This article is written by Zehra Jamal. The article talks about the preparation strategy for the viva voce or personal interviews for the judicial services examinations. The article tries to cover various trips and tricks, major do’s and don’ts, and other useful strategies for a candidate aspiring to sit in the viva voce or the personal interview of a judicial services exam. The article covers the strategy for all the states that have a personal interview or viva voce stage in their judicial services exam. 

Introduction 

In India, the judicial services examinations are conducted by various states to fill the vacancy of higher judiciary and lower judiciary in their respective states. The preparation strategy, eligibility criteria, etc. are different for both – higher judiciary and lower judiciary. In this article, we will be dealing with the judicial services examination of the lower judiciary only. 

In India, the state judicial services examinations are conducted each year by nearly 24 states. They are conducted for the recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in a state. The judicial services examination is an esteemed examination of the country and only candidates with a graduation degree in law are eligible to attempt it (provided the candidates fulfil other criteria like age limits etc of appearing for the examinations). For every state, the eligibility criteria, the syllabus, the difficulty level, etc. of a judicial services examination differs however, for almost every state, the exam is divided into three stages.  – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Some states also have a physical fitness test or computer test, which a candidate has to clear after qualifying other stages of the examination. 

The preliminary stage of the examination is usually objective and is qualifying in nature. On the other hand, the mains examination is usually subjective and the marks obtained by the candidate in the mains examination is added to the final merit list. A candidate has to clear the preliminary and mains examination in order to be eligible for the viva voce or the personal interview stage. The viva voce of each state differs in weightage and qualifying marks. In this article, we will try to guide the candidates in their preparation strategy for the viva voce of the judicial services examination. The importance of local language is also emphasized, apart from the weightage of the state specific viva voce stage. 

Importance of viva voce / personal interview stage

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, holds a very significant place in the final results of a candidate. It decides the selection or rejection of a candidate in the overall judicial services examination. In India, there are currently twenty four states that conduct the judicial services examination for the recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in their respective states. In all these twenty-four states, the interview process is of immense importance. Although the weightage of the marks of the viva voce or personal interview stage differs from state to state, it is mandatory for all candidates who successfully clear the judicial service examination to go through the interview stage. 

To understand how these viva voce or personal interview stages of these state judicial services examinations are conducted, let us first try to understand the results of the mains examination of the concerned state judicial service examination. We can broadly classify the candidates who clear the state judicial services examination into three categories, which can be described as follows: 

1. Candidates who qualify the mains stage of the concerned state judicial services examination with the highest marks (i.e., those who are at the top of the list of selected candidates)
2. Candidates who qualify the mains stage of the concerned state judicial services examination with the median marks (i.e., those who are in the middle of the list of the selected candidates)
3. Candidates who qualify the mains stage of the concerned state judicial services examination with the lowest marks (i.e., those who are at the bottom of the list of the selected candidates)

For all the above three kinds of candidates, the importance of the marks of the viva voce or the personal interview stage differs. Also, every state has its own level of minimum marks to be obtained in the viva voce or the personal interview stage to qualify for the final merit list of the concerned judicial service examination. Let us now understand the importance of the marks of the viva voce or the personal interview stage for the three above mentioned kinds of candidates:

• For the candidates who qualify the mains stage of the concerned state judicial services examination with the highest marks (i.e., those who are at the top of the list of the selected candidates) – for such types of candidates, it is easier to qualify for the final merit list because they have already excelled in the mains examination of the concerned state judicial services examination and are at the top of the merit list. For them, if they even score average marks, they will be on the safer side. However, it is mandatory for them to obtain the minimum level of marks required in the interview stage of the concerned state judicial services examination.
• For the candidates who qualify the mains stage of the concerned state judicial services examination with the median marks (i.e., those who are in the middle of the list of the selected candidates) – for such types of candidates, it is easier to qualify for the final merit list of the concerned state judicial services examination. Since they have scored median marks and are in the middle of the list, therefore have to score above average marks (on a higher side, to be more precise) to qualify for the final merit list of the concerned state judicial services examination.
• Candidates who qualify the mains stage of the concerned state judicial services examination with the lowest marks (i.e., those who are at the bottom of the list of the selected candidates) – for such candidates, it is most difficult to qualify for the final merit list of the concerned state judicial services examination. They have to score very high marks in the viva voce or personal interview stage to compensate for their lower proportion of marks in the mains examination of the concerned state judicial services examination, and only then will they be able to qualify for the final merit list of the concerned state judicial services examination.

Thus, we can now understand the importance of the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the judicial services examination. Now, we will have a look at some of the common yet important points to be followed by any candidate who is preparing for the viva voce or the personal interview stage of any state’s judicial services examination. 

