Patna HC District Judge Recruitment 2026 — Apply Online for 8 Posts in Bihar Superior Judicial Service
High Court of Judicature at Patna has released the Direct Recruitment from Bar notification for 8 District Judge (Entry Level) vacancies under the Bihar Superior Judicial Service (Advertisement No. BSJS/1/2026). This is a prestigious judicial services post for experienced advocates — pay level J-5 (₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660) with all judicial officer benefits. Practising advocates who meet the bar-practice requirement have a rare chance to enter the judiciary directly. For other law and judicial government jobs, keep visiting our portal.
The application window opened on 16 April 2026 and closes on 15 May 2026 (23:59 hrs), with a document upload window till 22 May 2026. If you have at least 7 years of continuous practice as an Advocate with a steady case record, this article gives you the complete vacancy break-up, eligibility framework, pay scale, selection stages, and step-by-step apply-online guide on GovtJobsAlert.in.
What are the Key Highlights of Patna HC District Judge 2026?
District Judge (Entry Level) is a Class-I judicial officer post recruited directly from the Bar under Article 233 of the Constitution of India. Selected candidates join the Bihar Superior Judicial Service as District Judges with full judicial powers after confirmation.
- Post Name: District Judge (Entry Level) — Direct from Bar
- Advertisement No.: BSJS/1/2026 (dated 30.03.2026)
- Total Vacancies: 8 (5 UR + 1 SC + 1 ST + 1 EBC, with backlog carry-forward)
- Pay Scale: Level J-5, ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660
- Job Location: Bihar (posted as District Judge across districts)
- Last Date to Apply Online: 15 May 2026 (23:59 hrs)
What is the Vacancy Breakdown for Patna HC District Judge 2026?
Reservation benefits are restricted to permanent residents of Bihar. See the category-wise break-up below.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 5 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 1 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 1 |
| Extremely Backward Class (EBC) | 1 |
| Total | 8 |
Additionally: 35% horizontal reservation for women (Bihar residents) and 1% horizontal reservation for Orthopaedically Handicapped (OH) candidates. Backlog vacancies across exam years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 are tracked separately as per the detailed carry-forward logic in the notification.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for Patna HC District Judge Recruitment 2026?
Only experienced advocates with a steady caseload record are eligible. Please read the three eligibility routes carefully.
Educational Qualification & Experience
- Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognised Indian University.
- 7+ years of continuous practice as an Advocate or Pleader (including 7-year continuity under Article 233).
- Must have handled at least 24 cases per year for the last 3 years of practice (proof through case list / certification).
- Three eligibility routes are recognised — (a) Pure Advocate route: 7 years of continuous Bar practice; (b) Judicial Officer route: Judicial Officer with prior 7 years of Bar practice; (c) Combined route: Combined Advocate + Judicial Officer experience totalling 7 years of continuity.
Age Limit (as on date of application)
- Minimum age: 35 years
- Maximum age: 50 years
- Relaxation: As per Bihar Government rules for SC, ST, OBC, EBC, Women, and OH candidates.
What is the Salary for Patna HC District Judge 2026?
The salary is at Level J-5 of the Judicial Pay Matrix (2nd National Judicial Pay Commission). It is one of the best-paying entry-level judicial posts in India.
- Pay Level: J-5
- Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 per month
- Plus Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance, Judicial Allowance, Sumptuary Allowance, transport, and residence benefits as admissible.
In-hand range: Starting basic ₹1,44,840 plus allowances — gross first-year pay works out to roughly ₹1,80,000+ per month, with regular increments, generous leave, and official residence.
Additional benefits: pensionary benefits, gratuity, medical reimbursement for self and family, LTC, judicial library, and privileged service conditions.
What is the Selection Process for Patna HC District Judge 2026?
Selection follows a multi-stage, marks-based process. No interview weightage beyond the formal Viva-Voce — final merit is calculated on the 80:20 Written : Viva ratio.
- Screening Test (Conditional) — A 300-mark MCQ paper may be held if the number of applicants is very high. Marks are NOT added to final merit; this stage only shortlists candidates for the Main Written Test.
- Main Written Examination — A marks-based subjective exam covering 18 subjects (including the updated BNS, BNSS, and BSA 2023 laws). Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks in each paper.
- Viva-Voce (Interview) — Final-stage interview carrying 20% weightage. Written Examination carries 80%.
- Medical Examination — Selected candidates must pass a medical fitness check.
Qualifying marks: 45% per paper, 30% in Viva, 50% aggregate (UR) — relaxed to 40% / 30% / 45% for reserved, women, and OH candidates. For exam preparation and syllabus review, refer to the syllabus and preparation resources on GovtJobsAlert.in.
How to Apply Online for Patna HC District Judge 2026?
Applications are submitted through the Patna High Court recruitment portal. Follow these steps.
- Visit the official Patna High Court page at official site (link provided below)
- Click on “Apply Online — BSJS/1/2026 (District Judge Entry Level)” and begin a fresh registration.
- Enter your name, email, mobile number, and category details to get the login credentials.
- Log in and fill the detailed form — personal details, qualification, year-wise practice record, case-count details, and category-wise residence proofs.
- Upload your photograph, signature, law degree, Bar Council enrolment certificate, case-list affidavit, and other documents.
- Pay the application fee online using debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
- Submit the final application by 15 May 2026 (23:59 hrs). Document upload remains open till 22 May 2026. Keep a printout of the confirmation page.
What are the Important Dates for Patna HC District Judge 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 30 March 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 16 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 15 May 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Last Date for Document Upload | 22 May 2026 |
| Screening Test (Tentative) | To be notified |
What is the Application Fee for Patna HC District Judge 2026?
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EBC / BC / EWS | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST / OH of Bihar | ₹750 |
Payment is online only — credit card, debit card, net banking, and UPI are accepted. The fee is non-refundable.
Essential Links — Patna HC District Judge Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for Patna HC District Judge 2026
- Visit Patna High Court Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Bihar Telegram Channel
This Patna HC District Judge Recruitment 2026 is a once-in-a-career chance for experienced advocates to directly enter the judiciary at the district-judge level. With just 8 posts and a rigorous written-plus-viva selection, start your preparation today — cover BNS, BNSS, and BSA 2023 thoroughly. Apply before 15 May 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for the latest Bihar government job notifications and judicial service alerts.