Supreme Court reduces judicial practice requirement

On August 21, 2026, the India — Supreme Court of India modified its May 2025 judgment by reducing the mandatory legal practice requirement for law graduates appearing in entry-level judicial service examinations (Civil Judge, Junior Division) from three years to one year. The decision, delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Augustine George Masih and K. Vinod Chandran, was a 2:1 majority ruling on review petitions. Justice K. Vinod Chandran dissented, arguing there was no ground to review the earlier judgment. The Court retained the requirement of prior practical experience but combined one year of practice with intensive institutional training and structured clerkship. For the transition period (May 20, 2025 to March 31, 2027), law graduates are deemed to have completed one year of active practice and can apply without prior experience. Candidates selected will undergo one year of training at a State Judicial Academy followed by a year-long structured clerkship. For exams notified after April 1, 2027, one year of actual practice, verified through a Certificate of Practice, will be mandatory. The scheme will operate for five years, after which the Court will review its impact. State Governments, in consultation with High Courts, must amend service rules within three months. The Court cited hardship caused to young lawyers, women, and persons with disabilities by the three-year requirement.