Public Prosecutor

Studying police files and chargesheets, appearing in criminal courts for the state, examining witnesses, arguing bail, charges and appeals, and advising the police on whether a case is legally strong. In Delhi, for example, Assistant Public Prosecutors conduct cases before Metropolitan Magistrates, advise the police and keep records of pending cases.

A day in the work
You reach court by mid-morning, after reading the police file for your cases the evening before. Through the day you appear in several hearings: bail arguments, framing of charges, and examining witnesses. In between, you meet investigating officers to check the evidence and prepare witnesses, and you tell the police if a chargesheet has gaps. Evenings go on notes, case records and next-day files. You must present the facts fairly to the court, not just try to win.

1. Step 1 · Class 11–12Choose any stream. Build your English, reading and speaking skills, and follow how courts work. If you want an NLU, prepare for CLAT in Class 11–12 (the NLUs' own test).
2. Step 2 · 5 years (or 3 years after a degree)Do an LLB at a Bar Council of India–recognised law college. Focus on criminal law, evidence and procedure. Do internships with criminal lawyers and take part in moot courts. (reported — check with the official body)
3. Step 3 · Enrolment and 2–3 years of practiceEnrol with your State Bar Council and clear the All India Bar Examination. Then practise in criminal courts. Delhi's 2026 UPSC notice for Assistant Public Prosecutor asked for 3 years at the Bar. Odisha's 2026 notice asked for 2 years, certified by the District and Sessions Judge (reported). Some states have asked for only an LLB, so check each notice.
4. Step 4 · Preliminary examIn states like Odisha, the Public Service Commission runs a prelims. It is a 100-mark objective test on the criminal laws (BNSS, BNS, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, plus the old CrPC, IPC and Evidence Act). In 2026 it was only a screening test (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
5. Step 5 · Mains and interviewIn Odisha's 2026 notice, the mains was four written papers of 150 marks each: English, major criminal laws, minor criminal laws, and miscellaneous laws including drafting. The interview was 50 marks, and a candidate had to know the state language (Odia) (reported). Delhi's 2026 post used an interview, with a written test only if many applied (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
6. Step 6 · Appointment, training and probationAfter selection you are appointed as an Assistant Public Prosecutor in a state prosecution service, with document verification, induction training and a probation period (about 2 years for the Delhi post, reported). You start in magistrate courts and later move to sessions courts. (reported — check with the official body)
7. Later · 7 yearsA person can be appointed Public Prosecutor or Additional Public Prosecutor after at least 7 years as an advocate. Service as a prosecutor counts towards the 7 years. In states with a regular prosecution cadre, the post is filled from within the cadre. A Special Public Prosecutor needs 10 years.

• 5-year integrated LLB after Class 12BA LLB, BBA LLB or BSc LLB through CLAT or other law entrance tests. You can finish your LLB around age 22.
• Any degree, then 3-year LLBTake any bachelor's degree first, then a 3-year LLB. This suits people who decide on law later. Both LLB routes are treated equally by the Bar Council (reported).
• Practise first, become Public Prosecutor from the panelIn places without a regular prosecution cadre, a district Public Prosecutor is chosen from a panel of names prepared by the District Magistrate with the Sessions Judge. The person must have at least 7 years as an advocate. These are not permanent jobs in the way an Assistant Public Prosecutor's is.

Fees from: Consortium of NLUs, CLAT 2026 UG instructions (application fee) · Sikkim NLU, Fee Structure 2026–27 · University of Calcutta, 5-yr BA LLB Admission 2026 fee structure PDF · BML Munjal University, BA LLB fee structure 2026 · Vistas School of Law, fee structure 2026-27. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

A permanent government prosecutor gets a steady pay-scale salary with allowances, which differs by state. Advocates on panels or contracts, and practising lawyers in the early years, can earn less and less regularly. Seniority and the city also matter.

UPSC's 2026 notice for Delhi gives PwBD candidates up to 10 years' age relaxation, and 8 of the 140 posts were set aside for PwBD (reported). Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates paid no fee (reported). In Odisha, 58 of 172 posts were for women and women got 5 years' age relaxation (reported).

• Class 7–9Read the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights chapter of the Constitution, then discuss with a parent why an accused person is treated as innocent until proven guilty.Open link ↗
• Class 10–12Join your school's debate or Model UN club, and practise arguing both sides of one topic. Also read one court news report a week.
• College or afterAsk your law college or the District Legal Services Authority about volunteering at a legal-aid clinic. Sit in on criminal court hearings when you can, and join a moot court team.Open link ↗

• 'Assistant Public Prosecutor' is the usual entry post. The full title 'Public Prosecutor' comes only after at least 7 years as an advocate or prosecutor (BNSS Section 18).
• Some states ask for the local language. Odisha's 2026 notice required Odia (reported).
• Prosecutors hired on contract cannot claim a permanent post. The Supreme Court rejected one such claim from a contract Additional Public Prosecutor in West Bengal, so check whether a post is permanent.
• Notices do not come every year, and many ask for experience at the Bar. Plan to practise as a lawyer for a few years.