam. There are times when you know what to write but don’t know how to write and this might place you in difficult situations. So, always remember these tips while writing answers in the MP Judicial Service Exam:
- Start your answer with an introduction, history of the topic, and purpose.
- Always remember to mention the relation of a particular Section of law with your topic or answer, along with mentioning the applicability of the Section.
- Moreover, add a conclusion at the end of your answer to give it a proper ending.
- For answers that do not include any legal provisions, you can simply write the answer by making a proper synopsis. Start with the introduction, then add a few sub-headings related to the answer, and end with a conclusion.
What is the application fee for the MPCJ Mains exam?
The application fee for the Mains Exam is Rs. 283.20.
How should I practice essay and judgement writing?
It is very important for all the MPCJ students to practise essay writing and judgement writing as in the Mains Exam, Part-III and Part-IV are specifically dedicated to essay and judgement writing respectively. For this, you can select random trending legal topics and start writing an essay on it. Try to write one or two essays in a week. For judgement writing, you can take any old case or legal situation, and practice writing a judgment on it. The best way to practice judgement writing is to solve past year question papers.
How many papers are there in the MPCJ Mains exam?
If you’ll go through the syllabus, you will find that the syllabus for the MPCJ Mains Exam is divided into 4 papers. They are:
- Constitution, Civil Law, and Procedure
- Article and Summary Writing
- Local Laws, Criminal Laws, and Procedure
- Judgement Writing
What is the total marks of the MPCJ Mains exam?
As there are four papers in the MPCJ Mains Exam, and each paper is of 100 marks. Therefore, the exam contains 400 marks in total.
What is the time duration of the MPCJ Mains exam?
The duration of the MPCJ Mains Exam is 3 hours for each paper.
Are all the four papers of the MPCJ Mains exam conducted on the same day?
No, the candidate has to give the first and second papers on one day and the third and fourth papers on the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Interview or Viva-Voce
How should I improve communication skills for the Interview round of MPCJ?
The easiest way is to take mock interviews, and ask a mentor to judge your performance. Secondly, practise speaking in front of the mirror. You can also record yourself while speaking on a topic and ask for suggestions from friends, family, and teachers.
What should I wear during the MPCJ Interview round?
Try to look as decent as possible. You might have seen judges in the court, they are dressed as simply as possible. You are required to do the same; try to wear anything formal and decent. Do not wear very flashy or bright-colored clothes.
How can I showcase my personality during the MPCJ interview or viva-voce round?
You need to be you; don’t try to act like others, and be very polite, humble and true to yourself. Even if you are nervous, it must not reflect on your face, instead, try to be confident and show some enthusiasm. Moreover, while introducing yourself, you can highlight your achievements and strengths. The most important thing is that there is no need to argue for every question that is asked to you as it may seem rude.
How should I overcome nervousness during the MPCJ interview?
It is natural that students feel nervous at this point. In order to overcome nervousness, you must think that you have come a long way and you have reached here after a lot of hardwork and dedication. This is the last step and then you can conquer it all. This way, you can make yourself feel confident.
Are there any tips for answering interview questions?
Be confident, answer every question with ultimate confidence, and do not look here and there while answering the question. Look straight into the eyes of the panel, and then try to explain your answer. Lack of confidence may make a correct answer wrong if you are unable to present yourself properly. Presentation and confidence are the key factors that you must remember while excelling in any interview.
How to answer the question about your strengths and weaknesses?
Everyone has certain strengths and weaknesses and there is nothing wrong in having weaknesses. You must answer this question with utmost honesty, and no need to cover up your weaknesses. If required, you can back up your answer with any real-life instance. Moreover, be ready to answer the question related to overcoming your weakness. You must have a solid answer already prepared, if you are asked to answer the question on “how will you overcome your weakness during the trial or in the courtroom?”
General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services exam
Is six months enough for clearing the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service exam?
Nothing is impossible, if you really want to clear the judiciary in six months then you must stay focused and consistent. As the syllabus is vast and in order to complete it in six months, you have to forget every other thing and stay focused for this exam.
Is it difficult to clear the MP judiciary exam?
It is easy for those who have a proper study plan and work hard for it, and difficult for those who are not consistent at the same time. With proper strategy and hard work, you can easily crack the exam.
I am a 35 years old law graduate. Can I appear for the MPCJ exam?
Yes, 35 years is the upper age limit for appearing in the MP Judicial Services exam. So, you can appear for the exam till the time you don’t turn 36.
How many attempts do I get to clear the MP Judicial Services exam?
There is no limit on the number of attempts you get to clear this exam. Just bear in mind that you can give this exam between 21 to 35 years of age.
How should I approach studying the whole syllabus of Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service?
If you start preparing 2 years before your graduation, there is no hurry as you have ample time to complete the syllabus. You just need to be consistent, make a timetable and study accordingly. You can rather start with the subjects on which you have less command and finish them first as they will take more time. Another option is to take 4 subjects at a time, 2 of your interests and 2 of which you don’t like or have less command.
There are a lot of subjects to study, from where should I start?
Firstly, look at the syllabus properly and make a timetable. You can pick 4 subjects at a time, take two subjects that are of your interest and two subjects that might bore you at times, or you can pick 2 subjects at a time, one of your interest and another that you don’t like much. Then, make a syllabus accordingly and once you complete these subjects, you can pick other subjects, but remember to keep on revising the previous subjects.
What should be the first step in the preparation process?
The first step should be the complete evaluation of the syllabus, check the exam pattern, make a time table in a way that you give more time to the subjects that you have least knowledge of and you can certainly dedicate less time to the subjects in which you are confident.
I am in 5th year of law school and now I have thought of making a career in judiciary, is it too late to start?
It is never late, you still have more than one year, and the subjects that are asked in the judiciary are the ones that you have already studied in your 5 year law course, you just need to brush them up. Start preparing today !
Can I start preparing for Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service along with my job?
Obviously, the only thing required is consistency. If you are consistent, then you can easily manage your studies with your job. You might face difficulties at times, but always think of the bigger picture and keep working hard.
I’m not satisfied with my job and want to make a career in judiciary. Is it the right time?
Yes, the time is always right until you don’t cross 35 years of age and if you have LL.B. degree. Preparing for the judiciary requires effort but the syllabus is not new, it is something that you have already studied and you have a basic idea about it. So, you just need to make up your mind and start brushing your concepts.
I am from UP, can I appear for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service exam?
Yes, anyone who is a citizen of India can appear for the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service exam, even if they do not belong to MP. The only requirement is that you must fulfil the eligibility criteria as set by the authorities.
Words of Motivation
Students often doubt their abilities and end up wondering whether they can actually clear the exam or not. Look, nothing in the world is easy or difficult, it’s the journey that you must enjoy and rest everything will ultimately become easy. Furthermore, students think that there are very few vacancies in such exams and many students appear for the same. Therefore, this increases the difficulty level of the exam. Although, the difficulty level is high, but, for such a reputed job it is worth investing your time. Remember, you will never work hard for something that comes easy. When you achieve something big, you eventually end up building confidence in yourself. Therefore, it is really good to push yourself into a life-time journey where you’ll learn a lot that will help you in your entire career.
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