UP Judicial Services Syllabus 2026: PCS-J Prelims and Mains

The UP Judicial Services syllabus covers general awareness, the core civil and criminal laws, and a set of Uttar Pradesh specific statutes that many candidates leave for last. The exam is held by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division), and it has three stages: a Preliminary exam, a Main exam and an Interview.

This page lists the topics paper by paper, shows how the stages overlap so you can study once and use it twice, and gives a phased plan to cover everything. The 2026 notification is still awaited, so the topic lists follow the syllabus used in recent cycles. Use them as a working checklist and compare them with the official notice when it appears.

The commission names the papers and the main subject areas in its notification, and the topic lists below are built from that structure and from questions asked in previous years. They are not an official line-by-line list.

Syllabus at a Glance

The Prelims is objective with negative marking of one-third of a mark per wrong answer, and the Mains is descriptive. For marks, qualifying rules and the final merit calculation.

Key Changes to Know

• New criminal laws: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act from 1 July 2024. Most coaching material and older sites still use the old Acts. Check whether the 2026 notification names the old laws, the new laws or both.

• Urban tenancy law: Earlier lists name the UP Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972. A newer UP Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021 has been reported in recent lists. Read the notice for which one applies.

• Practice requirement: This is an eligibility rule and not a syllabus change, but it affects who will sit the exam.

Older pages may still show a single version of these lists, so follow the official notification for the final subject names.

Prelims Syllabus

Paper 1: General Knowledge (150 marks)

The social-issues area is the most specific part of this paper. Commonly listed Acts include the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Read their objectives, definitions and key penalties, because questions are usually direct.

Paper 2: Law (300 marks)

This paper carries twice the marks of General Knowledge, so it deserves at least half of your Prelims time. The Constitution, CrPC, CPC and Evidence Act appear every year, and short-answer facts such as limitation periods and section numbers are frequent.

Mains Syllabus

Paper 1: General Knowledge (200 marks)

The topics are the same as the Prelims General Knowledge paper, but the questions go deeper and are written. Expect short notes and analytical questions on current issues, polity, social justice and international affairs. Practise writing answers of a fixed length instead of only reading.

Paper 2: English Language (100 marks)

Paper 3: Hindi Language (100 marks)

Paper 4: Law-I, Substantive Law (200 marks)

• Law of Contract and Partnership: Formation, performance, breach, remedies, and the rights and duties of partners.

• Torts and Easements: Negligence, nuisance, defamation, strict liability and the acquisition and extinction of easements.

• Transfer of Property Act: Sale, mortgage, lease, gift, exchange and actionable claims.

• Equity, Trusts and Specific Relief: Maxims of equity, creation and breach of trust, and the grant of specific performance and injunctions.

• Hindu and Mohammedan Law: Marriage, succession, inheritance, maintenance, wills and gifts.

• Constitutional law (about 50 marks): Fundamental rights, writ jurisdiction, distribution of powers and judicial review.

Paper 5: Law-II, Procedure and Evidence (200 marks)

The practical areas separate good scores from average ones. Practise drafting a charge and framing issues from a short fact pattern, and write at least a few full judgments before the exam.

Paper 6: Law-III, Penal, Revenue and Local Laws (200 marks)

This is the paper where preparation is most uneven. Revenue and local laws carry three-quarters of the marks, yet they get the least attention in generic law notes. Start with the UP Revenue Code, since it contains many sections and definitions, and then move to the rest.

Overlap Between Stages

Interview Syllabus

There is no fixed syllabus for the 100-mark interview. The board assesses judicial aptitude, awareness of current legal developments, communication and character. Be ready to discuss your optional interests, your legal practice experience, and recent judgments that matter to a trial court. Revise your own application form carefully, since many questions begin there.

How to Cover the Syllabus: A Phased Plan

1. Weeks 1 to 8, foundation: Read bare Acts and standard textbooks for the Constitution, CrPC, CPC, Evidence, Contract and Transfer of Property. Make short notes with section numbers.

2. From week 3, current affairs: Spend 30 to 40 minutes a day on news and legal developments, and write a monthly summary.

3. From week 6, topic tests: Take topic-wise tests and 20-minute sectional tests, and keep an error log.

4. Weeks 9 to 14, Mains papers: Add Hindu and Mohammedan law, equity, trusts, penal law and the UP revenue and local laws. Start answer writing for Law papers, essays and precis.

5. Final phase, mocks and revision: Attempt full-length Prelims mocks, analyse them on the same day, and revise the error log. Alternate with timed Mains answer writing every week.

Official Sources

Check the advertisement and detailed syllabus on the UPPSC official website.