Law as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Mains examination is gaining acceptance these days. Even those who haven’t completed graduation in law are opting for the same as well as most of them have succeeded in their attempt, thus inspiring others to take up the challenge.

Why Law as an optional for UPSC Mains?

The advantages of taking up law as an optional subject are that,

• Law is the inevitable subject that you must study for attempting General Studies Paper 2.

• Even for General studies Paper 3 and 4, a basic understanding of law can assist you score better.

• Further, once you get an appointment as Assistant Collector, Assistant Commissioner of police or an IFS officer, understanding in law will become necessary as well as of immense help.

To be specific, learning Constitutional Law & Administrative law can assist you to give better answers in General Studies paper 2 comprising Indian polity and Governance portions.

International law can endow you to have a broad understanding of International Relations as well as treaties signed by countries, again beneficial for general Studies paper 2.

In every topic of General studies Paper 3, the students come across a number of legislations, rules, regulations as well as policies, thus studying Law as an optional is an added benefit to perform well in your General studies section of the Mains as well as Prelims exams.

In addition, updating on ‘Contemporary Legal developments’ a topic in the UPSC Mains Law Syllabus, can assist you to nurture the Current Affairs study to a greater extent.

UPSC Mains Law Syllabus Paper – I

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 High Courts:
(a) Appointments and transfer.
(b) Powers, functions and jurisdiction.
7. 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.
8. Legislative powers, privileges and immunities.
9. 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.
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.

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, 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, functions and reform.
9. Peaceful settlement of disputes – different modes.
10. Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defence, 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.

UPSC Mains Law Syllabus Paper – 2

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. Preparation 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.

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 feasors.
6. Remedies.
7. Negligence.
8. Defamation.
9. Nuisance.
10. Conspiracy.
11. False imprisonment.
12. Malicious prosecution.
13. Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law
1. Nature and formation of contract/Econtract.
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. Contemporary Legal Developments
14. Public Interest Litigation.
15. Intellectual property rights – Concept, types/prospects.
16. Information Technology Law including Cyber Laws – Concept, purpose/ prospects.
17. Competition Law- Concept, purpose/ prospects.
18. Alternate Dispute Resolution – Concept, types/prospects.
19. Major statutes concerning environmental law.
20. Right to Information Act.
21. Trial by media.