Common points for preparation of interview of any state’s judicial services examinations 

These are some of the most common pointers that are essential for almost all of the state’s judicial services examination interview stage:

1. Dress smartly and neatly – It is well said that the first impression is the last impression. How a candidate dresses speaks a lot about their personality and the interview panel is also impressed by the same. It also portrays the efforts a candidate has put into being ready for the viva voce or personal interview and thereby shows the seriousness of the candidate towards the personal interview. So, it is advised for all the candidates going to give the viva voce or personal interview for any state judicial services examination to dress up in a neat and tidy manner. Men can specifically opt for suits or maybe trousers – shirts with ties. Women can, however, opt for light colour suits, pantsuits or even a formal saree. 
2. Prepare your introduction – this will usually be the first thing asked by a candidate when they enter the room where the panel of interviewers are sitting. So, prepare a good introduction about yourself and practice until you are fluent and perfect in it. Candidates are advised to seek the help of mentors, mock interviews or other resources available while preparing their introduction. Remember, it is the first question asked, and if the beginning is good, it leads the way forward for you. 
3. Improve your communication and comprehension skills – both of them go hand in hand, and improving them is very important because no matter how well versed you are with your thoughts or how well prepared you are for the viva voce or personal interview, it would all go in vain if you are not able to communicate them all. Also, if you are not able to comprehend what the interviewer is asking from you, all your preparation will be in vain because you will not be able to answer it. Thus, improving your communication and comprehension skills also plays a very important role in your preparation for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the judicial services examination. 
4. Choose a language you are fluent in – in order to communicate your thoughts really well, the candidates are advised to choose a language in which they are fluent, because unlike the common notion that English is necessary for clearing such exams, any language, more specifically the local language of the concerned state, will also work. In these exams, proficiency in English is required for basic literacy level only, and it is not mandatory that the candidate be fluent enough to carry out all the tasks in the English language only. 
5. Improve your body language – the way you enter the room where the interview panel is sitting tells a lot about your personality. You should focus on your body language and try to improve it. The body language of a candidate can be measured mainly with the following three attributes – the posture, eye contact and hands. While a body posture reflects your confidence, a strong eye contact with the interviewers meanwhile tells about the honesty of a candidate while answering, and finally, the hands of a candidate reflect their clarity while presenting a solution before the panel of interviewers. Overall, your body language must be confident and assertive. 
6. Be well versed with your educational and/or employment details and background – sometimes the candidates are asked many questions related to their employment or even their educational background. So, a candidate must be very well versed in these details.
7. Be updated with relevant current affairs – the interviewers on the panel also check the general awareness of a candidate; they can ask you about recent developments of national importance, including important legal developments. Your views can also be asked about a recent important event, and thus, the candidates are required to remain updated with the relevant current affairs.
8. Develop a strong legal viewpoint – only enhancing your legal knowledge is not sufficient for the viva voce or personal interview because whenever you are supposed to answer any legal questions, you have to be very precise and apt. Not only do you have to put forth your answer in short words, but you also have to summarise it with a viewpoint of your own. It makes a good impression on the interviewer.
9. Take a pause before you answer – whenever you are asked a question by the interviewers, pause for a very brief moment and comprehend the question in your mind. After comprehending, formulate the answer and its structure in your mind, and then start speaking. In this way, you will be able to communicate your answer in a better and more effective way.
10. Be honest and apologise for not knowing an answer – never try to bluff the interview panel. It will leave a very negative impression on them. Instead, if you do not know the answer to a question, just be honest and apologise to them. The interviewers do not expect you to know the answers to all the questions. This will not have a negative impact as compared to bluffing.   
11. Practice mock interviews – mock interviews are always a good option since they give you a real time experience of the actual viva voce or the personal interview, and thus  the candidate is advised to attempt a few mock interviews and try to understand what is expected of him by the interviewers. Not only to attempt but a candidate should also analyse their mock interviews and connect with the mentors to improve them.

State-specific pointers for viva voice/ personal interview of the judicial services examinations 

Now we will try to cover some state-specific points with respect to the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the concerned state’s judicial services examination. Currently, there are 24 states in India where judicial services examinations are held for the appointment of civil judges (junior division). We will cover each of these states alphabetically. 

Arunachal Pradesh

The Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination Grade III is conducted by the Gauhati High Court at Guwahati. Recently, the Gauhati High Court has called for applications for the same from interested candidates. The official notification is on the website of the Gauhati High Court, and the link to the same can be accessed here. Let us discuss the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain fifty percent or above marks or a grade in the mains paper of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is a total of seventy (70) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least sixty (60) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage. 

