AP District Judge (Entry Level) Notification 2026: Eligibility, Exam Pattern and Offline Form
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has released Notification No.364/2026 for 10 posts of District Judge (Entry Level) in the A.P. State Judicial Service. These seats are filled by direct recruitment under the 25% quota for 2026. The pay scale is ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660. If you have spent years in court and are looking for government jobs in Andhra Pradesh that reward that experience, this is the one to act on now.
This is an offline recruitment. There is no online form. Your filled application, with a Demand Draft and attested documents, must reach the Registrar (Recruitment) by 15 October 2026, 5:00 PM. That leaves barely two weeks, and the list of enclosures is long. Below we explain eligibility, the three-stage exam, the fee and every condition that can reject you. Read it fully before you start, and bookmark GovtJobsAlert.in for the hall ticket update.
What Are the Key Highlights of AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
The recruitment is conducted by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati. The notification is issued by the General Administration (SC.F.) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and the A.P. State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026 apply to the whole process.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati |
| Notification No. | 364/2026, dated 30.09.2026 |
| Post Name | District Judge (Entry Level) |
| Total Vacancies | 10 |
| Recruitment Method | Direct Recruitment (25% quota), year 2026 |
| Pay Scale | ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 |
| Mode of Application | Offline, by post or courier |
| Last Date (receipt) | 15 October 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Job Location | Andhra Pradesh |
How Many Vacancies Are There in AP District Judge Recruitment 2026?
The 10 posts are split category-wise as below. Two of them are set aside for women.
| Category | Vacancies | Women’s Share |
|---|---|---|
| OC | 2 | – |
| EWS | 2 | 1 post for woman |
| BC-B | 1 | – |
| BC-C | 1 | – |
| BC-E | 1 | – |
| SC Group-III | 1 | – |
| ST | 2 | 1 post for woman |
| Total | 10 | 2 |
Please note two points here. Selection against the BC-E vacancy is subject to the outcome of Civil Appeal Nos.2628-2637/2010 pending before the Supreme Court. Also, there is no seat for BC-A, BC-D, SC Group-I or SC Group-II in this notification. Horizontal reservation for Women and PwBD follows the 2026 Rules read with amended Rules 22 and 22-A of the A.P. State and Subordinate Service Rules.
The High Court reserves the right to increase or decrease vacancies or cancel the notification at any stage, and no right accrues to you just because the notification was issued.
Who Can Apply? AP District Judge Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification and Experience
You need a law degree (B.L. / LL.B.) with Bar Council enrolment, plus one of these three routes. All experience is counted as on 30.09.2026.
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Practising Advocate | Practising as an Advocate for not less than 7 years |
| Judicial Officer | Has been or is in judicial service, with combined standing of 7 years or more as Advocate or Judicial Officer |
| Prosecutor | APP / Addl. PP / PP with combined standing of 7 years or more as Advocate or in service |
You must also be of good character and free from any infirmity that makes you unfit for appointment. If you track law and judicial government jobs, you know how rarely the Bar route opens at this level.
Age Limit
| Category | Age as on 01.09.2026 |
|---|---|
| All candidates | Completed 35 years, not completed 45 years |
| SC, ST, BC and EWS (availing reservation) | Upper limit relaxed by 3 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
The relaxation applies only if you actually claim reservation in that category. Check your exact age on 1 September 2026, not on the day you post the form.
Who Is Not Eligible?
These disqualifications are strict. Read each one honestly before you pay the fee.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | You must be a citizen of India |
| Past service | Not eligible if dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired from judicial or any State / Central service |
| Moral turpitude | Not eligible if convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude |
| Debarment | Not eligible if permanently debarred by the High Court, UPSC or any State PSC / agency |
| Influence | Influencing the recruitment authority, directly or indirectly, disqualifies you |
| Marriage | Not eligible if you have more than one spouse living, or knowingly marry a person having a spouse |
| Law Officer | A full-time salaried Law Officer of Central or State Government, a Public Corporation or a Body constituted by statute shall not be eligible |
| Misconduct / criminal case / probation | Copying or misconduct in the exam, conviction in a criminal case, or failing to complete probation in any service makes you ineligible |
| Integrity | Anyone found of doubtful integrity in any year shall not be eligible |
| Disciplinary action | Anyone facing disciplinary charges or undergoing punishment is not eligible for appointment |
What Is the Salary for AP High Court District Judge 2026?
