UPSC Law Syllabus for Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam 2024- PDF Download, Important Topics, Weightage
Appearing for UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 and choosing Law as the optional subject? This article shall give you an idea of the syllabus of the UPSC Law Syllabus for IAS Mains 2024!
UPSC Law Syllabus For Civil Services (IAS) Main Exam 2024: The Union Public Service Commission has released the information about the UPSC CSE exam which is to be held on 15 September 2023. The preliminary examination will be conducted by the organization on May 26, 2024. The candidates have started preparing for the preliminary examination. For the main examination, the candidates can check out the major information about the UPSC CSE Syllabus 2024 for the Law paper which is an optional subject. The people who will successfully pass the preliminary examination will be liable to take the main examination. After the main examinations are conducted, the interview round will be conducted by the organization.
There are 48 subjects available in the main examination to choose from for the candidates. The candidates are required to choose the subject of the choice and each optional subject includes 2 papers, that is paper 1 and Paper 2. Both of these papers will be 250 marks making a total of 500 marks for the Law paper also. It is important to check out the major information about the syllabus for UPSC IAS mains Law paper 2024. The article given below talks about the major information related to the syllabus for paper 1 and Paper 2 if you have chosen law as your optional subject:
Also Read: UPSC CSE 2024 Exam Day Instructions
UPSC IAS Mains Law Syllabus 2024
Two papers will be conducted for the UPSC IAS Main Law subject. The candidates need to prepare for both of the papers by taking into consideration the syllabus which is released by the organization on the official website. The candidates can check out the information about the paper-wise syllabus for a law subject from the details mentioned below:Paper I
Paper one consists of two topics: constitutional and administrative law and international law. The students can check out the details related to both of the topics from the tables given below:
Constitutional and Administrative Law
The candidates can check out the major information about the topics included in this section from the table provided below and prepare themselves accordingly:
Relationship between directive principles, fundamental rights, and fundamental duties | Governor and his powers |
Emergency provisions | Constitutional position of the President |
Constitution and Constitutionalism: The distinctive features of the Constitution | Constitutional relation with the Council of Ministers |
Fundamental rights - Legal Aid; Public interest litigation | Principles of natural justice - Emerging trends and judicial approach |
Supreme Court and High Courts:
| Centre, States and local bodies:
|
Services under the Union and the States:
| Separation of powers and constitutional governance |
Amendment of the Constitution | Delegated legislation and its constitutionality |
Ombudsman: Lokayukta and Lokpal | Judicial review of administrative action |
International Law
The following topics are included in this section by the UPSC organization so the candidate must start their preparation for the exam accordingly:
Nature and definition of international law | Improvement and Protection of the human environment: International efforts |
Relationship between international law and municipal law | The territorial jurisdiction of States, extradition and asylum |
Law of the sea:
| Individuals: Procedures and Human Rights available for their enforcement; Nationality, statelessness |
Peaceful settlement of disputes - different modes | Fundamentals of international humanitarian law - contemporary developments and International conventions and |
| Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defence, intervention | Nuclear - non-proliferation treaty, Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; CTBT, ban on the testing of nuclear weapons |
United Nations: Its principal organs, powers, functions and reform | Treaties: Formation, application, termination and reservation |
State-sponsored terrorism, international criminal court, International terrorism, hijacking | WTO, TRIPS, GATT, New international economic order and monetary law: IMF, World Bank |
Also Read: UPSC CSE 2024 Prelims Exam Day Instructions
Paper-II
Law of Crimes
The candidates will be giving their main examination really soon so they must start their preparation for the law subject by taking into consideration the following topics presented by the organization:
Preparation and criminal attempt | Offences against the human body |
General exceptions | Law of Crimes |
Criminal liability General principles: Men's rea in statutory offences, Men's rea and actus reus | Offences against Property |
Abetment | Joint and constructive liability |
Offences against public tranquillity | Criminal conspiracy |
Vicarious liability including State liability | Plea bargaining |
Offences against the State | Emerging trends and Kinds of punishment as to abolition of capital punishment |
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 | Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and subsequent legislative developments |
Liability based upon strict liability and fault; Absolute liability | Defamation |
Offences against women | - |
Law of Torts
The following topics are included in this section by the UPSC organization so the candidate must start their preparation for the exam accordingly:
- Nature and definition.
- Liability based upon fault and strict liability; Absolute liability.
- Vicarious liability including State liability.
- General defences.
- Joint tort feasors.
- Remedies.
- Negligence.
- Defamation.
- Nuisance.
- Conspiracy.
- False imprisonment.
- Malicious prosecution.
- Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law
The candidates can check out the major information about the topics included in this section from the table provided below and prepare themselves accordingly:
- 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 the agency.
- Sale of goods and hire purchase.
