Law Optional Previous Year Question Papers (UPSC 2007–2026)
Every UPSC Law Optional mains question paper from 2007 to 2026, Paper I and Paper II, as free PDF downloads. Pick a year to download the paper, or read it on the website where a post exists.
Year-wise question papers
One card per year from 2007 to 2026, newest first. Paper I and Paper II are listed separately where UPSC released them as separate files.
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UPSC Law Optional 2026 Mains Latest
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UPSC Law Optional 2025 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2024 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2023 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2022 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2021 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2020 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2019 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2018 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2017 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2016 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2015 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2014 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2013 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2012 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2011 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2010 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2009 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2008 Mains
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UPSC Law Optional 2007 Mains
More ways to use these papers
The same questions sorted by topic, their solutions, and the copies of students who wrote them in the exam.
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Previous Paper (Topic Wise)
Previous year papers arranged topic wise: a very good way to know the type of question asked from each topic.
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Previous Year Solved Papers
UPSC law optional solved papers are an important way to understand how to write in the exam.
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Topper's Copy
UPSC law optional toppers' copies are an important way to understand how to write in the exam.
How to use these papers
Four short steps that get the most out of every year's question paper.
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Start with the latest paper
Read the 2026 paper first, then work back year by year. The newest papers show the current pattern of questions.
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Know the two papers
Law optional UPSC has two papers with two sections each, and each paper carries 250 marks. Check the syllabus beside each paper.
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Sort the questions by topic
Use the topic-wise page to see which topics repeat across years and which are asked rarely.
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Write, then compare
Write answers under time, then compare with the solved papers and toppers' copies.
Previous year papers: FAQ
Which years do these previous year papers cover?
Every UPSC Law Optional mains question paper from 2007 to 2026, that is 20 years. Each year has its own card on this page, newest first, and the year chips at the top jump straight to it.
Are the question paper PDFs free to download?
Yes. All 25 PDFs on this page are free. Tap "Download PDF" under a year and the file is saved to your phone or computer. No sign-up is needed.
Do I get Paper I and Paper II separately?
For 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2020, Paper I and Paper II are separate PDFs. For 2007 to 2019 there is one PDF per year. For 2021 there is no PDF yet; the paper is posted on the website instead.
Can I read a paper on the website instead of downloading it?
Yes, where a "Read on website" link is shown under the year. At present the papers for 2026, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are posted on this site.
Where are the same questions arranged topic wise?
On the topic-wise previous year questions page, which sorts the questions from these papers by subject and topic.
Where can I see solutions or model answers?
See the previous year solved papers page and the free toppers' copies, which show how answers to these questions were written in the exam.
Write these papers under exam conditions
Test series and foundation course by Aditya Tiwari Sir. Online and offline in Karol Bagh, Delhi.