About the Recruitment
The High Court of Judicature at Patna has issued an advertisement for the Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment 2026, inviting online applications for 68 vacant Group-C posts. These positions offer a pay scale in Level-4 of the 7th PRC, ranging from ₹25,500 to ₹81,100, along with other admissible allowances. Candidates will initially be appointed on probation for one year. The selection process includes a Written Test, Computer Proficiency Test, and Interview, with a Preliminary/Screening Test conducted if the number of applicants is high.
Post-wise and Category-wise Vacancy Details
A total of 68 Ex-Cadre Assistant posts are available, with reservations for various categories and horizontal reservation for women and locomotor disabled candidates.
| Sl. No. | Category | Total Number of Posts | Horizontally Reserved Posts for Women (Out of Total Vacancy) |
|---|
| 1. | Unreserved | 29 | 10 |
| 2. | Scheduled Castes (SC) | 11 | 04 |
| 3. | Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 01 | 00 |
| 4. | Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) | 12 | 04 |
| 5. | Backward Classes (BC) | 08 | 03 |
| 6. | Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 07 | 02 |
| Total | 68 | 23 |
Additionally, 03 posts are reserved under 4% horizontal reservation for Locomotor Disabled candidates, as per Government of Bihar resolutions.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the following criteria as on 01.01.2026:
- Nationality: Must be a citizen of India, or a Tibetan refugee who arrived before 1st January 1972 with permanent settlement intent, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specific countries with permanent settlement intent (subject to an eligibility certificate from the State Government).
- Educational Qualification: A Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University/Institution.
- Computer Qualification: A Diploma or Certificate of at least six months' duration in Computer Application from a recognized institution.
- Character: Must possess a character suitable for appointment in the High Court service.
- Marital Status: Male candidates with more than one living wife or female candidates married to a person already having a living wife are ineligible.
- Physical Fitness: Candidates must be in good mental and physical health, free from any physical defect that might hinder official duties. A medical certificate from a Medical Officer (not below Deputy Superintendent of a Government Hospital) is required at joining. Locomotor Disabled candidates are exempted only to the extent of their disability.
- Preferential Qualification: Candidates who have served in the Territorial Army for a minimum of two years or possess an NCC 'B' certificate will be given preference during the interview stage, all other factors being equal.
Age Limit and Relaxation
The minimum age for direct recruitment is 18 years as on 01.01.2026, meaning candidates must be born not later than 01.01.2008. Upper age limits and relaxations are as follows:
| Category | Maximum Age Limit (as on 01.01.2026) |
|---|
| Unreserved & EWS (Male) | 37 years (born not earlier than 02.01.1989) |
| Unreserved & EWS (Female) | 40 years (born not earlier than 02.01.1986) |
| BC/EBC (Male & Female) | 40 years (born not earlier than 02.01.1986) |
| SC/ST (Male & Female) | 42 years (born not earlier than 02.01.1984) |
| Central/Bihar Government Employees | 5 years relaxation |
| Locomotor Disabled Candidates | 10 years additional relaxation |
| High Court Employees/Daily Wage Workers/Deputation | No upper age limit |
Age relaxation benefits are applicable only to permanent residents of Bihar.
Application Fee and Payment Method
The application fee must be paid online and is non-refundable.
| Category | Fee |
|---|
| Unreserved/BC/EBC/EWS | ₹1500.00 |
| SC/ST/Locomotor Disabled (Permanent Residents of Bihar) | ₹750.00 |
Any bank charges for online transactions will be borne by the candidates.
Selection Process
The selection process for Ex-Cadre Assistant positions involves multiple stages:
- Preliminary/Screening Test: If the number of applicants is high, a preliminary test will be conducted to shortlist candidates for the Written Test. Marks from this test will not be considered for the final merit list.
- Written Test: Candidates shortlisted from the preliminary test (or all candidates if no preliminary test) will appear for a written examination.
- Computer Proficiency Test: This test is qualifying in nature and assesses candidates' skills in Word processing, Spreadsheets, and Internet usage.
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview.
The final merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the Written Test and Interview, adhering to the reservation policy. In case of a tie in marks, the candidate with higher Written Test marks will be ranked higher; if Written Test marks are also equal, the older candidate will be placed higher.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The examination consists of a Preliminary/Screening Test (if conducted), Written Test, Computer Proficiency Test, and Interview. There will be negative marking of 1/4th (0.25) marks for each wrong answer in the MCQ sections of the Preliminary and Written Tests.
