UPSC Civil Services (Mains) Examination Law Syllabus

UPSC Civil Services (Mains) Examination Syllabus of Law. UPSC CSE Mains Law Syllabus

Paper – I:

Constitutional and Administrative Law:

  • Constitution and Constitutionalism: The distinctive features of the Constitution.
  • Fundamental rights – Public interest litigation; Legal Aid; Legal services authority.
  • Relationship between fundamental rights, directive principles and fundamental duties.
  • Constitutional position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers.
  • Governor and his powers.
  • Supreme Court and High Courts:(a) Appointments and transfer.(b) Powers, functions and jurisdiction.
  • Centre, States and local bodies:(a) Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States.(b) Local bodies.(c) Administrative relationship among Union, State and Local Bodies.(d) Eminent domain – State property – common property – community property.
  • Legislative powers, privileges and immunities.
  • Services under the Union and the States:(a) Recruitment and conditions of services; Constitutional safeguards; Administrative tribunals.(b) Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions – Power and functions(c) Election Commission – Power and functions.
  • Emergency provisions.
  • Amendment of the Constitution.
  • Principles 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: Lokayukta, Lokpal etc.

International Law:

  • Nature and definition of international law.
  • Relationship between international law and municipal law.
  • State recognition and state succession.
  • Law of the sea: Inland waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, high seas.
  • Individuals: Nationality, statelessness; Human rights and procedures available for their enforcement.
  • Territorial jurisdiction of States, extradition and asylum.
  • Treaties: Formation, application,  termination and reservation.
  • United Nations: Its principal organs, powers, functions and reform.
  • Peaceful settlement of disputes – different modes.
  • Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defence, intervention.
  • Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law – International conventions and contemporary developments.
  • Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear – non proliferation treaty, CTBT.
  • 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.

Paper – II

Law of Crimes:

  • General principles of criminal liability: Mens rea and actus reus, mens rea in statutory offences.
  • Kinds of punishment and emerging trends as to abolition of capital punishment.
  • Preparation and criminal attempt.
  • General exceptions.
  • Joint and constructive liability.
  • Criminal conspiracy.
  • Offences against the State.
  • Offences against public tranquility.
  • Offences against human body.
  • Offences against property.
  • Offences against women.
  • Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and subsequent legislative developments.
  • Plea bargaining.

Law of Torts:

  • Nature and definition.
  • Liability based upon fault and strict liability; Absolute liability.
  • Vicarious liability including State liability.
  • General defences.
  • Joint tort feasors.
  • False imprisonment.
  • Malicious prosecution.
  • Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law:

  • Nature and formation of contract/Econtract.
  • 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 agency.
  • Sale of goods and hire purchase.
  • Formation and dissolution of partnership.
  • Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
  • Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
  • Standard form contracts.

Contemporary Legal Developments

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

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