Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Syllabus 2026 - Check Exam Pattern PDF

The High Court of Delhi has released the Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern as part of its official Vacancy Notice for the Senior Personal Assistant (SPA) and Personal Assistant (PA) Examination 2026. The recruitment is conducted by the High Court of Delhi, and candidates must clear four stages before final selection. Knowing the Delhi High Court Personal Assistant syllabus and exam pattern together helps candidates understand exactly what each stage tests and how marks are calculated, so preparation can be planned stage by stage instead of guessing.
Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 - Overview
Before going into the subject-wise details, candidates should go through the quick overview table below.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | High Court of Delhi |
| Post Name | Personal Assistant (PA) |
| Related Post (same notice) | Senior Personal Assistant (SPA) |
| Total Vacancies (PA) | 150 |
| Selection Stages | 4 (English Typing Test, English Shorthand Test, Main Descriptive Exam, Interview) |
| Main Exam Marks | 100 Marks |
| Main Exam Duration | 120 Minutes |
| Shorthand Test Marks | 110 Marks |
| Interview Marks | 15 Marks |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Official Website | delhihighcourt.nic.in |
Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Selection Process 2026
Selection for the Personal Assistant post is made through four stages. Each stage must be cleared individually there is no exemption for any candidate, including PwBD candidates, from the Typing or Shorthand Test.
- Stage I - English Typing Test (Qualifying): Tests minimum typing speed on computer. Only qualifying in nature; marks are not added to the final merit.
- Stage II - English Shorthand Test: Tests dictation and transcription speed and accuracy. Marks from this stage count toward the final merit list.
- Stage III - Main (Descriptive) Examination: A descriptive English paper covering essay, letter writing, grammar & comprehension, and translation. Candidates must clear the minimum qualifying marks to proceed.
- Stage IV - Interview: Final stage carrying 15 marks, with no minimum qualifying marks.
Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Exam Pattern 2026
The exam pattern for the Personal Assistant post is divided stage-wise, and each stage has its own format, timing, and marking rules, as detailed below.
English Typing Test Pattern (Stage I - Qualifying)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Minimum Speed Required | 40 words per minute (on computer) |
| Speed Calculation Method | Characters with space |
| Permissible Mistakes | 3% of total words typed |
| Nature | Qualifying only; marks not added to merit |
English Shorthand Test Pattern (Stage II)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Shorthand Speed | 100 words per minute |
| Passage Length & Dictation Time | 500 words dictated in 5 minutes |
| Transcription Time | 45 minutes (no extra time for reading the passage) |
| Total Marks | 110 Marks |
| Permissible Mistakes | 5% of total words dictated, i.e. 25 mistakes |
| Marking/Deduction Rule | 4 marks deducted per full mistake; 2 marks deducted per half mistake |
| Disqualification Rule | More than 25 mistakes leads to disqualification |
| Attempts | Two attempts given; the better of the two is considered |
Main (Descriptive) Examination Pattern (Stage III)
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay (250 words) | 40 Marks |
| Letter Writing | 15 Marks |
| Grammar & Comprehension Passage | 25 Marks |
| Translation (Hindi to English) | 10 Marks |
| Translation (English to Hindi) | 10 Marks |
| Total | 100 Marks |
Duration: 120 minutes. Qualifying Marks: since the Personal Assistant post has no General category vacancy, the minimum passing mark for all PA candidates (Reserved categories, including PwBD) is 45% (45 out of 100).
| Category | Qualifying Marks in Main Exam |
|---|---|
| General (applicable only to the SPA post, since PA has no General vacancy) | 50% (50/100) |
| Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) and PwBD - applicable to PA | 45% (45/100) |
Interview Pattern (Stage IV)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 15 Marks |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | None |
Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Syllabus 2026
The Delhi High Court Personal Assistant syllabus for the Main (Descriptive) Examination is organised into four sections. Along with this, candidates must also meet the Typing Test and Shorthand Test skill requirements to qualify Stage I and Stage II.
1. Essay Writing
- Candidates must write an essay of 250 words on the topic given in the question paper.
- Carries 40 marks - the highest weightage section in the Main Exam.
2. Letter Writing
- Candidates must draft a letter in the proper format, based on the topic or situation given in the question.
- Carries 15 marks.
3. Grammar & Comprehension
- A comprehension passage-based section testing reading comprehension and English grammar.
- Carries 25 marks.
4. Translation
- (A) Translation of one passage from Hindi to English - 10 marks.
- (B) Translation of one passage from English to Hindi - 10 marks.
5. Typing and Shorthand Skill Requirements (Stage I & II)
- English Typing on computer at a minimum speed of 40 words per minute.
- English Shorthand dictation and transcription at a minimum speed of 100 words per minute.
- Good working knowledge of computers, as required by the essential qualification for the post.
Note: The official notification does not state which topic within the Main Exam carries higher "weightage or frequency" beyond the marks distribution given above, so no additional high-weightage claim is made here.
How to Prepare for the Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Exam 2026
- Build shorthand and typing speed first: Since Stage I and Stage II are speed-based and every candidate must clear them individually, daily practice of English shorthand dictation (aiming above 100 w.p.m.) and computer typing (above 40 w.p.m.) should start before descriptive preparation.
- Practice transcription within the time limit: The 45-minute transcription window has no extra reading time, so practice transcribing a dictated passage of around 500 words within that exact duration.
- Work on essay and letter writing regularly: Since the essay (40 marks) and letter writing (15 marks) together make up more than half the Main Exam, practice writing structured 250-word essays and formal/official letters on current and administrative topics.
- Strengthen grammar and comprehension: Read English newspapers and practice comprehension passages with grammar-based questions to build accuracy for the 25-mark section.
- Practice bilingual translation: Translate short passages both from Hindi to English and English to Hindi regularly, since both carry equal marks (10 each).
- Track the official notification for exam dates: Since the exam date and admit card are not yet announced, keep checking the official Delhi High Court website regularly instead of relying only on tentative estimates.
Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Syllabus 2026 - Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Delhi High Court Personal Assistant Syllabus 2026?
It covers the Main (Descriptive) Examination sections – Essay, Letter Writing, Grammar & Comprehension, and Translation – along with the English Typing Test and English Shorthand Test speed requirements, as given in the official Vacancy Notice dated 02.09.2026.
What is the exam pattern for Delhi High Court Personal Assistant 2026?
There are four stages: English Typing Test (qualifying), English Shorthand Test (110 marks), Main Descriptive Examination (100 marks), and Interview (15 marks).
Is there negative marking in the Delhi High Court Personal Assistant exam?
There is no negative marking in the Main Descriptive Exam. In the English Shorthand Test, 4 marks are deducted per full mistake and 2 marks per half mistake, up to a maximum of 25 permissible mistakes.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in the Main Exam?
For the Personal Assistant post, since there is no General category vacancy, all candidates (Reserved categories including PwBD) must score at least 45% (45 out of 100) to qualify.
Where can I download the Delhi High Court Personal Assistant syllabus PDF?
The syllabus and exam pattern are part of the official Vacancy Notice PDF available on the Delhi High Court website, www.delhihighcourt.nic.in, and linked in the Important Links section above.