AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 notification has been released by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati, for 119 Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts under Notification No. 118/2026-RC, dated 25 September 2026.
The online application process has started from 1 October 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online up to 26 October 2026. The vacancies include 96 posts through Direct Recruitment and 23 posts through Recruitment by Transfer. The selection process includes a Screening Test, Written Examination and Viva Voce,
with the final selection based on the prescribed written examination and interview marks. Candidates can check the AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 eligibility, age limit, vacancy details, application fee, exam pattern, syllabus, salary and online application process before applying.
AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 – Overview |
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| Notification Out — 119 Civil Judge Posts | Apply Online 1–26 October 2026 | |
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| Particulars | Details |
| Organisation | High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati |
| Notification Number | 118/2026-RC, dated 25.09.2026 |
| Post Name | Civil Judge (Junior Division) |
| Service | Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service |
| Total Vacancies | 119 Posts (96 Direct Recruitment + 23 Recruitment by Transfer) |
| Pay Scale | ₹77,840 – ₹1,36,520 |
| Selection Process | Screening Test (CBT) + Written Exam + Viva Voce |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Governing Rules | AP State Judicial (Service & Cadre) Rules, 2026 |
| Job Location | Courts across Andhra Pradesh |
| Official Website | aphc.gov.in |
What Does a Civil Judge Do? (Simple Explanation) |
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| A Civil Judge (Junior Division) is the entry-level judge post in the state judicial service — this is the post a fresh law graduate joins the judiciary through, before being promoted to higher judicial posts over the years. A Civil Judge hears and decides civil cases (property, contract, family disputes, etc.) in lower courts. This recruitment fills vacancies in two ways: Direct Recruitment (96 posts) is open to eligible law graduates from outside government service, while Recruitment by Transfer (23 posts) is reserved for certain existing court/government staff (like Section Officers, Senior Assistants, or Assistant Public Prosecutors) who already hold a law degree and meet the service conditions. | |
Important Dates 2026
Note: The exam venue and timing will be printed only on the hall ticket. Any change of dates will be announced only on the official High Court website — not through any other source. |
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Category-Wise Vacancy Details |
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| Direct Recruitment — 96 Posts | |
| Category | Total Posts / Reserved for Women |
| Open Competition (OC) | 39 / 13 |
| EWS | 9 / 3 |
| BC-A | 7 / 2 |
| BC-B | 10 / 3 |
| BC-C | 1 / – |
| BC-D | 6 / 2 |
| BC-E | 4 / 1 |
| SC Group-I | 1 / – |
| SC Group-II | 7 / 2 |
| SC Group-III | 6 / 2 |
| ST | 6 / 2 |
| Total | 96 / 30 |
| Within the 39 OC posts, 4 are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) — one each for blindness/low vision; deaf and hard of hearing; locomotor disability (including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy); and autism, intellectual disability, mental illness & multiple disabilities. | |
| Recruitment by Transfer — 23 Posts | |
| Category | Posts |
| Open Competition | 18 |
| SC Group-I | 1 |
| SC Group-III | 1 |
| ST | 3 |
| Total | 23 |
| Note: The BC-E vacancy depends on the outcome of a pending Supreme Court case (Civil Appeal Nos. 2628-2637/2010). The High Court can increase, reduce, or cancel vacancies at any stage of the process. | |
Eligibility Criteria 2026 |
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For Direct Recruitment:
For Recruitment by Transfer:
Who Cannot Apply: Candidates who were dismissed or compulsorily retired from government/judicial service, convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude, debarred by the High Court/UPSC/any State PSC, found of doubtful integrity, or in a bigamous marriage are not eligible. |
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Age Limit (As on 01.09.2026) |
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| Category | Maximum Age |
| Direct Recruitment – OC | Below 35 years |
| Direct Recruitment – SC/ST/BC/EWS | Below 40 years (5-year relaxation) |
| Direct Recruitment – PwBD | Below 45 years (10-year relaxation) |
| Recruitment by Transfer | Below 48 years |
| For ex-defence personnel applying through Direct Recruitment, the period of defence service is excluded while calculating age. | |
Application Fee |
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| Open Category / EWS / BC | ₹1,500/- |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹750/- |
| Note: The concessional fee of ₹750 applies only if the candidate’s SC/ST community is officially recognised as SC/ST in Andhra Pradesh. Fee is paid online and is non-refundable, even if the application is rejected or the notification is cancelled. | |
Selection Process & Exam Pattern 2026The final merit (for selection) is based on 250 marks: Paper I (100) + Paper II (100) + Viva Voce (50). The Screening Test and Paper III are qualifying only and are not added to the final merit. |
