Upsc Law Mains Syllabus (Optional Subject) For Civil Services

The syllabus for Law Paper I is divided into two parts- Constitutional and Administrative Law and International Law.

UPSC Law Syllabus For Paper I

1. Constitutional and Administrative Law-

• Constitution and Constitutionalism: It covers the distinctive features of the Constitution.
• Fundamental Rights: It includes Public Interest Litigation; legal aid; legal services authority.
• Relationship between Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental duties.
• The constitutional position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers.
• Governor and his powers.

Supreme Court and High Courts:

• Appointments and transfer
• Powers, functions and jurisdiction

Centre, States and Local bodies:

• Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States.
• Local bodies
• Administrative relationship among Union, state and local bodies
• Eminent domain-State property-common property-community property.
• Legislative powers, privileges and immunities.

Services under the Union and the States:

• Recruitment and conditions of services; Constitutional safeguards; Administrative tribunals.
• Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions—Power and functions.
• 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

2. 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 and High Seas.
• Individuals: Nationality, statelessness; Human Rights and procedures available for their enforcement
  
• Territorial jurisdiction of States, extradition and asylum
• 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-defence, intervention
• Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law - International conventions and contemporary developments.
• The legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on the testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear nonproliferation treaty, CTST.
• 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.

UPSC Law Syllabus For Paper II

The topics of Paper II are divided into 4 parts, namely Law of Crimes, Law of Torts, Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law and Contemporary Legal Developments.

The contents covered under these topics are as follows-

1. 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.

2. Law of Torts -

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

3. Law of Contracts and Mercantile Laws -

• 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

4. 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.