1. Recruitment Overview & General Category Caution
The High Court of Delhi has released the official Vacancy Notice for the Senior Personal Assistant (SPA) and Personal Assistant (PA) Examination 2026. This recruitment drive aims to fill 150 permanent Group ‘B’ gazetted/non-gazetted stenographic positions on the establishment of the Delhi High Court. Online submissions opened on 15 September 2026 and close at 23:00 hours on 05 October 2026 via the official portal delhihighcourt.nic.in.
Several aggregator websites have published generic vacancy figures without reading Page 2 and 3 (Note iii) of the official notification. There are NIL (Zero) vacancies for General (UR) candidates in the Personal Assistant (PA) cadre. All 33 PA posts are exclusively allocated to OBC-NCL (16), EWS (07), SC (05), and ST (05). Unreserved / General category aspirants must apply strictly for Senior Personal Assistant (SPA), which features 43 UR vacancies out of 117 total posts.
High Court of Delhi, New Delhi
SPA & PA Examination 2026
150 Posts (117 SPA + 33 PA)
Typing + Shorthand + Descriptive + Interview
2. Official Recruitment Schedule & Deadlines
3. Post-Wise Vacancies & Category Breakdown
Both positions are classified under Group ‘B’ non-judicial services in the High Court of Delhi. The horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) is 4% as per statutory norms.
*Includes 07 horizontal vacancies reserved for PwBD (OL, BL, LC, Dw, AAV, ASD, SLD, MI).
**Includes 03 horizontal vacancies reserved for PwBD. Candidates must submit separate online applications and separate fees if applying for both posts.
4. In-Hand Monthly Salary Calculation (7th CPC Delhi Rates)
Delhi is categorized as an ‘X’ class metro city under Central Government rules, entitling Court employees to the highest permissible slab of House Rent Allowance (HRA at 27% of Basic Pay), Transport Allowance (TPTA), and Dearness Allowance (DA calculated at 50%). Below is the calculated monthly salary structure:
*Note: If government accommodation is allotted, HRA is deducted from the gross amount. Employees also receive medical coverage under the Delhi Government Employees Health Scheme (DGEHS).
5. Four Application Pitfalls That Lead to Direct Rejection
Mandatory Clauses in DHC Vacancy Circular:
- Delhi OBC Certificate Requirement (Para IV-iv): Central OBC certificates or certificates issued by authorities outside Delhi are strictly invalid. Only candidates possessing an OBC certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the Govt. of NCT of Delhi for castes included in Delhi’s state list are eligible. Additionally, an updated Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate issued between 01.04.2026 and 31.03.2027 is mandatory.
- No Scribe or Extra Time for PwBD (Note, Page 5-6): Considering the confidential, fast-paced court dictation and judicial reporting requirements, the High Court has ruled that NO exemption, NO scribe, and NO compensatory extra time will be granted to any candidate in typing or shorthand tests.
- Mandatory Live Webcam Photo Matching: Applicants must capture a live photo via webcam/phone camera in good lighting. The system matches this live image against the uploaded passport photo (100–200 KB, minimum 75% face coverage, without spectacles or caps). A detection mismatch prevents form submission.
- Capital Letter Signature Prohibition (Para VII-ix): Uploading signatures written in full capital or block letters results in immediate disqualification. Signatures must be in running handwriting (50 KB–150 KB, JPEG). Left-hand thumb impressions (50 KB–200 KB) are also compulsory.
6. Four-Stage Selection Process & Marking Scheme
The examination scheme is rigorous, consisting of four individual stages. Final selection is based on the aggregate marks of Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV. Stage I is qualifying in nature.
Stage – I: English Typing Test on Computer (Qualifying)
- Duration: 10 Minutes.
- Prescribed Speed: Minimum 40 words per minute (calculated using “characters with space” criteria).
- Permissible Mistakes: Maximum 3% of the total words typed. Candidates committing > 3% errors are disqualified.
- Only candidates qualifying Stage-I proceed to Stage-II Shorthand.
Stage – II: English Shorthand Tests (Core Ranking Component)
| Parameter | Senior Personal Assistant (SPA) | Personal Assistant (PA) |
|---|---|---|
| Dictation Speed | 110 WPM (550 words in 5 mins) | 100 WPM (500 words in 5 mins) |
| Transcription Time | 45 Minutes on computer | 45 Minutes on computer |
| Total Marks | 120 Marks | 110 Marks |
| Permissible Mistakes (5%) | Max 27.5 Mistakes | Max 25 Mistakes |
| Error Penalties | -4 Marks per full mistake, -2 Marks per half mistake. Committing max permissible mistakes grants only 10 marks. | |
| Number of Chances | 2 Dictation attempts provided; best performance of the two is evaluated. | |
Stage – III: Main (Descriptive) Examination in English (100 Marks)
- Duration: 120 Minutes (2 Hours).
- Essay Writing: 250 words — 40 Marks.
- Letter Writing: 15 Marks.
- Grammar & Comprehension: 25 Marks.
- Translation: Hindi to English (10 Marks) + English to Hindi (10 Marks).
- Qualifying Marks: 50% for General (50/100 Marks); 45% for Reserved Categories & PwBD (45/100 Marks).
Stage – IV: Personal Interview (15 Marks)
The interview carries 15 marks with no minimum qualifying threshold. The final merit list is prepared by compiling: Stage-II (Shorthand) + Stage-III (Descriptive) + Stage-IV (Interview).
7. Application Fee & Form Modification Structure
| Candidate Category | Application Fee (Non-Refundable) |
|---|---|
| General, OBC-NCL, EWS (Male & Female) | ₹1,500 + Gateway Charges |
| SC, ST, PwBD (Eligible Disabilities) | ₹1,300 + Gateway Charges |
8. Official Application Links & Portal Desk
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can General (UR) category candidates apply for Personal Assistant (PA)?
No. There are NIL (0) vacancies for General candidates in the Personal Assistant cadre. All 33 PA posts are reserved for OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, and ST. General category aspirants should apply only for Senior Personal Assistant (SPA), which has 43 UR posts.
Can a candidate apply for both SPA and PA positions?
Yes, provided the candidate meets the eligibility criteria and belongs to an eligible category. Candidates must submit separate online application forms and pay separate fees for each post.
Are Central OBC certificates accepted for Delhi High Court recruitment?
No. Only OBC certificates issued by the Competent Authority of the Govt. of NCT of Delhi for castes included in the Delhi State list are acceptable. A Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate issued between 01.04.2026 and 31.03.2027 is required.
What is the shorthand speed requirement for Delhi High Court SPA and PA?
For Senior Personal Assistant (SPA), the speed is 110 wpm in English Shorthand (550 words in 5 mins). For Personal Assistant (PA), the speed is 100 wpm (500 words in 5 mins). Both require 40 wpm English typing on computer.
Is there negative marking in the Shorthand transcription test?
Yes. In the shorthand transcription test, 4 marks are deducted for every full mistake and 2 marks for every half mistake. Permissible mistakes cannot exceed 5% of dictated words (max 27.5 errors for SPA, 25 for PA).