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Home > Articles > How to Become a Judge: In India, After 12th, Eligibility Criteria, Courses and Certificates, Salary 2023
Updated on 22nd February, 2023 , 7 min read
In India, becoming a judge is regarded as one of the most distinguished public services. The office of the judge is one of honor and respect. A judge presides over the proceedings and hears both the defendants and the prosecution. He or she renders a decision in court after hearing both sides and applying the relevant legislation. The process to become a judge is difficult and time-consuming, but it may lead to a rewarding career. A judge's work entails significant responsibility and can be quite taxing. If you want to learn how to become a judge, this article will go over the essential steps.
A judge is a person who, either alone or as part of a panel of judges, presides over court proceedings. A judge hears all of the witnesses and any other evidence provided by the case's barristers or solicitors, evaluates the parties' credibility and arguments, and then gives a verdict in the matter based on their interpretation of the law and their own personal opinion. A judge is expected to preside over the trial impartially and in public.
The following are some of the responsibilities played by a judge-
The following table gives quick details about how to become a judge in India-
Particulars |
Description |
Industry |
Law & Judiciary |
Required Skills |
Unbiasedness, Emotional Intelligence, Analytical Skills, Communication Skills, Logical Sense, Reasoning Skills. |
Eligibility |
The applicant must have completed a 3 or 5-year LL.B. program as an undergraduate degree. Under the Advocates Act of 1961, certain states mandate enrollment as an advocate. |
Related Industries |
Supreme Court of India, High Court, District Court, Sessions Court, Civil Court, Tribunals |
Average Starting Salary |
INR 5.50 LPA |
Highest Salary |
INR 24 LPA |
Top Recruiters |
Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, Bihar Public Service Commission, Maharashtra Public Service Commission, and Orissa Public Service Commission. |
The Indian judicial system is an integrated one that includes the Supreme Court or apex court at the top (at the national level), high courts, and lower courts (at the state level). Because each court has its own group of judges, the qualifications and powers of each court vary. To become a judge in India, there are various courses and processes that must be completed in order to have a smooth trip. Preparing for a career should begin in elementary school. The methods for becoming a judge in India are listed below-
School Level Preparation- After passing the board examinations, there are no special courses that should be taken. Students from many disciplines, including science, commerce, and the humanities, can pursue law studies after completing their 12th grade.
Upon successful completion of Class 12, the actions that need to be done in order to become a judge after the 12th are given below -
After an LLB degree, candidates must pass the Judicial Services Examination. The relevant State Public Service Commissions administer the test. Students with a minimum of 55% in any branch of law are eligible to take the test. The Judicial Service Examination is divided into three stages-
Candidates who pass the preliminary test with a minimum of 60% (55% for reserved categories) and the written examination with an aggregate of 55% will be invited to the final interview session. Aspirants who pass the judicial examinations will be appointed as District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, or District Judge.
The Supreme Court, High Courts, and Subordinate Courts compose the Indian judicial system. The Supreme Court, based in New Delhi, is the highest court. Any other court in India cannot question or overturn the Supreme Court's decision. A person must be an Indian citizen to serve as a judge on India's Supreme Court. One must have earned an LLB or LLM and must have served as a High Court Judge for at least 5 years or as a High Court Advocate for at least 10 years. According to the President of India, one might also be qualified to become a Supreme Court judge if he or she is an excellent jurist.
High Courts are courts at the state level. In India, there are 25 high courts. The High Courts of India are the highest courts of appeal in each state and union territory of India. To become a Supreme Court judge, one must meet specific eligibility requirements. Candidates must be an Indian citizens and should have earned an LLB or LLM degree. They must have held a judicial post in India for ten years or been a High Court attorney for ten years.
