Best UPSC Law Optional Coaching in Delhi
Syllabus
Paper - I (250 Marks)
Constitutional and Administrative Law:
1. Constitution and Constitutionalism: The distinctive features of the Constitution.
2. Fundamental Rights—Public interest litigation; Legal Aid; Legal services authority.
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. Supreme Court and the High Courts:
(a) Appointments and transfers.
(b) Powers, functions, and jurisdiction.
7. 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.
8. Legislative powers, privileges, and immunities.
9. 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.
10. Emergency provisions.
11. Amendment of the Constitution.
12. Principle of Natural Justice—Emerging trends and judicial approach.
13. Delegated legislation and its constitutionality.
14. Separation of powers and constitutional governance.
15. Judicial review of administrative action.
16. Ombudsman: Lokayukta, Lokpal etc.
International Law:
1. Nature and Definition of International Law.
2. Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law.
3. State Recognition and State Succession.
4. Law of the 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, and reform.
9. Peaceful settlement of disputes—different modes.
10. Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defense, intervention.
11. Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law—International conventions and contemporary developments.
12. Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear nonproliferation treaty, CTST.
13. International Terrorism, State-sponsored terrorism, Hijacking, International Criminal Court.
14. New International Economic Order and Monetary Law: WTO, TRIPS, GATT, IMF, World Bank.
15. Protection and Improvement of the Human Environment: International Efforts.
Paper - II (250 Marks)
Law of Crimes:
1. General principles of Criminal liability: mens rea and actus reus, mens rea in statutory offences.
2. Kinds of punishment and emerging trends as to abolition of capital punishment.
3. Preparations and criminal attempt.
4. General exceptions.
5. Joint and constructive liability.
6. Abetment.
7. Criminal conspiracy.
8. Offences against the State.
9. Offences against public tranquility.
10. Offences against the human body.
11. Offences against property.
12. Offences against women.
13. Defamation.
14. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
15. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments.
16. Plea bargaining.
Law of Torts
1. Nature and definition.
2. Liability based upon fault and strict liability; Absolute liability.
3. Vicarious liability including State Liability.
4. General defences.
5. Joint tort fessors.
6. Remedies.
7. Negligence.
8. Defamation.
9. Nuisance.
10. Conspiracy.
11. False imprisonment.
12. Malicious prosecution.
13. Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Law of Contracts and Mercantile Law
1. Nature and formation of contract/E-contract.
2. Factors vitiating free 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 indemnity, guarantee and insurance.
8. Contract of agency.
9. Sale of goods and hire purchase.
10. Formation and dissolution of partnership.
11. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
12. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
13. Standard form contracts.
Contemporary Legal Developments
1. Public Interest Litigation.
2. Intellectual property rights—Concept, types/prospects.
3. Information Technology Law including Cyber Laws—Concept, purpose/prospects.
4. Competition Law—Concept, purpose/prospects.
5. Alternate Dispute Resolution—Concept, types/prospects.
6. Major statutes concerning environmental law.
7. Right to Information Act.
8. Trial by media.
Overlap of Law Optional with General Studies Paper
| GS Papers | Law Optional Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| GS Paper I | Indian Society and Social Justice: Family Law (marriage, divorce, inheritance), gender justice, minority rights and social reform laws overlaps with social issues |
| GS Paper II | Polity and Governance: Particularly Constitutional and Administrative Law, aligns closely with Governance and Polity. This includes topics like Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, the Constitutional position of the President and Governor, Emergency provisions,Administrative tribunals etc. and International Law |
| GS Paper III | Specifically the Contemporary Legal Developments section of Law Optional overlaps with the Law optional syllabus. This includes topics such as Information Technology Law (Cyber Laws) and major statutes concerning environmental law. Internal Security (Laws related to terrorism, organised crime and national security) also overlaps with Law optional syllabus. |
| GS Paper IV | Ethics and Integrity (Rule of Law, Natural Justice, Accountability and Transparency), Case Studies (Legal reasoning improves ethical decision making, Constitutional morality v. popular morality) and Judicial Ethics (Independence of Judiciary etc.) |
| Essay Paper and Interview | A strong understanding of the Law syllabus is beneficial for enhancing performance in both the Essay paper and the UPSC interview. |
UPSC Law Optional Success Rates (2022 to 2024)
| Year | Candidates appeared with Law Optional | Candidates Selected | Success Rate (in %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 275 approx. | 39 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 310 approx. | 44 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 290 approx | 41 | 14.1% |
Law optional typically has a higher success rate compared to many popular subjects.
