Candidates must fulfill all eligibility conditions by the closing date of online application (08-06-2026). Candidates must be citizens of India, of good character and sound health, free from organic defect and physical infirmity. Candidates must be able to speak, read and write Odia fluently and must have passed an examination in Odia language equivalent to Middle English School standard (Class/Standard-VII). Candidates with more than one spouse living are not eligible unless exempted by the State Government. SC/ST/SEBC reservation and relaxation benefits are admissible only to the SC/ST/SEBC of Odisha by birth. Educational Qualification Qualification Details Essential (Law Degree) Graduate in Law (LLB) of a recognized University or Institution recognized by the Government Essential (Experience) Minimum 3 years of practice as an Advocate as on 1st April 2025 Counted towards legal practice Period of experience as Law Clerk / Research Assistant to any Judge or Judicial Officer in the Country, or to any Constitutional Authority Mandatory Language Requirement Odia language proficiency equivalent to M.E. School standard (Class VII); must have passed HSC or equivalent examination with Odia as one of the subjects, OR must produce Odia test pass certificate from Board of Secondary Education, Odisha or any approved Board/Council Desirable Evidence that case has been recommended by competent authority confirming eligibility

Candidates applying for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) are required to pay a non-refundable examination fee as specified below. The fee must be paid online through the OPSC application portal. Applications without payment of examination fees (except SC/ST/PwD candidates) will be taken as incomplete and outrightly rejected. The examination fee paid shall be refunded only to those candidates who actually appear in the Preliminary Written Examination. Refund will be processed to the original mode of payment used by the candidate (Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, Wallet etc.). Category Examination Fee General / SEBC / Others (excluding SC, ST, PwD) Rs. 700/- (Rupees Seven Hundred only) – online mode only SC / ST / PwD Candidates Nil (No fee)

The selection process for OPSC Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 consists of 3 successive stages — Preliminary Written Examination, Main Written Examination, and Interview as per the provisions of the Orissa Superior Judicial Service & Odisha Judicial Service Rules, 2007 (as amended from time to time). Candidates must clear the minimum qualifying marks at each stage to proceed to the next. The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of marks secured in the Main Written Examination and Interview combined. Candidates securing equal aggregate marks will be ranked based on Main Written Examination marks; if equal still, then LLB examination marks; if still equal, the older candidate shall be placed above. The list recommended by the Commission shall remain valid for one year from the date of its approval by the Government. Stage 1 – Preliminary Written Examination Paper Type Marks Duration Single Paper (Objective MCQ) OMR-based, 100 questions of 1 mark each; negative marking of 25% for every wrong answer 100 1 hour 30 minutes Preliminary Exam Syllabus: Constitution of India; Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023; Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Limitation Act; Transfer of Property Act; Law of Contract; Law of Succession (Indian Succession Act and Hindu Succession Act); Specific Relief Act; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; and any other relevant topics as the High Court of Orissa may specify from time to time. Stage 2 – Main Written Examination Paper Subject Type Marks Duration Paper 1 (Compulsory) General English (Translation, Essay, Precis, Comprehension) Descriptive 150 2½ Hours Paper 2 (Compulsory) Procedural Laws (CrPC/BNSS, CPC, Evidence Act/BSA) Descriptive 150 2½ Hours Optional Paper I Law of Crime & Law of Torts (choose any 3 from 5 options) Descriptive 150 3 Hours Optional Paper II Personal Laws (Hindu Law & Mohammedan Law) Descriptive 150 3 Hours Optional Paper III Law of Property (Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Limitation Act) Descriptive 150 3 Hours Optional Paper IV Law of Contract (Indian Contract Act, Sales of Goods Act, Partnership Act, Negotiable Instrument Act) Descriptive 150 3 Hours Optional Paper V Jurisprudence and the Constitution of India Descriptive 150 3 Hours Note: Standard of papers shall be that of LLB Course; Paper 1 (General English) shall be of degree course standard. Papers must be answered in English unless otherwise directed. Optional subjects chosen in the online application form will be treated as final — no request for change will be entertained. Qualifying Marks for Main Written Examination Category Minimum per Paper Minimum Aggregate General / Others 33% in each paper 45% in aggregate PwBD 30% in each paper 40% in aggregate Stage 3 – Interview: 100 Marks Candidates will be shortlisted for Interview in proportion not more than 3 times the number of advertised vacancies under each category. Questions in the Interview may cover the syllabus prescribed for the Main Written Examination and may also include broad national/international issues and matters of common interest in Arts and Science. Candidates must secure a minimum of 40% marks in the Interview to be included in the merit list. Qualifying Marks Stage Qualifying Marks Preliminary Written Examination (for shortlisting to Main) 40% (General/Others); 35% (SC/ST/PwBD) Main Written Examination (for shortlisting to Interview) 45% aggregate + 33% in each paper (General); 40% aggregate + 30% in each paper (PwBD) Interview (for inclusion in merit list) Minimum 40% Tie-Breaking Rules 1st Tie-Break Marks secured at Main Written Examination 2nd Tie-Break Total marks obtained in LLB Examination (if Main marks also equal) 3rd Tie-Break Older candidate placed above (if LLB marks also equal)