This article has been written by Saima Sultan. It deals with preparation techniques for Delhi Civil Judge Prelims Examination with special emphasis on subject specific guidance, the benefits of clearing this exam, common mistakes to avoid and  FAQs. 

Introduction to Delhi Judicial Services exam

Are you aspiring to sit on the Dias as a Civil Judge but are confused as to how to do it? It is a common saying that Judicial Services Examinations are highly competitive and only the extraordinary ones can do it. But to say the least, anyone can clear these exams if proper strategy at the correct time is followed with required hard work and consistency. 

The Examination for Civil Judges is conducted by each State as per their requirement. One of the most sought after States is Delhi. The Delhi Civil Judge Exam, also known as the Delhi Judicial Service Examination, is a competitive examination conducted by the Delhi High Court to recruit candidates for the position of Civil Judge in the state’s judicial services. 

In this article, we will be discussing all about the strategies to clear the qualifying stage of Delhi Judicial Services Examination, i.e. Prelims. We will be sharing with you the latest criteria for eligibility, the nuances of this exam, subject-specific guidance, how you can ace the difficult areas of the exam, newly added legislations and questions on English language, common mistakes done by candidates and ways to avoid them, and certain FAQs.

Why Delhi Judicial Services Prelims exam

Delhi Judicial Services Prelims examination is the first step towards becoming a Civil Judge in Delhi. It is the gateway to Mains, i.e. a candidate who is able to score beyond the cut-off marks (which may vary every year, e.g., last year it was 128.75 out of 200 for Unreserved category), will be eligible to appear in Mains. 

However, before appearing for the preliminary examination, one must be clear with the reasons for the same. A few of them are listed below:

• A Qualifying Examination: Once the candidate clears Preliminary round, he/she will have to appear in Mains. It is then that the marks will be counted for assessment. A candidate must secure a good score in Mains as it is the component carrying maximum weightage, i.e., 850 marks out of 1000. 
• A promising career option: These days, many law graduates are striving to make a career in judiciary as they find it the best platform to make a significant impact in society by upholding the law, serving the community and making people’s lives better. It also affords them good remuneration and other services, making them financially stronger. 
• Wide opportunities for public service: Along with financial stability and prestige that comes with the position of Civil Judge, it gives an opportunity to young law graduates to shape the law through their rulings.

• No transfer beyond the territory of Delhi: Delhi is the target State for a large number of aspirants for several reasons, including the fact that a person posted in Delhi as Civil Judge will not have to go beyond the territory of Delhi upon transfer. This may be beneficial to natives of Delhi. However, candidates from other states who have no connection with Delhi, sometimes, find it difficult to settle in a new state for the lifetime.  
• More Exposure: Along with several high ranked legal departments, the Apex Court of the Country is also situated in Delhi. The Civil Courts in Delhi have good infrastructure as compared to small cities in other States. Thus, a Civil Judge in Delhi is likely to have better future prospects and more exposure. 
• A boon for the residents of Delhi: For people who are residents of Delhi, being a Civil Judge in Delhi allows them to stay close to their loved ones throughout service. What else would anyone desire from a government job?

However, considering the vast number of benefits attached with it and the increasing number of aspirants who sit for this exam, the limited number of vacancies and high competition, it makes it difficult for the students to crack the exam if they start preparing only after the release of the notification. Hence, timely and dedicated efforts should be made in line with the requirement of each stage of the examination.

About Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam

Test on fundamental principles

Delhi Judicial Services Prelims examination serves as a tool to screen serious candidates on the basis of assessment of fundamental legal knowledge in the areas of law and legal awareness. 

It is of utmost importance because if you fail at this stage, you will lose the opportunity to sit for subsequent stages of the examination and will have to wait for the next round of the notification. Given that the notification for vacancies is not released every year, aspirants should take the given chance very seriously. 

Eligibility of Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam 

The first and foremost requirement to appear in Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination is to fulfil the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. Therefore, the aspirants ought to take note of the following criteria, as listed in the latest notification released in 2023:

	Candidate shall be:a citizen of India;a person practising as an Advocate in India or a person qualified to be admitted as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961; andnot more than 32 years of age on the 1st day of January of the year in which the applications for appointment are invited, i.e., 01.01.2023.
	Relaxation of upper age limit by 5 years if the candidate belongs to: Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes, Ex-Servicemen and Commissioned Officers including Emergency Commissioned Officers or Short Service Commissioned Officers who have rendered at least five years military service and have been released on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency or on account of physical disability attributable to military service or on invalidment.
	Relaxation of upper age limit by 10 years if the candidate belongs to: General Category Persons with Disabilities (Identified Disabilities) [in short “PwD”]
	Relaxation of upper age limit by 15 years if the candidate belongs to: Scheduled Castes/ Tribes Category Persons with Disabilities (Identified Disabilities) [in short “PwD”]

Vacancies of Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam

For Delhi Judicial Services Examination, 2023, the High Court has notified the break up of seats as follows:

Number of vacancies (2023)

General- 34Scheduled Caste- 05Schedule Tribes- 14PwD- Out of the aforesaid 53 vacancies, the reservation for PwD candidates (who have identified disabilities of 40% or more) shall be for 9 seats.[These 9 seats are equally divided between 2 categories- 1. PwD (Blindness, Low Vision) 2. PwD (one arm, one leg, both legs, leprosy cured, dwarfism and acid attack victims)]

Plan of Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam

The three steps to success- The Delhi Judicial Service Examination is conducted in 3 stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview. 