Why Choose Law as an Optional Subject?
Law is a logical, conceptual and comparatively high-scoring optional that rewards clarity of thought, sound legal reasoning and structured answer writing. Many aspirants opt for Law for the following reasons:
● For Law Graduates: Law naturally becomes a preferred optional due to the existing academic background. Even if one’s engagement with the subject during college was limited, the process of legal education helps develop a trained legal mindset and a foundational understanding of key concepts, which proves highly beneficial during UPSC preparation.
● For non-law graduates: Candidates from technical backgrounds such as engineering are already accustomed to applying logic, principles and structured rules. In this context, Law Optional becomes a suitable choice as it is highly logical, rule-based, and analytical in nature. As a result, the transition to studying law is often smooth and manageable for such aspirants.
● Strong Overlap with GS Papers: Core areas like Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and elements of International Law significantly overlap with GS Paper II, reducing overall preparation load.
● Clearly Structured Syllabus: The Law optional has a well-defined and systematic syllabus, making preparation more focused and organised. Questions are generally clear and straightforward, testing core legal subjects while emphasizing conceptual understanding and analytical ability.
● Advantage in Essay and Interview: Legal training helps in framing balanced, well-reasoned arguments, which is valuable in essays and governance related discussions during the interview.
● Analytical in Nature: Law emphasizes analysis and interpretation rather than rote memorisation, making it suitable for candidates with strong logical and reasoning abilities.
● Practical Relevance in Services: Legal knowledge proves useful in day-to-day administration, policy implementation and decision making, particularly for services like IAS, IPS and IRS.
● Consistent Scoring Potential: With focused preparation and effective answer writing, Law optional candidates have consistently secured 270+ marks, reflecting its high scoring potential.
UPSC Law Optional Toppers (2022 to 2024)
Year 2022
● Kritika Goyal (AIR 14) ● Pallavi Mishra (AIR 73) ● Shubham Jain (AIR 152) etc.Year 2023
● Anmol Rathore (AIR 7)
● Jayasree Pradhan (AIR 52)
● Shavya Goyal (AIR 81) etc.
Year 2024
● Kshitij Aditya Sharma (AIR 58)
● Nirja Anish Shah (AIR 213)
● Akanksha Gupta (AIR 351) etc.
UPSC Law Optional Exam Analysis
UPSC Law Optional 2021 Exam Analysis
Paper I
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights, PIL, Right to Education, Relation between President and COM, Secularism, Procedure for appointment of Judges, Article 256 and 257, Free and Fair Elections, Article 356, DPSP, | 10 Questions |
| Administrative Law | Delegated Legislation, Natural Justice, Separation of Power | 4 Questions |
| International Law | Codification of International Law, International Law and Municipal Law, Double Nationality and Statelessness, Double Criminality and Rule of Speciality, Intervention, Recognition of States, State succession, Law of the Sea, UNSC, UN Declaration, Terrorism, Settlement of disputes, ICJ on use of Nuclear Weapons, Role of UN in protection and improvement of Human Environment | 13 Questions |
Paper II
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Crimes | Legal Insanity, Defence to charge of Murder, Plea Bargaining, Attempt, Kidnapping, Abduction, Riot, Affray, Criminal breach of Trust, Rape Laws, | 6 Questions |
| Law of Tort | Malicious Prosecution, Remedies under Tort Law, Joint Tort Feasors, Independent Tortfeasors, Negligence, No fault liability, Defamation, Consumer Protection Act |
7 Questions |
| Law of Contract and Mercantile Law | Minor’s Contract, Agent, Standard form of Contract, Quasi contract, Free Consent, LLP Act | 6 Questions |
| Contemporary Legal Developments | RTI Act, Air Act, Trademark law, IT Act, 2000, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Media Trial | 7 Questions |
| Misc. | SC/ST Act, | 1 Question |
UPSC Law Optional 2022 Exam Analysis
Paper I
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Right to Equality, Constitutionalism, Repugnancy between Union and State Laws, Quota for OBC in local body election, Amending power of Parliament, Fundamental Rights & parliamentary privileges, DPSP, Power & duties of Governor, Article 352, | 8 Questions |
| Administrative Law | Wednesbury’s Principles of Unreasonableness, Delegated Legislation, Separation of Power, Administrative Tribunal, Audi Alteram Partem | 5 Questions |