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| Stage | Paper / Marks / Duration / Counted in Final Merit? |
| Screening Test | 100 Objective MCQs | 100 Marks | 2 Hours | No (qualifying) |
| Written Exam – Paper I | Civil Laws | 100 Marks | 3 Hours | Yes |
| Written Exam – Paper II | Criminal Laws | 100 Marks | 3 Hours | Yes |
| Written Exam – Paper III | English (Translation 40 + Essay 60) | 100 Marks | 3 Hours | No (40% in each part required) |
| Interview | Viva Voce | 50 Marks | – | Yes |
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Minimum Qualifying Marks 2026 |
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| Category | Each of Paper I & II (for Viva) / Written Aggregate (for Viva) / Written + Viva (for Selection) |
| OC / EWS | 55% / 60% / 60% |
| BC | 50% / 55% / 55% |
| SC / ST / PwBD | 45% / 50% / 50% |
| Recruitment by Transfer | 55% / 60% / 60% |
Syllabus 2026 (Same for Screening Test & Written Exam) |
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| Civil Laws (Paper I) | Criminal Laws (Paper II) |
| Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 |
| Indian Contract Act, 1872 | Indian Evidence Act, 1872 |
| Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | Indian Penal Code, 1860 |
| Hindu Succession Act, 1956 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) |
| Indian Easements Act, 1882 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) |
| Specific Relief Act, 1963 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) |
| Limitation Act, 1963 | Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 |
| Transfer of Property Act, 1882 | Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 |
| Civil Rules of Practice | Criminal Rules of Practice |
| Registration Act, 1908 & Indian Stamp Act, 1899 | AP Excise Act, 1968 |
| AP Land Encroachment Act, 1905 | AP Gaming Act, 1974 |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015 |
| Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) | Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 |
| – | Information Technology Act, 2000 |
| – | POCSO Act, 2012 |
| – | AP Forest Act, 1967 |
| The syllabus now includes the new criminal law codes — BNS (replacing IPC), BNSS (replacing CrPC), and BSA (replacing the Evidence Act) — alongside the earlier laws, so candidates should study both the old and new frameworks together. | |
Salary, Training & ProbationThe regular pay scale is ₹77,840 – ₹1,36,520, but selected candidates do not get the full pay straightaway. There is a two-year training period before regular appointment:
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Screening Test Exam CentresCandidates must choose three centres in order of preference from: Guntur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry (Rajamahendravaram), Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. The High Court may allot a different centre than chosen, and requests to change centres will not be accepted. Written exam venues will be announced only after the Screening Test result. |
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How to Apply Online for AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026
Important: Documents and options cannot be changed after submission, so review everything carefully before clicking submit. |
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Documents to UploadFor Direct Recruitment:
For Recruitment by Transfer:
Important: Original certificates must be produced on the date fixed by the High Court — otherwise, the candidature will be rejected. |
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Preparation Strategy for AP Civil Judge 2026
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important links |
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| Apply Online (Direct Link) | click here |
| Download Official Notification PDF | click here |
| Official Website | click here |
| firstjob 24 jobs | click here |
| join telegram | click here |
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| susbscribe on youtube | click here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q1. How many vacancies are there in AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026?
There are 119 Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts: 96 by Direct Recruitment and 23 by Recruitment by Transfer. - Q2. What is the last date to apply?
The last date is 26 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM. - Q3. What is the AP Civil Judge salary?
The pay scale is ₹77,840 – ₹1,36,520. During the two years of training and clerkship, trainees get half of the regular remuneration. - Q4. What is the age limit for AP Civil Judge 2026?
Direct recruits must be under 35 as on 01.09.2026 (40 for SC/ST/BC/EWS, 45 for PwBD). Transfer candidates must be under 48. - Q5. Can fresh law graduates apply?
The notification allows law graduates who obtained their degree in the one year preceding the notification date, in line with the Supreme Court’s Bhumika Trust judgment. Please check the official notification for the exact condition. - Q6. What is the application fee?
₹1,500 for OC/EWS/BC and ₹750 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. - Q7. Is there negative marking in the Screening Test?
The notification does not mention negative marking. The test has 100 MCQs for 100 marks in 2 hours. - Q8. Where are the exam centres?
Guntur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam.
