Indian Civil Services Syllabus - Law

Detailed Preliminary and Main exam Syllabus for law- Optional are:

Preliminary Exam- I Jurisprudence
1. Nature and concept of law.
2. Schools of Jurisprudence : Analytical, Historical, Philosophical, Sociological & Natural.
3. Administration of Justice : Theories of punishment.

4. Sources of Law : Custom, Precedent and Legislation.
5. A few basic Legal concepts:
(i) Rights and Duties.
(ii) Legal Personality.
(iii) Ownership and Possession.

II Constitutional Law of India

• 1. Salient features of the Indian Constitution.
• 2. Preamble.
• 3. Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.
• 4. Constitutional position and powers of President and Governors.
• 5. Supreme Court and High Courts: Jurisdiction, powers, appointment and transfer of Judges.
• 6. Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions: Powers and functions.
• 7. Distribution of Legislative and Administrative Powers between the Union and the States.
• 8. Emergency Provisions.
• 9. Amendment of the Consstitution.

III International Law :

• 1. Nature and definition of International Law.
• 2. Sources: Treaty, Custom, General Principles of Law recognised by civilised nations and subsidiary means of determination of law.
• 3. State Recognition and State Succession.
• 4. The United Nations, its objective, purpose and principal organs; Constitution, role and jurisdiction of International Court of Justice.
• 5. Protection of Human Rights:
• (i) Provisions in the UN Charter. .
• (ii) Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.
• (iii) International Convenant of Civil and Political Rights, 1966.
• (iv) International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966.

IV Torts :

• 1. Nature and Defination of Tort.
• 2. Liability based on fault and strict liability.
• 3. Vicarious Liability including State Liability.
• 4. Joint Tort feasors.
• 5. Negligence.
• 6. Defamation.
• 7. Conspiracy
• 8. Nuisance.
• 9. False imprisonment.
• 10. Malicious Prosecution.

V Criminal Law :

• 1. General Principles of criminal liability: Mens rea and actus reus.
• 2. Preparation and criminal attempts
• 3. General Exceptions.
• 4. Joint and constructive liability.
• 5. Abetment
• 6. Criminal Conspiracy.
• 7. Sedition.
• 8. Murder and culpable homicide.
• 9. Theft, extortion, robbery and dacoity.
• 10. Misappropriation and Criminal Breach of Trust.

VI Law of Contract :

• 1. Definition of contract.
• 2. Basic elements of contract: Offer, acceptance, consideration, contracutal capacity.
• 3. Factors vitiating consent.
• 4. Void, Voidable, illegal and unenforceable agreements.
• 5. Wagering agreements.
• 6. Contingent contracts.
• 7. Performance of contracts.
• 8. Dissolution of contractual obligations: frustration contracts.
• 9. Quasi-contracts.
• 10. Remedies for breach of contract.

Mains -Paper-I- Section-A -Consitutitional Law of India

• 1. Nature of the Indian Constitution : the distinctive features of its federal character.
• 2. Fundamental Rights.
• 3. Relationship between Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.
• 4. Constitutional Position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers.
• 5. Governor and his Powers.
• 6. Appointment and Transfer of Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
• 7. Supreme Court and High Courts: Powers and Jurisdiction.
• 8. Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions: Powers and Functions.
• 9. Distribution of Legislative Powers between the Union and the States.
• 10. Administrative Relationship between Union and the States.
• 11. Emergency Provisions
• 12. Civil Servants: Constitutional safeguards.
• 13. Parliamentary Privileges
• 14. Amendment of the Constitution.
• 15. Princople of Natural Justice
• 16. Delegated Legislation: Its constitutionality and judicial and legislative controls.
• 17. Judicial Review of Administrative Action.

Section-B - International Law

• 1. Nature and Definition of International Law.
• 2. Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law
• 3. State Recognition and State Succession.
• 4. Sea: Inland Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas.
• 5. Individuals, nationality, statelessness; Human Rights and procedures available for their enforcement.
• 6. Territorial jurisdiction of States, Extradition and Asylum.
• 7. Treaties: Formation application, termination and reservation.
• 8. United Nations: Its principal organs, powers, and functions.
• 9. Settlement of Distputes.
• 10. Lawful recourse to force: aggressions, self-defence, intervention.
• 11. Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear non proliferation treaty, CTBT.
• 12. International Terriorism State sponsored terrorism, Hijacking, International Criminal Court.
• 13. New International Economic order and Monetary law: WTO, TRIPS, GATT, IMF, World Bank.
• 14. Protection and Improvement of the Human Environment: International Efforts.

Paper-II- Section-A- Law of Crimes:-

• 1. General Principles of Criminal Liability: mens rea and actus reus, Mens rea in statutory offences.
• 2. Application of the Indian Penal Code.
• 3. Kinds of Punishment.
• 4. Preparations and criminal attempts
• 5. General exceptions.
• 6. Joint and constructive liability.
• 7. Abetment.
• 8. Criminal conspiracy.
• 9. Offences against the State.
• 10. Offences against public tranqulity.
• 11. Offences against human body.
• 12. Offences against property
• 13. Offences Relating to Marriage.
• 14. Defamation
• 15. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
• 16. Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
• 17. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Law of Torts :

• 1. Nature and definition.
• 2. Liability based upon fault and strict liability
• 3. Vicarious liability including State Liability.
• 4. General defences.
• 5. Joint tortfeasors.
• 6. Remedies.
• 7. Negligence
• 8. Defamation.
• 9. Nuisance.
• 10. Conspiracy
• 11. False imprisonment.
• 12. Malicious Prosecution.
• 13. Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Section-B - Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law

• 1. Formation of Contract
• 2. Factors vitiating consent
• 3. Void voidable, illegal and unenforceable agreements.
• 4. Performance and discharge of contracts.
• 5. Quasi-contracts.
• 6. Consequences of breach of contract
• 7. Contract of Agency.
• 8. Sale of goods and hire purchase.
• 9. Formation and dissolution of partnership
• 10. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
• 11. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

 

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