Patna High Court Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment 2026 has opened 68 Group-C positions under Advertisement No. PHC/03/2026. The High Court of Judicature at Patna is accepting online applications from candidates holding a graduation degree and a six-month computer diploma. The application window runs from 28 July 2026 to 27 August 2026, with online fee payment extended to 30 August 2026. Roles are placed at Level-4 of the 7th Pay Commission with a salary spanning ₹25,500 to ₹81,100 plus allowances.
Patna High Court Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | High Court of Judicature at Patna |
| Post Name | Ex-Cadre Assistant (Group-C) |
| Total Vacancies | 68 |
| Advertisement No. | PHC/03/2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Location | Patna, Bihar |
| Official Website | https://patnahighcourt.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 28/07/2026 |
| Application Last Date | 27/08/2026 |
| Online Fee Payment Deadline | 30/08/2026 (fee link disabled 28/08/2026; reopened 29/08/2026-30/08/2026 only for timely applicants) |
| Examination Date | To be notified |
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university and a diploma or certificate of at least six months in Computer Application from a recognised institution as of 01/01/2026. Indian citizens, Tibetan refugees who arrived before 01/01/1972, and persons of Indian origin from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, or Zambia are eligible, subject to applicable certificates. You must be of good moral character with no history of government dismissal or serious criminal conviction. Marital restrictions apply: males with more than one living spouse and females married to polygamous men are ineligible.
Age Limit
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age | Birth Date Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved & EWS (Male) | 18 years | 37 years | 02/01/1989 to 01/01/2008 |
| Unreserved & EWS (Female) | 18 years | 40 years | 02/01/1986 to 01/01/2008 |
| BC/EBC (Male & Female) | 18 years | 40 years | 02/01/1986 to 01/01/2008 |
| SC/ST (Male & Female) | 18 years | 42 years | 02/01/1984 to 01/01/2008 |
Age Relaxation: Central or Bihar government employees receive 5 years of relaxation. Locomotor Disabled candidates get an additional 10 years with valid disability documentation. No upper age limit applies if you are already employed by the High Court, subordinate courts, or serving on deputation. Age relaxation based on caste applies only to permanent residents of Bihar with valid domicile and category certificates.
Educational Qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Graduation | Any discipline from a recognised university/institution, as of 01/01/2026 |
| Computer Qualification | Diploma or certificate of at least 6 months in Computer Application from a recognised institution |
Preferential Qualification: Candidates with minimum two years of Territorial Army service or who hold a ‘B’ National Cadet Corps certificate receive preference at the interview stage, all else being equal.
Vacancy Breakdown
| Post Name | UR | SC | ST | EBC | BC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-Cadre Assistant | 29 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 68 |
Horizontal Reservation: Three posts are reserved for Locomotor Disabled candidates (4% of total). Thirty-five per cent of all posts are reserved for women candidates, provided they are permanent residents of Bihar. Horizontal reservations apply only to permanent Bihar residents with valid domicile certificates. Locomotor Disabled candidates must have not less than 40% certified disability.
About the Ex-Cadre Assistant Role
The Ex-Cadre Assistant position in the High Court is a Group-C administrative support role assisting with court operations and documentation. Responsibilities typically include maintaining court records, managing correspondence, filing legal documents, and providing clerical support to judicial officers. The role operates within a structured judicial environment under the supervision of senior court staff. As a Level-4 position, it offers a stable government career with pension benefits, leave entitlements, and opportunities for departmental advancement within the judicial hierarchy.
Pay Scale and Benefits
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level-4, 7th Pay Commission |
| Basic Pay Range | ₹25,500 to ₹81,100 |
| Allowances | Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other admissible allowances as per 7th PRC |
Selected candidates serve initially on probation for one year. Once confirmed, the position carries full government service benefits including medical coverage, leave encashment, and eligibility for pension upon retirement.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved / BC / EBC / EWS | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST / Locomotor Disabled | ₹750 |
Fee is payable online only and is non-refundable. Concessional fees for SC, ST, and Locomotor Disabled candidates apply only to permanent residents of Bihar with valid supporting certificates. The fee payment link remains active until 30 August 2026, though it will be disabled on 28 August 2026 and reactivated on 29-30 August 2026 solely for candidates who submitted applications by 27 August 2026.
Selection Process
The High Court will conduct a four-stage selection process to identify suitable candidates:
| Stage | Marks | Duration | Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Test (if needed) | 50 | 60 minutes | 40% |
| Written Test | 100 | 90 minutes | 40% |
| Computer Proficiency Test | 50 | 30 minutes | 40% |
| Interview | 10 | – | 30% |
Preliminary Test (if conducted): 50 questions, 50 marks. Covers General English (20 questions, 20 marks), Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude (20 questions, 20 marks), and General Awareness (10 questions, 10 marks). Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies per wrong answer.
Written Test: 100 questions, 100 marks. Sections include General English (30 questions, 30 marks), Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude (30 questions, 30 marks), General Awareness (20 questions, 20 marks), General Hindi (10 questions, 10 marks), and Computer Awareness (10 questions, 10 marks). Duration is 90 minutes. Negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer.
Computer Proficiency Test: 50 marks, 30 minutes. Tests Word Processing (20 marks), Spreadsheets (20 marks), and Internet Proficiency (10 marks). Qualifying mark is 40%.
Interview: 10 marks. No negative marking. Shortlisting at each stage follows a roster-based and reservation-compliant ratio: 10 times the vacancy count for the Written Test (if Preliminary is held), 6 times for Computer Proficiency, and 3 times for Interview.
Final Merit List: Prepared from Written Test and Interview marks only; Preliminary Test is used for shortlisting purposes alone.
