1. Overview
● Law Optional is one of the 48 subjects offered in the UPSC Civil Services Mains.
● Total marks: 500 (two papers of 250 marks each).
● Popular among law graduates but also chosen by non‑law graduates with interest in legal reasoning.
Advantages:
● Overlap with General Studies (Polity, Governance, International Relations).
● Stable and well‑defined syllabus.
● Scoring potential with case law integration.
2. Examination Mode
● Stage: Mains Examination.
● Format: Descriptive, written answers.
● Duration: 3 hours per paper.
● Language: English or Hindi (candidate’s choice).
● Focus: Analytical writing, logical structuring, and use of case law.
3. Detailed Pattern
● Paper I: Constitutional & Administrative Law, International Law.
● Paper II: Law of Crimes, Law of Torts, Law of Contracts & Mercantile Law, Contemporary Legal Developments.
● Both papers require:
Conceptual clarity.
Application of principles.
● References to landmark judgments and current issues.
4. Eligibility Criteria
● No separate eligibility for Law Optional; general UPSC rules apply:
● Age: 21–32 years (relaxations for reserved categories).
● Education: Graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
● Law graduates have a natural advantage, but non‑law graduates can succeed with disciplined preparation.
5. How to Prepare for UPSC Law Optional Exam
● Understand the syllabus thoroughly: Break down topics into manageable sections.
● Build conceptual clarity.
● Law graduates: Revise core subjects with UPSC perspective.
● Non‑law graduates: Begin with bare acts and simplified guides.
● Use case laws and examples: Quote landmark judgments (e.g., Kesavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi, Vishaka).
● Practice answer writing: Focus on concise, analytical, and structured responses.
● Refer standard books:
Constitutional Law – M.P. Jain
International Law – S.K. Kapoor
IPC – Ratanlal & Dhirajlal
Contracts & Mercantile Law – Avtar Singh
● Stay updated: Read newspapers, journals, and Supreme Court rulings for contemporary legal developments.
● Integrate with GS preparation: Reinforce polity, governance, and international relations topics.