UPSC Law Optional 2026: Syllabus, Previous Year Papers & Bare Acts

Exam pattern and stages

1. Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: Objective screening test of two papers (400 marks); marks are not counted for final merit; General Studies Paper-II is qualifying at 33%.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   General Studies Paper I objective; marks used only for the cut for the Main examination		200	2 hours
   General Studies Paper II (CSAT) objective; qualifying, minimum 33%		200	2 hours

2. Civil Services (Main) Examination: written: Nine conventional essay-type papers, each of three hours; Papers A and B are qualifying; Papers I to VII (1750 marks) count for ranking, including the two Law Optional papers.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   Paper A: Indian Language (Eighth Schedule) qualifying; matriculation standard; not counted for ranking		300	3 hours
   Paper B: English qualifying; matriculation standard; not counted for ranking		300	3 hours
   Paper I: Essay		250	3 hours
   Paper II: General Studies I		250	3 hours
   Paper III: General Studies II		250	3 hours
   Paper IV: General Studies III		250	3 hours
   Paper V: General Studies IV		250	3 hours
   Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper 1 (Law Paper I) Constitutional and Administrative Law; International Law		250	3 hours
   Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper 2 (Law Paper II) Law of Crimes; Law of Torts; Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law; Contemporary Legal Developments		250	3 hours

3. Interview/Personality Test: 275 marks with no minimum qualifying marks; about twice the number of vacancies are called. Total with the written part: 2025 marks.

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Law Optional 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 the High Courts: appointments and transfer; powers, functions and jurisdiction
• Centre, States and local bodies: distribution of legislative powers; local bodies; administrative relationship among Union, State and 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 service, constitutional safeguards, administrative tribunals; UPSC and State Public Service Commissions; Election Commission
• 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: Lokayukta, Lokpal etc.

Law Optional Paper I: 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 and 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 and functions and reform
• Peaceful settlement of disputes: different modes
• Lawful recourse to force: aggressions, 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

Law Optional 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
• Preparations and criminal attempt
• General exceptions
• Joint and constructive liability
• Abetment
• Criminal conspiracy
• Offences against the State
• Offences against public tranquility
• Offences against human body
• Offences against property
• Offences against women
• Defamation
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 · Read the act
• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments · Read the act
• Plea bargaining

Law Optional Paper II: Law of Torts

• Nature and definition
• Liability based upon fault and strict liability; absolute liability
• Vicarious liability including State liability
• General defences
• Joint tortfeasors
• Remedies
• Negligence
• Defamation
• Nuisance
• Conspiracy
• False imprisonment
• Malicious prosecution
• Consumer Protection Act, 1986 · Read the act

Law Optional Paper II: Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law

• Nature and formation of contract/e-contract
• 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 · Read the act
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 · Read the act
• Standard form contracts

Law Optional Paper II: 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 · Read the act
• Trial by media

Bare Acts for this exam

31 acts tagged for UPSC Law Optional. Each opens section by section, free to read.

• Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• Competition Act, 2002
• Constitution of India
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Copyright Act, 1957
• Designs Act, 2000
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Indian Partnership Act, 1932
• Indian Penal Code, 1860
• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
• Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
• National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• Patents Act, 1970
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
• Right to Information Act, 2005
• Sale of Goods Act, 1930
• Trade Marks Act, 1999
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Old law → new law tables: IPC → BNS · CrPC → BNSS

Previous year papers

No papers for this exam yet. See every exam's papers.

Eligibility

Graduate degree of a university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, or an equivalent qualification (any discipline; Law is only the optional subject chosen). 21 to 32 years on 1 August 2025 per the 2025 notice; upper limit relaxable up to 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC, with other relaxations per the notice. Six attempts for general candidates; 9 for OBC and for PwBD General/EWS/OBC; unlimited for SC/ST (2025 notice) Fee Rs 100 for the preliminary stage (women, SC, ST and PwBD exempted); Rs 200 at the Main stage cadre-preference window; as printed in the 2025 notice

Relaxations, attempts and category rules are in each cycle's notification.

UPSC Law Optional: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the UPSC Law Optional exam?

UPSC Civil Services Examination: Law Optional has 3 stages. Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: Objective screening test of two papers (400 marks); marks are not counted for final merit; General Studies Paper-II is qualifying at 33%. Papers: General Studies Paper I: 200 marks, 2 hours; General Studies Paper II (CSAT): 200 marks, 2 hours. Civil Services (Main) Examination: written: Nine conventional essay-type papers, each of three hours; Papers A and B are qualifying; Papers I to VII (1750 marks) count for ranking, including the two Law Optional papers. Papers: Paper A: Indian Language (Eighth Schedule): 300 marks, 3 hours; Paper B: English: 300 marks, 3 hours; Paper I: Essay: 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper II: General Studies I: 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper III: General Studies II: 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper IV: General Studies III: 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper V: General Studies IV: 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper 1 (Law Paper I): 250 marks, 3 hours; Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper 2 (Law Paper II): 250 marks, 3 hours. Interview/Personality Test: 275 marks with no minimum qualifying marks; about twice the number of vacancies are called. Total with the written part: 2025 marks.

Is there negative marking in UPSC Law Optional?

Preliminary examination: one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer; no penalty for blank answers. Main examination papers are descriptive.

In which language is the UPSC Law Optional exam held?

Question papers in Hindi and English (other than literature of language papers); candidates may write the Main papers in the Eighth Schedule languages or English as permitted by the notice.

Who is eligible for UPSC Law Optional?

Graduate degree of a university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, or an equivalent qualification (any discipline; Law is only the optional subject chosen). 21 to 32 years on 1 August 2025 per the 2025 notice; upper limit relaxable up to 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC, with other relaxations per the notice. Six attempts for general candidates; 9 for OBC and for PwBD General/EWS/OBC; unlimited for SC/ST (2025 notice) Fee Rs 100 for the preliminary stage (women, SC, ST and PwBD exempted); Rs 200 at the Main stage cadre-preference window; as printed in the 2025 notice The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.

Where is the UPSC Law Optional notification published?

Union Public Service Commission publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, upsc.gov.in. Check it for the current cycle.

Which bare acts are in the UPSC Law Optional syllabus?

31 acts are tagged for UPSC Law Optional here, including the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Biological Diversity Act, 2002, Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and more. Each can be read section by section.