The notification states the scale of pay for District Judge as ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660. That is the only pay figure given, so we are not guessing an in-hand amount here.
- Post: District Judge (Entry Level), A.P. State Judicial Service
- Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660
Pay scale for District Judge: ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660, as stated in Notification No.364/2026.
For a practising advocate, this means a fixed, respected income and a constitutional office. That is a big change from the uncertainty of private practice.
What Is the Selection Process for AP District Judge 2026?
Selection has up to three stages. The screening test is held only if the number of applications requires it.
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Screening Test (if held) | Computer based, 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours |
| Written Examination | Three papers of 100 marks each, 3 hours each |
| Viva Voce | 50 marks |
| Verification | All original certificates on Viva Voce day (a missing required certificate means candidature is rejected); antecedents verified |
| Paper | Marks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Constitution and Civil Law | 100 | Counts for merit |
| Paper-II: Criminal Law | 100 | Counts for merit |
| Paper-III: English (Translation 40 + Essay 60) | 100 | 40% in each part; not taken into account for Viva Voce eligibility or selection |
Translation is from English to Telugu and Telugu to English, and the essay is on legal subjects only. Answers are written only in English, except translation. The screening test needs 40% and shortlists in a 1:10 ratio, but its marks are not added to the final merit. The Viva Voce call is in a 1:3 ratio.
| Category | To reach Viva Voce (Paper-I and II / aggregate) | For final selection (written + viva) |
|---|---|---|
| OC / EWS | 55% each / 60% | 60% |
| BC | 50% each / 55% | 55% |
| SC / ST / PwBD | 45% each / 50% | 50% |
Anyone who stays absent from the Viva Voce is disqualified. On a tie, the elder candidate is preferred, then higher qualification, then higher marks in the prescribed qualification. Start early on the law syllabus and preparation material, because the syllabus covers the new BNS, BNSS and BSA alongside the older codes.
How to Apply Offline for AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
There is no online application. The application form (pro forma) is printed inside the official notification PDF.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the notification PDF (link in Essential Links below) and print the application pro forma and hall ticket-cum-identity cards |
| 2 | Fill every column by hand. All particulars will be verified with the Courts and Bar Association |
| 3 | Paste a recent passport photo (within 6 months), attested by the Presiding Officer / Prl. District Judge concerned |
| 4 | Attach copies of certificates, attested by a Gazetted Officer, and the crossed Demand Draft for the fee |
| 5 | Put it in a cover superscribed “Application for appointment to the post of District Judge (Entry Level) in the A.P. State Judicial Service under Direct Recruitment” |
| 6 | Send by post or courier to The Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, Nelapadu, Guntur District, PIN 522 239 so it reaches by 15.10.2026, 5:00 PM |
Keep your date of birth proof (SSC or its equivalent certificate) and law degree copies ready. The documents that can quietly cost you your claim are the Bar Council Enrolment Certificate, the original practice certificate from the Bar Association, and the BC Non-Creamy Layer or EWS certificate issued in 2025 or 2026. Without the last one, you are treated as Open Competition. OBC certificates will not be considered.
Here are the other rejection rules. Unsigned, incomplete or late applications are summarily rejected, as are those without testimonials and certificates. The High Court is not responsible for postal or courier delays. False or suppressed information leads to rejection at any stage, even after selection, and can bring prosecution. No TA or DA is paid for any stage.
What Are the Important Dates for AP District Judge Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 30 September 2026 |
| Experience counted as on | 30 September 2026 |
| Age counted as on | 1 September 2026 |
| Last Date (application must reach) | 15 October 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Screening Test / Written Exam / Viva Voce | Not announced yet (venue and time on the Hall Ticket) |
What Is the Application Fee for AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| OC / BC / EWS | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹750 |
Pay through a crossed Demand Draft drawn in favour of “Registrar(Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati”, payable at Nelapadu. The fee is not refunded under any circumstances, and an application without the fee is summarily rejected.
Essential Links — AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026
- Download AP District Judge Notification 2026 PDF (with Application Form)
- Visit AP High Court District Judge Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Andhra Pradesh Govt Jobs Telegram Channel
Seven years at the Bar has prepared you for exactly this chance, so don’t let a missing certificate or a slow courier waste it. Get your Demand Draft made this week, collect your practice certificate, and post the application early enough to reach by 15 October 2026. Keep checking the High Court website for the hall ticket, and visit GovtJobsAlert.in for more Andhra Pradesh government job updates.