Civil services(IAS) Law Syllabus

Civil services(IAS) Law Syllabus

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 High Courts: 

(a) Appointments and transfer.

(b) Powers, functions and jurisdiction.

• Centre, States and local bodies:

(a) Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States. 

(b) Local bodies. 

(c) Administrative relationship among Union, State and Local Bodies. 

(d) Eminent domain – State property – common property – community property.

•  Legislative powers, privileges and immunities.

•  Services under the Union and the States: 

(a) Recruitment and conditions of services; Constitutional safeguards; Administrative tribunals. 

(b) Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions – Power and functions

(c) 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. 
•  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. 
• 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.

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. 
• Preparation 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.
•  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 tort feasors.
•  Remedies.
•  Negligence.
•  Defamation.
• Nuisance.
•  Conspiracy.
• False imprisonment.
•  Malicious prosecution.
•  Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law:

•  Nature and formation of contract/Econtract.
•  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.
• 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.