Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Syllabus 2024 (Prelims and Mains)

The Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Exam is a great chance for law grads to start their legal careers in Himachal Pradesh.

To do well in this exam, it’s really important to understand the Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Syllabus. So, let’s clear up some common questions!


What are the main topics covered in the syllabus?

The main subjects you’ll need to know are Civil Law, Criminal Law, English and Hindi Language and Composition, and Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge. But there’s more to it, so keep reading!


Is there negative marking in the exam?

No, you won’t lose marks for wrong answers in the preliminary exam.


Are the questions in the Mains exam short-answer or essay-type?

The Mains exam includes descriptive questions, which could be a mix of essays and short-answer questions.


Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Prelims Syllabus 2024

For the preliminary exam, you’ll have 3 objective-type papers:

  • Paper 1: Civil Law-I
  • Paper 2: Civil Law-II
  • Paper 3: Criminal Law

Each paper is worth 100 marks and lasts 1 hour. All three papers are on the same day, so plan accordingly. Most questions will come from topics like the Indian Contract Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Himachal Pradesh Courts Act.

Paper 1: Civil Law-I

In Paper 1, you’ll be tested on:

  • Code of Civil Procedure
  • Indian Evidence Act
  • Indian Stamp Act
  • Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976
  • Specific Relief Act

Paper 2: Civil Law-II

For Paper 2, you’ll need to focus on:

  • Indian Contract Act
  • Hindu Law
  • Indian Limitation Act
  • Transfer of Property Act
  • Himachal Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act

Paper 3: Criminal Law

In Paper 3, you’ll need to prepare for these important topics:

  • Indian Penal Code
  • Criminal Procedure Code
  • Negotiable Instruments Act (Sections 138-143)
  • Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011
  • Wildlife Protection Act
  • Indian Forest Act

This paper also covers judicial sensitivity to sexual offenses and related guidelines, like the Supreme Court’s views on bail and gender sensitivity in the judicial process.


Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Mains Syllabus 2024

The Mains exam has five descriptive papers:

  • Paper 1: Civil Law-I
  • Paper 2: Civil Law-II
  • Paper 3: Criminal Law
  • Paper 4: English Composition
  • Paper 5: Language (Hindi)

Marks Breakdown:

  • Paper 1, 2, 3: 200 marks each
  • Paper 4, 5: 100 marks each

Paper 1: Civil Law-I

  • Code of Civil Procedure
  • Indian Evidence Act
  • Himachal Pradesh Stamp Act
  • Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976
  • Specific Relief Act

Paper 2: Civil Law-II

  • Indian Contract Act
  • Hindu Law
  • Indian Limitation Act
  • Transfer of Property Act
  • Himachal Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act

Paper 3: Criminal Law

  • Indian Penal Code
  • Criminal Procedure Code
  • Negotiable Instruments Act (Sections 138-143)
  • Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011
  • Wildlife Protection Act
  • Indian Forest Act

This paper also covers gender sensitivity, judicial approach to sexual offenses, and guidelines from the Supreme Court about sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, and more.

Paper 4: English Composition

- Choose one essay from three options (general topics)

- Translation from Hindi to English

This paper is worth 150 marks in total.

Paper 5: Language (Hindi)

In this paper, you’ll be tested on:

  • Translating an English passage to Hindi (30 marks)
  • Writing an essay in Hindi on one of three topics (50 marks)
  • Language tasks like idioms, correcting mistakes, etc. (20 marks)

This paper is worth 100 marks.


Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Viva-Voce

The Viva-Voce is an oral test for candidates who pass the written exams. It’s worth 150 marks and will be added to your written exam scores for your final selection.

Here’s what you need to know about the Viva-Voce:

  • You must score at least 45% in this test to qualify.
  • The test evaluates your communication skills, knowledge of the subjects, and overall suitability for the job.
  • It’s a good idea to prepare by reviewing your main exam subjects and staying updated on current events.
  • Confidence, clear thinking, and effective communication are key to doing well in the interview.