Preliminary/Screening Test (MCQ Based)
This test is for shortlisting and its marks are not counted for the final merit list.
| Part/Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks | Duration |
|---|
| General English | 20 | 20 | -- | 60 min |
| Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | -- |
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 | -- |
| Total | 50 | 50 | 20 (40%) |
Written Test (MCQ Based)
| Part/Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks | Duration |
|---|
| General English | 30 | 30 | -- | 90 min |
| Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | -- |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | -- |
| General Hindi | 10 | 10 | -- |
| Computer Awareness | 10 | 10 | -- |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 40 (40%) |
Questions for Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness will be bilingual (English and Hindi), with the English version prevailing in case of discrepancy.
Computer Proficiency Test
This test is qualifying in nature.
| Part/Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks | Duration |
|---|
| Test of proficiency in Word processing | 20 | 20 | -- | 30 min |
| Test of proficiency in Spread Sheets | 20 | 20 | -- |
| Internet Proficiency | 10 | 10 | -- |
| Total | 50 | 50 | 20 (40%) |
The Computer Proficiency Test will assess basic typing skills, knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, and internet usage.
Interview
The Interview carries 10 marks, with a minimum qualifying mark of 03 (30%). It is mandatory to appear for the interview to be included in the merit list.
Pay Scale and Benefits
Selected candidates for the Ex-Cadre Assistant post will be placed in Level-4 of the 7th Pay Revision Commission (PRC) pay matrix. The salary structure ranges from ₹25,500/- to ₹81,100/-, in addition to usual allowances as admissible under the Patna High Court Officers and Staff (Recruitment, Appointment, Promotion and Other Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 2021.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Candidates must apply online through the official website of the Patna High Court. Follow these steps:
- Visit the official website: https://patnahighcourt.gov.in.
- Navigate to the "Recruitments" tab on the left-hand menu.
- Click on the link "Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment Examination, 2026".
- Click on "Apply online" and then "New Registration" to register.
- Fill in mandatory details like Full Name, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Gender, Reservation Category, Date of Birth, Mobile Number, and E-mail ID. Ensure all details are correct before submission, as they cannot be changed later.
- A registration number and password will be generated and sent via SMS/E-mail. Print the registration page for future reference.
- Log in using the generated Registration Number and Password.
- Complete the detailed application form by filling in Personal Details and Education Details, then click "submit" after each section.
- Capture a live photograph ensuring it meets specifications: frontal view, neutral non-smiling expression, open eyes, light-colored background (preferably white), no caps/hats/sunglasses, and clear visibility of eyes if wearing power glasses.
- Upload scanned documents as specified below.
- Preview the entire application form carefully on the "Print Preview Page" to ensure all details are correct.
- Proceed to make the online fee payment. Note that no changes or alterations are allowed after fee payment.
- Take a printout of the finally submitted online application form, including payment details, and retain it along with uploaded documents for future verification.
Candidates are advised to apply well before the closing date to avoid any last-minute technical issues.
Documents Required
Candidates must upload the following documents during the online application process. All certificates must be issued on or before 27.08.2026 and be valid on the date of application submission.
- Scanned signature (50 KB to 80 KB, JPG/JPEG format).
- Matriculation (10th) Certificate.
- Matriculation (10th) Marksheet.
- Graduation (Degree) Certificate.
- Graduation (Degree) Marksheet.
- Diploma/Certificate of at least six months' course in Computer Application.
- No-Objection Certificate (if applicable, for employed candidates).
- Valid Identity Proof containing photograph (e.g., Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Driving License, Passport, PAN Card, 10th Certificate).
- Domicile Certificate.
- Caste/Non-Creamy Layer/E.W.S. Certificate (as applicable).
- Certificate of Disability (for Locomotor Disabled Candidates, with not less than 40% disability).
- Identity Card of Patna High Court or Courts Subordinate to this Court (if applicable).
- Other relevant documents, if any.
Document file size should be between 100 KB and 300 KB, in JPG/JPEG/PDF format.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Online Application Commencement | 28.07.2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application Submission | 27.08.2026 |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 30.08.2026 |
| Examination Date | To be notified later |
Important Links