	Preliminary Examination	Mains Examination	Interview
Weightage	200 Marks	850 Marks	150 Marks
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions	Subjective Questions	Viva – Voce
Type of Examination	Pen and Paper based Exam on OMR sheet	Pen and Paper based Exam on Answer sheets	Oral Examination, offline
Negative Marking	0.25 Marks for each incorrect answer	–	–
Total Number of Questions	200	–	–
Number of papers	1	4	–
Duration of Examination	2 hours 30 minutes	3 hours for each paper	No fixed duration
Reservation, if any	SC/ST/ PwD	SC/ST/ PwD	SC/ST/ PwD
Minimum Score for General category	60%	40% in each paper and 45% Marks inaggregate	50%
Minimum Score for Reserved category	55%	35% Marks in each Paperand 45% Marks inaggregate	45%
How many students can appear?	There is no limit on the number of students to appear at this stage. It is merely a qualifying examination.	Usually, candidates equal to 10 times the number of total seats qualify for writing Mains.For example: If the total number of vacancies are 53, approx 5300 students will be eligible for writing Mains.	Usually, candidates equal to 3 times the number of total seats qualify for an interview.For example: If the total number of vacancies are 53, approx 160 students will be eligible for appearing in Interview.
Date of Examination	17.12.2023	Not yet notified	Not yet notified

Understanding the syllabus of Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam

• Syllabus is the first step towards starting your journey for qualifying the Civil Judge Exam in Delhi. 
• It gives you a broad idea to streamline your preparation and decide which subjects you have to prepare for your target state. 
• The Delhi High Court does not provide any demarcation as to the weightage of each subject. Therefore, the number of questions from specific subjects are variable. However, with the help of previous year’s papers trend analysis, a tentative weightage can be culled out (discussed ahead in this article). 

Below is the list of subjects which form part of the syllabus for Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination 2023:

• Constitution of India, 1950
• Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
• Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• Indian Penal Code, 1860
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
• Specific Relief Act, 1963
• The Limitation Act, 1963
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
• The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
• The Commercial Courts Act, 2015
• Power of Expression and flair in English
• General Legal Knowledge

Past year question paper analysis of Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination

S. No.	Subject	Number of Questions asked in 2019	Number of Questions asked in 2022	Average (approx no. of questions)
1	Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	31	30	30
2	Criminal Procedure Code, 1973	26	30	28
3	Indian Penal Code, 1860	26	25	25
4	Indian Evidence Act, 1872	11	20	15
5	Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996	22	15	18
6	Constitution of India, 1950	5	12	8
7	English	21	12	17
8	General Knowledge	31	12	20
9	The Commercial Courts Act, 2005	–	10	10
10	Limitation Act, 1963	9	10	10
11	Indian Contract Act, 1872	7	8	7
12	Specific Relief Act, 1963	8	5	6
13	The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012	–	5	5
14	Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008	–	3	3
15	Partnership Act, 1932	3	–	(this subject is no more a part of the syllabus)

Analysis from the above comparison:

• The maximum number of questions were asked from 3 subjects, i.e. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973; and Indian Penal Code, 1860. It contains a mix of problem based lengthy questions and direct provision based questions.
• Anything can be asked from these major subjects. Hence, you should prepare them cover to cover.
• The newly introduced 2 legislations, i.e. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012; and Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 had less questions and most of them were directly related to bare act provision.
• However, the Commercial Courts Act, 2005 had more weightage. But, the questions were easy since they were direct.
• Questions from the Constitution of India, 1950 were mostly based on provisions. Less questions on judgments were asked.
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is equally important as procedural laws. It carries high weightage. Questions are mostly conceptual, and tricky.
• English and GK sections had direct questions, which could be done right with practice. 

Preparation strategies for Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam

The Delhi Judiciary Prelims Exam is one of the toughest examinations, in which a large number of aspirants appear. Every year, this number is increasing and so is the competition. This leads to high cut-off to qualify Prelims. But, you should not get bogged down by the number of vacancies or difficulty level of the question paper. Instead, your focus should only be on one seat that you require. 

To simplify the exam structure and preparation strategy, we have come up with a tried and tested procedure that you can adapt to ensure success in the Delhi Judiciary Exam in the first attempt, specifically for the first stage i.e. Preliminary Exam.

Focus on conceptual clarity

Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination is based on testing the conceptual knowledge of law students. It is not inclined towards testing the memory. 

The questions are mostly application based. A factual scenario is given and one of the best options has to be chosen out of 4 choices. These choices are mostly very similar, making it confusing for the students. 

• What tips can you follow?

• You must stay connected with your studies on  a regular basis. 
• You must have command over the important areas of all the subjects which form a part of the syllabus. 
• Do not worry about memorising so many sections of different laws, especially if you have a small span of time before the examination. Verbatim memorisation of bare act provisions is not the requirement.
• If you can manage to remember the ingredients of Sections, as far as possible, such that you are capable of explaining it in your own words, you are good to go. 
• Along with an understanding of key ingredients, you should also be aware about the fundamental principles of these laws. This can be done through reading textbooks, landmark judgments etc. 
• One of the most essential components which is often missed while gaining conceptual clarity is a careful reading of illustrations attached to legal provisions. Many times, application based questions are directly asked from these areas with minor or no changes in the facts.

For example: Sample Question based on Illustration

A resides in Shimla, B at Calcutta and C at Delhi. A, B and C together go to Banaras and B & C make a Joint Promissory Note payable on demand and deliver it to A. B & C default on payment. A cannot file a suit for recovery at: 

(1) Banaras, where the joint promissory note was executed. 

(2) Calcutta

(3) Delhi, where C resides. 

(4) Shimla, where the plaintiff resides.

This question was asked in DJSE 2022; and is based upon Illustration (b) of Section 20 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908.

Command on Bare Act

A major portion of questions asked in the Prelims examination find genesis in the language of legal provisions. However, the questions are framed in such a way that 4 confusing options are created from the bare act itself. The purpose is to assess the understanding of laws that the candidate possesses.

• What tips can you follow?

• Start preparing for at least 1 year in advance.
• Keep reading the bare acts cover to cover on each subject.
• Highlight the keywords of legal provisions and emphasise on them while revising.
• Try to memorise provision numbers, only where they are extremely important.
• Connect different provisions as far as possible, and mention related provisions alongside the headings  in the bare act itself.
• Sample Question based on Bare Act:

A promise to pay a time barred debt is enforceable, if some conditions are fulfilled. Which of the following conditions is not required?

(1) It must be signed by the promisor

(2) It must be definite and express

(3) It must be in writing 

(4) It must be registered

This question was asked in DJSE 2022; and is based upon the language of Section 25(3) of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Since statutes are the primary sources of laws, law graduates, who are seeking to be judges, must know what it dictates.

