The Supreme Court Court Assistant Recruitment 2026 offers employment opportunities within the Registry of the Supreme Court of India. The Court has advertised different administrative and technical positions, each governed by separate eligibility conditions and examination schemes.
The latest relevant recruitment is for Court Assistant (Technical Assistant-cum-Programmer), announced on 12 October 2026. The advertisement provides 15 tentative vacancies, with initial basic pay of ₹44,900 under Pay Level 7.
Online applications opened on 3 November 2026 and will close on 24 November 2026.
The Supreme Court separately advertised 250 tentative Junior Court Assistant positions on 30 September 2026. That application window closed on 28 October 2026.
Research positions, including Consultant (Research), Research Assistant and Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate, follow different recruitment arrangements.
This guide explains the distinctions, eligibility requirements, salary structures, examination patterns, previous-year papers and preparation strategies.
Supreme Court Court Assistant Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | Supreme Court of India |
| Main current post | Court Assistant (Technical Assistant-cum-Programmer) |
| Advertisement date | 12 October 2026 |
| Advertisement number | F.6/2026/Tech.Post/SC(RC) |
| Tentative vacancies | 15 |
| Classification | Group B, Non-Gazetted |
| Pay level | Level 7 |
| Initial basic pay | ₹44,900 |
| Age limit | 18–35 years |
| Application opening | 3 November 2026 |
| Last application date | 24 November 2026 |
| Tentative written examination | 22 December 2026 |
| Official website | www.sci.gov.in |
The official October 2026 recruitment advertisement provides the governing conditions.
Different Supreme Court Court Assistant and Research Positions
The Supreme Court recruits personnel for different institutional functions.
These positions should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Position | Nature of recruitment | Relevant notification |
|---|---|---|
| Court Assistant (Technical Assistant-cum-Programmer) | Technical establishment recruitment | October 2026 |
| Junior Court Assistant | General establishment recruitment | September 2026 |
| Junior/Senior Court Assistant-cum-Programmer | Specialised technical recruitment | Earlier 2026 recruitment |
| Research Assistant | Contractual legal research | June 2025 |
| Consultant (Research) | Contractual legal research | June 2025 |
| Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate | Judicial research assignment | January 2026 |
An applicant seeking legal research work should not assume that a general Court Assistant appointment involves judicial research.
Similarly, technical posts require qualifications that may not be satisfied by a law degree alone.
Court Assistant (Technical Assistant-cum-Programmer): Eligibility Criteria
The October 2026 advertisement specifies three alternative educational qualification pathways.
First eligibility route
Candidates possessing a B.E. or B.Tech degree in Computer Science or Information Technology from a recognised university may apply.
They must also possess three years of software development experience.
Second eligibility route
Candidates possessing an MCA or M.Sc. in Computer Science from a recognised university may apply.
Three years of software development experience are required under this route.
Third eligibility route
Candidates possessing a B.Sc. in Computer Science or Bachelor of Computer Applications degree may apply.
They must have first-class marks or at least 60% aggregate marks, along with four years of software development experience.
Is an LL.B. degree required?
No.
The advertisement states that a recognised law degree will be preferred and considered an additional qualification.
An LL.B. degree alone does not satisfy the prescribed technical educational and experience requirements.
This distinction is particularly relevant for law graduates exploring Supreme Court establishment employment.
Age limit
The age limit is 18–35 years as on 1 October 2026.
Applicable relaxations are available to eligible reserved-category applicants, persons with disabilities and ex-servicemen under the relevant rules.
Departmental candidates of the Supreme Court Registry receive a separate exemption from the upper-age limit.
The notification does not grant ordinary government employees a general age exemption merely because of their employment elsewhere.
Court Assistant Technical Recruitment: Examination Pattern
The technical recruitment involves four assessment components.
| Stage | Marks | Minimum qualifying marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objective general test | 100 | 50 | 90 minutes |
| Objective technical aptitude | 50 | 25 | 90 minutes |
| Practical aptitude test | 50 | 25 | 90 minutes |
| Interview | 25 | 13 | As notified |
| Total | 225 |
The general objective test contains 100 questions:
| Subject | Questions |
|---|---|
| General English, including comprehension | 40 |
| General Aptitude | 30 |
| Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude | 30 |
| Total | 100 |
The two objective examinations carry negative marking of 0.25 marks per incorrect answer.
The Supreme Court may shortlist candidates for the practical aptitude examination using a ratio of 1:10 against tentative vacancies.
Candidates qualifying all three tests may be shortlisted for interviews in a ratio of 1:3.
Examination schedule
The objective general and technical aptitude tests are tentatively scheduled for 22 December 2026.
