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UPSC Civil Services (Law)

UPSC Civil Services (Law)

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 nonlaw graduates with interest in legal reasoning. 

 

            Advantages: 

       Overlap with General Studies (Polity, Governance, International Relations). 

        Stable and welldefined 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 nonlaw 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. 

       Nonlaw 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. 

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