Delhi Judicial Services Cut-Off: Prelims, Mains and Viva Marks
The Delhi Judicial Services cut-off is not a single number. The High Court of Delhi sets minimum qualifying percentages for each stage, and then limits how many candidates move ahead, so the score that actually gets you through depends on how others perform in that cycle.
This page lists the qualifying rules, the revised prelims figures from the 2023 cycle and a practical way to set your own target. Treat past figures as a benchmark only.
Table of Contents
Qualifying marks by stage
2023 cycle figures
What affects the cut-off
How to set your target score
Qualifying marks by stage
Stage | General | SC, ST and eligible PwD |
|---|---|---|
Prelims (200 marks) | 60% | 55% |
Mains, each paper | 40% | 35% |
Mains, aggregate (850 marks) | 50% | 45% |
Viva-voce (150 marks) | 50% (75 marks) | 45% (67.5 marks) |
These are minimums under the Delhi Judicial Service Rules, not rank cut-offs. At the prelims stage, only up to ten times the vacancies in each category are called for the mains, and up to three times the vacancies for the viva-voce, along with tied candidates. In a cycle with many strong candidates, the effective cut-off can sit well above the minimum.
2023 cycle figures
Item | 2023 cycle detail |
|---|---|
Prelims held on | 17 December 2023 |
Prelims maximum marks (revised) | 195, reduced from 198 after question deletions |
Minimum qualifying marks, General (revised) | 117 |
Minimum qualifying marks, SC, ST and PwD (revised) | 107.25 |
Candidates shortlisted for mains (revised list, 21 March 2024) | 698 |
Candidates shortlisted for viva-voce | 153, as reported in press coverage |
Final order of merit published | 4 March 2025, out of 1,000 marks |
The High Court's notices do not state a rank-based cut-off. Reading the revised mains shortlist, the lowest prelims scores among non-PwD candidates were roughly 155 out of 195 for General and about 143 for SC. This is an indicative reading of the published list, not an official figure, and the shortlist was enlarged after court orders, so check the notice before relying on it.
What affects the cut-off
Difficulty: A harder paper lowers the scores of all candidates, and the shortlist moves with it.
Vacancies: The ten-times and three-times rules tie the numbers called to the vacancies in each category.
Number of competitors: More applicants who actually sit the paper means stiffer competition for the same shortlist.
Question deletions: Court-ordered changes can alter the maximum marks and the qualifying scores, as happened in March 2024.
How to set your target score
Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat last year's figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.
Prelims: Aim for at least 75% of the maximum in your mocks, with accuracy above 85% on attempted questions.
Mains: Clear the per-paper minimum comfortably in all four papers before trying to maximise one.
Viva: Target a score well above 75 by practising mock interviews.
Official results are posted at https://delhihighcourt.nic.in/web/recruitment.
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