Patna High Court Ex-Cadre Assistant 2026 Notification: Vacancy, Eligibility, Exam Pattern and Salary Details
Every graduate in Bihar who wants a stable government job in the judiciary should read this one. The High Court of Judicature at Patna has released advertisement PHC/03/2026 dated 23.07.2026 for 68 posts of Ex-Cadre Assistant (Group-C). The pay is Level-4 of the 7th PRC Pay Matrix, ₹25,500 to ₹81,100, plus the usual allowances. If you are searching for government jobs in Bihar, a High Court posting brings both respect and long-term security.
The online application window is open from 28 July 2026 to 27 August 2026 (till 23:59 hrs), with fee payment allowed till 30 August 2026. You need a graduation degree in any discipline plus a six-month computer application course, both completed as on 01.01.2026. Selection runs through a Written Test, a Computer Proficiency Test and an Interview. In this article we break down the category-wise vacancies, age limits, complete exam pattern with syllabus, fees and the step-by-step application process. Read it fully, and keep GovtJobsAlert.in handy for every Bihar recruitment update.
Patna High Court Vacancy 2026: Key Highlights of Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment
The High Court of Judicature at Patna is the highest court in Bihar and recruits its own establishment staff. The exact post name in the notification is Ex-Cadre Assistant (Group-C), and the selection is called the Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment Examination, 2026. Appointment is initially on probation for one year.
- Post Name: Ex-Cadre Assistant (Group-C)
- Total Vacancies: 68 posts
- Salary / Pay Level: Level-4 — ₹25,500 to ₹81,100 plus admissible allowances
- Job Location: Establishment of the High Court of Judicature at Patna, Bihar
- Application Start Date: 28 July 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 27 August 2026 (till 23:59 hrs)
How Many Vacancies Are There in Patna High Court Assistant Recruitment 2026?
All 68 posts are for the single designation of Ex-Cadre Assistant. The vertical reservation is as follows.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 29 |
| Extremely Backward Class (EBC) | 12 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 11 |
| Backward Class (BC) | 8 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 7 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 1 |
| Total | 68 |
Horizontal reservation is applied within these 68 posts, not over and above them.
| Horizontal Category | Reserved Posts |
|---|---|
| Women (35%) | 23 |
| Locomotor Disabled (4%) | 3 |
Please note that 35% horizontal reservation for women and 4% for Locomotor Disabled candidates are granted only to permanent residents of Bihar. The number of vacancies is tentative and the High Court may alter it at any stage.
What is the Eligibility and Age Limit for Patna High Court Assistant 2026?
Educational Qualification
As on 01.01.2026 you must hold both of the following:
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or Institution — see more openings for any-degree graduates
- A Diploma or Certificate of at least six months’ course in Computer Application from a recognised Institution
As a preferential qualification, candidates who have served in the Territorial Army for at least two years or hold an NCC ‘B’ certificate are given preference at the interview stage, other things being equal. This is a preference only — it is not a separate reservation quota.
Age Limit
The minimum age is 18 years as on 01.01.2026, which means you must not be born later than 01.01.2008. The category-wise upper age limits are given below.
| Category | Maximum Age | Born Not Earlier Than |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS (Male) | 37 years | 02.01.1989 |
| UR / EWS (Female) | 40 years | 02.01.1986 |
| BC / EBC (Male & Female) | 40 years | 02.01.1986 |
| SC / ST (Male & Female) | 42 years | 02.01.1984 |
Additional relaxations: Central or Bihar Government employees get 5 years, and Locomotor Disabled candidates get a further 10 years over their category limit. For persons already serving in the High Court establishment, on daily wages, in subordinate courts or on deputation, the upper age limit does not apply. One important caution — caste or category based age relaxation is available only to permanent residents of Bihar, and you must produce a Domicile Certificate along with your Caste or Non-Creamy Layer certificate.
🎂 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 SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
What is the Salary for Patna High Court Ex-Cadre Assistant 2026?
The pay is fixed in Level-4 of the pay matrix of the 7th Pay Revision Commission, exactly as printed in the notification.
- Pay Level: Level-4
- Pay Range: ₹25,500 to ₹81,100
- Allowances: usual allowances as admissible under the Patna High Court Officers and Staff Rules, 2021
- Probation: one year from the date of appointment
With Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other admissible benefits added to the entry basic pay of ₹25,500, the monthly in-hand amount is meaningfully higher than the basic figure alone.
