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Recommended Books For UPSC Law Optional

No single book or book list covers the whole UPSC law optional syllabus, and most books are bulky and written for academics, not for this exam. This booklist gives, topic by topic, which book or source to read and only the chapters you need, with free PDFs. Read the law optional preparation strategy before buying any book.

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Paper-wise list by Aditya Tiwari Sir.

How to use this book list

Keep it simple: the syllabus decides what you read, not the size of the book.

  • Read only the listed chapters

    Books are written for academic purposes, not for this examination. Against every syllabus topic below is the book or source to read, and how much of it.

    Start with Paper I

  • Check what UPSC has asked

    Read only what has been asked in the last papers. The topic-wise question bank tells you which chapters matter and which you can skip.

    Topic-wise questions

  • Read the strategy first

    Before buying any book, read the law optional preparation strategy, so you know how these sources fit into a year of preparation.

    Preparation strategy

Books at a glance

Every book and source named in this list, and the subjects it is used for.

  • Textbook

    M.P. Jain

    Only the related pages; read what past papers have asked.

  • Textbook

    D.D. Basu, Shorter Introduction to the Constitution

    Enrich its content with the latest judgements.

  • Textbook

    J.N. Pandey

    Alternative to M.P. Jain for legislative powers, services and the commissions; bulky elsewhere.

  • Textbook

    Granville Austin, Cornerstone of a Nation

    For the relationship between Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.

  • Textbook

    Administrative Law by Sathe

    Natural justice, delegated legislation, separation of powers and judicial review.

  • Textbook

    Kapoor, International Law

    Only for the nature and definition of International Law: lucid language.

  • Textbook

    Starke's International Law

    Covers most of the International Law syllabus; improve from the web where it is thin.

  • Textbook

    K.D. Gaur

    Main book for Law of Crime; study only the sub-topics the syllabus asks for.

  • Textbook

    Ratanlal's book on crime

    Only for offences against women other than rape.

  • Textbook

    Bangia's Law of Tort

    One standard book covers every torts topic; give preference as per the syllabus analysis.

  • Textbook

    Avtar Singh's Law of Contract

    For the general contract topics; any standard textbook works.

  • Quick revision

    DU's Dukey and ICAI notes

    Short notes for contract, indemnity and guarantee, and negotiable instruments.

  • Statute

    Bare Acts

    Lokpal and Lokayukta, Consumer Protection, Sale of Goods, IT Act definitions, environmental statutes, plea bargaining.

  • Online

    UN, ICC and CCI websites, LiveLaw

    UN organ FAQs, ICC FAQ (jurisdiction and structure), CCI advocacy PDFs, LiveLaw articles for recent amendments.

Paper I Books

Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and International Law.

Constitutional Law

14 syllabus topics

Main books and sources
  • M.P. Jain
  • D.D. Basu, Shorter Introduction to the Constitution
  • Granville Austin, Cornerstone of a Nation

  1. Topic 1

    1. Constitution and Constitutionalism: the distinctive features of the Constitution.

    Read

    M.P. Jain, only the related pages, plus online articles and editorials.

  2. Topic 2

    1. Fundamental Rights: Public interest litigation; Legal Aid; Legal Services Authority.

    Read

    D.D. Basu, Shorter Introduction. Enrich its content with the latest judgements.

  3. Topic 3

    1. Relationship between Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.

    Read

    Cornerstone of a Nation by Granville Austin.

  4. Topic 4

    1. Constitutional position of the President and relation with the Council of Ministers.

    Read

    D.D. Basu, Shorter Introduction. J.N. Pandey and M.P. Jain are too bulky for this topic.

  5. Topics 5–7

    1. Governor and his powers.
    2. Supreme Court and the High Courts: (a) appointments and transfer; (b) powers, functions and jurisdiction.
    3. Centre, States and local bodies: distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States; administrative relationship among Union, State and local bodies.

    Read

    M.P. Jain. Read only what has been asked in the last papers.

  6. Topic 8

    1. Eminent domain: State property, common property, community property.

    Read

    Read our article and improvise upon it.