- Formation and dissolution of the partnership.
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
- Standard form contracts.
Also Read:How to Prepare for UPSC Civil Services Personality Test Tips?
Contemporary Legal Developments
The candidates will be giving their main examination really soon so they must start their preparation for the law subject by taking into consideration the following topics presented by the organization:
Purpose/Prospects of Information Technology Law Concept including Cyber Laws | Trial by media |
Right to Information Act | Public Interest Litigation |
Major statutes concerning environmental law | Competition Law- Concept, purpose/ prospects |
Intellectual property rights - Concept, types/prospects | Alternate Dispute Resolution - Concept, types/prospects |
Also Read: UPSC CSE 2024 Expert Tips and Last-Minute Strategy
UPSC CSE 2024: Overall Exam Pattern
The candidates can check out the information about the overall UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2024 for the main exam from the table given below:
Paper | Subject | Marks |
Paper A | Indian Language | 300 |
Paper B | English | 300 |
Paper I | Essay | 250 |
Paper II | GS I (General Studies) | 250 |
Paper III | GS II | 250 |
Paper IV | GS III | 250 |
Paper V | GS IV | 250 |
Paper VI | Optional Subject I | 250 |
Paper VII | Optional Subject II | 250 |
UPSC CSE 2024 Optional Paper Exam Pattern
- The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration.
- The total marks for paper I and Paper II each will be 250. That means the overall marks for 2 optional papers will be 500.
- The students will have to choose one subject for the optional paper. The students will have to attempt two papers for one optional subject (Paper I and Paper II).
UPSC Law Syllabus For Civil Services IAS Main Exam 2024: Best Books
The candidates who want to appear for this optional subject can get the major information about the books that are required in order to prepare for this subject from the pointers given below:
Important Books | Publisher Name |
International Law | S. K Kapoor |
Our Constitution | PM Bakshi |
Introduction to the Constitution of India | D.D Basu |
Constitution of India | VN Shukla |
International Law | Malcolm N Shaw |
Indian Penal Code | KD Gaur |
Mercantile Law | R.K. Bangia |
Law of Tort | Autochthon Pillai |
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FAQs
What are the important topics of the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 Syllabus?
The Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 Syllabus is as follows:
- Constitutional & Administrative Law
- International Law
- Contemporary Legal Developments
- Law of Torts
- Law of Crimes
What are the important topics under International Law that one must study to qualify the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The important topics under International Law that one must study to qualify for the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 are as follows:
- Nature & Definition of International Law
- Relationship between International Law & Municipal Law
- United Nations
- State Sponsored Terrorism
- Law of the Sea
- Peaceful Settlement of Disputes
What are the important topics under Law of Torts that one must study to qualify the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The important topics under Law of Torts that one must study to qualify for the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 are as follows:
- Consumer Protection Act, 1986
- General Defences
- Conspiracy
- False Imprisonment
- Quasi Contracts
- Malicious Prosecution
- E-Contract
What are the important topics under Law of Crimes that one must study to qualify the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The important topics under Law of Crimes that one must study to qualify for the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 are as follows:
- Preparation & Criminal Attempt
- Abetment
- Offenses Against the State
- Criminal Conspiracy
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- Defamation
- Plea Bargaining
What are the important topics under Constitutional & Administrative Law that one must study to qualify the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The important topics under Constitutional & Administrative Law that one must study to qualify for the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 are as follows:
- Relationship Between Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties & Directive Principles of State Policy
- Emergency Provisions
- Centre, State & Local Bodies
- Legal Aid & Public Interest Litigation
- Supreme Court & High Court
- Services Under Union & States
- Governed & His Powers
What is the syllabus of Paper I in the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The syllabus of Paper I in the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 is given below:
- Constitutional & Administrative Law
- International Law
What is the syllabus of Paper II in the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The syllabus of Paper II in the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 is given below:
- Law of Crimes
- Law of Torts
- Constitutional Legal Developments
What are the important topics under Contemporary Legal Developments that one must study to qualify the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024?
The important topics under Contemporary Legal Developments that one must study to qualify for the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam for Law Optional 2024 are as follows:
- IT Law & Cyber Law
- Right to Information Act
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Public Interest Litigation
- Alternate Dispute Resolution
- Competition Law
- Trial by Media
Which is a better optional subject Law or PSIR under the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam 2024?
Law or PSIR optional both are equally good and scoring. The answer to this question depends upon one’s interest if one is comfortable with political science concepts one should definitely take PSIR and if one is well aware of the law then one should definitely choose Law as an optional in the Civil Services (IAS) Mains Exam 2024. However, the law being tougher, it is always recommended to choose Law Optional only when one has studied it in his/her graduation so that the technicalities can be easily dealt with.