State-specific pointers for viva voce of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination 

As such, there are no state-specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination; however, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should have a grasp over geography, history, art and culture, and other significant issues related to North East India – this is very important because Arunachal Pradesh is a north eastern state of India. This point is also important for other North Eastern states of the country. Candidates should be more aware of their past, present, etc. 

Importance of local language 

For the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, the candidate needs to have a grasp over the local languages of Arunachal Pradesh – Nyishi, Adi, Dafla, Gallomgg, Tangsa, Khamtui, Hill Miri, & Tagin. Though questions are not asked on the knowledge of local languages of the state in the preliminary and mains examination but sometimes the candidate may be asked something regarding the local language of the state by the interview panel. It gives a positive impact on the interviewers if the candidate is well versed in the local language of the state. 

Assam

The Assam Judicial Services Grade III Examination is also conducted by the Gauhati High Court at Guwahati. The exam is conducted in three stages of preliminary, mains and personal interview. The preliminary examination 2023 for the same has been held, and the results of the same are out. The Gauhati High Court will now conduct the mains examination for the Assam Judicial Services, followed by which the personal interview or viva voce will be conducted. Let us discuss the personal interview stage of the same.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Assam Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least sixty (60) percent marks in the preliminary examination, which will then lead to the candidate’s eligibility to write the mains paper, and then in the mains papers, the candidate should obtain sixty percent or above aggregate marks or grade (at least forty five percent marks in papers 1 to 4 and at least thirty five percent marks in paper 5) in the mains paper of the Assam Judicial Services Examination. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Assam Judicial Services Examination is of a total of seventy (70) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Assam Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least sixty (60) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Assam

There are no specific pointers for the preparation of the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Assam Judicial Examination. However, the candidate should keep in mind the point stated for the preparation of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services examination because: 

1. Assam is also a North Eastern state of India.
2. The exam conducting body for Arunachal Pradesh and Assam is the same, which is the Gauhati High Court at Guwahati. 

Importance of local language

The candidates preparing to give the viva voce or the personal interview of the Assam Judicial Services Examination should have a strong foundation in Assamese. Questions based on the Assamese language have been asked in the preliminary paper of the Assam Judicial Services Examination. In the personal interview, the candidate can choose to answer in the Assamese language, which will lay a positive effect on the interview panel since a candidate who knows Assamese will be a better candidate for the post of civil judge in the state of Assam. 

Bihar

The Bihar Public Service Commission recently conducted the preliminary examination for the 32nd Bihar Judicial Services Exam, also known as the Bihar PCS J exams. The results of the exams have been published by the BPSC recently, and the timeline for the second stage of the paper, which is the mains paper of the Bihar Judicial Services Exam, has also been released. The mains examination of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination is expected to be held from 25th November 2023 to 29th November 2023. After the mains examination, the final stage of the Bihar Judicial Services examination will be viva voce or the personal interview stage. Let us discuss the same.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least forty five percent marks (forty in the case of reserved category candidates) in the preliminary examination, which will then determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper. After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least thirty five (35) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Bihar

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate should have basic proficiency in both – English and Hindi in order to make it to the final list of the Bihar Judicial Services Examination. The candidates can also choose to give their interview in any of the two languages they are fluent in. However, there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have a professional level understanding of any language. 

Chattisgarh

The Chattisgarh Public Service Commission conducted the preliminary examination of the Chattisgarh judicial services examination on September 3, 2023. The results of the same and the dates of the mains examination are awaited as of now. In order to qualify for the final merit list of the Chattisgarh judicial services examination, the candidate has to clear three stages of the exam – the preliminary stage, the mains stage and the personal interview, or viva voce stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage of the same.  

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Chattisgarh Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to qualify the preliminary and the mains paper of the Chattisgarh Judicial Services Examination. On a relative scale, the candidates who are more meritorious from among those candidates who appeared in the mains examination in the ratio of 1:3 with respect to the number of total vacancies shall be called for viva voce.

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Chattisgarh Judicial Services Examination is of a total of fifteen (15) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Chattisgarh Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least thirty three (33) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage. For the candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of twenty five (25) percent marks is required. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Chattisgarh

There are no as such state specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Chattisgarh Judicial Services Examination; however, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should strive to achieve maximum marks in mains examination to be able to qualify for the final merit list after giving viva voce – this is very important because Chattisgarh judicial service’s viva voce stage is only of fifteen (15) marks, and therefore the candidates who have more marks in mains will have a high chance of making it to the final merit list. 

Importance of local language

The importance of the local language in the Chattisgarh judicial services examination is very similar to that of the state of Bihar. A candidate should have basic proficiency in both – English and Hindi in order to make it to the final list of the Chattisgarh Judicial Services Examination. The candidates can also choose to give their interview in any of the two languages they are fluent in. However, there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have a professional level understanding of any language. 

