Law Optional Syllabus

Choosing Law as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Exam can benefit aspirants with a law background or those interested in India’s legal and constitutional framework. This post covers the complete syllabus for Law Optional for both Paper I and Paper II.

Paper I: Law Optional Syllabus

1. Constitutional and Administrative Law:

   1. Constitution and Constitutionalism: The distinctive features of the Constitution.
   2. Fundamental Rights—Public interest litigation; Legal Aid; Legal Services Authority.
   3. Relationship between Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and Fundamental Duties.
   4. Constitutional Position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers.
   5. Governor and his powers.
   6. Supreme Court and the High Courts:
      1. Appointments and transfers.
      2. Powers, functions, and jurisdiction.
   7. Centre, States, and local bodies:
      1. Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States.
      2. Local Bodies.
      3. Administrative relationship among Union, State, and Local Bodies.
      4. Eminent domain—State property, common property, community property.
   8. Legislative powers, privileges, and immunities.
   9. Services under the Union and the States:
      1. Recruitment and conditions of services; Constitutional safeguards; Administrative tribunals.
      2. Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions—Powers and functions.
      3. Election Commission—Powers and functions.
   10. Emergency provisions.
   11. Amendment of the Constitution.
   12. Principles of Natural Justice—Emerging trends and judicial approach.
   13. Delegated legislation and its constitutionality.
   14. Separation of powers and constitutional governance.
   15. Judicial review of administrative action.
   16. Ombudsman: Lokayukta, Lokpal, etc.

2. International Law:

   1. Nature and Definition of International Law.
   2. Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law.
   3. State Recognition and State Succession.
   4. Law of the Sea: Inland Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone, and High Seas.
   5. Individuals: Nationality, statelessness; Human Rights and procedures available for their enforcement.
   6. Territorial jurisdiction of States, Extradition, and Asylum.
   7. Treaties: Formation, application, termination, and reservation.
   8. United Nations: Its principal organs, powers, and functions, and reforms.
   9. Peaceful settlement of disputes—different modes.
   10. Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defense, intervention.
   11. Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law—International conventions and contemporary developments.
   12. Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, CTBT.
   13. International Terrorism, State-sponsored terrorism, Hijacking, International Criminal Court.
   14. New International Economic Order and Monetary Law: WTO, TRIPS, GATT, IMF, World Bank.
   15. Protection and Improvement of the Human Environment: International efforts.

Paper II: Law Optional Syllabus

1. Law of Crimes:

   1. General principles of Criminal liability : mens rea and actus reus, mens rea in statutory offences.
   2. Kinds of punishment and emerging trends as to abolition of capital punishment.
   3. Preparations and criminal attempt.
   4. General exceptions.
   5. Joint and constructive liability.
   6. Abetment.
   7. Criminal conspiracy.
   8. Offences against the State.
   9. Offences against public tranquility.
   10. Offences against human body.
   11. Offences against property.
   12. Offences against women.
   13. Defamation.
   14. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
   15. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments.
   16. Plea bargaining.

2. Law of Torts

   1. Nature and definition.
   2. Liability based upon fault and strict liability; Absolute liability.
   3. Vicarious liability including State Liability.
   4. General defences.
   5. Joint tort fessors.
   6. Remedies.
   7. Negligence.
   8. Defamation.
   9. Nuisance.
   10. Conspiracy.
   11. False imprisonment.
   12. Malicious prosecution.
   13. Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

3. Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law:

   1. Nature and formation of contract/E-contract.
   2. Factors vitiating free consent.
   3. Void, voidable, illegal and unenforceable agreements.
   4. Performance and discharge of contracts.
   5. Quasi-contracts.
   6. Consequences of breach of contract.
   7. Contract of indemnity, guarantee and insurance.
   8. Contract of agency.
   9. Sale of goods and hire purchase.
   10. Formation and dissolution of partnership.
   11. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
   12. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
   13. Standard form contracts.

4. Contemporary Legal Developments:

   1. Public Interest Litigation.
   2. Intellectual property rights—Concept, types/prospects.
   3. Information Technology Law including Cyber Laws—Concept, purpose/prospects.
   4. Competition Law—Concept, purpose/prospects.
   5. Alternate Dispute Resolution—Concept, types/prospects.
   6. Major statutes concerning environmental law.
   7. Right to Information Act.
   8. Trial by media.