  7. Topics 9–12

    1. Legislative powers, privileges and immunities.
    2. Services under the Union and the States: recruitment and conditions of service; constitutional safeguards; administrative tribunals.
    3. Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions: powers and functions.
    4. Election Commission: powers and functions.

    Read

    M.P. Jain or J.N. Pandey.

  8. Topics 13–14

    1. Emergency provisions.
    2. Amendment of the Constitution.

    Read

    D.D. Basu, Shorter Introduction to the Constitution.

All subjects

Administrative Law

5 syllabus topics

Main books and sources
  • Administrative Law by Sathe
  • Bare Acts

  1. Topics 1–4

    1. Principle of natural justice: emerging trends and judicial approach.
    2. Delegated legislation and its constitutionality.
    3. Separation of powers and constitutional governance.
    4. Judicial review of administrative action.

    Read

    Administrative Law by Sathe covers all four topics.

  2. Topic 5

    1. Ombudsman: Lokayukta, Lokpal etc.

    Read

    Use the bare acts and prepare notes based on previous year papers.

All subjects

International Law

15 syllabus topics

Main books and sources
  • Starke's International Law
  • Kapoor, International Law
  • UN, ICC and CCI websites, LiveLaw

  1. Topic 1

    1. Nature and definition of International Law.

    Read

    Kapoor, only because it has lucid language.

  2. Topics 2–7

    1. Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law.
    2. State recognition and State succession.
    3. Law of the sea: inland waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and high seas.
    4. Individuals: nationality, statelessness; human rights and procedures available for their enforcement.
    5. Territorial jurisdiction of States, extradition and asylum.
    6. Treaties: formation, application, termination and reservation.

    Read

    Starke's International Law. This book comprehensively covers all six topics.

  3. Topic 8

    1. United Nations: its principal organs, powers and functions and reform.

    Read

    The best way is the UN website itself and the FAQ on each principal organ of the UN.

  4. Topic 9

    1. Peaceful settlement of disputes: different modes.

    Read

    Read the first chapter and the first sub-part of each method of peaceful settlement in the UN Handbook. Make a note from it.

  5. Topics 10–11

    1. Lawful recourse to force: aggression, self-defence, intervention.
    2. Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law: international conventions and contemporary developments.

    Read

    Starke's International Law for both topics.

  6. Topic 12

    1. Legality of the use of nuclear weapons; ban on testing of nuclear weapons; Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, CTBT.

    Read

    No definitive book source. Refer to the nuclear non-proliferation PDF and improve it further from Google. For the legality of the use of nuclear weapons, the ICJ opinion is enough.

  7. Topic 13

    1. International terrorism, State-sponsored terrorism, hijacking, International Criminal Court.

    Read

    Questions are direct, so the PDF on international terrorism and State-sponsored terrorism should suffice. For the ICC refer to the FAQ on the ICC website: read only its jurisdiction and structure chapter, leave the history.

  8. Topic 14

    1. New International Economic Order and Monetary Law: WTO, TRIPS, GATT, IMF, World Bank.

    Read

    Starke's International Law covers it. You may need to improvise upon it from Google.

  9. Topic 15

    1. Protection and improvement of the human environment: international efforts.

    Read

    Best source is the Stockholm Conference document. You may read it from Starke's International Law as well; it is more precise.

All subjects

Paper II Books

Law of Crime, Law of Torts, Law of Contract and Mercantile Law, Contemporary Legal Developments.

Law of Crime

16 syllabus topics

Main books and sources
  • K.D. Gaur
  • Ratanlal's book on crime
  • UN, ICC and CCI websites, LiveLaw

  1. Topics 1–11

    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. Preparation 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 tranquillity.
    10. Offences against human body.
    11. Offences against property.

    Read

    The best book is K.D. Gaur. Just see which sub-topics need to be studied, as this book is very comprehensively written.

  2. Topic 12

    1. Offences against women.

    Read

    Rape and other crimes against women can be read from K.D. Gaur only. For other crimes take the help of Ratanlal's book on crime.