Delhi

The Delhi Judicial Services Examination is conducted by the High Court of Delhi in order to select qualified candidates and recruit them for the post of civil judge in the national capital of India. The Delhi judicial services examination is one of the toughest judicial services examinations to crack.

The Delhi Judicial Services Examination is divided into three stages – the preliminary stage, the mains stage, and the viva voce, or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least sixty (60) percent of the total marks (fifty five (55) in the case of reserved category candidates) in the preliminary examination, which will then determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper. In the mains paper, the candidate has to score an aggregate of fifty (50) percent and a total of at least forty (40) percent in each of the four papers to qualify the mains paper. After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred and fifty (150) marks. In order to prepare for the final merit of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination, the aggregate marks of the candidate in the mains examination and the personal interview stage will be taken into consideration. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Delhi

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination can prepare while keeping the following strategies in mind:

• Give Delhi judicial services specific mock interviews – since this is one of the toughest judicial services examinations to crack, and there is a lot of competition as well, therefore, the candidates should try to prepare for it while attempting mocks specifically made on its pattern. 
• Read the books suggested by experienced professionals – Joel. P. Trachtman’s book named The Tools of Argument: How the Best Lawyers Think, Argue & Win, The New Lawyer’s Handbook: 101 Things They Don’t Teach You in Law School by Karen Thalacker, and Richard Susskind’s Tomorrow’s Lawyer: An Introduction to Your Future are some of the most suggested books by experts to read while preparing for the viva voce of the Delhi judicial services examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate appearing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination should have a good power of expression in the English language in order to make it to the final list of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination. Though there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have a professional level understanding of any language, the mains paper of the Delhi Judicial Services asks the same level of questions in the language (English) paper, and even the interview panel sometimes assesses the power of expression of the candidates in English. 

Goa

The Goa judicial services examination is conducted by the High Court of Bombay at Goa (permanent bench at Panaji). The notification for the examination is published on the official website of the Bombay High Court. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Goa judicial services examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Goa Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to firstly clear the preliminary examination. The selection of the candidate in the preliminary examination is done on the basis of merit list. The total number of candidates which are selected for the mains examination are actually ten times the total vacancy released by the High Court of Bombay at Goa.  For example: If the High Court of Bombay at Goa released the notification for filling a total of Z (say 11) vacancies, then the total number of candidates who will qualify the preliminary examination will be ten times Z (say 11), which will be a total of 110. The candidates will be selected in ascending order of the merit list.

Then after qualifying the preliminary examination, the candidate will be eligible to write the mains paper. In the mains paper, the candidate has to score a total of fifty (50) percent marks to qualify the mains paper. For the candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of forty five (45) percent marks is required. After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Goa Judicial Services Examination is of a total of fifty (50) marks. In order to qualify for the final merit list of the Goa Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to score at least twenty (20) marks in the personal interview stage. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Goa 

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview of the Goa Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Goa Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate should have basic proficiency in any of the following languages – Konkani, Marathi, or English. The candidate has to write their mains examination in any of these languages only, and the interview panel may ask questions from the opted language. However, there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have a professional level understanding of any of these languages.

Haryana

The Haryana Judicial Services examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the state of Haryana is conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission. The dates of the examinations are not yet released and the notification for the examination is published on the official website of the Haryana Public Service Commission. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Haryana judicial services examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Haryana Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least forty (40) percent of the total marks in the preliminary examination, which will then determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper, and then in the mains papers, the candidate should obtain at least fifty (50) percent of the total marks to qualify for the viva voce or the personal interview stage. For the candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of forty five (45) percent marks is required. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Haryana Judicial Services Examination is of a total of fifty (50) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Haryana Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain an aggregate of at least fifty (50) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage and mains examination.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Haryana

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview of the Haryana Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Haryana Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

The importance of the local language in the Haryana judicial services examination is very similar to that of the state of Bihar. A candidate should have basic proficiency in both – English and Hindi in order to make it to the final list of the Haryana Judicial Services Examination. The candidate should be versed in the Devanagari script. The candidates can also choose to give their interview in any of the two languages they are fluent in. However, there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have a professional level understanding of any language.  