Subordinate courts are the courts at the district level. The following qualifications are required for Subordinate Court Judgeship-
The procedures outlined below will assist students in understanding what is required to become a Judge-
Steps |
Requirements |
Description |
Step 1 |
Earn Bachelor's Degree |
The candidate must have an undergraduate degree in law, which can be 5 years long, and begin straight after 12th grade or 3 years after graduation. |
Step 2 |
Get into an Internship |
Aspirants who begin practicing law under the supervision of legal specialists such as advocates, judges, or APOs, can provide candidates with an extra advantage in terms of skill development. |
Step 3 |
Enroll with the Bar Council |
Aspirants must register with the Bar Council since certain states require registration with the Bar Council in order to appear for the test. |
Step 4 |
Prepare for State Public Service Commission examinations |
Candidates must prepare for the public service commission test. Applicants can take coaching or study on their own for all of the courses they learned during their graduation. |
The following are some of the courses and certificates required to become a judge in India-
There are several colleges in India that prepare students to be qualified lawyers and judges. The following are the top law schools in India-
Judges' salaries vary depending on their professional advancement, appointment in courts, and other factors. A judge's salary is determined by the type and position of the judge. The following table gives details about the salary of a judge 2023-
Position |
Current Pay Scale (INR) |
Proposed Pay Scale (INR) |
First Class Magistrate / Junior Civil Judge |
Rs. 27,700 - 47,700 |
Rs. 77,840 - 13,6520 |
First Class Magistrate / Junior Civil Judge (after 5 years in the service) |
Rs. 33,090 - 45,850 |
Rs. 92,960 - 1,36,520 |
First Class Magistrate / Junior Civil Judge (5 years after first career progression or during the tenure of IInd after career progression) |
Rs. 39,530 - 54,010 |
Rs. 1,11,000 - 1,63,030 |
Senior Civil Judge |
Rs. 39,530 - 54,010 |
Rs.1,11,000 - 1,63,030 |
Senior Civil Judge after 5 years in the service |
Rs. 43,690 - 56,470 |
Rs.1,22,700 - 1,80,200 |
Senior Civil Judge (5 years after first career progression) |
Rs. 43,690 - 56,470 |
Rs.1,22,700 - 1,94,660 |
District Judge |
Rs. 51,550 - 63,070 |
Rs.1,44,840 - 1,94,660 |
District Judge (Selection Grade after 5 years of Entry Grade) |
Rs. 57,700 - 70,290 |
Rs.1,63,030 - 2,19,090 |
District Judge (3 years after the Selection Grade) |
Rs.70,290 - 76,450 |
Rs.1,99,100 - 2,24,100 |
A judge's remuneration ranges from INR 45,000 to INR 5,00,000. The remuneration of a judge rises with his or her position, rank, and experience. The judge's remuneration is the highest of any position in this profession.
Work Experience |
Average Annual Salary (INR) |
Entry Level |
Rs. 7 – 9 lakh |
Mid-Level |
Rs. 10 – 15 lakh |
Senior Level |
Rs. 25 – 30 lakh |
Heirarchy |
Average Starting Salary (INR) |
District Court |
Rs. 50,000 – 83,000 |
High Court |
Rs. 1.5 – 2 lakh |
Supreme Court |
Rs. 3 – 3.5 lakh |
Pilot Salary in India 2024: Starting Salary, Requirements, Qualifications, Per Month Salary
By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. The questions asked at the mains level are of the subjective variety. Three to four papers are included in the tests.
Ans. Preliminary exam scores are not used in the final round of selection. Candidates must only pass the preliminary round to advance to the second round. whereas the main scores are used even in the final round.
Ans. A district-level judge’s annual remuneration is INR 7,00,000.
Ans. CLAT questions are mostly objective in nature. Numerical Ability, English (with Comprehension), Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, Legal Awareness, and Legal Aptitude are the subjects on which questions are asked.
Ans. Candidates with diploma courses are ineligible to become judges. Candidates who have completed certificate courses are likewise unable to serve as judges.
Ans. District judges are appointed by the governor in collaboration with the Supreme Court after qualifying for the State Public Service Commission’s Judicial Services Examination.
Ans. The qualifying mark for the preliminary examination is 60%. It is 55% for applicants in the reserved categories.
Ans. Initially, the candidate must complete the preliminary examination form. If chosen, the candidate must fill out a separate form for the main level of the examination.
Ans. Yeah, the curriculum is not the same in all states. It may differ from one state to the next.
Ans. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are the states that hold Judicial Services Examinations.