Beyond the money, a High Court job brings something harder to price — job security, a fixed working environment, and a clear promotion path inside the judicial establishment. The select list or panel stays valid for one year from the date of approval by the Competent Authority, extendable by another year in case of exigency.
What is the Selection Process and Exam Pattern for Patna High Court Assistant 2026?
There are four stages, and negative marking applies in two of them. Read this section carefully before you start preparing.
Stage 1: Preliminary / Screening Test (Conditional)
This stage is held only if the number of applicants is on the higher side. It carries 50 questions of 50 marks in 60 minutes — General English 20, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude 20, and General Awareness 10. Minimum qualifying marks are 40%. Very important: these marks are not counted in the final merit list — the Preliminary Test only shortlists candidates at 10 times the advertised vacancies.
Stage 2: Written Test (100 Marks)
The main paper carries 100 questions of 100 marks in 90 minutes, with 40% qualifying marks.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 30 | 30 |
| Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 |
| General Hindi | 10 | 10 |
| Computer Awareness | 10 | 10 |
Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for every wrong answer in both the Preliminary and Written Tests. Candidates are shortlisted at 6 times the vacancies for the next stage. You can review topic-wise preparation material on our syllabus and exam pattern page.
Stage 3: Computer Proficiency Test (50 Marks, Qualifying)
A 30-minute qualifying test of 50 marks — Word Processing 20 marks, Spread Sheets 20 marks and Internet Proficiency 10 marks. It checks basic typing skill and basic knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel and internet usage. Minimum qualifying marks are 40%. The notification does not prescribe any typing speed in words per minute. Candidates are then shortlisted at 3 times the vacancies for the interview.
Stage 4: Interview (10 Marks)
The interview carries only 10 marks with 3 marks as the qualifying minimum, but appearing is mandatory — skip it and you are out of the merit list. The final merit list is prepared on Written Test plus Interview marks only. If two candidates tie, the one with higher Written Test marks ranks above; if still equal, the older candidate ranks above. Locomotor Disabled candidates get no scribe and no extra time at any stage.
How to Apply Online for Patna High Court Assistant Recruitment 2026?
Applications are accepted online only. Keep your 10th certificate and marksheet, graduation certificate and marksheet, computer course certificate, category and domicile certificates, photo ID and scanned signature ready.
- Visit the “Recruitments” tab on the official Patna High Court website — the direct apply link is given in the Essential Links section below.
- Click on the link for “Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment Examination, 2026” and then on “Apply online”.
- Click “New Registration” and fill your name, parents’ names, gender, reservation category, date of birth and contact details — this data cannot be changed later.
- Log in with the Registration Number and Password sent to you by SMS or email, then fill your Personal Details and Education Details.
- Capture a live photograph as per the specifications and upload your scanned signature (JPG/JPEG, 50 KB to 80 KB).
- Upload all required certificates in JPG, JPEG or PDF format, each between 100 KB and 300 KB.
- Choose three preferred examination cities in order of preference — no change is allowed later.
- Preview the form, tick the declaration box, then pay the fee online and take a printout of the final submitted application.
Corrections are allowed only before fee payment. After payment the form is finally submitted and nothing can be altered. Submit only one application; if you submit more than one, only the last correct application is considered and earlier fees are not refunded.
What are the Important Dates for Patna High Court Assistant Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 23 July 2026 |
| Online application starts | 28 July 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 27 August 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Fee link disabled | 28 August 2026 |
| Fee link re-opened for 2 days | 29 & 30 August 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment | 30 August 2026 |
| Cut-off date for age & qualification | 1 January 2026 |
| Examination date | To be notified later |
What is the Application Fee for Patna High Court Assistant Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Examination Fee |
|---|---|
| UR, BC, EBC and EWS | ₹1,500 |
| SC, ST and Locomotor Disabled | ₹750 |
The concessional fee of ₹750 is available only to permanent residents of Bihar who submit their Domicile Certificate, Category Certificate and, for Locomotor Disabled candidates, a medical certificate. Payment is accepted online only, the fee is non-refundable, and any bank service or transaction charge is borne by you over and above the fee. There is no full fee exemption category in this recruitment.
Essential Links — Patna High Court Assistant Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for Patna High Court Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment 2026
- Visit Patna High Court Recruitment Page
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Bihar Government Jobs Telegram Channel
Sixty-eight posts in the Patna High Court, a Level-4 salary and a syllabus that any sincere graduate can cover in a month — this is a genuinely winnable exam if you start now. Submit your form before 27 August 2026 and complete the fee payment by 30 August 2026, because the portal will not wait for you. For more Bihar government job notifications and exam results, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in.