Focus on entire syllabus

• Do not leave any subject 

• Many aspirants start their preparation at the last minute, when they have only one or two months left before the examination. This creates a situation of panic and unrest as they get overwhelmed by the huge syllabus. 
• In this backdrop, they tend to focus only on certain specific subjects and leave out some subjects, considering that those are less important. This approach should not be adopted.
• Unpredictable Exam 
• The Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Exam is very unpredictable. Upon analysis of Previous Year Question Papers, it may be observed that the weightage of each subject keeps changing. If in a particular year the emphasis is on Arbitration Act and Procedural laws, in the other year it may not be the case. 
• What should you do? 
• In a situation of cut-throat competition, if you want to ensure certain minimum marks in the paper to qualify Prelims, you must prepare all the aspects of the syllabus, including minor laws, language and current affairs.

Importance of common subjects

• Some of the subjects asked in Delhi Judicial Services Prelims exam are common in other States’ judiciary exams. These are also taught at length in college such as Indian Penal Code, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act, Contract Act etc. 
• It is advisable to thoroughly prepare such subjects while studying in college so that you are able to prepare comprehensive notes and repeated revision makes it easy to memorise.

Smaller Acts are a saviour

• It must be noted that there are few small legislations which are a part of the syllabus for Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination, such as Specific Relief Act, 1963; The Limitation Act, 1963; The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012; The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008; and The Commercial Courts Act, 2015. 
• These are usually termed as minor subjects because of less weightage attached to them in most previous year examinations. However, this should not be a reason for you to keep them aside for the last moment. 
• How to maximise score in this area?

• It is better to first get over with the preparation of these areas or simultaneously reading them bit by bit together with the preparation of major subjects.
• For example: If you are devoting 4 hours per day to Constitution law for a span of 4 days; you should be able to complete 2 minor Acts such as Specific relief Act, 1963 and Limitation Act, 1963 within those 4 days itself. 

In this manner, you will not get bored by reading only one subject, and your ultimate productivity will increase.

• Most of the questions from these Statutes are surrounded on legal aspects and very less case law based questions are asked. So, getting hold of the bare act itself will suffice, if there is no time left for detailed preparation.
• Since the statutes are small, it is easy to revise them ‘n’ number of times. Therefore, you can easily score full marks in this area and can improve your overall result in the Prelims exam.

Memorise the keywords

• Do what is practical
• It is quite obvious that a student cannot learn all the provisions of several statutes, no matter how genius he is and how much effort is put up. Therefore, it is prudent to focus on memorising the keywords along with the serial number of extremely important sections.
• The Three R’s (R3)

The easiest way to memorise is by following a 3 step mechanism: 

READ, REVISE, REPEAT.

• In the first round of preparation, you should read the contents of the provision very carefully. 
• Here, you can also create a simplified version of that provision in your own language in pointers. This is necessary especially when there are so many provisos and exceptions attached to it or the language is worded in a lengthy manner.
• Once you have figured out the keywords, you will be able to understand the crux of it in a better way. But, it should not end here. 
• You need to revise whatever you have studied in the entire day or previous few days and do mental revision. 
• Try to recall, as much as possible. This is where you will get to know the weak areas, i.e. where you are forgetting. 
• The second step is where you have to focus and repeatedly revise that portion which you are not able to retain in your memory. In this manner, you can memorise the ingredients or important keywords of any legal provision.

Procedural law is staple

• Maximum Questions from this area

• The procedural laws which form part of the syllabus of Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination are primarily three: Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and Indian Evidence act, 1872. 
• These are the core areas where most of the difficult questions can be framed.
• Mostly, students find the procedural aspect as difficult to remember. E.g. limitation as to time period, which authority possesses what powers, the steps to be followed in a particular scenario, and so on.
• Secondly, the number of sub-sections and detailed wording make it even more difficult to memorise the law.
• However, this is the area which is very crucial for Judges while adjudicating cases and on this premise, large numbers of questions are framed in the examination.
• What tips can you follow?

• Devote enough time in reading the bare acts to avoid confusion related to different provisions. 
• Practise factual questions regularly, like section numbers as they are a common component of the Prelims
• Prepare Bullet Notes for long legal provisions.
• Stay updated with amendments and important recent case laws.

The right time to start preparing 

• Students who are in the 4th or 5th year of their 5 year law course or who are in the final year of their 3 year law course have enough understanding of major subjects of the law. They can very well start preparing for Judiciary exams in college itself, as long as they can manage both. This will save time after completing graduation.
• If you want to start from scratch, start preparing at least one year prior to the expected date of examination. 
• If you are already preparing for Delhi Judicial Services Examination, devote at least 3 months solely for preparing for Prelims Examination. 
• Don’t wait for notification
• Since the past 2-3 years, a very short date for Prelims has been prescribed after the release of notification announcing vacancies. A student hardly gets a month or two to prepare for Prelims and same is the case with Mains. Therefore, if you are targeting the Delhi Judicial Services Examination, it is always advisable to start preparing as early as possible.

Prepare for Mains first

• If you have ample time, such as a year or two, study from the point of view of Mains.
• Each subject should be studied in depth, including the study of Bare Act supplemented with Landmark and latest case laws.
• This will help you to answer most of the questions, even if the difficulty level goes up and the pattern changes. 
• However, as soon as the notification is released for the date of examination , and you are left with one month or more, the focus should shift entirely on preparing and practising MCQs. 
• You should keep solving at least 25-50 MCQs every day for the purpose of the Prelims Examination, while you are preparing for Mains.

Elimination method

• At the Prelims stage of Examination, if you are not sure about the correct answer, you may adopt the elimination method to rule out incorrect options. 
• Out of four given options, exclude the ones that are most irrelevant and not applicable to the given question. 
• Then, choose the most appropriate option out of the remaining ones. 
• However, this approach should be cautiously adopted as it may also lead to a less score because of negative marking.

Attempt enough questions

• How many questions should you attempt?