How to Apply for Patna High Court Ex-Cadre Assistant Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official application portal at https://cdn.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/1149/101044/Index.html.
- Register with your email address and create a login password.
- Complete the online application form with full personal, educational, and contact details.
- Upload a clear scanned signature (50-80 KB, JPG/JPEG format) and supporting documents as specified.
- Select three preferred examination centres from the available cities in order of preference.
- Review all entered information for accuracy; no changes are permitted after submission.
- Proceed to online payment and submit your fee as per your eligible category.
- Save and print your application acknowledgement for future reference.
Practical Tip: Complete and submit your application well before 27 August 2026, as high traffic near the deadline may cause portal delays. Ensure your scanned documents meet the specified size and format requirements (100-300 KB, JPG/JPEG/PDF for certificates and proof documents) before you start filling the form.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Applying
- Incorrect signature size: Signatures must be 50-80 KB, JPG/JPEG format only; oversized or PNG files will be rejected.
- Wrong document format: Certificates and proofs must be 100-300 KB JPG/JPEG or PDF; other formats will not upload.
- Preference centre errors: You must list three examination centres in order of preference; no requests for changes are entertained after submission.
- Missing or incomplete certificates: Domicile, caste, and disability certificates are mandatory for claiming reservations or concessions; applications without these will face rejection during verification.
- Last-minute payment delays: Fee payment is extended only until 30 August 2026 (with link interruptions); do not assume you can pay on the deadline date.
Documents Required
- Scanned signature (50-80 KB, JPG/JPEG only)
- Matriculation (10th standard) certificate and marksheet
- Graduation degree certificate and marksheet
- Diploma or certificate of six-month computer application course
- Valid photo identity proof (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, Voter ID, or Driving Licence)
- Domicile certificate (if applicable for caste or horizontal reservations)
- Caste/Non-Creamy Layer/Economically Weaker Section certificate (if applicable)
- Disability certificate issued by a notified medical authority (for Locomotor Disabled candidates only)
- No-Objection Certificate from current government/PSU employer (if applicable)
- Identity card from Patna High Court or subordinate courts (if previously employed there)
For candidates who have changed their name after Matriculation, a notarized affidavit, newspaper publication proof, and official Gazette notification are required at document verification.
Important Instructions
- Admit Cards will be issued only through the official website; they will not be mailed individually to candidates.
- Mobile phones and all communication devices are prohibited inside the examination hall.
- If you are currently employed in a government or PSU organization, apply only with written permission from your employer and produce a No-Objection Certificate at the interview.
- Disclose any ongoing criminal or departmental proceedings; concealment leads to immediate disqualification.
- Medical fitness certificates, to be submitted at the time of joining, must be issued by a Deputy Superintendent or higher-ranking officer at a government hospital.
- No provision exists for re-evaluation, re-checking, or scrutiny of answer sheets once results are declared.
- RTI applications will not be accepted during the recruitment process; factual information is provided only after the final result declaration.
Examination Centres
Examination centres are tentatively planned in these Bihar cities: Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna, and Purnea. During application, select your three preferred centres in order of preference; centre change requests will not be entertained after form submission.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Download Notification | Download PDF |
| Apply Online | Apply Now |
FAQs
Q1. Can final-year graduation students apply for this recruitment?
Ans. No. You must possess a completed graduation degree certificate as of 01/01/2026. Final-year students awaiting results are not eligible at the time of application. However, if you are certain you will graduate and have the degree in hand before the application deadline, you may apply.
Q2. Are candidates from outside Bihar eligible for the posts?
Ans. Yes, all Indian citizens and eligible non-citizens as defined in the notification can apply. However, benefits of domicile-based horizontal reservations (women, caste, and EWS concessions) are available only to permanent residents of Bihar with valid domicile certificates.
Q3. What is the validity of the computer diploma? Can I have completed it years ago?
Ans. The notification specifies a diploma or certificate of at least six months in Computer Application. No maximum validity period is stated, so older certificates are acceptable as long as the course was formally recognized. However, the High Court may request verification that the certificate is from an accredited institution.
Q4. Is the Computer Proficiency Test eliminatory?
Ans. The Computer Proficiency Test is part of the selection process with a 40% qualifying threshold. Candidates who score below 40% in this stage are not considered for the interview. It is effectively eliminatory for merit ranking purposes.
Q5. Can I change my examination centre after submission?
Ans. No. You must list three centres in order of preference during application. The High Court will assign you to one of these based on operational convenience. No change requests are entertained after form submission.
Q6. What if I have a government job and want to apply?
Ans. You may apply, but you must obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current employer before or at the time of interview. Failure to produce this certificate can lead to cancellation of your candidacy. Apply only with explicit permission from your employer.
Q7. Are candidates with Locomotor Disability given any exam accommodation?
Ans. Locomotor Disabled candidates have an age relaxation of up to 10 years and benefit from horizontal reservation. However, no scribe or extra time is provided in any examination stage. The medical fitness requirement is relaxed only to the extent of the disability.
Q8. What happens if I miss the fee payment deadline of 30 August 2026?
Ans. Your application will be considered incomplete and rejected if fee is not paid by 30 August 2026 (noting the brief link closure on 28/08/2026). There is no provision for late payment. Submit your application and fee well in advance to avoid portal traffic issues.
How to Proceed
Submit your application and fee by 27 August 2026 (fee payment until 30 August 2026) through the official online portal. Check the High Court’s website from early September onwards for the Admit Card and the examination schedule. Keep all submitted documents and receipts safely for document verification after you are shortlisted. Follow MyNaukriAlert by subscribing to our free job alert service to stay updated on Patna High Court recruitment notifications and merit list announcements.
