High Court of Delhi has released the official syllabus and exam pattern for the Personal Assistant (PA) and Senior Personal Assistant (SPA) Examination 2026. Candidates preparing for the 150 Personal Assistant vacancies can check the detailed stage-wise exam pattern, shorthand/typing test rules, descriptive syllabus, marking scheme, and minimum qualifying marks here to structure their preparation.
Exam Overview
| Conducting Body | High Court of Delhi |
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| Post Name | Personal Assistant (PA) |
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| Total Vacancies | 150 Posts |
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| Selection Stages | 4 Stages (Typing, Shorthand, Mains, Interview) |
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Main Exam Highlights
| Main Exam Marks | 100 Marks (Descriptive) |
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| Main Exam Duration | 120 Minutes |
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| Shorthand Test Marks | 110 Marks |
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| Medium of Exam | English (except translation) |
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Delhi HC PA 2026: Stage I & II Exam Pattern
| Stage I - English Typing Test (Qualifying) |
| Particulars | Details |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Minimum Speed | 40 words per minute (on computer) |
| Permissible Mistakes | 3% of total words typed |
| Nature | Qualifying only; marks not added to merit |
| Stage II - English Shorthand Test (110 Marks) |
| Minimum 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) |
| Permissible Mistakes | 5% of total words dictated (i.e., Max 25 mistakes) |
| Marking/Deduction Rule | 4 marks deducted per full mistake; 2 marks deducted per half mistake. Disqualification on more than 25 mistakes. |
| Attempts | Two attempts given; the better of the two is considered. |
Delhi HC PA 2026: Stage III (Mains) & IV Exam Pattern
| Stage III - Main (Descriptive) Examination (120 Minutes) |
| Section / Topic | 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 Mains Marks | 100 Marks |
| Stage IV - Interview (15 Marks) |
| Total Marks: 15 Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks: None |
Qualifying Marks for Main Exam
- Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) & PwBD (applicable to PA): 45% (45/100 Marks)
- Note: The Personal Assistant (PA) post has no General category vacancy in this cycle, so the 50% qualifying mark rule applies only to the SPA post.
Delhi High Court PA Detailed Syllabus 2026
| 1. Essay Writing (40 Marks) | Candidates must write a structured essay of 250 words on the given topic (Current affairs, legal, or administrative topics). This carries the highest weightage in the Main Exam. |
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| 2. Letter Writing (15 Marks) | Drafting a formal/official letter in the proper format based on the topic or situation provided in the question paper. |
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| 3. Grammar & Comprehension (25 Marks) | Reading comprehension passage-based questions to test reading skills. English grammar testing (synonyms, antonyms, active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech, sentence improvement, spotting errors, etc.). |
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| 4. Translation (20 Marks) | (A) Translation of one passage from Hindi to English (10 Marks). (B) Translation of one passage from English to Hindi (10 Marks). |
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| 5. Typing and Shorthand Skill Requirements | English Typing on a 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 for daily administrative tasks. |
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Preparation Tips for Delhi HC PA Exam 2026
| Build Shorthand & Typing Speed First | As Stage I & Stage II are strict eliminators, practice English shorthand (100+ WPM) and computer typing (40+ WPM) daily before moving to descriptive prep. |
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| Practice Time-bound Transcription | Since the 45-minute transcription window provides no extra reading time, practice transcribing a 500-word dictated passage precisely within that duration. |
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| Master Essay & Letter Formats | Together, these account for 55 marks. Practice structured 250-word essays and formal letters on current and administrative topics. |
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| Strengthen Grammar & Translation | Read English and Hindi newspapers regularly. Translate short passages bilingually to secure maximum marks in the 20-mark translation section. |
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Important Links
Before Applying
Please verify the official notification for complete eligibility, age limits, education qualification, fee rules, and other terms before submitting the online application.
Always confirm dates and fees on the official website before you apply.