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the state of Himachal Pradesh is conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission. The mains stage of the examination was conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission from 18 September 2023 – 22 September 2023. The official notification with regard to the same can be found on the official website of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Himachal Pradesh judicial services examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is of a total of fifty (150) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least forty five (45) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage of the Himachal Pradesh judicial services examination. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Himachal Pradesh 

There are no as such state-specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination; however, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should focus more on history, art and culture, as well as current affairs related to Himachal Pradesh – this is very important because a lot of times, the interview panel has asked the candidate contemporary questions with respect to the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Importance of local language 

A candidate should have basic proficiency in both – English and Hindi in order to make it to the final list of the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination. The candidate should be well versed with Hindi (in Devanagari script). The candidates can also choose to give their interview in any of the two languages they are fluent in. However, there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have professional level understanding of any language.

Jharkhand

Recently, the Jharkhand High Court issued the notice for the Jharkhand Judicial Services Examination, the application for which starts from 16 November 2023. The official notification can be found on the website of the Jharkhand High Court. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Jharkhand Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Jharkhand Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Jharkhand Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least twenty five (25) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage of the Jharkhand Judicial Services Examination. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of twenty (20) percent marks are required

Specific do’s and don’ts for Jharkhand 

There are no as such state specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Jharkhand Judicial Services Examination; however, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should strive to achieve maximum marks in mains examination to be able to qualify for the final merit list after giving viva voce – this is very important because the qualifying marks of the Jharkhand Judicial Service’s viva voce stage are only of twenty five (25) marks, so many candidates will qualify for the interview stage. But only those candidates who have more marks in mains will have a high chance of making it to the final merit list. 

Importance of local language

There is not much importance given to the local language in the Jharkhand judicial services examination. The candidate should have basic proficiency in English and Hindi, and they can choose any of them for the interview mode. 

Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services Examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. The mains stage of the examination will be conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission from 8 November 2023 – 10 November 2023. The official notification with regard to the same can be found on the official website of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following four stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination, the viva voce or personal interview,  and the physical fitness stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to first clear the preliminary examination. Only twenty five times the total number of vacancy spots, or one third of the total applicant, whichever is less, will be considered as seats for the mains examination, and accordingly, the candidates will be selected for the mains examination based on the merit list. For example, – If the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission released the notification for filling a total of Z (say, 5) vacancies and a total of 500 candidates filled out the form of the same, then the total number of candidates who will qualify for the preliminary examination will either be twenty five times the total number of vacancies (which is 25 x 5 = 125) or one third of the total applicants (⅓ of 500 = 166), whichever is lesser – which is 125 in this case. 

After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services Examination is of a total of one hundred and forty (140) marks. Those candidates who qualify for the merit list will next go through a physical fitness test. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Jammu and Kashmir 

There are no as such state-specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services Examination, however, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should focus more on history, art and culture, current affairs, recent amendments, etc. related to Jammu and Kashmir – the candidates should have a very good knowledge of their own territory and the latest news about it, as it is usually asked by interviewers. 

Importance of local language

There is not much importance given to the local language in the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services Examination. The candidate should have basic proficiency in English. Candidates need to convert English to Urdu and vice versa during the mains stage of the examination, but usually no such questions are asked in the interview stage. 

Karnataka

The Karnataka Judicial Services Examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the state of Karnataka is conducted by the High Court of Karnataka in accordance with the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004 and Amendment Rules, 2011, 2015, and 2016. They are published in the Karnataka Gazette. The official notification with regard to the examination can be found on the official website of the High Court of Karnataka. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Karnataka judicial services examination is conducted in the following four stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination, the viva voce or personal interview stage, and the computer test. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to first clear the preliminary examination. Candidates who score above the cut – off list in the preliminary examination will be considered for mains examination. After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination is of a total of twenty five (25) marks. Those candidates who shall qualify for the merit list will next go through a computer test. However, the marks of the computer test will just be qualifying in nature, and its marks are not to be added to the final merit list.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Karnataka 

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Karnataka Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

The Kannada language plays an important role in the Judicial Services Examination of Karnataka. It can not only be used as a medium for writing the mains examination of the Karnataka judicial services examination, but it can also be used during the interview stage as well. It has a positive impact on the interview panel when the candidate uses the local language of the state. 

Kerala

The Kerala Judicial Services Examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the state of Kerala is conducted by the High Court of Kerala. The official notification of the Kerala Judicial Services Examination is published on the official website of the High Court of Kerala. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Kerala Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Kerala Judicial Services Examination is of a total of fifty (50) marks. In order to qualify for the final merit list, a candidate has to score at least forty (40) percent of the total marks in the viva voce or the personal interview stage. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of thirty five (35) percent marks is required. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Kerala 

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Kerala Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Kerala Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

In order to qualify for the final merit list, a candidate needs to have basic proficiency in Malayalam, as conversion questions are asked based on the same. The candidate can choose to answer the interview questions in Malayalam. However, there is no specific rule expecting candidates to have a professional level understanding of any language. But it has a positive impact on the interview panel if the candidate is well versed in the local language of the state. 

Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the state of Madhya Pradesh is conducted by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. The official notification of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is published on the official website of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to first clear the preliminary examination. Candidates who score above the cut – off list in the preliminary examination will be considered for mains examination. After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is of a total of twenty fifty (50) marks. The final merit list will be based on the marks of the mains examination and the personal interview stage of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Madhya Pradesh 

There are no as such state-specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination; however, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should focus more on current affairs and the latest amendments related to Madhya Pradesh – the latest amendment in the eligibility criteria of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination has sparked a hot debate, and therefore the candidates should be strongly prepared (with their own viewpoint) on it and should also be well versed in other recent legal developments in Madhya Pradesh. 

Importance of local language

There is not much importance given to the local language in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination. The candidate should have basic proficiency in English and Hindi. Candidates need to convert English to Hindi and vice versa during the mains stage of the examination, but usually no such questions are asked in the interview stage.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination for recruitment of civil judges (junior division) in the state of Maharashtra is conducted by the High Court of Maharashtra. The dates of the mains examination of the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examinations are yet to be announced. The official notification of the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination will be published on the official website of the High Court of Maharashtra. The link to the same can be accessed here. The Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to first clear the preliminary examination. Candidates who score above the cut – off list in the preliminary examination will be considered for mains examination. After qualifying the mains paper, the candidate has to go through the personal interview process. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination is of a total of twenty fifty (50) marks. The candidates need to score above the minimum limit set by the exam conducting authority in the personal interview to be considered for the final merit list. The final merit list will be based on the marks of the mains examination and the personal interview stage of the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Maharashtra

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Maharashtra Judicial Services Examination.  

Importance of local language

The candidates should have basic proficiency in the Marathi language. The official notification doesn’t ask for proficiency in any language for the personal interview stage, but a lot of importance is given to the Marathi language in Maharashtra, and it will have a very positive impact on the interview panel if the candidate is versed in it. 

Manipur

The Manipur Judicial Services Examination Grade III is conducted by the High Court of Manipur at Imphal. The official website of the High Court of Manipur at Imphal can be accessed here. The Manipur Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Manipur Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least fifty (50) percent of the total marks in the preliminary examination. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of forty five (45) percent marks are required. The total marks in the preliminary examination will determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper and then in the mains papers, the candidate should obtain at least fifty (50) percent of the total marks. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of forty five (45) percent marks are required. After obtaining the requisite marks, the candidate will be eligible for the viva voce or the personal interview stage.  

The viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Manipur Judicial Services Examination is of a total of seventy (70) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Manipur Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least forty (40) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Manipur

There are no as such state-specific pointers for the preparation of the interview stage of the Manipur Judicial Services Examination. However, the candidate should keep the following point in mind:

• Candidates should have a grasp over geography, history, art and culture, and other significant issues related to North East India – this is very important because Manipur is a northeastern state of India. This point is also important for other northeastern states of the country. Candidates should be more aware of their past, present, etc. 

Importance of local language

Candidates should have knowledge of Manipuri, as it is the official language of the state. It is also desirable that the candidates have knowledge of other local languages in the state. 

Mizoram

The Mizoram Judicial Services Examination Grade III is conducted by the High Court of Gauhati, at Aizawl. The official website of the High Court of Manipur at Aizawl can be accessed here. The Mizoram judicial services examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage. 

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Mizoram Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to clear the preliminary stage, and then the candidate has to obtain an aggregate of at least sixty (60) percent of the total marks (fifty (50) in the case of the reserved category) in the mains examination, with at least forty five (45) percent and forty (40) percent in each of the mains papers separately. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Mizoram Judicial Services Examination is of a total of fifty (50) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Mizoram Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least sixty (60) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Mizoram

There are no specific pointers for the preparation of the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Mizoram Judicial Services Examination. However, the candidate should keep in mind the point stated for the preparation of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services examination because: 

1. Mizoram is also a North Eastern state of India.
2. The exam conducting bodies of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are the same, which is the Gauhati High Court (only the benches are different).  

Importance of local language

A candidate who is preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Mizoram Judicial Services Examination should have basic knowledge of Mizo language of at least Middle School standard (spoken, reading and writing skills).

Nagaland

The Nagaland Judicial Services Examination Grade III is conducted by the High Court of Gauhati, at Kohima. The official website of the High Court of Nagaland at Kohima can be accessed here. The Nagaland Judicial Services examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage.

