Table of Contents
IAS Law Syllabus 2023: Paper I and II Syllabus, Exam Pattern
| IAS Law Exam Details | |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Category | Sarkari Syllabus |
| Post Name | IAS Law |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
IAS Law Syllabus 2023 Exam Pattern
The UPSC IAS 2023 exam pattern is highly acclaimed. The exam is conducted in three phases, starting with a preliminary exam which is qualifying in nature. It steps further with a mains exam following an interview. The detailed exam pattern for the IAS Law exam is shared below in detail. The Law paper is counted in the list of the optional subjects. Candidates with a law background are advised to go through the exam pattern and syllabus shared below to prepare for the IAS exam.
IAS Law Exam Pattern
The exam pattern is as follows:
| Sl. No. | Exam Name | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| 01 | Prelims Paper (Objective) | |||
| General Awareness | 100 | 200 | 02 hours each | |
| CSAT | 80 | |||
| 02 | Mains Paper (Descriptive) | |||
| Compulsory Indian Language | 20 each | 300 | 03 hours each | |
| English | 300 | |||
| Essay | 250 each | |||
| GS 1 | ||||
| GS 2 | ||||
| GS 3 | ||||
| GS 4 | ||||
| Optional 1 | ||||
| Optional 2 |
IAS Law Syllabus 2023
The detailed IAS Law Syllabus 2023 is given below. Candidates can go through the paper-wise syllabus and start preparing for the exam. The section-wise detailed syllabus is shared below for reference.
| Paper Name | Specification | Topics Included |
| 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, The constitutional position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers, Governor and his powers, Supreme Court and High Courts: Appointments and transfer, Powers, functions and jurisdiction. Centre, States and local bodies: Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States, Local bodies, The 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 services; Constitutional safeguards; Administrative tribunals, Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions – Power and functions, 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, The 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. The legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on the 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: Men’s rea and actus reus, men’s 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. Abetment. Criminal conspiracy. Offences against the State. Offences against public tranquility. Offences against the human body. Offences against the property. Offences against women. Defamation. 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 tortfeasors, Remedies, Negligence, Defamation, Nuisance, Conspiracy, False imprisonment, Malicious prosecution, Consumer Protection Act, 1986. | |
| 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 the agency, Sale of goods and hire purchase, Formation and dissolution of the 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. |
Candidates can refer to these books for their preparation for the above-said exam:
- Vision IAS– Complete Study Material 2022
- Singhal’s– Civil Service Examination Law Book
- Atchuthen Pillai– Books on Indian Penal Code
- R.K. Bangia– Books on Law of Tort
- S.K. Kapoor– Books on Constitutional Law