• If you have prepared well for the exam, you should ideally attempt at least 170-175 questions out of 200. 
• This is suggested so that you are able to score around 140 after negative marking, which is a decent score to ensure selection at this stage.
• However, if the preparation is not complete , and you find it difficult to answer approx 170 questions, then you should accordingly attempt to minimise the effect of negative marking. 
• What is a safe score?

• In 2022, the cut off for Prelims for general category was 128.75 marks. But, this number may vary depending on the number of seats and level of difficulty of the Question Paper. 
• Therefore, to be on a safe side, the target should be 135 to 140 marks out of 200. 

No unnecessary risks

• If you are unaware about a particular concept and have no clue regarding the given options to a question, it is advisable not to take the risk of attempting such a question. The reason is that in such cases, it is most likely that the answer would be wrong.
• In case of memory based questions, if you are unable to recall what the correct answer is, it is better not to take the risk and, instead, you should leave such questions.
• If there are principle based questions the answer to which can be deciphered from the language of the question or the given options or on the basis of recollection of previous study, you may take the risk of going according to your instinct. But, this should not be done vaguely, as a difference of 0.25 marks alone can be detrimental to your selection.
• It is better to attempt easy questions first, i.e. where you are confident about the answer. Then, roughly estimate the number of questions left. Accordingly, in the second reading, take calculated risk and attempt the requisite number of questions.

Additional 15 minutes- a boon

• The exam starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 1.30 p.m. 
• However, the question paper is distributed at 10.45 a.m. These 15 minutes are allotted for reading the Question Paper. 
• You can break open the seal of OMR sheets at 10.55 a.m. for filing the particulars. Though you cannot mark answers on the OMR sheet till 11 a.m.
• This is a unique practice adopted only by the State of Delhi with respect to Civil Judge examination. The primary reason is that the questions in Delhi Civil Judge exam are mostly application based and lengthy in nature. Therefore, the extra time for reading should be wisely used. 

Bullet summary

• Once you are done with the preparation of a particular subject, and you are at the stage of revision, it is better to prepare bullet notes from the detailed content. 
• Bullet Notes should comprise only the headings and subheadings, along with the name of important judgments and their conclusion in a line or two. 
• These notes should be made in such a way that once you scroll through it, you are able to recall the details of whatever you have studied in that context. 
• This will save  a lot of time at the last minute when it is not possible to revise each subject cover to cover from bare acts or textbooks.

Right study material

• Preparing for Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination requires selecting the right study materials. It should be such that it demands less time to read yet gives a vast coverage of all the dimensions of the syllabus. 
• For example, if you are preparing for prelims before a month or two of the examination, referring to textbooks for each subject will not be fruitful. 
• On the contrary, if you are preparing beforehand and have ample time, there is no harm in reading important books at length and preparing your notes. Instead, it will do good for conceptual clarity and will smoothen the process of Mains preparation.
• What is crucial is that sufficient time should be left for revision so that the concepts and legal provisions remain in mind. 
• Reading only once will not suffice, even though the questions will be of MCQ nature.
• Bare Act reading
• For legal subjects, bare Acts should be the primary source of reading material, which should be revised at least thrice before the Prelims examination.
• Important Case laws

• Latest supreme court judgments and important Delhi High Court judgments are also something that cannot be ignored for this examination. 
• For preparing case laws, knowing the title and summarised judgement is sufficient. 
• It is not advisable to read complete judgement for Prelims, as it is practically difficult to do and will not serve the larger purpose. However, it can be done for the purpose of Mains where analytical skills are checked.
• English language

• Important topics as per previous years question papers, such as synonyms, antonyms, spellings etc. must be prepared from any standard book. 
• More and more practice is required in this regard. 
• Though it seems easy, this subject should not be left to prepare at the last moment if you want to score good marks in English language.
• Legal General Knowledge

• With regard to legal current affairs, websites or other sources which provide daily news on legal affairs should be referred to on a regular basis. 
• Lawsikho provides Daily Newspaper Analysis titled as TNA- ‘Today’s Newspaper Analysis’. This is a very significant resource to prepare for GEneral Knowledge and Current Affairs. 
• Notes should be prepared simultaneously so that all the relevant content is accumulated at one place, which can be easily revised for Prelims and later used for Mains and Interview.

Customised time table

• Delhi Judiciary Prelims Exam requires a good command over all the important areas of law, including hold on English grammar and vocabulary and legal current affairs. 
• Therefore, a timetable should be made which lays equal emphasis on all the areas of syllabus. 
• A realistic time table

• We usually set our targets with much enthusiasm but, after a few days, we tend to deviate from it. Therefore, it is very important to prepare a balanced timetable suitable to your circumstances, which you can religiously follow.
• Also, do not try to imitate the timetable shared by the toppers, as it may not be suitable for you. Setting unrealistic targets may end up shattering your confidence. Instead, do as much as is possible for you, keeping in mind your strengths and areas of weakness.
• A tentative guide is given for your reference as to how you can manage your time effectively and complete your preparation in time. 

30 DAYS REVISION PLAN (Plan of action to be executed 1 month prior to examination)

Day 1	Constitution of India, 1950	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 2	Constitution of India, 1950	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 3	Constitution of India, 1950	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 4	Constitution of India, 1950	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 5	Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 6	Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 7	Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 8	Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 9	Criminal Procedure Code, 1973	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 10	Criminal Procedure Code, 1973	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 11	Criminal Procedure Code, 1973	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 12	Criminal Procedure Code, 1973	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 13	Indian Penal Code, 1860	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 14	Indian Penal Code, 1860	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 15	Indian Penal Code, 1860	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 16	Indian Penal Code, 1860	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 17	Indian Evidence Act, 1872	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 18	Indian Evidence Act, 1872	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 19	Indian Evidence Act, 1872	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 20	Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 21	Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 22	Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 23	Specific Relief Act, 1963	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 24	The Limitation Act, 1963	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 25	Indian Contract Act, 1872	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 26	Indian Contract Act, 1872	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 27	The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 28	The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008	Prepare Notes for Legal GK (you may refer to Lawsikho’s TNA) and revise them every alternate day
Day 29	The Commercial Courts Act, 2015	Practise at least 50 Questions for English from Past Year Papers and Books
Day 30	Revision of the entire syllabus from Bullet Notes prepared by you or from the Index page of bare acts

*NOTE:

• The above mentioned tentative timeline is to be followed by you in the last 30 days.
• If you possess fair knowledge of legal subjects or, you have already prepared well for Mains examination, you are required to study at least 7-8 hours a day for Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination i.e,

• 4-5 hours/day for legal subjects as mentioned; 
• 2-3 hours/day for English practice or GK(on alternate days); and
• 30 minutes/day for solving MCQs and 30 minutes/day for revision.
• If you are a working professional, and you can devote less time each day, you should at least study 3-4 hours per day, i.e.

