Supreme Court JCA Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2026: The Supreme Court of India will select Junior Court Assistants (JCA) for 250 tentative vacancies through a four-stage process: an objective test, a typing test, a descriptive written test and an interview. The notification (No. F.6/2026-SC (RC)) was issued on 30 September 2026.
JCA is a Group-B Non-Gazetted post in Level 6 of the Pay Matrix, with an initial basic pay of Rs. 35,400 plus allowances. The Registry may change the number of posts depending on its requirements.
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This article explains the 2026 exam pattern, the subject-wise syllabus, qualifying marks and the rules candidates most often get wrong.
Key highlights and dates
Applications open on 7 October 2026 and close on 28 October 2026 at 11:55 p.m.; the objective test is tentatively on 20 November 2026.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Supreme Court of India (Registry) |
| Post | Junior Court Assistant (Group-B Non-Gazetted) |
| Vacancies | 250 (tentative) |
| Pay | Level 6, basic pay Rs. 35,400 + allowances |
| Online registration starts | 7 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 28 October 2026, 11:55 p.m. |
| Objective test (tentative) | 20 November 2026 |
| Answer key release | 22 November 2026 |
| Objection window | 22 to 23 November 2026, till 11:55 p.m. (Rs. 100 per objection, refunded if valid) |
| Typing test, descriptive test, interview | Dates to be notified on www.sci.gov.in |
| Official website | www.sci.gov.in |
Also Read: Supreme Court of India Junior Court Assistant Recruitment 2026 Notification Out for 250 Vacancies
Eligibility
Candidates need a bachelor’s degree and a computer typing speed of 35 w.p.m., and must be 18 to 30 years old on 1 September 2026.
Educational qualification
- Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in India.
- Knowledge of computer operation with a typing speed of 35 words per minute on a computer.
Age limit and relaxation
| Category | Age rule |
|---|---|
| General | 18 to 30 years as on 1 September 2026 |
| SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), Physically Challenged, Ex-servicemen | Usual relaxation as per Government of India rules |
| Dependents of freedom fighters | Up to 5 years over the 30-year limit |
| Departmental candidates of the Supreme Court Registry | No upper age limit |
| Employees of other government departments, PSUs, nationalised banks | No age relaxation |
Reservation follows Rule 4A of the Supreme Court Officers and Servants (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1961. Government and PSU employees must produce a No Objection Certificate at document verification.
Exam pattern 2026
The exam carries 275 marks across four stages, and candidates must clear the minimum qualifying marks in every stage to move ahead.
| Stage | Test | Duration | Maximum marks | Minimum qualifying marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Objective Type Test (100 MCQs) | 1.5 hours | 100 | 50 |
| 2 | Typing Speed Test on Computer (English, 35 w.p.m.) | 10 minutes | 50 | 25 |
| 3 | Written Test (Descriptive, English) | 2 hours | 100 | 50 |
| 4 | Interview | Not specified | 25 | 13 |
How candidates move through the stages
- Objective test: there is a negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer. If many candidates score 50 or more, those ranked up to 10 times the number of vacancies (about 2,500 for 250 posts) move to stage two.
- Typing test and descriptive test: both are held at this stage, but the descriptive answer sheets are checked only for candidates who pass the typing test.
- Interview: candidates who clear all three tests are called in a ratio of 1:3 against the vacancies (about 750 for 250 posts).
Admission at every stage is provisional; documents are checked at the verification stage, and a candidate found ineligible at any point loses candidature.
Syllabus 2026
The notification fixes seven sections for the objective test; 35 of its 100 questions come from law and court rules, so those topics deserve extra attention. The topic lists below are the areas these sections usually cover; the notice itself names only the section and question count.
Stage 1: Objective Type Test (100 questions, 100 marks)
| Section | Questions | Topics usually covered |
|---|---|---|
| General English (including comprehension) | 20 | Reading comprehension, grammar, synonyms and antonyms, idioms, sentence correction, fill in the blanks |
| General Aptitude | 15 | Number series, percentages, ratio, time and work, profit and loss, logical reasoning, coding-decoding |
| General Knowledge | 15 | Current affairs, Indian history, geography, polity, economy, awards and important days |
| Judiciary provisions in the Constitution of India | 15 | Supreme Court (Articles 124 to 147), High Courts (Articles 214 to 231), subordinate courts, judicial review, writs |
| Supreme Court Rules, 2013 | 10 | Registry functions, filing and listing, Advocates-on-Record, appeals, review and curative procedure |
| Supreme Court Officers and Servants (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1961 | 10 | Recruitment, reservation (Rule 4A), probation, conduct, leave and discipline |
| Computer Knowledge | 15 | Computer basics, MS Office, operating systems, internet and email, shortcuts, cyber security basics |
Stage 2: Typing Speed Test
An English passage is typed on a computer for 10 minutes at a minimum of 35 w.p.m. Mistakes up to 3% of the total words typed are allowed.
Stage 3: Written Test (Descriptive)
This 2-hour English paper has three parts: a comprehension passage, precis writing and essay writing. It tests clear, error-free writing rather than subject knowledge.
Stage 4: Interview
The 25-mark interview assesses communication, general awareness and suitability for court work. It may be held online or in person in Delhi.
Typing test rules, fees and preparation tips
How typing mistakes are counted
- A wrong word or figure counts as one full mistake.
- A wrong capital or small letter counts as half a mistake.
- A punctuation mark omitted, added or replaced counts as half a mistake.
Application fee (non-refundable, online only via UCO Bank gateway)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | Rs. 1,500 + bank charges |
| SC / ST / OBC (NCL) / Ex-Servicemen / Physically Challenged | Rs. 750 + bank charges |
Preparation tips
- Read the Constitution’s judiciary chapters (Articles 124 to 147 and 214 to 231) from the bare text, since 15 questions come straight from them.
- Study the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and the 1961 Service Rules directly; together they carry 20 marks and few candidates prepare them well.
- Answer carefully in the objective test: a wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so skipping a pure guess is often safer.
- Practise typing daily on a computer, aiming for 40 w.p.m. or more with accurate capitals and punctuation, since the typing test decides whether your descriptive paper is even checked.
- Write one precis and one essay a week in English and time yourself against the 2-hour limit.
- Keep checking www.sci.gov.in and your registered email and phone for dates of the later stages and admit cards, which are not sent by post.
The JCA exam rewards steady preparation in law and English as much as general aptitude. Candidates who prepare the court rules early and build typing accuracy alongside will have a clear edge.