The Registry has listed Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru as examination-city options.
The practical aptitude test will be conducted in Delhi/NCR.
Interview arrangements will be communicated separately.
Supreme Court Court Assistant Technical Syllabus
The advertisement provides the broad assessment structure but does not include a detailed topic-by-topic technical syllabus.
Candidates can use the separately published 2026 programmer-post syllabus as supplementary preparation material.
However, that document governs Junior and Senior Court Assistant-cum-Programmer posts, not automatically the Technical Assistant-cum-Programmer recruitment.
Suggested technical preparation areas
Candidates may prepare the following subjects:
- Programming fundamentals, Python and software development concepts.
- Data structures, algorithms and debugging.
- Database management systems and SQL.
- Operating systems, Linux and computer architecture.
- Computer networks and cybersecurity fundamentals.
- Software engineering and testing.
- Web technologies and client-server communication.
- Cloud computing and emerging information technologies.
For the practical test, candidates should prioritise hands-on competence rather than theoretical memorisation.
Useful exercises include debugging programs, solving SQL queries and explaining software architecture.
Candidates may consult the official April 2026 programmer-post syllabus as a supplementary reference.
How to Apply for Court Assistant Technical Recruitment 2026
The Supreme Court’s Recruitment Cell published the online application link on 2 November 2026.
Applications became available from 10:00 AM on 3 November 2026.
The deadline is 24 November 2026 at 11:55 PM.
Eligible candidates should:
- Visit the official Supreme Court recruitment page.
- Open the Court Assistant (Technical Assistant-cum-Programmer) application notice.
- Follow the registration link supplied by the Recruitment Cell.
- Enter personal, educational and professional experience details.
- Upload the prescribed documents and photograph.
- Pay the applicable application fee.
- Retain the final submitted form and application number.
The official application-link notice identifies the authorised registration portal.
Application fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST / OBC-NCL / Ex-servicemen / Eligible persons with disabilities | ₹750 |
Applicable bank charges are additional.
The fee is non-refundable.
Junior Court Assistant Recruitment 2026
The Supreme Court separately advertised 250 tentative Junior Court Assistant vacancies on 30 September 2026.
This post belongs to Group B, Non-Gazetted service.
The initial basic pay is ₹35,400 under Pay Level 6.
Eligibility
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian university.
They must also have computer-operation knowledge and a typing speed of at least 35 words per minute.
The prescribed age range was 18–30 years as on 1 September 2026, subject to applicable relaxations.
Application dates
Applications opened on 7 October and closed on 28 October 2026.
The application window is therefore closed.
Junior Court Assistant examination pattern
| Stage | Marks | Qualifying marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objective examination | 100 | 50 | 90 minutes |
| English computer typing | 50 | 25 | 10 minutes |
| Descriptive English test | 100 | 50 | 120 minutes |
| Interview | 25 | 13 | As notified |
The objective examination includes English, aptitude, general knowledge, constitutional provisions concerning the judiciary, Supreme Court Rules, service rules and computer knowledge.
The prescribed typing speed is 35 words per minute.
The descriptive paper covers comprehension, précis writing and essay writing.
The objective examination carries negative marking of 0.25 marks per incorrect answer.
The examination was tentatively scheduled for 20 November 2026 under the original advertisement.
Candidates should check subsequent notices for any revisions.
Read the official Junior Court Assistant 2026 advertisement.
Supreme Court Research Assistant and Consultant Recruitment
Research appointments operate under a different framework from regular Court Assistant recruitment.
The Supreme Court issued an advertisement on 24 June 2025 for appointments within its Centre for Research and Planning.
The advertisement invited applications for three Consultant (Research) positions and six Research Assistant positions.
These were short-term contractual assignments.
Research positions and remuneration
| Position | Advertised vacancies | Monthly remuneration |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant (Research) | 3 | ₹1,25,000 |
| Research Assistant | 6 | ₹80,000 initially |
The Research Assistant remuneration increased to ₹90,000 upon completion of one year under the advertised terms.
These amounts relate to the 2025 recruitment, not a newly announced 2026 recruitment.
Educational qualifications
Both positions required a recognised LL.B. degree and strong legal writing abilities.
Applicants also needed at least one year of relevant research experience.
The Research Assistant position additionally required written academic work, including a published paper, book, dissertation or thesis, as specified in the advertisement.
Candidates were expected to possess knowledge of legal databases, spreadsheets, presentations and information technology.
The upper age limit was 35 years.
Research selection process
The 2025 selection process relied on resumes and interactions.
The Court proposed calling shortlisted candidates numbering three times the available vacancies.
No common written Court Assistant examination was prescribed for these research assignments.