• 3 hours/day for legal subjects as mentioned; 
• 1 hour for English practice or GK (on alternate days)
• Appear in 2-3 Mock Tests every weekend. 

Subject-specific guidance

Delhi Judicial Services Preliminary Examination requires detailed study on each subject as it is based on overall understanding of the law. Further, the question paper does not contain questions from one area at one place, rather they are intermixed.  Therefore, each subject needs specific guidance. 

In this section, we have discussed important factors to be considered for efficient preparation of different subjects.

Constitutional Law

It is the most important subject which forms part of the syllabus in two dimensions: questions purely based on the provisions of Constitution Law and questions from Legal GK premised or related to any Constitutional provision. 

• Memorise the keywords and Article numbers: Constitutional provisions need to be memorised, as far as possible, at least for areas from which questions are frequently asked. 
• Learn the important Amendments: Amendments are very important for questions in Constitutional Law in the prelims Examination. E.g. Changes brought in by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, also known as mini Constitution, is extremely important. Similarly, questions may be asked about the latest amendments.
• Latest Judgments: Supreme Court Judgments of at least past 3 years must be revised thoroughly.
• Understand the concepts: In this subject, questions are often based on holdings of landmark judgments and settled legal position. Therefore, detailed study needs to be done.
• Use Mnemonics for learning: Eg. If you want to remember the Schedules of the Constitution of India, you may do it by memorising the phrase “ TEARS OF OLD PM”.

SCHEDULE	MNEMONICS		TITLE OF THE SCHEDULE
I	T	Territories	The States & The Union territories
II	E	Emoluments	Provisions as to the:President and the Governors of States.Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of theHouse of the People & Legislative AssemblyChairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States & Legislative Council of a State.Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts.Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
III	A	Affirmation	Forms of Oaths or Affirmations.
IV	R	Rajya Sabha	Allocation of seats in the Council of States.
V	S	Scheduled Areas	Provisions as to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
VI	O	Other Tribal Areas	Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
VII	F	Federal List	List I- Union List.List II- State List.List III- Concurrent List
VIII	O	Official Languages	Languages
IX	L	Land Reforms	Validation of certain Acts and Regulations.
X	D	Defection	Provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection.
XI	P	Panchayats	Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats.
XII	M	Municipalities	Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities, etc.

Sample Questions

Question- 1

“How many States and how many Union territories are listed in the First Schedule of the Constitution of India?” [DJS Prelims- 2022]

(1) 28 states and 9 Union territories

(2) 27 states and 10 Union territories

(3) 28 states and 8 Union territories

(4) 29 states and 9 Union territories

This is purely a question on legal knowledge.

Here, direct questions based on Article number as well the requirement contained in any particular provision may also be asked. 

Question- 2

“Which Article of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding equal justice and free legal aid?  

(1) 38

(2) 39

(3) 39-A

(4) 43 [DJS Prelims- 2022]”

This is purely a question on the language of Article- 39A.

It has been observed that many questions from this area are such which can be directly answered with the help of bareAct whereas few can be answered if one possesses knowledge of landmark and latest case laws.

Civil Procedure Code, 1908

This is one of the most difficult areas where lengthy questions are asked.

• Importance of Orders: Questions from this subject are not restricted to mere study of Sections , but Orders and Rules also play a significant role in this subject. You should read the rules contained in the Orders several times, to avoid any confusion.
• Remote areas: In Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination, questions are also asked from remote areas, i.e. which are not so popularly discussed in Law schools. Therefore, Bare Act reading of the entire Statute is necessary to ensure a good score.
• Read Textbooks/Notes: Since this subject carries high weightage, you must prepare it thoroughly, including landmark and latest case laws.

Sample Questions

Question 1

“No order of attachment passed under Order 39 Rule 2A shall remain in force for more than

(1) 6 months

(2) One year 

(3) Two years

(4) None of the above” [DJSE 2022]

Question 2

“Production of additional evidence in Appellate Court is permissible under which of the following

 provisions? 

(1) Order 41 Rule 27

(2) Order 40 Rule 1

(3) Order 39 Rule 5

(4) Order 21 Rule 27 [DJSE 2022]”

Above Questions are direct in nature, based on the language of legal provision.

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973

• Detailed Study is required: Most of the questions asked from this subject are very lengthy and an in depth study is required to crack it. Therefore, textual knowledge is necessary and bare act alone would not suffice.
• Prepare Charts or Tables- Often, students find it overwhelming to memorise so many procedural requirements as per distinguished situations. Therefore, creating charts or tables for important concepts like types of offences, stages of trial, etc., may be helpful for quick revision.

E.g. You can prepare a chart for different steps involved in each type of trial and make a comparison to memorise easily.

• Read topic wise and keep interinking- Instead of reading from first to last provision, it is better to read topic-wise. That will give more clarity and a comprehensive understanding.
• Sample Question:

“A Metropolitan Magistrate is subordinate to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the Metropolitan Area but an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate appointed in the same area may not be subject to such subordination, though both are subject to general control of the Sessions Judge of the same session division.

(1) The above statement is correct.

(2) The above statement is correct but subject to order that may be passed by the High Court defining the extent of subordination, if any, of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

(3) Both (1) and (2) are incorrect.

(4) Both (1) and (2) are correct.” [DJSE 2022]

This is a conceptual and lengthy question which can be answered correctly only if the student knows the language of Section 19 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.