| International Law | Definition of International Law, Recognition, Asylum, Territorial waters, Peaceful Settlements of disputes, Relation b/w International Law and Municipal Law, State succession, Modes of acquisition, UNGA, Pacta Tertiis Nec Nocent Nec Prosunt, Right to self Defence, unlawful seizure of aircraft, WTO, IHL | 13 Questions |
Paper II
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Crimes | Mens rea & actus reus, Section 326 A and 326 B of IPC, protection of civil rights act, 1955, general exceptions, joint and constructive liability, unlawful assembly, rape, attempt to suicide | 8 Questions |
| Law of Torts | Remedies, state liability, absolute liability and strict liability, defamation, CPA, 2019, nature and definition of tort | 6 Questions |
| Contract Law and Mercantile Law | Nature and formation of Contract, NI Act (Section 138), conditions and warranties under SOGA, contract of Indemnity, guarantee and insurance, frustration of contract, void agreement, agency, consequences of breach of contract | 9 Questions |
| Contemporary Legal Developments | T.S.R. Subramanian Committee Report, 2014 (Environment Law), IPR, ‘abuse of dominance’ and ‘abusive conduct’ prohibited under the Competition Act, 2002, Arbitration, IT Act, Section 3 (d) of Patent Act, 1970 | 6 Questions |
UPSC Law Optional 2023 Exam Analysis
Paper I
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Preamble, President, Distribution of power between Centre and State, distinction between civil and political rights, PRI and Urban Local Bodies, Constitutional status of civil servants, ECI, provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987, National Emergency, Presidential reference | 10 Questions |
| Administrative Law | Principles of Natural Justice, Judicial Review, Lokpal and Lok Ayuktas Act 2013 | 4 Questions |
| International Law | Status of the individual under international law, Contiguous Zone, powers and privileges of the States, ‘Vienna Convention of Law of Treaties 1969, ICC, Difference between traditional International Law and new International Law, norms of International Law in India, ‘Continental Shelf’ and ‘Exclusive Economic Zone’, UN Charter, ‘force’ or ‘aggression’ in international Law, WTO, steps of the UN for protecting human environment, International Humanitarian Law | 14 Questions |
Paper II
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Crimes | Culpable homicide, Doctrine of constructive criminality, Rape, SC/ST Act, assault of criminal force, Theft, Prevention of Corruption Act | 7 Questions |
| Law of Tort | Tortious liability, Damages under tort, negligence, e-commerce in CPA, private nuisance, right of Private defence of property, damages for Malicious prosecution | 7 Questions |
| Contract Law and Mercantile Law | Definition of contract, suit of a partner under Partnership Act, Minor's Contract, bearer instrument under NI Act, standard contracts, doctrine of ‘Undisclosed Principal’ | 6 Questions |
| Contemporary Legal Developments | Awards under Arbitration, different types of IPRs, National Green Tribunal, PIL, RTI, 3rd party content under IT Act, Media Trials, passing off risk under the Sale of Goods Act, 1930 | 8 Questions |
UPSC Law Optional 2024 Exam Analysis
Paper I
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Appellate jurisdiction of the SC, Parliament or State Legislature, Doctrine of pleasure, law in violation of fundamental rights, PIL, Constitutionalism, Relation between President and COM, Article 194 and Article 105, Rights and interests of Minorities, procedure of amending the constitution, cooperative federalism, FRs, Ordinance making power of president and governor | 13 Questions |
| Administrative Law | Delegation of power | 1 Question |
| International Law | Definition of International Law, State recognition, modes of acquisition of nationality, territorial sea, ECOSOC, peaceful settlement of international law, WTO, international law and municipal law, World Bank and IMF, Law of extradition, intervention, UNSC, CTBT, statelessness | 14 Questions |
Paper II
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Crimes | ‘actus non-facit reum nisi mens sit rea, criminal conspiracy, Sec. 304 A of IPC, plea bargaining, defence of intoxication, theft, misappropriation and Criminal breach of trust, kidnapping, offence of abetment | 9 Questions |
| Law of Tort | Vicarious liability, product liability under CPA 2019, Prevention of corruption Act 1988, nuisance, M. C. Mehta v. U.O.I., | 5 Questions |
| Contract Law and Mercantile Law | Quasi contract, liability of LLP and its partners, Rights of unpaid sellers, general duties of agent, GI act, breach of contact, void contract, principal debtor, section 124 & 125 of contract act | 10 Questions |
