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UP Judiciary Syllabus 2026: Prelims & Mains Subject-wise Important Topics & Weightage
September 7, 2026
UP Judiciary syllabus 2026 is set by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) across three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
- The prelims exam consists of 2 objective-type papers for General Knowledge and Law.
- The Mains exam includes 6 descriptive papers: Hindi, English, General Knowledge and three papers for Law that cover topics like Substantive law, Evidence and Penal/Revenue/Local laws.
UP Judiciary Syllabus 2026: Subject-wise List for Prelims & Mains
Before, we get into the details about paper-wise, important topics, the table below gives you the complete subject-wise UP judiciary syllabus:
| Subject | Appears In |
| General Studies & Language | |
| Current Affairs (National & International) | Prelims & Mains |
| Indian History & Culture | Prelims & Mains |
| Geography of India | Prelims & Mains |
| Indian Polity & Governance | Prelims & Mains |
| Indian Economy | Prelims & Mains |
| Science, Technology, Space & Communications | Prelims & Mains |
| Social Legislation (Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Women & Child Protection Acts) | Mains |
| English (Essay, Précis, Translation) | Mains |
| Hindi / सामान्य हिन्दी (Essay, Précis, Translation) | Mains |
| Core Law Subjects | |
| Jurisprudence | Prelims |
| International Organizations & Current International Affairs | Prelims |
| Indian Constitution | Prelims & Mains |
| Law of Contract | Prelims & Mains |
| Transfer of Property Act | Prelims & Mains |
| Indian Penal Code / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 | Prelims & Mains |
| Indian Evidence Act / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 | Prelims & Mains |
| Criminal Procedure Code / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 | Prelims & Mains |
| Civil Procedure Code (CPC) | Mains |
| Law of Partnership | Mains |
| Law of Easements & Torts | Mains |
| Equity, Trusts & Specific Relief | Mains |
| Hindu Law & Mohammedan Law | Mains |
| Principles of Pleading | Mains |
| UP-Specific Local & Revenue Laws | |
| Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 | Mains |
| UP Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972 | Mains |
| UP Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021 | Mains |
| Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916 | Mains |
| UP Panchayat Raj Act | Mains |
| UP Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 | Mains |
| Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 | Mains |
UP Judiciary Syllabus for Prelims 2026
The UP judiciary exam pattern, the prelims exam has 2 objective-type papers:
- General Knowledge - 150 marks
- Law - 300 marks
The paper-wise UP judiciary syllabus for prelims exam is as given below.
Paper I: General Knowledge
The following important topics are covered in the GK paper for UP Judicial Services prelims:
- Current events of national and international importance
- Indian history and culture
- Geography of India
- Indian economy
- Indian polity and governance
- Science and technology
- Environmental issues
- Sports and awards
- Books and authors
Paper II: Law
For the prelims Law paper, make sure to prepare the following important topics:
- Jurisprudence
- International Organizations
- Current International Affairs
- Indian Constitution
- Transfer of Property Act
- Indian Evidence Act/ BSA
- Indian Penal Code/ BNS
- Civil Procedure Code
- Criminal Procedure Code/ BNSS
- Law of Contract
Although the official syllabus for UP judiciary exam 2026 is not out yet, make sure you prepare for both old and the new criminal laws.
UP Judiciary Syllabus for Mains 2026
The UP judiciary mains is a descriptive exam that consists of 6 papers. The marks distribution and duration for these papers is given in the table below.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 | English Language | 100 | — |
| Paper 3 | Hindi Language | 100 | — |
| Paper 4 | Law I - Substantive Law | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper 5 | Law II - Procedure & Evidence | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper 6 | Law III - Penal, Revenue & Local Laws | 200 | 3 hours |
Here are the paper-wise UP judiciary mains syllabus and important topics for 2026:
Paper I: General Knowledge
The most important topics covered in the General Knowledge paper include:
- The History of India and Indian Culture
- Geography of India
- Indian Polity
- Current National Issues
- India and the World
- Indian Economy
- International Affairs and Institutions and development in the field of Science and Technology
- Communications and Space
- Topics of social relevance to persons with disabilities, senior citizens and offences on women & children
- Features of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016
- Maintenance & Welfare of Parents
- Senior Citizens Act, 2007
- Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
- India and the World
- Indian Economy
- International Affairs
- Institutions and development in the field of Science and Technology
- Communications and Space
Paper II: English Language
In the English language paper for UP judiciary mains, the following topics are tested most frequently:
- Essay to be written in English
- English Precis writing
- Passage translation from Hindi to English
Paper III: Hindi Language
The Hindi language paper covers the following topics:
- Essay writing in Hindi
- Hindi Precis writing
- Passage Translation from English to Hindi
Paper IV: Law I - Substantive Law
UP Judiciary syllabus of Substantive Law covers the laws governing the state, which is crucial for anyone looking to make a difference in judicial public service. The important topics for your mains exam preparation include:
- The Law of Contracts
- The Law of Partnership
- The Law concerning easements and torts
- The Law relating to the transfer of property, including the principles of Equity, is specifically applicable thereto
- The principle of Equity, with special reference to the Law of Trust and Specific Relief,
- Hindu Law and Mohammedan Law,
- Constitutional Law
Paper V: Law II - Procedure & Evidence Laws
The UP PCS J syllabus of Procedure and Evidence Law primarily covers procedural law rules, that govern the application of substantive law. It involves all the procedures for commencing, conducting, and terminating civil and criminal proceedings.
