Madras High Court DEO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

Written Test + Skill Test + Viva Voce — Complete Topic-Wise Breakdown

1. Syllabus overview

2. Exam Pattern — Marks Distribution

Notice how the Viva Voce alone carries half the total marks. A candidate who scores modestly in the written and skill rounds but performs well at interview can still finish strong in the final merit list — so don’t treat the viva as a formality once you clear the qualifying cutoff.

3. Written Examination Syllabus (25 Marks)

Topic 1: Windows and Linux Basics

• Basic operating system concepts and types of operating systems
• File and folder management
• User accounts and permissions
• Software installation and routine updates
• Common Windows and Linux commands

Topic 2: Networking

• Basic networking concepts
• LAN, WAN and Wi-Fi
• IP address, DNS and DHCP
• Switches, routers and firewalls
• Network cables and connectivity
• Basic network commands, troubleshooting, and internet/network security basics

Topic 3: PDF and Document Handling and Processing

• Creating and managing documents
• Types of documents and their extensions
• Office and Excel basics
• PDF creation, conversion, merging and splitting
• Digital signatures
• File naming, organisation and security

Topic 4: Video Conferencing

• Basic video conferencing concepts
• Microphones, speakers, cameras and displays
• Audio and video configuration
• WebEx, Microsoft Teams and other VC platforms
• Basic components of hard and soft VC setups, and troubleshooting

Topic 5: Hardware Troubleshooting

• Basic computer hardware components
• CPU, RAM, HDD/SSD and motherboard
• Printers, scanners and peripheral devices
• Hardware installation and backup procedures
• Basic fault identification, troubleshooting and preventive maintenance

Topic 6: Internet Basics

• Basic internet concepts, web browsers and search engines
• Websites, URLs and DNS
• Email and attachments
• Internet connectivity and Wi-Fi
• Cloud services
• Cyber security and safe internet usage — phishing, malware and password security

⚠ Exam-Day Note: All 25 questions are objective (MCQ) and must be attempted inside a single 60-minute window that, per the notification, also covers the Skill Test. Pace yourself — don’t let the written section eat into the time you need for the hands-on portion.

4. Skill Test Syllabus (25 Marks)

• Scanning documents and converting them to OCR (Optical Character Recognition) format
• Conversion of PDF files to OCR-readable text
• Working with LibreOffice — its Writer, Calc and related modules
• Configuring a Local Area Network, including basic IP configuration
• Hardware troubleshooting and driver installation

Preparation tip: practise these exact five tasks on an actual system beforehand. Since e-Sewa Kendra work is built around eFiling, digital signatures and eCourt services, examiners are likely to frame the skill test around realistic office scenarios rather than abstract commands.

5. Viva Voce (50 Marks)

• Maximum Marks: 50
• Minimum Qualifying Marks: 20
• Shortlisting Ratio: 1:3 (three candidates per vacancy, based on Written + Skill Test marks)
• Areas Assessed: Mental alertness, computer skills, attitude, ethics, character, and practical experience in computer skills, computer networks, databases and operating systems

Since this stage carries exactly half the total marks, treat it as a real interview rather than a formality. Be ready to explain, in your own words, how you would handle a litigant’s query about case status, assist with eFiling, or fix a VC hearing that has frozen mid-session — the kind of situations an e-Sewa Kendra operator deals with daily.

6. Eligibility Snapshot (Quick Reference)

General B.Sc, B.Com or BA candidates — even with strong computer skills — do not meet the degree criteria. Only Computer Science, IT and Computer Applications degree holders can sit for this exam.

7. Important Dates

⚠ Important: The application window closes in just six days, and the written-cum-skill test is provisionally scheduled barely eleven days after that. There’s no time to delay preparation — treat the topics above as your prep list from today itself, and keep checking mhc.tn.gov.in/esk_rec, since the exact test dates are tentative.

8. How to Prepare — Stage-Wise Strategy

• For the Written Test: Go through all six topics at least twice. Windows/Linux basics, networking, and internet basics can be revised through short notes; keep PDF handling and video conferencing practical, since real-world familiarity answers those MCQs faster than rote learning.
• For the Skill Test: Sit at an actual computer and run through each of the five listed tasks — scan-to-OCR, PDF-to-OCR, LibreOffice, LAN/IP configuration, and driver installation — until you can do them without hesitation.
• For the Viva Voce: Revise fundamentals of computer networks, databases and operating systems, and be ready to speak about how digital court services (eFiling, VC hearings, eStamp, Aadhaar-based signatures) actually work.
• Document Readiness: Keep your degree certificate, marksheets, 10th/12th certificates and a valid photo ID scanned and ready, since document verification typically follows close behind the written and skill rounds in such short-window recruitments.

9. FAQs

Important Links

Apply Online: mhc.tn.gov.in/esk_rec

Download Official Syllabus/Notification PDF: Check on Official Portal

Official Website: mhc.tn.gov.in

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