Law Optional Syllabus

Here is the official UPSC Law Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.

Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026, revised file of 06.02.2026, pp. 76–79), upsc.gov.in. The Law syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.

Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Each paper has two sections (A and B) of four questions each; Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory, and three more are attempted with at least one from each section. Paper I: Section A – Constitutional and Administrative Law; Section B – International Law. Paper II: Section A – Law of Crimes and Law of Torts; Section B – Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law, and Contemporary Legal Developments.

Statutes. The syllabus wording is as printed. Some statutes it names have since been replaced: the Indian Penal Code, 1860 by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (in force from 1 July 2024), and the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Questions in recent papers refer to the new laws.

Syllabus at a glance

Paper	Section and unit	Topics
Paper I	Section A: Constitutional and Administrative Law	16
Paper I	Section B: International Law	15
Paper II	Section A: Law of Crimes	16
Paper II	Section A: Law of Torts	13
Paper II	Section B: Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law	13
Paper II	Section B: Contemporary Legal Developments	8

Paper I

Paper I – Section A

1. Constitutional and Administrative Law

1.1 Constitution and constitutionalism

• Constitutionalism
• Distinctive features of the Constitution

1.2 Fundamental rights

• Fundamental rights
• Public interest litigation
• Legal aid
• Legal services authority

1.3 Fundamental rights, directive principles and fundamental duties

• Relationship between fundamental rights and directive principles
• Fundamental duties

1.4 President and the Council of Ministers

• Constitutional position of the President
• Relation with the Council of Ministers

1.5 Governor and his powers

1.6 Supreme Court and the High Courts

• Appointments and transfer
• Powers, functions and jurisdiction

1.7 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

1.8 Legislative powers, privileges and immunities

1.9 Services under the Union and the States

• Recruitment and conditions of services
• Constitutional safeguards
• Administrative tribunals
• UPSC and State PSCs – powers and functions
• Election Commission – powers and functions

1.10 Emergency provisions

1.11 Amendment of the Constitution

1.12 Principles of natural justice

• Emerging trends
• Judicial approach

1.13 Delegated legislation and its constitutionality

1.14 Separation of powers and constitutional governance

1.15 Judicial review of administrative action

1.16 Ombudsman

• Lokayukta
• Lokpal

Paper I – Section B

2. International Law

2.1 Nature and definition of international law

2.2 International law and municipal law

2.3 State recognition and state succession

• Recognition
• Succession

2.4 Law of the sea

• Inland waters
• Territorial sea
• Contiguous zone
• Continental shelf
• Exclusive economic zone
• High seas

2.5 Individuals in international law

• Nationality
• Statelessness
• Human rights and procedures for their enforcement

2.6 Territorial jurisdiction of States, extradition and asylum

• Territorial jurisdiction
• Extradition
• Asylum

2.7 Treaties

• Formation
• Application
• Termination
• Reservation

2.8 United Nations

• Principal organs
• Powers and functions
• Reform

2.9 Peaceful settlement of disputes – different modes

2.10 Lawful recourse to force

• Aggression
• Self-defence
• Intervention

2.11 International humanitarian law

• Fundamental principles
• International conventions
• Contemporary developments

2.12 Nuclear weapons

• Legality of the use of nuclear weapons
• Ban on testing
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• CTBT

2.13 International terrorism and the International Criminal Court

• International terrorism
• State-sponsored terrorism
• Hijacking
• International Criminal Court

2.14 New International Economic Order and monetary law

• WTO
• TRIPS
• GATT
• IMF
• World Bank

2.15 Protection and improvement of the human environment: international efforts

Paper II

Paper II – Section A

1. Law of Crimes

1.1 General principles of criminal liability

• Mens rea and actus reus
• Mens rea in statutory offences

1.2 Kinds of punishment

• Kinds of punishment
• Emerging trends as to abolition of capital punishment

1.3 Preparation and criminal attempt

1.4 General exceptions

1.5 Joint and constructive liability

1.6 Abetment

1.7 Criminal conspiracy

1.8 Offences against the State

1.9 Offences against public tranquillity

1.10 Offences against the human body

1.11 Offences against property

1.12 Offences against women

1.13 Defamation (criminal)

1.14 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

1.15 Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments

1.16 Plea bargaining

2. Law of Torts

2.1 Nature and definition of tort

2.2 Fault liability, strict liability and absolute liability

• Liability based upon fault
• Strict liability
• Absolute liability

2.3 Vicarious liability including State liability

• Vicarious liability
• State liability

2.4 General defences

2.5 Joint tortfeasors

2.6 Remedies

2.7 Negligence

2.8 Defamation (tort)

2.9 Nuisance

2.10 Conspiracy (tort)

2.11 False imprisonment

2.12 Malicious prosecution

2.13 Consumer protection law (Consumer Protection Act, 1986)

Paper II – Section B

3. Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law

3.1 Nature and formation of contract; e-contract

• Nature and formation of contract
• E-contract

3.2 Factors vitiating free consent

3.3 Void, voidable, illegal and unenforceable agreements

3.4 Performance and discharge of contracts

• Performance
• Discharge

3.5 Quasi-contracts

3.6 Consequences of breach of contract

3.7 Contracts of indemnity, guarantee and insurance

• Indemnity
• Guarantee
• Insurance

3.8 Contract of agency

3.9 Sale of goods and hire purchase

• Sale of goods
• Hire purchase

3.10 Formation and dissolution of partnership

• Formation
• Dissolution

3.11 Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

3.12 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

3.13 Standard form contracts

4. Contemporary Legal Developments

4.1 Public interest litigation

4.2 Intellectual property rights

• Concept
• Types
• Prospects

4.3 Information technology law including cyber laws

• Concept
• Purpose
• Prospects

4.4 Competition law

• Concept
• Purpose
• Prospects

4.5 Alternate dispute resolution

• Concept
• Types
• Prospects

4.6 Major statutes concerning environmental law

4.7 Right to Information Act

4.8 Trial by media

Total: 81 numbered topics across 6 units.

Last updated: 30 October 2026