Indian Penal Code, 1860

• Illustration is the key: Most of the problem based questions are related to the facts given in Illustration attached to different offences. 
• Identify the Offence: Several questions are dealing with identifying the correct legal provision, either in the form of direct MCQ or in the form of Match the following. This is especially relating to provisions defining offences or prescribing punishments.
• Assertion and Reasoning: Some questions are also based on Assertion and Reasoning, which aims to test the understanding of rational or policy behind the law.
• It is very important to focus on the ingredients of offences, and illustrations. Most of the questions can be answered correctly just by having a command on the bare act.

Sample Question

A offers B money to murder C, but instead decides to steal C’s imported car and is apprehended by the Police. During his interrogation, B reveals his conversation with A, to the Police. Since B did not even attempt to murder C, which of the following is true?

(1) A has not committed any offence. 

 (2) A is guilty of abetting B only to commit theft.

(3) A is guilty of abetting B to commit murder.

(4) A is guilty of abetting B to commit both theft and murder.” [DJS 2022]

This question is not direct but is based on the understanding of Section 108 of Indian Penal Code, 1860. 

Indian Evidence Act, 1872

• A scoring subject: Indian Evidence Act, 1872 is comparatively a smaller statute than other criminal laws. Yet, its weightage is high. Therefore, it is easier for students to prepare for it and score good marks.
• Illustrations: Similar to Indian Penal Code, 1860, Illustrations play a key role in this subject. Often the facts are slightly changed to assess whether the candidate is able to apply the law to the facts. 
• Case Laws: In this subject, reading case laws is very important to develop legal acumen for Mains and to answer case law based questions in Prelims.
• Sample Question:

“Mohan sues Sohan for money due on a bond. The bond was kept in the custody of Shyam. The execution of the Bond is admitted by Sohan but he states that the bond was obtained by fraud. The Burden of proof would lie on

(1) Mohan

(2) Sohan

(3) Both of them

(4) Shyam” [DJSE 2022]

This question is directly based on Illustration (b) of Section 102 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

Indian Contract Act, 1872

• Usually, these are direct questions from the bare act, except some questions on the observations of landmark and latest case laws.
• Sections 1 to 75 of the Act are more important from the point of view of conceptual questions. Here lies more the possibility of tricky and conceptual questions. 
• In the latter part of the Act, the questions are mostly based on the language of the legal provisions along with Illustrations.
• English case laws are also relevant for this subject, along with Supreme Court judgments.

Sample Questions

Question 1-

“The principle relating to ‘Responsibility of Finder of Goods’ has been laid down under

(1) Section 70

(2) Section 71

(3) Section 72

(4) Section 73” [DJSE 2022]

Question 2-

“The nature of a wagering agreement was explained in the case of

(1) Mohori Bibee v. Dharmodas Ghosh 

(2) Derry v. Peak

(3) Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.

(4) Hyde vs. Wrench” [DJSE 2022]

These kinds of questions are usually direct and hence a student can score well in it.

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

• Only a part of Prelims: This is a very important subject which is asked only In Delhi Judiciary Prelims (not in Mains). Other States do not ask questions in this area. Therefore, students whose target state is Delhi must prepare it thoroughly.
• Since the last two-three years, several difficult questions have been asked including questions on recent amendments, observations of latest case laws and procedural requirements of legal provisions. 
• Do not overlook it considering it as a minor one. Enough time should be devoted to prepare for it. 
• Sample Question:

“Correct this proposition: “International Commercial Arbitration under Section 2(f) of Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 is arbitration of any disputes between two parties, both of whom are residents abroad.

(1) It is arbitration of commercial disputes between two parties, at least one of which is either a foreign national, or resident or incorporated abroad, or whose central management and control is exercised from abroad, or is a foreign Government 

(2) It is arbitration of commercial disputes between two corporate entities, any one of which is resident abroad. 

(3) It is arbitration of commercial disputes between two individuals, both of whom are resident abroad. 

(4) It is arbitration of commercial disputes between any two Governments, whether in India or abroad.” [DJSE 2022]

This question is based on different clauses of Section 2(f).

Specific Relief Act, 1963

• It is a small statute which can be easily prepared. 
• Most of the questions can be attempted correctly with the help of bare act alone.
• Apart from this, certain provisions of the Act, specially related to recovery of movable and immovable property may be asked in correlation with Civil Procedure Code, 1908. So, try to read them together, wherever there is inter-connection.
• Sample Question:

“Mr. ‘A’ makes an allegation that Mr. ‘B’ assaulted him and physically injured him. Mr.’B’ states that the allegation is mischievous and false. He seeks to file a suit to restrain Mr. A’ from instituting or prosecuting any proceedings in a criminal matter. In view of Section 41 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, which one of the following is true? 

(1) The court can restrain Mr. ‘A’ from instituting or prosecuting any proceedings in a criminal matter 

(2) The court can pass a restrain order provided it is proved that Mr. ‘A’ is making a false allegation.

(3) The court can pass a restrain order in favour of Mr. ‘B’ provided he deposits appropriate security in court. 

(4) No such injunction can be granted.” [DJSE 2022]

This question is based on the concept of Section 41(d).

Limitation Act, 1963

• Schedule is important: The Schedule appended to the Limitation Act, 1963 contains periods of limitation for different causes of actions. Many questions are based on identifying the correct period of limitation in the given facts. Therefore, it is necessary to memorise the Schedule, as much as possible.
• Prepare cover to cover: Since it is a small statute, you can very easily score full marks in this.
• Sample Question:

“What is the limitation period for filing a suit for recovery of price of goods sold and delivered where no fixed period of credit is agreed upon to make payment for the goods?

(1) One year from the date of placing the order for purchase of the goods. 

(2) Three years from the date of placing the order for purchase of the goods.

(3) Three years from the date of delivery of goods. 

(4) One year from the date of delivery of goods.” [DJSE 2022]

This question is based on Article 14 of the Schedule attached to Limitation Act, 1963 .