Weightage of interview marks

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Nagaland Judicial Services Examination is of a total of seventy (70) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Nagaland Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least sixty (60) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage of the Nagaland Judicial Services Examination. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Nagaland 

There are no specific pointers for the preparation of the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Nagaland Judicial Services Examination. However, the candidate should keep in mind the point stated for the preparation of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services examination because: 

1. Nagaland is also a northeastern state of India.
2. The exam conducting bodies of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are the same, which is the Gauhati High Court (only the Benches are different). 

Importance of local language

Knowledge of local languages is not required for a candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Nagaland judicial services examination. The candidate should have a grasp of the English language, as the interview is conducted in English only. 

Odisha

The Odisha Public Service Commission recently conducted the mains examination of the Odisha Judicial Services Exam, also known as the Odisha PCS J exams, in the first week of September 2023. The notification regarding the same was published on the official website of the Odisha Public Service Commission. The link to the same can be accessed here. After the mains examination, the final stage of the Odisha Judicial Services examination will be viva voce, or the personal interview stage. Let us discuss the same.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Odisha Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least forty (40) percent of the total marks in the preliminary examination. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of thirty five (35) percent marks is required. The marks in the preliminary examination will then determine the candidate’s eligibility to write the mains paper, and then in the mains papers, the candidate should obtain an aggregate of at least forty five (45) percent of the total marks (and a total of thirty three (33) percent in each of the mains papers) to qualify for the viva voce or the personal interview stage. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Odisha Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. In order to be eligible for the final merit of the Odisha Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to obtain at least forty (40) percent of the total marks in the personal interview stage. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Odisha

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Odisha Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Odisha Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Odisha judicial services examination should be fluent in speaking, reading and writing Odia, and they must also have passed an examination in Odia language equivalent to that of Middle English School standard.

Punjab

The Punjab Public Service Commission and the High Court of Punjab and Haryana recently conducted the personal interview, or viva voce stage, of the Punjab Judicial Services Exam in the first week of October 2023. The notification regarding the same was published on the official website of the Punjab Public Service Commission and the High Courts of Punjab and Haryana. The link to the same can be accessed here. Let us discuss the personal interview stage of the same.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Punjab Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least thirty (30) percent of the total marks in the preliminary examination. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of twenty (20) percent marks are required. This will then determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper, and then in the mains papers, the candidate should obtain at least thirty three (33) percent of the total marks to qualify for the viva voce or the personal interview stage. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Punjab Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. The final merit list for the Punjab Judicial Services Examination is calculated by combining the marks of the mains exam and the personal interview stage of the Punjab Judicial Services Examination.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Punjab

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Punjab Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Punjab Judicial Services Examination.

Importance of local language

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Punjab judicial services examination should have knowledge of Punjabi up to matriculation or its equivalent level. 

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination is conducted by the Rajasthan High Court. It has released the notification of the vacancy, but the dates have not been released yet. The link to the official website of the Rajasthan High Court is here. The Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least forty five (45) percent of the total marks in the preliminary examination. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of forty (40) percent marks are required. The marks in the preliminary stage will determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper, and then in the mains papers, the candidate should obtain at least forty (40) percent of the aggregate marks and at least thirty five (35) percent of the total marks in each law paper to qualify for the viva voce or the personal interview stage. 

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination is of a total of thirty five (35) marks. The final merit list for the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination is calculated by combining the marks of the mains exam and the personal interview stage of the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Rajasthan 

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination can prepare while keeping the following strategies in mind:

• Have a solid grasp of geography of Rajasthan – since Rajasthan is a desert region and is a geographically important state of India, the candidates should have a solid grasp over the geography of the same, apart from the current affairs. Questions may be asked directly from the same. 

Importance of local language

There is no requirement of any local language for the candidates preparing for the viva voce of the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination. Just basic proficiency in English and Hindi will suffice. 

Sikkim

The Sikkim Judicial Services Examination is conducted jointly by the Sikkim Public Service Commission and the High Court of Sikkim. The notification of the same was released by the Sikkim High Court. The link to the official website for the same can be accessed here. The Sikkim Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following two stages – the mains examination and the viva voce, or personal interview stage. A screening or preliminary stage might also be held if there are a very high number of candidates.  Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to clear the preliminary stage (if it is conducted due to the high number of applications received). After successfully clearing the preliminary stage, the candidate is eligible to write the mains examination. In order to qualify the mains examination, the candidate has to score at least forty (40) percent of the total marks and forty (40) percent of the aggregate marks in each paper. After scoring the same, a candidate is eligible to appear for the viva voce or personal interview of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination.

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. The final merit list for the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination is calculated by combining the marks of the mains exam and the personal interview stage of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination. 