Applications were accepted by email until 29 June 2025.
That application window has closed.
Candidates can read the official 2025 research recruitment notification.
Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate: A Separate Examination
The Supreme Court also conducts recruitment for short-term Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate assignments.
These positions focus on judicial research, case briefing, legal analysis and assistance with judicial work.
The 2026–27 recruitment was advertised separately in January 2026.
Unlike the 2025 Centre for Research and Planning appointments, the clerkship examination follows its own objective, descriptive and interview framework.
Candidates should use the official Judicial Clerkship page for current scheme documents and examination papers.
Previous-Year Question Papers (PYQs) and Answer Keys
The Supreme Court maintains an archive of recruitment materials, including authentic Junior Court Assistant examination papers.
Official Junior Court Assistant question papers
| Year | Material | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Objective and descriptive examination papers | Download 2017 papers |
| 2016 | Typing-speed examination passage | Download 2016 passage |
| 2012 | Typing-speed examination passage | Download 2012 passage |
| 2025 | Official changes to objective answer key | Download 2025 answer-key notice |
The 2017 PDF contains actual objective and descriptive examination papers.
The 2012 and 2016 documents are historical typing passages, not complete written question papers.
The 2025 document records changes to an examination answer key, rather than reproducing the entire question paper.
Technical Court Assistant previous-year papers
No publicly accessible, verifiable previous-year paper was found in the sources checked as of 10 November 2026.
Candidates should check the Supreme Court recruitment archive for subsequent releases.
The 2017 Junior Court Assistant papers must not be represented as technical programmer recruitment papers.
How to use authentic PYQs
Practise the objective questions under timed conditions.
For Junior Court Assistant preparation, reproduce the descriptive examination format separately.
Complete typing exercises using the historical passages.
For technical posts, practise general aptitude alongside programming and practical problem-solving.
Preparation Strategy for Supreme Court Establishment Recruitment
Technical Court Assistant candidates
Prioritise programming, database concepts, debugging and computer networks.
Allocate separate time to English, general aptitude and quantitative reasoning.
Prepare for both objective and practical technical assessments.
Junior Court Assistant candidates
Revise English grammar, general knowledge, reasoning and computer fundamentals.
Study the constitutional provisions relating to the judiciary.
Read the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, and the relevant service rules.
Practise typing regularly, followed by précis and essay writing.
Research Assistant aspirants
Develop legal research and academic writing skills.
Practise summarising judgments and identifying binding legal principles.
Learn reliable legal citation and verification practices.
Maintain documentation of research experience, academic writing and relevant qualifications.
Research candidates should also develop competence in spreadsheet analysis and presentation preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the latest Supreme Court Court Assistant recruitment?
The latest relevant technical Court Assistant advertisement was issued on 12 October 2026.
2. How many technical Court Assistant vacancies were advertised?
The Supreme Court announced 15 tentative vacancies.
3. What is the last date to apply?
The technical Court Assistant application deadline is 24 November 2026.
4. Can an LL.B. graduate apply for the technical post?
A law degree is an additional preferred qualification. Candidates must independently satisfy the prescribed computing qualifications and experience.
5. What is the salary of a Technical Court Assistant?
The initial basic pay is ₹44,900 under Pay Level 7, plus admissible allowances.
6. Is there negative marking?
Yes. Both objective tests for the technical post prescribe a deduction of 0.25 marks per incorrect answer.
7. Is Junior Court Assistant recruitment the same as Law Clerk recruitment?
No. Junior Court Assistant is an establishment post, while Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate is a separate judicial research assignment.
8. Are research appointments part of the technical examination?
No. The 2025 Research Assistant and Consultant appointments followed resume-based shortlisting and interaction.
Official Supreme Court Recruitment Resources
- Supreme Court of India
- Official recruitment notices
- Technical Court Assistant 2026 advertisement
- Technical Court Assistant application notice
- Junior Court Assistant 2026 advertisement
- Research Assistant and Consultant advertisement, 2025
- Official Junior Court Assistant 2017 question papers
- Judicial Clerkship announcements
Conclusion
Supreme Court establishment recruitment offers opportunities across administration, technology and specialised research.
Candidates must identify the exact post before examining eligibility or preparing for selection.
The 2026 Technical Court Assistant recruitment requires computing qualifications and professional experience.
The Junior Court Assistant examination has a different eligibility framework, including computer typing and English writing assessments.
Research appointments follow separate contractual recruitment arrangements.
Candidates should rely upon the Supreme Court’s official advertisements, authentic examination materials and subsequent notices for accurate preparation.
Last updated: 10 November 2026. Recruitment details are based on the official September and October 2026 advertisements and the June 2025 research recruitment notice.
