The Allahabad High Court Private Secretary Exam is a competitive recruitment examination conducted by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad to select qualified candidates for the post of Private Secretary (Grade-I) or Additional Private Secretary. This prestigious position plays a crucial role in assisting judges and managing administrative and documentation work within the court. The recruitment process typically consists of multiple stages, including a written examination, computer or typing test, and a shorthand dictation test to evaluate candidates’ language proficiency, stenography skills, and computer knowledge.
The written examination usually includes objective-type questions on General Studies, General English, and basic computer knowledge. Candidates who qualify in the initial stage are called for skill tests such as shorthand dictation and transcription on a computer. The exam requires a bachelor’s degree along with proficiency in shorthand and typing. Due to limited vacancies and high competition, the Allahabad High Court Private Secretary Exam is considered a prestigious opportunity for candidates seeking a stable and respected government career in the judicial system.
Allahabad High Court: Overview Table
| Feature | Details |
| Organization | High Court of Judicature at Allahabad (Conducted by National Testing Agency – NTA) |
| Post | Private Secretary Grade-I |
| Category | Syllabus Overview |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple-Choice Objective Type (Stage I, Part A) and Subjective Type/Typing/Shorthand tasks (Stage I Parts B & C, and Stage II) |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs in Stage I (Part A), plus practical reproduction/translation passages |
| Total Marks | 675 Marks total (Stage I: 400 marks, Stage II: 200 marks, Stage III: 75 marks) |
| Time Duration | Stage I Part A: 90 minutes Stage I Part B: 15 minutes Stage I Part C: 15 minutes Stage II: 35 minutes (5 mins dictation, 30 mins transcription) |
| Negative Marking | NO NEGATIVE MARKING for Objective Test (Stage I Part A) Note: Penalty deductions apply for mistakes in Typing/Shorthand tests (0.200 to 0.400 marks per error) |
| Selection Process | • Stage I (Part A: General Studies, Part B: Computer Knowledge Test, Part C: Subjective Translation Test) • Stage II (Shorthand Dictation Test) • Stage III (Interview) |
| Official Website | www.allahabadhighcourt.in and https://exams.nta.nic.in/allhcre/ |
Allahabad High Court: Exam Pattern
Exam Pattern
| Stage & Section | Examination Type & Task Details | Duration | Marks & Evaluation Criteria |
| Stage I – Part A: General Studies | Type: Multiple Choice Objective Type Test in Computer Based Test (CBT) module. Format: 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Syllabus: General Science, History of India, Indian National Movement, Indian Polity/Economy/Culture, Indian Agriculture/Commerce/Trade, Population/Ecology/Urbanisation, World/Indian Geography, Current Events, General Aptitude, Special Knowledge of UP, General English/Hindi (Graduation level), Elementary Computer Knowledge. | 90 minutes. | Max Marks: 200. Marking: 2 marks for each correct answer. Negative Marking: NO negative marking for incorrect answers. Qualifying Marks: NO minimum qualifying marks. |
| Stage I – Part B: Computer Knowledge Test | Type: Computer Based Test (CBT) module. Task: Reproduce a copy of part of a Judgment (approximately 500 words) in ENGLISH on the computer in the same format. | 15 minutes. | Max Marks: 100. Qualifying Marks: Minimum 50 out of 100. Penalties: 0.200 marks deducted per mistake. Mistake Rules: Left-out words, spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, bold/italic errors, and justification errors are counted as full mistakes. Extra words typed beyond 500 are ignored. |
| Stage I – Part C: Subjective Type Translation Test | Type: Computer Based Test (CBT) module. Task: Translation of a passage of approximately 250 words given in Shorthand to English on the Computer (sourced from Sir Issac Pitman’s Book). | 15 minutes. | Max Marks: 100. Qualifying Marks: Minimum 50 out of 100. Penalties: 0.400 marks deducted per mistake. Mistake Rules: Left-out words and spelling mistakes are treated as full mistakes. Words typed beyond the prescribed limit are deleted/ignored. |
| Shift Details for Stage I | Note: Part A, Part B, and Part C of Stage-I will be conducted in a SINGLE SHIFT. There will be a gap of 15 minutes between each part of the Stage-I examination. | N/A | N/A |