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

• Recent addition only for Prelims: This subject has been recently added in the syllabus of Delhi Judicial Services Prelims and is not a part of Mains. Therefore, it has to be prepared from the point of view of Objective Questions only.
• Close attention must be paid to definitions, types of offences, procedures for reporting and trial, and provisions for child victims. 
• Aspirants must also focus on penalties and special provisions.
• Apart from the bare Act, landmark and latest judgments related to the POCSO Act are very important, including Delhi High Court cases if they lay down a new interpretation of law. 
• Sample Question:

“A, who was previously convicted for the offence of rape, with sexual intent touches the vagina of ‘B’ aged 17 years. Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ‘A’ has committed the offence of: 

(1) Sexual Assault 

(2) Aggravated Sexual Assault

(3) Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault 

(4) Penetrative Sexual Assault” [DJSE 2022]

It is a direct question based on Offences.

Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008

• This has also become a part of Prelims syllabus lately. 
• Direct questions from the bare Act are likely to be asked, as inferred from the previous year’s pattern. 
• Sample Question:

“Resident in India”, for the specific purpose of being a Designated Partner under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, requires minimum residency/stay in India for how many days during one immediately preceding year? 

(1) 120 

(2) 160 

(3) 182 

(4) 242” [DJSE 2022]

It is a direct question based on Section 7 of the Act.

Commercial Courts Act, 2015

• Direct questions from the bare act may be asked based on the language of the legal provisions.
• Sample Question:

“Which of the following disputes would not fall within the definition of a “commercial dispute” under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015? 

(1) a claim arising out of a transaction of export of goods; 

(2) a suit for arrest of a ship:

(3) a claim for unpaid rent in respect of a residential property; 

(4) a suit based on infringement of a registered trademark

It is a direct question based on the language of legal provision.

English Language

English language forms an essential component of DJS prelims Examination. Usually, law graduates who appear for this examination are not in touch with English as a subject and require additional efforts to prepare it for the purpose of examination. 

• There is no fixed outline or syllabus mentioned in the syllabus, and hence the preparation has to be on wide areas as per the pattern of previous year question papers.
• For example, practising sample papers on topics that have frequently been asked in this examination, will help to get a command on it. 
• Keep noting down your mistakes and make a habit of revising them to ensure less mistakes in the actual exam.
• The questions are mostly such that many students can get upto a certain score without preparing much , and the competition lies in the remaining questions. In order to get that edge, you must practise as many questions as possible.

Legal General Knowledge

• Legal GK requires effort on a constant basis. 
• You must keep preparing notes on a daily basis, in a manner that these could be used for Prelims as well as Mains. 
• The important areas include: current legal facts, current legal news, persons who are in news, list of ministers especially in Delhi, prominent chairpersons of Delhi High Court, Recent bills and amendments, Law Commission Reports and the History of Indian Constitution.

Mock tests and previous year papers

• Mock tests help the candidates to become familiar with the format, types of questions, and the overall feel of the judiciary exam. 
• This familiarity can reduce exam-day anxiety. 
• It trains them to stay focused and composed under timed conditions.
• It is recommended that students should solve at least 3 previous years’ question papers of Delhi Judicial Services Preliminary Examination. 
• Apart from this Mock test and sample papers should be practised on a regular basis. 
• The performance in Mock Tests will give a reality check to the students where they will gain confidence on areas of strength and will be able to identify those aspects or subjects which require more hard work. Accordingly, the preparation can be improved.

Learn from mistakes: It is better to learn from mistakes done while solving sample papers and mock tests, rather than bearing the wrath of mistakes in actual examination.

Do not overthink

Getting confused during the examination about the correct option is quite obvious. This overthinking may lead you to the wrong answer. It can lead to unnecessary stress, time wastage, and sometimes even poor performance. 

Therefore, be confident in your preparation and try to finish the question paper in a reasonable time, even if you have extra time left behind.

• Being well-prepared is the first step to reducing overthinking. 
• Confidence in your knowledge and understanding of the material can significantly lower the tendency to second-guess yourself.
• The more you practise in mock tests, the more comfortable you become with the process and the less stressed you are during the examination.

Reading material

You may refer to the following list of reading material for Delhi Judicial Services Prelims Examination- 2023 [These are available online or on bookshops providing Law Books].

S. No.	Subject	Reading Material
1	Constitution of India, 1950	Constitutional Law Bare ActIndian Constitutional Law Paperback by M.P. JainIntroduction to the Constitution of India by Durgadas BasuLaw Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. II) by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
2	Civil Procedure Code, 1908	Bare Act on Civil Procedure Code, 1908Civil Procedure with Limitation Act by C.K. Takwani Law Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. III) by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
3	Criminal Procedure Code, 1973	Bare Act on Criminal Procedure Code, 1973R. V. Kelkar’s Criminal ProcedureLaw Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. III) by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
4	Indian Penal Code, 1860	Bare Act on Indian Penal Code, 1860The Indian Penal Code Paperback by RatanlalLaw Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. I)  by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
5	Indian Evidence Act, 1872	Bare Act on Indian Evidence Act, 1872Textbook on the Indian Evidence Act by K D GaurThe Law of Evidence by Batuklal Law Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. III) by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
6	Indian Contract Act, 1872	Bare Act on Indian Contract Act, 1872Indian Contract Act by R.K. BangiaContract and Specific Relief by Avatar SinghLaw Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. I) by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
7	Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996	Bare Act on Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 by LawmanTextbook on Arbitration & Conciliation with Alternative Dispute Resolution by Madhusudan Saharay Law Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. I)  by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
8	Specific Relief Act, 1963	Bare Act on Specific Relief Act, 1963Contract and Specific Relief by Avatar SinghLaw Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. I)  by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
9	Limitation Act, 1963	Bare Act on Limitation Act, 1963Indian Limitation Act by J D JainLaw Guide for Judicial Services Examinations (Vol. I)  by Dr. Ashok K. Jain
10	Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012	Bare Act on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012Lawmann’s Commentary on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) as amended by the Act of 2019 with Rules 2020 and Allied Laws
11	Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008	Reading the Bare Act on Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 would suffice.
12	Commercial Courts Act, 2015	Reading the Bare Act on Commercial Courts Act, 2015 would suffice.
13	English	Objective General English by R.S. AggarwalHigh School English Gram & Comp by Wren & MartinCompulsory English For IAS (Mains) Examination by A P Bharadwaj
14	Legal General Knowledge	Lawsikho’s Daily Newspaper AnalysisLegal GK-  Legal General Knowledge for Competitive Examinations by Law and JusticeSupreme Court case laws from any online platform, such as LiveLaw, Bar and Bench, SCC Online etc.