  3. Topic 13

    1. Defamation.

    Read

    K.D. Gaur, but read this topic along with the torts topic of defamation and make a comparative analysis.

  4. Topics 14–15

    1. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
    2. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and subsequent legislative developments.

    Read

    Both topics can be read from the internet. LiveLaw is a good source: focus on recent amendments and read the articles there.

  5. Topic 16

    1. Plea bargaining.

    Read

    A recent topic of criminal jurisprudence in India. UPSC asks very specific questions in it, so reading the bare act (BNS, earlier IPC) will suffice. Read the PDF on plea bargaining.

All subjects

Law of Torts

13 syllabus topics

Main books and sources
  • Bangia's Law of Tort
  • Bare Acts

  1. Topics 1–12

    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 tortfeasors.
    6. Remedies.
    7. Negligence.
    8. Defamation.
    9. Nuisance.
    10. Conspiracy.
    11. False imprisonment.
    12. Malicious prosecution.

    Read

    These topics can be read from any standard textbook; all of them have these topics. Bangia's Law of Tort is a very popular book and you might already have it. Give preference to topics as per the syllabus analysis.

  2. Topic 13

    1. Consumer Protection Act.

    Read

    Read the latest bare act. Most questions are about a doctor's deficiency of service, so the medical negligence document would suffice.

All subjects

Law of Contract and Mercantile Law

13 syllabus topics

Main books and sources
  • Avtar Singh's Law of Contract
  • DU's Dukey and ICAI notes
  • Bare Acts

  1. Topics 1–6

    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.

    Read

    Standard topics: any standard textbook such as Avtar Singh's Law of Contract. For quick revision, DU's Dukey and the ICAI contract law notes.

  2. Topic 7

    1. Contract of indemnity, guarantee and insurance.

    Read

    A very large topic: only study the overall meaning of these contracts. The ICAI notes on guarantee and indemnity should suffice. For insurance, read only the essentials of an insurance contract from any website.

  3. Topic 8

    1. Contract of agency.

    Read

    The contract of agency PDF is enough. No need to study anything extra.

  4. Topic 9

    1. Sale of goods and hire purchase.

    Read

    The Sale of Goods Act is the most important part: read it from the four PDFs below. For hire purchase, simple one-page notes of its essential features will suffice.

  5. Topic 10

    1. Formation and dissolution of partnership.

    Read

    Even though the syllabus mentions only two topics of partnership, there have been questions from all partnership topics. These three PDFs on the law of partnership are sufficient; make them more precise in your notes.

  6. Topic 11

    1. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

    Read

    A very short syllabus: just study the topic in the ICAI negotiable instruments PDF.

  7. Topic 12

    1. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

    Read

    Just read a general article on the overall meaning and nature of the Act. Use LiveLaw articles.

  8. Topic 13

    1. Standard form contracts.

    Read

    A very short topic. Read the article on standard form contracts; no need to study anything else.

All subjects

Free PDFs for Law Optional

The same files linked in the topic lists above, collected subject wise.

Next steps after the book list

Free resources that tell you how to use these books.

Law optional books: FAQ

Is there one book for the whole UPSC law optional syllabus?

No. There is no single book or book list that covers every subject precisely as per the UPSC law optional syllabus. You need a few books and sources, used topic by topic; that is what this list gives you.

Do I have to read the whole book?

No. Most recommended books are bulky and written for academic purposes, not for this exam. Keep it simple and read only the topics recommended against each syllabus item above.

Where do I find the free PDFs for law optional?

Every free PDF named in the topic lists is also collected in the Free PDFs section of this page: UN Handbook, nuclear non-proliferation, plea bargaining, medical negligence, the ICAI contract notes, sale of goods, partnership, competition law, ADR and more.

Which book should I use for International Law, Law of Crime and Law of Torts?

Starke's International Law for most of International Law (Kapoor only for nature and definition), K.D. Gaur for Law of Crime, and Bangia's Law of Tort for Law of Torts. The Books at a glance section shows what each book is used for.

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