Supreme Court JCA Exam Pattern 2026: Stages, Marks and Marking Scheme

Supreme Court JCA Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

The Supreme Court JCA exam pattern 2026 has four stages: a computer-based objective test, an English typing speed test, an English descriptive test and an interview. The Supreme Court of India set out this scheme in its Junior Court Assistant advertisement dated 30 September 2026, for 250 tentative posts.

The pattern has changed noticeably from 2025. The objective test is shorter at 90 minutes, now carries negative marking, and includes three law-related sections worth 35 marks. This page explains each stage, what the numbers mean for your time and accuracy, and how to plan for the later stages.

Supreme Court JCA Exam Pattern at a Glance

Stage 1: Objective Type Test Pattern

You need at least 50 out of 100 to qualify. If a large number of candidates qualify, the Registry can limit the next stage to about 10 times the number of vacancies, in order of merit. That means 50 marks is the minimum, not a safe score.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

• Correct answer: 1 mark.

• Wrong answer: 0.25 marks deducted.

• Unanswered: No deduction.

The answer key is uploaded after the test with a short window for objections. In the 2026 schedule this is tentatively from 22 November 2026.

What the Pattern Means for You

• 54 seconds per question: 90 minutes for 100 questions leaves little time for long aptitude sums. Clear the factual sections fast to bank time.

• Law sections are a third of the paper: Constitution, Supreme Court Rules and the 1961 rules together carry 35 marks. Strong preparation here separates you from candidates who skip them.

• A wrong guess costs a quarter mark: If you can eliminate two of four options, a guess is usually worth it. A blind guess on a question you cannot narrow down is not.

• Typing is a gate: The descriptive paper is evaluated only if you qualify the typing test, so weak typing can end your attempt regardless of writing skill.

Stage 2: Typing Speed Test

In the 2025 cycle, the Registry used 43.18 out of 50 as the qualifying score for the typing test. Aim well above the 35 wpm minimum.

Stage 3: Descriptive Test

The descriptive test is in English and lasts 2 hours. It has three parts: a comprehension passage, precis writing and essay writing, for 100 marks with 50 to qualify. In 2025 the descriptive test was held in Delhi/NCR, and candidates scoring 55 or more were called for interview in a 1:3 ratio.

Stage 4: Interview

The interview carries 25 marks, with 13 needed to qualify. Candidates who clear the first three stages are called in a ratio of about 1:3 against vacancies. The 2026 advertisement summary indicates the interview may be online or in person in Delhi; in 2025 interviews were held through video conferencing.

Final Merit

Each stage has its own qualifying mark, and only candidates who clear all four are empanelled in order of merit. Check the advertisement for exactly how stage marks are combined into the final merit list. Empanelment does not by itself guarantee appointment, and in 2025 the select list was valid for one year.

Time Management and Exam-day Strategy

1. First pass, 35 to 40 minutes: Attempt General Knowledge, the three law sections and Computer Knowledge, where answers are recall-based.

2. Second pass, 30 minutes: General English, then General Aptitude.

3. Final 15 minutes: Return to marked questions and guess only where you have eliminated options.

Older Pattern Warning

Older pages may still show the 2025 pattern: a 100-question written test in 2 hours (English 50, Aptitude 25, GK 25) plus a separate 25-question computer test, with no law sections. Follow the 2026 advertisement on the Supreme Court of India recruitment page.