Tips for the exam day

• Ensure you have all required materials ready (e.g., admit card, ID proof, pens, pencils, a watch, and any allowed stationery). Pack them the night before to avoid last-minute rushes.
• You should get a good sleep of at least 6-7 hours one day prior to the examination. This is necessary to give a good performance during the exam, where you need to be energised physically and mentally.
• Cross-check the address of the examination centre before leaving. Once reached, confirm the location. Consider traffic and other potential delays to avoid reaching late. Instead, try to reach a bit early.
• Avoid talking to peers before the examination. This is necessary to avoid unnecessary pressure.
• Once you receive the question paper, read all instructions carefully. 
• Use only those pens which are prescribed, otherwise, it may lead to disqualification of your OMR sheet.

• In order to manage time effectively, utilise the first 15 minutes wisely. In this time, skim through the question paper to be able to decide which area you should attempt first. 
• Fill in the details in the OMR sheet carefully. No mistake should be made in filling the entries as it may even disqualify you from the examination. 
• It is  advisable to solve easy questions first, so that you are relaxed from one end. 
• Then, according to the time left, invest it upon thinking about the remaining questions. 
• Do not solve the questions on question paper first and leave them to be marked on the OMR sheet at the last minute. This will cause you delay and in anxiety you may darken the wrong circle, despite knowing the answers correctly.

• Keep an eye on the watch every now and then, to ensure that you are not lagging behind. For example, in a 2 hour 30 minutes question paper consisting of 200 questions, not more than 45 seconds should be devoted. This will help you in time management.
• One question at a Time. You must concentrate on the question you are answering at the moment. Avoid thinking about other questions which you do not know about or the overall outcome of the exam.
• Understand Before Answering. Carefully read and understand each question before starting to answer. 

Common mistakes to avoid 

• Read the questions carefully. Sometimes, we ignore words like ‘Not’ and eventually answer in the opposite direction, despite knowing it. Similarly, in case of true/false statements, mark the answer very carefully.
• Read all the options, even though the first one per se appears to be correct. Many times, students overlook some options and mark incorrect answers in haste.
• Often, the students mistakenly darken other circles on the OMR sheet than what they intended to. Even if you do it slightly, it will be considered as marked and there is no method to undo it. Therefore, be very careful while answering.
• Ignoring less important subjects is another common perception amongst students, which should not be done in a cut-throat competition like this.
• Don’t go on reading several textbooks or case laws at length while preparing for Prelims Examination after the release of the notification. Your sources should be limited through which you can complete the entire syllabus in given time.
• Failing to review incorrect answers in mock test papers may lead to silly mistakes. You should always revise those areas more which you tend to forget while trying to recall.
• Do not overlook the Importance of Previous Year Papers. They help a lot in understanding frequently asked areas and the type of questions asked.

Conclusion

Delhi Judicial Services Examination is a dream of many lawyers and Prelims is the first step towards making it a reality. It requires consistent effort, smart work, and a focused approach. Stay disciplined in your preparation, stick to the time table and don’t forget to periodically assess your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.

You will later realise that all the hard work was worth the treasure that it upholds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the frequently asked questions along with their answers:

When is the upcoming exam for Delhi Judicial Services Prelims?

The exam was held on 17.12.2023.

What is the exam pattern for Delhi Judiciary Prelims?

The Delhi Judiciary Prelims exam consists of 200 objective-type questions for 200 marks where there is negative marking of 0.25 mark for each incorrect answer.

Is it an online exam or offline?

This exam will be conducted at designated centres across Delhi in pen and paper format using OMR sheet.

When will the next examination be?

It is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m till 1.30 p.m. on 17.12.2023.

What subjects are covered in the Prelims Exam?

The subjects include Constitution of India, 1950; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973; Indian Evidence Act, 1872; Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Indian Penal Code, 1860; Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; Specific Relief Act, 1963; The Limitation Act, 1963; Indian Contract Act, 1872; The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012; The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008; The Commercial Courts Act, 2015; Power of Expression and flair in English; and General Legal Knowledge

Is there negative marking in the DJS Exam?

Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 mark for each incorrect answer.

When should I start preparing for Delhi Judiciary?

You should start preparing for this exam as soon as you decide your goal. However, final year college students must begin their preparation.

How many months of preparation is needed to crack DJSE?

Ideally, 1 year of dedicated preparation is required to crack the Delhi Judicial Services Examination. However, if you have gathered good conceptual clarity during college, you may clear it even in less time, such as 6 months.

How should I start preparing for the Delhi Judiciary Prelims?

Begin with a step by step procedure. This article will comprehensively guide you to articulate your preparation strategy.

Is coaching necessary to crack the Delhi Judiciary Prelims?

While coaching can provide structured guidance and study material, it is not mandatory to crack the exam. Many candidates successfully prepare using self-study, provided they have access to the right resources and follow a disciplined study routine.

How important are previous year question papers?

Previous year question papers are crucial for understanding the exam pattern, the nature of questions, and important topics. They also help in practising time management.

What is the level of difficulty of the exam?

The difficulty level of the Delhi Judiciary Prelims can vary each year depending upon the number of vacancies and question paper pattern. However, it is generally considered difficult as compared to other State’s exams.

How many hours should I study daily?

The number of study hours varies among individuals. It’s more important to have focused and productive study sessions rather than counting hours. Quality trumps quantity. However, 7-8 hours per day is recommended, at least one month prior to the examination.

Can I prepare for the exam while working/studying?

Yes, many candidates prepare for the exam while working or pursuing studies. It requires efficient time management and a well-structured study plan.

What resources should I use for preparation?

Refer to standard textbooks for law subjects, daily newspapers for current affairs, and good quality mock tests and previous year question papers for practice. Further, a list of important reading material has been attached in this article alongside each subject.