Aditi Sinha
July 20, 2023 11:30
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Prepare for Law Optional subject in the UPSC Civil Services Examination with strategies, detailed syllabus, recommended books, and past year question papers.
Law optional syllabus is very familiar to candidates who have a background of law and are thinking about choosing Law for the UPSC CSE.
This article provides what you need to study, give insights into the important topics, and offer access to past question papers. Plus, it will suggest must-have books and resources to understand Law better. This guide aims to give you all you need to do well in the exam.
Choosing Law as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) offers a significant advantage to candidates with a strong interest in legal studies and a background in law or related fields. Law is a comprehensive subject that encompasses various facets of Indian Law, International Law, Constitutional Law, and more.
It provides an analytical framework for understanding the legal structure of a country, the principles underpinning it, and the mechanisms through which justice is administered. This subject covers a wide array of topics, from the intricacies of the Indian Constitution to critical issues in international relations and human rights law, making it an excellent choice for those who wish to leverage their legal knowledge in their pursuit of a career in civil services.
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam offers Law as an optional subject, including two papers: Paper I and Paper II. The Law syllabus covers a wide array of subjects within the legal field, such as Constitutional Law, International Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, and Environmental Law, among others. This extensive range of topics ensures a thorough understanding of legal principles, frameworks, and their application in various contexts, which is essential for governance, the administration of justice, and policy formulation.
Each of the Law optional papers in the UPSC CSE exam carries 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks for the optional subject. The syllabus for the Law Optional in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) spans a diverse array of topics across several core areas of Law, highlighting the subject’s extensive and in-depth scope. Below is a broad outline of the syllabus:
The Table below contains the syllabus of Law Optional for the UPSC Optional Paper I:
| Area | Topics |
| 1. Constitutional and Administrative Law |
|
| 2. International Law |
|
The Table below contains the syllabus of Law Optional for the UPSC Optional Paper II:
| Area | Topics |
| 1. Law of Crimes |
|
| 2. Law of Torts |
|
| 3. Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law |
|
| 4. Contemporary Legal Developments |
|
| Paper | Marks | Number of Questions | Compulsory Questions | Choice Questions | Duration |
| Paper I | 250 | 5 | Questions 1 and 5 | Choose 3 out of the remaining | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | 250 | 5 | Questions 1 and 5 | Choose 3 out of the remaining | 3 Hours |
For candidates choosing Law as an optional subject in the UPSC exam, selecting the appropriate resources is crucial for a deep understanding of the subject and effective coverage of the syllabus. Law encompasses a wide range of areas including Constitutional Law, International Law, Criminal Law, and more, necessitating a comprehensive set of books for thorough preparation. Below is a curated list of essential books for Law Optional Paper I and Paper II, aimed at assisting candidates in their study.
| S.No. | Book | Author(s) |
| 1 | Introduction to the Constitution of India | D.D. Basu |
| 2 | Constitutional Law of India | J.N. Pandey |
| 3 | The Constitution of India | P.M. Bakshi (for quick reference) |
| 4 | Administrative Law | I.P. Massey |
| 5 | Principles of Administrative Law | M.P. Jain and S.N. Jain |
| 6 | Modern Indian Legal Thought | Madhav Menon |
| 7 | V.N. Shukla’s Constitution of India | Mahendra P. Singh |
| S.No. | Book | Author(s) |
| 1 | Law of Crimes | K.D. Gaur |
| 2 | Law of Torts | Ratanlal & Dhirajlal |
| 3 | The Law of Contracts | Avtar Singh |
| 4 | Mercantile Law | N.D. Kapoor |
| 5 | International Law | S.K. Kapoor |
| 6 | Human Rights and International Law | K. Shibban |
| 7 | Intellectual Property Laws | P. Narayan |
| 8 | Cyber Law in India | Farooq Ahmad |
| 9 | Competition Law | Avtar Singh |
| 10 | Environmental Law | P. Leelakrishnan |
Achieving success with Law as an optional subject in the UPSC CSE requires a strategic and focused approach to preparation, considering the subject’s breadth and specificity. Here are tailored strategies and tips to guide aspirants through Law as their optional subject efficiently:
The table below contains the direct PDF links of the Previous Year Question Papers of Law Optional Paper I and Paper II:
| UPSC CSE Law Optional PYQ 2023 | |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper I (2023) | UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper II (2023) |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional PYQ 2022 | |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper I (2022) | UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper II (2022) |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional PYQ 2021 | |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper I (2021) | UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper II (2021) |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional PYQ 2020 | |
| UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper I (2020) | UPSC CSE Law Optional Paper II (2020) |
| Must Read | |
| NCERT Notes For UPSC | UPSC Daily Current Affairs |
| UPSC Blogs | UPSC Daily Editorials |
| Daily Current Affairs Quiz | Daily Main Answer Writing |
| UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers | UPSC Test Series 2024 |
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