DSSSB Delhi District Courts Recruitment 2026 (641 Posts) | Advt. 04/2026 — Merit Formula, Syllabus & Eligibility Explained

The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) has officially released Advertisement No. 04/2026, announcing 641 permanent vacancies across the Delhi District & Sessions Courts and Family Courts. Covering five distinct roles—Senior Personal Assistant (SPA), Personal Assistant (PA), Junior Judicial Assistant (JJA), Process Server, and Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon—this drive caters to both 10th-pass candidates and graduates. The online application portal at dsssbonline.nic.in is currently live and will close strictly on 04 November 2026 (11:00 PM). Before applying, candidates must understand the hidden merit calculation rules and Delhi’s strict reservation policies.

The Hidden Merit Rule: Why Tier-I Doesn’t Count for Everyone

The biggest mistake applicants make in Delhi District Court exams is preparing with the wrong weightage strategy. Depending on your post code, the role of the Tier-I Objective MCQ examination changes completely:

• For Graduate Posts (SPA, PA, and JJA): The Tier-I MCQ exam is strictly qualifying/shortlisting in nature. The marks you score in Tier-I will not be added to your final merit list. Your final selection and rank depend entirely on your combined score in the Tier-II Descriptive English Paper + Tier-IV Personal Interview (subject to clearing the qualifying Tier-III Skill/Typing Test).
• For 10th-Pass Posts (Process Server and Peon): There is no descriptive paper. Every single mark you score in the Tier-I MCQ Exam goes directly into your final merit list, combined with your 15-mark Interview score.

Post-Wise Vacancy, Pay Level & Qualification Breakdown

All educational qualifications and driving licences must be possessed on or before the closing date of the application (04 November 2026).

Exam Pattern & The 50% Minimum Qualifying Trap

Across all posts, each correct MCQ awards +1 mark, while every wrong answer attracts a strict negative marking penalty of -0.25 marks. Furthermore, merely clearing a relative cut-off is not enough; you must secure a mandatory minimum qualifying score of 50% for General/EWS and 45% for OBC (Delhi)/SC/ST/PwBD/ESM in both Tier-I and Tier-II.

1. Junior Judicial Assistant (JJA) Exam Structure

• Tier-I (120 Marks / 120 Mins – English Medium Only): General English & Comprehension (60 Marks), General Knowledge (30 Marks), General Intelligence (30 Marks).
• Tier-II Descriptive English (100 Marks / 120 Mins): Essay of 300 words (50 Marks), Grammar (30 Marks), and Translation of 25 words (20 Marks).
• Tier-III & IV: Qualifying Computer Typing Test (40 WPM) followed by a 15-Mark Interview.

2. Peon & Process Server Exam Structure

• Tier-I (100 Marks / 120 Mins – Bilingual): Four equal sections of 25 questions each—English (25 Marks), Hindi (25 Marks), General Knowledge (25 Marks), and Arithmetic (25 Marks).
• Process Server Driving Test Catch: Shortlisted Process Server candidates must pass a qualifying driving test conducted in real city traffic conditions, followed by the 15-mark interview.

Age Limit & The “OBC Outside Delhi” Rule

The baseline age limit for all five posts is 18 to 27 years, calculated strictly as of 01 June 2026 (candidates must be born between 02 June 1999 and 01 June 2008).

Crucial Reservation Rule: While SC/ST candidates from all over India receive a 5-year age relaxation, the 3-year OBC age relaxation and reservation quota apply exclusively to OBC (Delhi) candidates. If you hold an OBC certificate from any other state (e.g., UP, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan), you must apply under the Unreserved (General) category and meet the 27-year age cap and 50% qualifying threshold.

Important Dates & Application Fee

Application Fee: A flat fee of ₹100 applies to General, OBC, and EWS male candidates (paid exclusively via SBI e-Pay). All Female candidates, SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen are 100% exempted from paying any fee.

How to Apply Online (OARS Portal)

1. Visit the official DSSSB portal at dsssbonline.nic.in.
2. If you have never applied for a DSSSB exam before, click on “Click for New Registration” to generate your One-Time Registration profile using your Class 10 roll number and passing year.
3. Log into the OARS dashboard and select the desired post under Advt. No. 04/2026.
4. Upload your recent passport-size photograph along with scanned copies of your signature, left thumb impression, and right thumb impression in the exact pixel dimensions required by the portal.
5. Pay the ₹100 fee via SBI e-Pay (if applicable) and verify that your payment status updates to “Completed” before logging out.
6. Submit the form before 11:00 PM on 04 November 2026 and save the final confirmation PDF.

Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I apply for both JJA and Peon posts under Advt. 04/2026?
Yes, since Junior Judicial Assistant (Post Code 806/26) and Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon (Post Code 808/26) have separate post codes, eligible graduates can apply for both by submitting separate applications.

Q2. Do Tier-I MCQ marks count in the final merit list for Junior Judicial Assistant (JJA)?
No. For JJA, PA, and Senior PA, the Tier-I objective exam is only for shortlisting candidates. The final merit list is prepared solely from the Tier-II Descriptive English test and the Personal Interview marks.

Q3. I have an LMV Learner’s Licence. Can I apply for the Process Server post?
No. The Process Server post strictly mandates a permanent, valid LMV Driving Licence along with at least 2 years of unblemished driving experience prior to 04 November 2026.

Q4. Who conducts the final interview—DSSSB or the Court?
While DSSSB conducts the written, descriptive, and skill tests, the Personal Interview (10 or 15 marks) and final merit list compilation are conducted directly by the Office of the Principal District & Sessions Judge (HQs), Delhi.