OPSC Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 Notification Released: Key Details Here

Posted on By Legal 60

The Odisha Public Service Commission has officially releasedAdvertisement No. 02 of 2026–27inviting online applications for recruitment to the post of Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the Odisha Judicial Service. This recruitment drive offers a significant opportunity for law graduates aspiring to join the judiciary in Odisha.

Key Highlights

  • Post: Civil Judge (Junior Division)
  • Total Vacancies: 78 (26 reserved for women)
  • Pay Scale: ₹77,840 – ₹1,36,520 (Level as per State Pay Rules)
  • Mode of Application: Online only
  • Official Website: https://opsc.gov.in

Important Dates

  • Online Application Start Date: 08 May 2026
  • Last Date to Apply: 08 June 2026
  • Preliminary Examination Date: 05 July 2026 (Sunday)

Vacancy Distribution

As per the notification, the vacancies are categorised as follows:

  • Unreserved: 35
  • SEBC: 09
  • Scheduled Caste: 13
  • Scheduled Tribe: 18
  • Persons with Disabilities: 03
  • Total: 78 (including 26 for women candidates)

Eligibility Criteria

1. Age Limit

  • Minimum: 23 years
  • Maximum: 42 years (as on 1 April 2025)
  • Relaxation applicable for reserved categories as per rules.

2. Educational Qualification

  • A Degree in Law from a recognised university
  • At least one year of practice as an advocate as on 1 April 2025
  • Experience as Law Clerk/Research Assistant may also be considered.

3. Nationality

  • Must be a citizen of India.

Examination Pattern

The selection process consists of three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination

  • Objective type (OMR-based)
  • 100 questions (1 mark each)
  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks
  • Subjects include:
    • Constitution of India
    • CPC
    • CrPC & BNSS
    • Evidence Act & BSA
    • IPC & BNS
    • Limitation Act
    • Transfer of Property Act
    • Contract Law
    • Personal Laws

2. Mains Written Examination

Compulsory Papers:

  • General English (Essay, Translation, Precis)
  • Procedural Laws (CPC, CrPC and BNSS, Evidence and BSA)

Optional Papers (Any 2):

  • Law of Crime & Torts
  • Personal Law
  • Property Law
  • Contract Law
  • Jurisprudence & Constitution

Each paper carries 150 marks.

3. Interview

  • 100 marks
  • Candidates must secure minimum 40% to qualify.

Examination Fee

  1. As per the Odisha Payment of Recruitment Examination Fees and Refund Rules, 2025, candidates belonging to categories other than SC, ST, and PwD are required to pay the examination fee.
  2. The prescribed examination fee is ₹700/-, which must be paid online at the time of filling the application form.
  3. The examination fee will be refunded only to those candidates who actually appear in the Preliminary Written Examination.
  4. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are exempted from payment of the examination fee.
  5. Applications submitted without payment of the examination fee (where applicable) will be treated as incomplete and liable to rejection.
  6. Refunds will be processed after completion of the written examination through the original mode of payment (Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, Wallet, etc.).
  7. Candidates must provide correct bank account details (Account Number, IFSC Code, Account Holder Name, Bank Name) in the application form.
  8. In case of failure of refund due to incorrect details or technical issues, the responsibility lies with the candidate. The Commission will not entertain correspondence in this regard.
  9. The bank account provided must remain active and valid for processing refunds.

Place of Examination

Preliminary exam centres include:

  • Balasore
  • Berhampur
  • Bhubaneswar
  • Cuttack
  • Sambalpur

(Main exam likely in Bhubaneswar/Cuttack)

Important Instructions

  • Applications must be submitted online only
  • No Objection Certificate required for government employees
  • Upload all certificates during application
  • Submission of incorrect information may lead to cancellation
  • Candidates must retain copies of documents for verification.

Grounds for Rejection

Applications may be rejected for:

  • Incomplete forms
  • Incorrect documents
  • Failure to meet eligibility
  • Non-payment (if applicable)
  • Submission through offline mode

Click Here to Read the Official Notification

The Odisha Judicial Services Examination 2025 presents a valuable opportunity for law graduates to enter the judicial system. With no application fee, a structured examination pattern, and clear eligibility criteria, candidates are encouraged to apply within the stipulated timeline and prepare strategically for all three stages.

Important Link

Law Library: Notes and Study Material for LLB, LLM, Judiciary, and Entrance Exams

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