| Stage II: Shorthand Dictation Test | Eligibility: Ten times the number of candidates against the total vacancies will be called based on Stage-I merit. Type: Computer Based Test (CBT) module. Task: Take down an English dictation of approximately 500 words, then transcribe it on the computer. Speed Required: 100 words per minute in English Shorthand and 40 words per minute in English typewriting. | 05 minutes for dictation & 30 minutes for transcription. | Max Marks: 200. Qualifying Marks: Minimum 160 out of 200. Penalties: 0.400 marks deducted per mistake. Mistake Rules: Left-out words and spelling mistakes are full mistakes. Errors in paragraphing and punctuation are half mistakes. |
| Stage III: Interview | Eligibility: Three times the number of candidates against the total vacancies will be called based on combined merit of Stage-I and Stage-II. Task: Subjective/Oral evaluation. | N/A | Max Marks: 75. |
| Total Evaluation | The final merit list is prepared based on the aggregate of marks obtained across Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III. | N/A | Grand Total: 675 Marks. |
Allahabad High Court: Syllabus
| Stage & Part | Subject/Test Name | Detailed Syllabus & Tasks |
| Stage I – Part A | General Studies (Multiple Choice Objective Type Test) | The question paper will cover the following topics : • General Science • History of India • Indian National Movement • Indian Polity, Economy and Culture • Indian Agriculture, Commerce, and Trade • Population, Ecology and Urbanisation (in Indian Context) • World Geography & Geography and Resources of India • Current National and International Important Events • General Aptitude • Special Knowledge regarding Uttar Pradesh: Education, Culture, Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Living and Social Traditions • Knowledge of General English and General Hindi (Graduation level) • Elementary Knowledge of Computers |
| Stage I – Part B | Computer Knowledge Test | • Task: A copy of part of a Judgment (approximately 500 words) in ENGLISH will be given to the candidates. • Candidates must reproduce the exact same text on the computer in the same format within 15 minutes. |
| Stage I – Part C | Subjective Type Translation Test | • Task: Translation of a passage of approximately 250 words. • The passage will be given in Shorthand, and candidates must translate it to English on the computer. • Source: The shorthand passage will be from Sir Issac Pitman’s Book. |
| Stage II | Shorthand Dictation Test | • Task: A dictation of a passage in ENGLISH of approximately 500 words will be given in 5 minutes. • Candidates will take down the dictation in Shorthand and thereafter transcribe the same on the computer within 30 minutes. |
| Stage III | Interview | • Subjective/Oral Evaluation. |
Preparation Tips
- Capitalize on the “No Negative Marking” Rule in Part A: For the General Studies objective test, there is absolutely no negative marking for incorrect answers. Your primary strategy here should be time management. Ensure you attempt all 100 questions within the 90-minute timeframe. Guessing strategically on questions you are unsure about will not penalize you, so never leave a question un-attempted.
- Prioritize Extreme Accuracy in Typing: The Computer Knowledge Test (Part B) heavily penalizes errors. You will lose 0.200 marks for every single mistake. Be meticulously careful with formatting: an error in punctuation, bolding, or italicizing is treated as a full mistake. Furthermore, left-out words, spelling mistakes, and extra words typed beyond the 500-word limit are all penalized as full errors. Practice typing legal or formal texts focusing entirely on zero-error reproduction rather than just raw speed.
- Master Shorthand Translation Precision: For the Stage I (Part C) Subjective Translation Test and the Stage II Dictation Test, accuracy is non-negotiable. In Stage II, every full mistake costs you 0.400 marks. Remember that errors in paragraphing and punctuation are counted as half-mistakes, while left-out words, spelling errors, or typing anything other than the dictated content are counted as full mistakes. Consistent, daily practice with Sir Issac Pitman’s Shorthand book is highly recommended as the notification specifically mentions it as the source standard for Part C.
- Familiarize Yourself with the CBT Interface: Because the entire exam is a Computer Based Test (CBT), you need to be comfortable with on-screen reading and navigation. During the General Studies paper, the keyboard will be disabled, and you will rely entirely on the mouse to select options or use the virtual on-screen keyboard. Practice using mock tests to get used to the “Marked for Review” feature and the question palette layout to save crucial seconds during the actual exam.