| Contemporary Legal Developments | PIL, Safe harbour under IT Act, information under RTI | 3 Questions |
UPSC Law Optional 2025 Exam Analysis
Paper I
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Concurrent List, L. Chandra Kumar Vs. Union of India (1997), power of the President to consult the Supreme Court, Article 21, powers, privileges and immunities of Houses of Parliament, DPSP, Article 368, Legal Services Authority Act, 7th Schedule, Pardoning power of Governor, 44th Amendment Act | 11 Questions |
| Administrative Law | Doctrine of Separation of Powers, judicial review of administrative action, Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act | 3 Question |
| International Law | Article 51 of the UN Charter, UNGA, theories of State Succession, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, contiguous zone, UNSC, UNCLOS, principles of acquisition of territorial sovereignty, modes of acquisition of nationality, Vienna Convention, WTO, TPNW 2017, Asylum, settlement of international disputes | 15 Questions |
Paper II
| Subject | Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Crimes | Definition of ‘public servant’ as per the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955, death sentence, culpable homicide, offences against marriages, theft and robbery, joint offenders, | 7 Questions |
| Law of Tort | Doctrine of foreseeability, liability of master for the torts committed by his servant, negligence and nuisance, defamation, ubi jus ibi remedium, consumer mediation cell under CPA 2019, | 6 Questions |
| Contract Law and Mercantile Law | Unjust enrichment, breach of sale contract, liability for acts of the firm after retirement under Partnership Act, void agreement, Acceptance under contract act, coercion and undue influence, promise under contract | 7 Questions |
| Contemporary Legal Developments | PIL, Section 3 of Competition Act, polluter pays principle, RTI, Arbitration, infringement of trademark | 6 Questions |
About UPSC Courses at Maansarovar
Maansarovar Law Centre is an institute that works only in the field of law education. We guide students preparing for different law entrance exams across the country with a clear study plan and exam-focused teaching. Our approach is based on experienced faculty, regular exam pattern research, and practical strategies followed by successful toppers.
The legal profession today offers respect, stability, and wide career options. Lawyers are no longer limited to courtrooms; they are also part of corporations, policy institutions, and international organisations. We aim to support students as they take their first steps into the legal world and grow towards higher professional goals.
Maansarovar Law Centre offers a focused UPSC Law optional preparation course to help students confidently clear the exam and build a strong academic foundation. The course is designed to make learning easy, strategic, and result-oriented.
Key features:
- Flexible Learning Modes: Available in online, offline, and hybrid formats to suit every student’s needs.
- Complete Coverage of Major Laws: Includes core subjects like Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Contract Law, International Law, and other important areas.
- Important Minor Law Subjects: Covers subjects such as Administrative Law, Environmental Law, and related topics.
- Regular Mock Test Series: Full-length mock tests till the final exam to build exam confidence and give real exam experience.
- Convenient Class Schedule: Classes held Monday to Thursday, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, ideal for students and working professionals.
- Class-wise Notes & Assignments: Detailed notes and practice assignments are provided and solved in class.
- Two-Day Demo Classes: Students can attend 2 demo classes to understand the teaching method and class environment before joining.
Why Maansarovar?
At Maansarovar Law Centre, our identity is built around clear teaching and genuine guidance. We focus on helping students understand law in a meaningful way rather than pushing them through fixed or mechanical methods. We understand that every student has a different pace and style of learning, and our teaching approach is shaped to support that individuality. We teach every subject from basic and from scratch.
What makes Maansarovar different:
- Comprehensive and updated study material
- Subject-wise mock tests
- Individual performance analysis after each test
- Special doubt classes on weekends
- Regular updates on legal news and current affairs
- Student-friendly helpdesk, staff, and online assistance
- Expert faculty for each subject
- Regular updates to the parents about their wards’ performances
- Backup classes
Why UPSC LAW Optional?
