Civil Judge Prelims study guide
Civil Judge Prelims · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Civil Judge Preliminary Examination is the screening stage used by state judicial service authorities to shortlist candidates for the main written examination and, ultimately, the Civil Judge (Junior Division) post. It is meant for law graduates preparing for a career on the subordinate bench, and it tests breadth rather than specialist depth. The Civil Judge Prelims study guide has 12 sections and about 3,850 words.
01Code of Civil Procedure
CPC questions test the architecture of a civil suit: jurisdiction, institution, pleadings, trial, judgment, execution and appeals. You must know both the section and the Order/Rule, because options often differ only by provision.
397 words, about 2 min02Pleadings and Drafting
Pleadings and drafting questions test Order VI CPC and the practical skill of converting a client's story into a court document. You must distinguish material facts from evidence and law.
336 words, about 2 min03Penal Law
Penal law questions test the general principles of criminal liability and the elements of major offences. From 1 July 2024 the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the IPC, but many questions still use IPC sections.
358 words, about 2 min04Criminal Procedure and Law of Evidence
Criminal procedure and evidence questions test the journey from FIR to trial and the rules that determine what a court may rely on. The BNSS 2023 replaced the CrPC and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 replaced the Evidence Act; know both the new framework and the old section numbers still used in many questions.
371 words, about 2 min05Constitution of India
Constitutional law questions test Articles, doctrines and leading cases, especially fundamental rights, writs, federalism and amendments. Article 12 defines 'State' for Part III; Article 13 makes laws inconsistent with fundamental rights void.
303 words, about 2 min06Law of Contracts
Contract questions test formation, consideration, free consent, discharge, breach and remedies under the Indian Contract Act 1872, with Specific Relief Act concepts where relevant. Offer plus unconditional acceptance plus consideration plus intention to create legal relations makes a contract.
324 words, about 2 min07Torts and Specific Relief
Torts questions test the elements of civil wrongs and defences; Specific Relief tests the remedies of declaration, injunction, possession and specific performance. Negligence requires duty, breach, causation and damage; the standard is the reasonable person.
343 words, about 2 min08Property, Succession and Family/Personal Law
Property questions test transfer, registration and priorities; succession tests intestate and testamentary devolution; family law tests marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption and guardianship. Sale under s.54 TPA requires a registered instrument for immovable property above ₹100; an agreement to sell does not transfer title.
330 words, about 2 min09Commercial and Mercantile Laws (Arbitration, Negotiable Instruments, Companies, IP, Labour)
Commercial law questions test arbitration, cheque dishonour, company law, intellectual property and labour codes. The highest-yield area is section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
363 words, about 2 min10General Knowledge, Current Affairs and English Language
This mixed section tests static general knowledge, recent legal and national developments, and English grammar and comprehension. For current affairs, track the three new criminal codes effective 1 July 2024, the 106th Constitutional Amendment on women's reservation, and major Supreme Court decisions such as the electoral bonds case and the Article 370 case.
238 words, about 1 min11Legal Reasoning
Legal reasoning tests application of a given principle to facts, not recall of a statute. You must identify the rule, apply it to the material facts, and ignore irrelevant detail.
257 words, about 1 min12Aptitude and Computer Knowledge
Aptitude tests numerical and logical reasoning; computer knowledge tests basic hardware, software, internet, e-courts and cybersecurity. Percentages: successive changes are not additive; use multiplying factors.
230 words, about 1 min