SC Trims Law Practice Mandate to One Year for Judicial Service Exams

The Supreme Court of India modified eligibility criteria for entering the subordinate judiciary by reducing the required legal practice duration to one year. Successful candidates will subsequently undergo one year of intensive training at state judicial academies followed by a final year of clerkship under senior judicial officers.

Previously, varying state rules required candidates to possess extended experience at the bar before taking judicial service examinations. The decision aims to streamline the recruitment process while ensuring candidates acquire practical courtroom experience prior to assuming judicial roles.

Key details include the structured three-tier entry model: one year of practice at the bar, one year of institutional academy training, and one year of judicial clerkship. This decision standardizes entry requirements across state judicial services while addressing vacancy backlogs in district courts.

For competitive exams, this topic is highly relevant under Indian Polity and Judiciary (GS Paper II). Questions may focus on judicial reforms, constitutional provisions under Article 233 and 234 regarding recruitment of district judges, and measures to reduce pendency in lower courts.