Law is a subject that is based on logic, concepts, and clear thinking, which makes it a comparatively high-scoring optional in competitive exams like UPSC. It does not depend on rote learning. Instead, it rewards students who can understand ideas, apply legal reasoning, and write answers in a clear and organised manner. This is why many aspirants choose Law as their optional subject.
- For law graduates, Law becomes a natural choice because they already have a basic understanding of legal subjects. Even if their college preparation was average, legal education trains the mind to think logically and analyse issues, which is very helpful during UPSC exam preparation. This background reduces the learning gap and saves time.
- Many non-law graduates, especially from technical backgrounds like engineering, find law to be a strong option for UPSC. Their habit of working with rules, principles, and logical thinking aligns well with the structure of law. Since law is analytical in nature, non-law students often understand it easily once the concepts are explained clearly.
- One major advantage of Law is its strong overlap with General Studies, especially GS Paper II. Topics from Constitutional Law and Administrative Law directly help in Polity and Governance. Some parts of International Law and contemporary legal issues also support GS Paper III, essays, and even the interview stage, reducing overall preparation pressure.
- The Law optional syllabus is clearly defined and stable, meaning it does not change frequently. This helps students plan their studies better and prepare with focus. The availability of standard books and Bare Acts makes preparation more direct and reliable.
- Law also helps in writing balanced essays and confident interview answers. Legal training improves argument-building skills and clarity of thought, which are important in governance-related discussions.
Meet the Faculty
The strength of Maansarovar Law Centre is its experienced, in-house, and dedicated faculty. Our teachers have deep subject knowledge and years of experience in teaching judiciary aspirants.
- Mr Anil Kumar Gupta, the chairman of Maansarovar Law Centre, has over 30 years of teaching and academic experience. He started his career as a mechanical engineer but later followed his passion for political science. He has deeply understanding and strong knowledge of politics and governance. His teaching starts from the basics and makes complex topics easy to understand. Students love his classes because they are interactive, clear, and inspiring.
- Miss Sonal Gupta is the CEO of Maansarovar Law Centre and a successful lawyer. She was a topper in law school and has guided 5000+ students in a short time. She is known for her modern and practical teaching style. Her aim is to simplify the law and make it understandable for every citizen. She dreams of improving India’s legal education system on a large scale.
- Miss Snigdha Gupta is a senior faculty member. She secured an All India Rank 23 in SSC (CGL) 2013, and is a national-level chess player; she brings strong strategy and logic into problem-solving. She also guides students on interview skills and confidence.
- Mr Nitin Chaudhary- With strong command over procedural and special laws, Mr. Nitin Chaudhary guides students through The Limitation Act, 1963, The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, and The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, focusing on clarity, interpretation, and application.
- Ms Diksha Mendiratta - Ms. Diksha Mendiratta brings depth and clarity to core commercial laws, including The Partnership Act, The Sale of Goods Act, The Transfer of
UPSC Law Optional Syllabus
The Law Optional consists of two papers, each carrying 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks.
• Paper I covers Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and International Law, focusing on core legal principles and their application.
• Paper II includes Law of Crimes, Law of Torts, Law of Contracts, Mercantile Law, and Contemporary Legal Developments, testing both conceptual understanding and analytical ability.
The syllabus is clearly structured, helping students prepare in a focused and systematic manner.
Results
At Maansarovar Law Centre, our results speak for our commitment and teaching excellence. Over the years, we have guided more than 7,500 students, with around 95% of them securing admission in top law colleges across India.
Our students have consistently achieved high ranks in law entrance exams, including CLAT, AILET, LL.M. entrances, and Judiciary exams. Regular mock tests, performance analysis, and personalised mentorship help students stay confident and perform at their best.
The success of our students reflects the quality of our faculty, structured programs, and student-focused guidance, making Maansarovar a trusted choice for law aspirants.
Testimonials
Maansarovar Law Centre is the place which makes law aspirants dream come true! Sonal Mam is the best law teacher, guru, friend, sister, philosopher in my life.
Those who educate well are to be honoured more than parents because while parents only give life, a great teacher prepares us for ‘living well’. Thank you to the greatest teacher ever – Sonal Mam!