Law Optional Mains Syllabus (UPSC Civil Service Exam)
Law Optional Mains Syllabus (UPSC Civil Services Exam)
The Law optional paper is divided broadly into two papers, each with specific topics. I’ll explain the major subjects under each, along with important case laws to illustrate.
Paper I: Constitutional Law and Administrative Law
1. Indian Constitution: Historical Perspective and Features
Evolution and development
Salient features: federalism, parliamentary system, fundamental rights & duties
Key Case:
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala — Basic Structure Doctrine
2. Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
Nature, scope, and enforcement of fundamental rights
Directive Principles and their relationship with fundamental rights
Key Cases:
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India — Expanded Right to Life & Personal Liberty
Minerva Mills v. Union of India — Harmonizing Fundamental Rights & Directive Principles
3. Union and State Executive
Powers and functions of President, Governor, Council of Ministers
Emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356, 360)
Key Case:
S.R. Bommai v. Union of India — Limits on State Emergency and President’s Rule
4. Parliament and State Legislatures
Powers, privileges, and procedures
Legislative process and law-making
5. Judiciary and Judicial Review
Structure and powers of Supreme Court and High Courts
Judicial review and its limits
Key Case:
L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India — Judicial Review of Tribunals
S.P. Gupta v. Union of India — Judicial Independence
6. Administrative Law
Delegated legislation, principles of natural justice
Writ jurisdiction, public interest litigation (PIL)
Key Cases:
A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India — Bias and natural justice
Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation — Right to livelihood
Paper II: Law of Contracts, Torts, Crimes, and other Laws
1. Law of Contracts
Essentials, discharge, breach, and remedies
Specific contracts (agency, bailment, pledge)
Key Case:
Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. — Offer and Acceptance
Hadley v. Baxendale — Damages for breach
2. Law of Torts
General principles and types of torts (negligence, nuisance, defamation)
Strict and absolute liability
Key Case:
Donoghue v. Stevenson — Duty of care and negligence
Rylands v. Fletcher — Strict liability
3. Indian Penal Code
General principles, offenses against person, property, state
Defenses and punishments
Key Case:
K.M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra — Murder and exceptions
R. v. Dudley and Stephens — Necessity as defense
4. Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
Investigation, arrest, bail, trial, appeals
Powers of police and magistrate
Key Case:
D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal — Arrest and detention guidelines
5. Indian Evidence Act
Relevance, admissibility, burden of proof
Confessions, admissions, dying declarations
Key Case:
State of UP v. Rajesh Gautam — Dying declaration
6. Special Laws
Specific relief, Transfer of Property, family laws, etc.
Study Tips
Understand legal principles and their constitutional basis.
Learn key judgments, as they form the backbone of UPSC law optional answers.
Practice answer writing with application of law to facts.
Keep revising important sections and articles.
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