UPSC CSE · Law Optional
Law Optional UPSC Notes
Class notes of the UPSC law optional Foundation batch, as dictated by Aditya Tiwari Sir and arranged topic by topic as PDFs: Constitutional and Administrative Law (Lectures 1 to 11) and International Law (Lectures 12 to 18), with a Guide to start from.
How to use these notes
Good study material decides a lot in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, and law optional needs crisp, comprehensive and updated notes. These notes are a starting point: read a lecture PDF first, then build your own detailed notes from the books. It saves a lot of time.
The PDF buttons below open the notes folder on Google Drive. Each lecture is also on YouTube: use the Watch lecture button on the card, or watch all lectures on the lectures page.
Every lecture PDF contains
- Topics to focus on
- Type of question asked
- Important concepts and judgments overview
Start here: the Guide
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Guide
Start hereTopics covered
- Type of question asked
- Books and starting preparation
Constitutional and Administrative Law notes
Class notes of the Foundation batch, Lectures 1 to 11.
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Lecture 1
Topics covered
- Constitution & Constitutionalism
- Distinctive features of the Constitution
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Lecture 2
Topics covered
- Fundamental Rights, PIL
- FR and DPSP relationship
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Lecture 3
Topics covered
- Fundamental Rights (Art. 15 to 24)
- Legal Service Authority
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Lecture 4
Topics covered
- Fundamental Rights (Art. 25 to 32)
- Legal Service Authority
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Lecture 5
Topics covered
- Union Executive and President
- Constitutional position of gov.
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Lecture 6
Topics covered
- Supreme Court and High Court
- Appointment, power and function
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Lecture 7
Topics covered
- Union and State Legislature
- Legislative privilege
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Lecture 8
Topics covered
- UPSC: power and function
- Civil servants
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Lecture 9
Topics covered
- Election Commission and elections
- Amendment of the Constitution
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Lecture 10
Topics covered
- Principles of natural justice
- Delegated legislation
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Lecture 11
Topics covered
- Separation of power & rule of law
- Lokpal and Ombudsman
International Law notes
Class notes of the Foundation batch, Lectures 12 to 18.
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Lecture 12
Topics covered
- Meaning and sources of International Law
- Subjects of International Law
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Lecture 13
Topics covered
- State recognition and succession
- Law of the sea
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Lecture 14
Topics covered
- Statelessness, human rights
- Extradition and asylum
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Lecture 15
Topics covered
- UN, VCLT
- Peaceful settlement of disputes
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Lecture 16
Topics covered
- Use of force, self defence
- International humanitarian law
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Lecture 17
Topics covered
- Legality of nuclear weapons
- State sponsored terrorism
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Lecture 18
Topics covered
- New international order
- International environmental law
Looking for Law of Crime, Torts or Contract?
Each subject of the law optional syllabus has its own page with the syllabus, books and previous year questions.
Keep reading
Toppers' copies, previous papers, syllabus analysis and the articles every law optional aspirant should read.
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Topper's Copy
Checked answer copies of students who cleared UPSC CSE Mains.
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Syllabus Analysis
Subject and topic wise reading of the law optional syllabus.
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Topic-wise Questions
Previous year questions arranged topic by topic.
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Previous Paper Solutions
Solved previous year papers: see how an answer is built.
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Previous Year Papers
UPSC law optional question papers, arranged year wise.
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Law Optional Syllabus
The UPSC syllabus for both law optional papers.
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Preparation Strategy
How to plan the subject from the first month to Mains.
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Pros and Cons of Law Optional
Should you take law as your optional? Both sides in one read.
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Success Rate of Law Optional
What the numbers say about law as an optional.
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UPSC or Judiciary?
Can the two be prepared together? Read before you decide.
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Toppers' Interviews
Results and interviews of De Facto IAS law optional toppers.
Courses For Law Optional UPSC
The Foundation batch these notes come from, online or in the classroom, and the Test Series.
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Law optional Foundation (Online)
Law Optional Foundation course is aimed at preparing you comprehensively from scratch for UPSC Mains Examination. Live online classes.
Law optional coaching Batch: 20 November 2026 -
Law optional Foundation (Offline)
The same Foundation course in the classroom at Karol Bagh, Delhi, taught by Aditya Tiwari Sir.
Read More about Law optional Foundation offline Batch: 20 November 2026 -
Test Series
Test series for UPSC law optional aims to brush your writing skills to the standard of the UPSC answer.
Law optional test series Batch: 29 May 2026
Have a question about the notes or the batch?
Call or WhatsApp, or send an enquiry. Karol Bagh, Delhi.