UPSC Optional Subject Syllabus: Law | Law Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Constitutional and Administrative Law

• Constitution and Constitutionalism: The distinctive features of the Constitution
• Fundamental Rights: Public interest litigation; Legal Aid; Legal services authority
• Relationship between Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and Fundamental duties
• Constitutional Position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers
• Governor and his powers
• Supreme Court and High Courts: (a) Appointments and transfer, (b) Powers, functions, and jurisdiction
• Centre, States, and local bodies: (a) Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States, (b) Local Bodies, (c) Administrative relationship among Union, State, and Local Bodies, (d) Eminent domain - State property, common property, community property
• Legislative powers, privileges, and immunities
• Services under the Union and the States: (a) Recruitment and conditions of services; Constitutional safeguards; Administrative tribunals, (b) Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions - Power and functions, (c) Election Commission - Power and functions
• Emergency provisions
• Amendment of the Constitution
• Principle of Natural Justice: Emerging trends and judicial approach
• Delegated legislation and its constitutionality
• Separation of powers and constitutional governance
• Judicial review of administrative action
• Ombudsman: Lokayukta, Lokpal, etc.

International Law

• Nature and Definition of International Law
• Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law
• State Recognition and State Succession
• Law of the sea: Inland Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone, High Seas
• Individuals: Nationality, statelessness; Human Rights, and procedures available for their enforcement
• Territorial jurisdiction of States, Extradition, and Asylum
• Treaties: Formation, application, termination, and reservation
• United Nations: Its principal organs, powers and functions, and reform
• Peaceful settlement of disputes: Different modes
• Lawful recourse to force: Aggression, self-defense, intervention
• Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law: International conventions and contemporary developments
• Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; Ban on testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, CTBT
• International Terrorism, State-sponsored terrorism, Hijacking, International Criminal Court
• New International Economic Order and Monetary Law: WTO, TRIPS, GATT, IMF, World Bank
• Protection and Improvement of the Human Environment: International Efforts

Law of Crimes

• General principles of Criminal liability: Mens rea and actus reus, mens rea in statutory offences
• Kinds of punishment and emerging trends as to abolition of capital punishment
• Preparations and criminal attempt
• General exceptions
• Joint and constructive liability
• Abetment
• Criminal conspiracy
• Offences against the State
• Offences against public tranquility
• Offences against human body
• Offences against property
• Offences against women
• Defamation
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments
• Plea bargaining

Law of Torts

• Nature and definition
• Liability based upon fault and strict liability; Absolute liability
• Vicarious liability including State Liability
• General defences
• Joint tortfeasors
• Remedies
• Negligence
• Defamation
• Nuisance
• Conspiracy
• False imprisonment
• Malicious prosecution
• Consumer Protection Act, 1986

Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law

• Nature and formation of contract/E-contract
• Factors vitiating free consent
• Void, voidable, illegal, and unenforceable agreements
• Performance and discharge of contracts
• Quasi-contracts
• Consequences of breach of contract
• Contract of indemnity, guarantee, and insurance
• Contract of agency
• Sale of goods and hire purchase
• Formation and dissolution of partnership
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
• Standard form contracts

Contemporary Legal Developments

• Public Interest Litigation
• Intellectual property rights: Concept, types/prospects
• Information Technology Law including Cyber Laws: Concept, purpose/prospects
• Competition Law: Concept, purpose/prospects
• Alternate Dispute Resolution: Concept, types/prospects
• Major statutes concerning environmental law
• Right to Information Act
• Trial by media

Recommended Resources

• Constitutional Law: "Indian Constitutional Law" by M.P. Jain, "Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu
• International Law: "International Law" by Malcolm N. Shaw, "Public International Law" by S.K. Kapoor
• Law of Crimes: "Indian Penal Code" by Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, "Criminal Law" by P.S.A. Pillai
• Law of Torts: "Law of Torts" by R.K. Bangia
• Contracts and Mercantile Law: "Law of Contract" by Avtar Singh, "Mercantile Law" by M.C. Kuchhal
• Contemporary Legal Developments: Bare Acts, Legal Journals, and online platforms for updates
• Previous Year Question Papers: 2018-2024 Questions
• Preparation Guide: How to Prepare for Law Optional?

Preparation Strategy

• Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly review the syllabus for Paper I and II to prioritize high-weightage topics like Constitutional Law and Law of Crimes.
• Focus on Case Laws: Memorize landmark judgments and cite them in answers to strengthen arguments.
• Stay Updated: Follow recent legal developments, amendments, and Supreme Court judgments for topics like PIL, Cyber Laws, and Environmental Law.
• Answer Writing Practice: Practice writing structured answers with introductions, legal provisions, case laws, and conclusions.
• Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to improve time management and answer presentation.
• Link with Current Affairs: Relate legal concepts to current events, such as RTI or environmental regulations, for enriched answers.
• Revise Previous Year Questions: UPSC often repeats question types, so revise past papers to predict trends. 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018