Specific do’s and don’ts for Sikkim

There are no specific pointers for the preparation of the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination. However, the candidate should keep in mind the point stated for the preparation of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Services examination, because Sikkim is also a North Eastern state of India and the preparation strategy will remain similar to other North Eastern states of India. Apart from this, the candidate should also keep in mind the following:

• Candidates must have adequate knowledge of computer applications – in order to qualify the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examinations, the candidate should be well versed in the workings of computer applications. The knowledge of the candidates on the same is tested by the interview panel, and without proper knowledge of the same, the candidate might not be able to make it to the final list of the Sikkim Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Sikkim Judicial Services examination should have knowledge of Nepali or any other state language, and they must be able to communicate in it. 

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission. Recently, the results of the same have been declared. All the official communications related to the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examinations are done through the notifications released by the UPPCS through its official website. The link to the official website of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission can be accessed here. The Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage.

Weightage of interview marks

In order to qualify for the viva voce or interview stage of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination, a candidate has to obtain at least forty (40) percent of the total marks in the preliminary examination. For candidates belonging to any reserved category, a total of thirty five (35) percent marks is required. The marks in the preliminary examination will determine the eligibility of the candidate to write the mains paper. After successfully clearing the mains cutoff, a candidate is eligible to appear for the viva voce or personal interview of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination.

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. The final merit list for the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination is calculated by combining the marks of the mains exam and the personal interview stage of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Uttar Pradesh 

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Uttar Pradesh judicial services examination should have thorough knowledge of Hindi (Devanagari script) language. 

Uttarakhand 

The Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination is conducted by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. It has conducted the preliminary examination of the Uttarakhand Judicial Services, but the dates of the mains examinations have not been released yet. The link to the official website of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission is here. The Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage.

Weightage of interview marks

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. In order to qualify for the final merit list, the candidate has to score a minimum of forty (40) marks in the viva voce or personal interview stage. The final merit list for the Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination is calculated by combining the marks of the mains exam and the personal interview stage of the Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination.

Specific do’s and don’ts for Uttrakhand 

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the Uttarakhand Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the Uttarakhand judicial services examination should have thorough knowledge of Hindi (Devanagari script) language. 

West Bengal 

The West Bengal Judicial Services examination is conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission. The link to the official website of the West Bengal Public Service Commission is here. The West Bengal Judicial Services examination is conducted in the following three stages – the preliminary examination, the mains examination and the viva voce or personal interview stage. Let us discuss the preparation of the personal interview stage.

Weightage of interview marks

The viva voce, or personal interview stage, of the West Bengal Judicial Services Examination is of a total of hundred (100) marks. The final merit list for the West Bengal Judicial Services Examination is calculated by combining the marks of the mains exam and the personal interview stage of the West Bengal Judicial Services Examination.

Specific do’s and don’ts for West Bengal  

There are no such specific do’s and don’ts that a candidate has to keep in mind for the preparation of the personal interview for the West Bengal Judicial Services Examination. Candidates can follow the general tips given at the beginning of the article to prepare for the viva voce of the West Bengal Judicial Services Examination. 

Importance of local language

A candidate preparing for the viva voce or personal interview stage of the West Bengal Judicial Services Examination should have basic knowledge of Bengali. 

Conclusion

The overall preparation strategy for the viva voce or the personal interview stage of the judicial services examination remains similar, with a few extra tips for some states. Usually, a few points are common for all the states, and a few exceptions exist for some states. 

In all judicial services examinations, the viva voce or personal interview stage is a crucial part. Though the weightage of the interview marks differs for most states, there is a separate cutoff for the personal interview as well. In some states, the local languages also play a vital role during the viva voce or personal interview. However, the overall selection of a candidate depends on performing well in all the stages. 

For most states, qualifying the interview stage and making it to the final merit list of the exam guarantees the selection of candidates for the concerned state judicial services examination. However, for a few states, qualifying the computer test or physical fitness test is also required. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on viva voce or personal interview stage  

How can candidates prepare the current affairs part for the viva voce or personal interview stage?

Candidates can prepare for the current affairs part by using two sources – follow any good newspaper and the monthly compendium or magazine of current affairs. It is advised not to take more than two sources because two good sources are sufficient for following current affairs and they cover the maximum portion. 

What kinds of questions can be expected in the viva voce or personal interview stage?

Candidates can be asked questions on their educational and professional background, their knowledge on current affairs and legal development, any other contemporary, etc.

How to improve your communication skills while preparing for a viva voce or personal interview stage?

To improve one’s communication skills, a person can read good books, improve their vocabulary and take help from experienced professionals. 

How to dress for a personal interview or viva voce stage?

One should dress formally for the personal interview. Males can wear suits or formal shirt pants, while females can wear light coloured sarees or suits. 

Is the weightage of personal interview or viva voce same for all the states?

No, the weightage of the viva voce or the personal interview is different for different states. 

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