Make sure to prepare for the following topics:
- Law of Evidence
- The Criminal Procedure Code
- Code of Civil Procedure
- Principles of pleading
Paper VI: Law III - Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws
The UP judiciary syllabus for this paper contains a comprehensive collection of laws governing Uttar Pradesh. It includes Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws essential for the efficient practice of civil judges' roles in the state:
- Indian Penal Code
- Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006
- Uttar Pradesh Urban Building (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972
- The Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021
- Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916
- UP Panchayat Raj Act
- UP Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953
- Uttar Pradesh Urban (Planning and Development) Act 1973
- And rules framed under the acts
UP Judiciary Syllabus for Interview 2026
The Interview is the final stage of selection for the UP Civil Judge (Junior Division). To qualify for it, you need to clear the minimum qualifying score for the UP PCS J Mains exam. The Interview stage carries 100 marks; however, there's no specific syllabus for it.
It involves a face-to-face conversation with a panel of interviewers who will assess your personality and legal aptitude rather than academic knowledge.
The interviewers will evaluate you on the following parameters:
- Character
- Personality
- Emotional Intelligence
- Presence of Mind
- Leadership Qualities
- Intellectual Qualities
- Balance of Judgement
- Knowledge of Law
- The ability for social cohesion and moral integrity
The interview marks along with the mains marks contribute to the preparation of the final merit list.
Supreme Court's Judiciary Practice Rule 2026
According to the judgment passed by the Supreme Court of India (on August 21, 2026), the 3-year judiciary practice requirement was reduced to 1-year. Here’s what you need to know before appearing for upcoming judiciary exams:
- Fresh law graduates can apply for exams notified until March 31, 2027. They will be considered eligible irrespective of their prior practice experience.
- Candidates who get selected will have to undergo 1 year of Judicial Academy training followed by 1 year of structured clerkship.
- For notifications issued on or after April 01, 2026, candidates must have 1 year of practice experience at bar to be eligible to apply.
Before you apply, make sure you understand the Supreme court's judiciary practice rule well enough.
UP Judiciary Syllabus 2026 Subject-wise Weightage
The UP civil judge exam syllabus is spread across 4 broad subject categories. The table below shows you the subject-wise weightage based on exam pattern and previous question paper trends.
| Subject Area | Marks | % of Total |
| Law (Prelims Paper II + Mains Law I, II & III) | 900 | 58.1% |
| General Knowledge (Prelims Paper I + Mains Paper 1) | 350 | 22.6% |
| Language - English & Hindi combined (Mains) | 200 | 12.9% |
| Interview | 100 | 6.5% |
| Total | 1,550 | 100% |
What this means for your preparation?
- Your focus should be on covering the entire syllabus for Law subjects. They account for more than half of the total marks.
- GK appears in both the prelims and mains exam and has a smaller syllabus. However, you should never ignore it. Prepare well so you don’t lose the marks that could get you closer to the UP judiciary cut off.
- All of the topics under Law subject carry equal weightage. Therefore, make sure you cover all of them with same priority.
Here are the key takeaways:
- The UP judiciary syllabus covers General Knowledge, English, Hindi and Law subjects
- There are 2 papers in the prelims exam and 6 papers in the mains exam.
- Law subjects include topics from Substantive law, Procedure and Evidence, and Penal, Revenue, and Local Laws
- Prioritizing preparation according to subject-wise, weightage and importance will help you cover the syllabus well
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Mrunali Gaikwad
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