OPSC Civil Judge Recruitment 2026: Apply for 78 Junior Division Posts

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has announced a significant career opportunity for aspiring legal professionals. The Commission is inviting applications to fill 78 Civil Judge (Junior Division) positions under the Department of Law, Government of Odisha. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online from 8th May to 8th June 2026 via the official OPSC website at https://www.opsc.gov.in.

OPSC Civil Judge Recruitment 2026

Candidates applying under the SC/ST/SEBC categories must submit valid, government-issued caste certificates. Note that SEBC certificates must not be older than three years. For female applicants, caste status must be established by birth, not marriage. Please note that OBC certificates are not recognized as valid replacements for SEBC certification. Review the complete requirements below before applying.

OPSC Odisha Judicial Service Recruitment 2026- Important Dates

Applicants for the OPSC Odisha Judicial Service 2026 are advised to strictly adhere to the notification timeline. The online registration portal will be accessible starting 8th May 2026.

Odisha Judicial Service Vacancy 2026

The OPSC notification confirms a total of 78 vacancies for the Civil Judge role, with 26 posts specifically reserved for women. These positions are allocated across Unreserved, SEBC, SC, ST, and PwBD categories, strictly following the reservation policies mandated by the Government of Odisha.

OPSC Odisha Judicial Service Notification 2026 Out

OPSC officially released the Judicial Service (Civil Judge) Notification 2026 on 30th April 2026 (Advt. No. 02 of 2026-2027). This document outlines critical information, including vacancy distribution, reservation quotas, and the comprehensive examination schedule. Prospective candidates should download and review this notification thoroughly to ensure full compliance with the application guidelines.

Download OPSC Civil Judge Notification 2026 PDF

OPSC Civil Judge Eligibility Criteria 2026

To qualify for the Odisha Judicial Service, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants must be Indian citizens, possess good moral character and physical health, and satisfy the necessary age, educational, and linguistic proficiency criteria.

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognised university or institution as approved by the Govt.
• Applicants must have at least 3 years of experience as an Advocate as of 1st April 2025.
• Candidates having experience as a Law Clerk or Research Assistant to a Judge, Judiciary Officer, or any Constitutional authority are also eligible.
• Candidates must be able to read, write and speak the Odia language fluently and must have passed an examination in Odia equal to Middle English High School Standard (Class 8th).

Age Limit (as on 01/04/2026)

The minimum age requirement is 23 years, with a maximum age limit of 40 for unreserved candidates. Eligibility implies that applicants must have been born between 2nd April 1983 and 1st April 2002 (inclusive). The Commission provides age relaxation for reserved categories as outlined in the following table:

Important Note:

• If candidates are eligible under multiple categories, they can avail only one age relaxation benefit.
• The date of birth mentioned in the High School Certificate will be considered final, and no relaxation beyond the age limit will be provided.

OPSC OJS Application Form 2026

Applications must be submitted exclusively via the official OPSC website. Alternative submission methods are not permitted. Should you need to correct information, you must cancel your current application and submit a fresh one before the deadline. We will provide the direct application link here once the portal opens.

OPSC Civil Judge Application Fee 2026

In accordance with Odisha government policy, an application fee is required. OPSC will process refunds for candidates who appear for the online examination through the original payment method. In the event of a technical refund failure, applicants must provide valid bank account details within the application form. Refer to the fee structure for different categories below.

Steps to Apply Online for OPSC Civil Judge Recruitment 2026

The application process requires careful registration, document uploading, and meticulous data verification. Errors during submission may result in disqualification. Follow the outlined steps below to ensure a successful application.

1. Visit the official website of OPSC https://www.opsc.gov.in.
2. At the top of the homepage, you will notice the “Apply Online” section and select it.
3. In the next window, start with the registration process, which requires filling in your basic details. After successful registration, a unique “Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN)” will be generated.
4. Fill in the application form with your personal, educational, category, and communication details.
5. Upload the documents that include a passport-size photograph, signature, left thumb impression, educational and other required certificates.
6. Pay the application fee as per your category.
7. Carefully check all the entered details, verify the application form and submit it.
8. Take a printout of the application form and sign it under the declaration.

OPSC Odisha Judicial Service Selection Process 2026

The OPSC Civil Judge recruitment process involves three distinct stages: an objective-type Preliminary Examination, a main written examination, and a personal interview. Candidates must achieve the minimum qualifying marks in each stage to advance. The selection structure is as follows:

OPSC Civil Judge Exam Pattern 2026

The official notification provides comprehensive details on the exam pattern, including the structure, marking scheme, and syllabus for both the Preliminary and Mains stages. Please note that both examinations are conducted in an offline format.

OPSC Odisha Civil Judge Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Preliminary Examination consists of a single paper focusing on core legal subjects, including the Constitution of India, Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC/BNSS), Evidence Act/BSA, Indian Penal Code (IPC/BNS), and Contract Law.

• The exam has 100 MCQ-based questions.
• The total duration of the exam is 1 and a half hours.
• Each question carries 1 mark.
• There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

OPSC Civil Judge Prelims Minimum Qualifying Criteria 2026

Advancement to the Mains examination requires meeting the minimum qualifying marks in the Preliminary stage. These cut-off marks are category-specific and are detailed in the section below.

OPSC Odisha Civil Judge Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The descriptive Mains Examination comprises two compulsory papers (General English and Procedural Law) and three optional papers selected from five available subjects. Success at this stage is essential for reaching the interview round.

• Each compulsory paper carries 150 marks with a duration of 2 and a half hours.
• Each optional subject carries 150 marks having duartion of 3 hours.
• Candidates have to answer the paper in English.
• The standard of papers will be of the LL.B. course, while the compulsory paper is of the degree course.

Note: 

• Candidates would be shortlisted for an interview in a 1:5 ratio or 3 times the number of allotted vacancies.
• Candidates should provide information about their chosen optional subject in the application form.

OPSC Civil Judge Mains Minimum Qualifying Criteria 2026

To successfully clear the Mains examination, candidates must exceed the minimum qualifying threshold, which varies across different categories and papers as specified below.

OPSC Odisha Civil Judge Interview Pattern 2026

• The interview carries a total of 100 marks.
• The questions will be based on the subjects of the Mains exam.
• Candidates can be questioned on topics related to current affairs and general topics of the Arts and Science.
• The interview checks a candidate’s legal knowledge, personality, and communication skills.
• Candidates have to secure a minimum of 40% marks to be considered for the final merit.
• The final merit will be based on candidates’ marks in the Mains exam and the interview.

OPSC Odisha Judicial Service Salary 2026

Selected candidates will be remunerated according to the 7th Pay Commission scale, Level J-1 for Junior Division Civil Judges. In addition to the base salary, appointees are eligible for various benefits including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), medical coverage, and other government-mandated perks.