For a UPSC CSE aspirant, the optional subject is also an important subject. In the UPSC mains exam, optional marks have two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each paper is of 250 marks which makes a total of 500 marks. The UPSC optional subject list contains 48 subjects in total, one of which is Law.

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SYLLABUS FOR PAPER I

• Constitution and Constitutionalism with its distinctive features.
• Relationship between Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles.
• Fundamental Rights— Legal Aid, Public interest litigation, Legal services authority.
• Constitutional Position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers.
• Governor and his powers.
• Supreme Court and the High Courts:
  • Appointments and transfer.
  • Powers, jurisdiction, and functions.
• Centre, States, and local bodies:
  • Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States.
  • The administrative relationship among Union, State, and Local Bodies.
  • 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
  • Administrative tribunals
  • Constitutional safeguards
  • Union Public Service Commission and state public Service Commissions— Functions and powers.
  • Election Commission— Functions and powers.
• 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: Lokpal, Lokayukta, etc.

• Nature and Definition of International Law.
• Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law.
• State Recognition and State Succession.
• Law of the sea: Inland Waters, Contiguous Zone, Territorial Sea, Continental Shelf, High Seas, and Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Individuals: Nationality, statelessness, Human Rights, and procedures available for their enforcement.
• The territorial jurisdiction of States, Extradition and Asylum.
• Treaties: Formation, application, termination, and reservation.
• United Nations: Its principal organs, functions and powers, and reform.
• Peaceful settlement of disputes—different modes
• Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defense, 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.

SYLLABUS FOR PAPER II

A. Law of Crimes 

• General principles of Criminal liability: men’s rea and actus reus, men’s rea in statutory offences
• Kinds of punishment and emerging trends as to abolition of capital punishment
• Preparations and criminal attempt
• Abetment
• General exceptions
• Criminal conspiracy
• Offences against the State
• Offences against the human body
• Offences against public tranquillity
• Offences against women
• Offences against the property
• Defamation
• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
• Plea bargaining

B. Law of Torts

• Definition and nature
• Vicarious liability including State Liability
• Liability based upon fault and strict liability, Absolute liability
• General defenses
• Joint tort fessors
• Remedies
• Defamation
• Negligence
• Nuisance
• False imprisonment
• Conspiracy
• Malicious prosecution
• Consumer Protection Act, 1986

C. Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law

• Nature and formation of contract/ E-contract
• Factors vitiating free consent
• Void, voidable, illegal, and unenforceable agreements
• Quasi-contracts
• Performance and discharge of 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
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• Standard form contracts

D. Contemporary Legal Developments

• Public Interest Litigation
• Information Technology Law including Cyber Laws—Concept, purpose/prospects
• Intellectual property rights—Concept, types/prospects
• Competition Law—Concept, purpose/prospects
• Major statutes concerning environmental law
• Alternate Dispute Resolution—Concept, types/ prospects
• Right to Information Act
• Trial by media