UPSC Law Optional Test Series Or Answer-Writing

IS IT HARD? The first thing we have to understand is that the way of writing answers in our university examinations and for UPSC law optional is totally different. The approach differs.

For UPSC Law Optional, you have to write for various subjects like Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, International Law, Law of Crimes, Law of Contract etc.

FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LAW : First 11 Topics of UPSC Law Optional Syllabus deals with Constitutional Law.

Writing for Constitutional law is the most arduous task. This is because the availability of resources for any particular topic is vast, and unending. Some students spend their morning with MP Jain, after noon with JN Pandey and would end the dinner with DD Basu for a single topic. These students always have a mistaken impression that reading more means getting more marks, which is totally wrong. Reading does not always translate into marks unless you practice answer-writing.

For example, if a question is asked on "Right to privacy" under Article 21, everyone has an impression that, "Aha! such an easy question!". Once you are up to the task of writing an answer for it, you will get confused on what to write and what not to.

You would not know

(1) What is privacy
(2) Cases relating to Privacy prior to Puttaswamy verdict
(3) How Judges interpreted the meaning of "Privacy" under Article 21.
(4) How to conclude such a generic question.

CONTENT DO NOT ALWAYS MATTER : Point which we are trying hard to convey is that, most students do not know what to write for a general question as pointed-above. Some might be knowing minute details of the "Right to privacy" but would not know how to write an answer within 1 page for such a question. So our advice would be that, whether you are reading a single book or multiple books for Constitutional Law, take the answer-writing seriously.

FOR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW : Topic 12-16 of Paper 1 under Section-A is of "Administrative Law". The Good thing is the number of topics for which we need to prepare for this subject is relatively less. The bad thing is even in these 5 topics, nowadays the UPSC tends to go in-depth on the subject.

For example, "The Policy and Guideline Theory' presupposes delivery of justice by quasi-judicial authority." Elaborate it. This question was asked in the 2016 of UPSC. Most would not know as to which topic this question belongs. Check our analysis for this question here. 

Writing answers for Administrative law does not require any special skills. Unlike constitutional law, where you can write some general answers, here, one has to know the exact answer, else you cannot attempt it. Therefore, one has to read distinct sub-topics related under one topic from various books, instead of reading the same sub-topic under one topic.

FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW : Section-B of Paper 1 has 15 topics concerning "International law".

This topic has many sub-topics for which the resource is vast and confusing. For example, our syllabus deals with International Humanitarian law (IHL), International Human rights law (IHRL), International Environmental law (IEL) etc.

Questions which are asked in International law are mostly analytical type or quote-based type.

For example: "Asylum ends where extradition begins." Comment. Distinguish between territorial asylum and extra-territorial asylum. This question was asked in UPSC in 2020.

Generally, everyone tends to read the 1) What is asylum 2) Types of Asylum 3) Principles of Asylum and the same line of reading goes for "extradition" too. That kind of preparation may not help you to answer the above-said question.

Another example, "Do you agree with the statement that "Beginning with the Stockholm Declaration of 1972, there has been an increased reliance upon non-binding international instruments dealing with environment"? Why has this trend developed and have these instruments been more useful than treaties? Explain. " This question was asked in UPSC 2018.

A student who is preparing for International Environmental law will normally focus on 1) Definition of International Environmental law 2) Sources 3) UNCHE 1972 4) UNCED 1992 and conferences till now 5) Principles and approaches.

MORE EXAMPLES FOR OTHER SUBJECTS:

FOR INDIAN PENAL CODE :

· Unless the ingredients of either 'theft' or 'extortion' are present, neither the offence of 'robbery' nor the offence of 'dacoity' can be made out. Explain. (UPSC 2020)

· Even without mens rea there are certain acts, which are offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Enumerate such offences. (UPSC 2019)

FOR LAW OF CONTRACTS :

· "Like an ordinary paper contract, an electronic contract is also primarily governed by the codified provisions of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 as applicable to contracts in general." Explain the statement highlighting the legal provisions relating to the conclusion of electronic contract.(UPSC 2020)

· According to Anson, "Contract of insurance bears a certain superficial resemblance to wagering agreement but they are really transactions of different nature". Elucidate. (UPSC 2020)

FOR LAW OF TORTS :

· The rule "Crown was not answerable for a tort committed by its servant" has never been applied in India. Examine the statement in the light of the decided cases.(UPSC 2020)

· "Pigeonhole theory' in the law of tort holds no justification now." Critically examine. (UPSC 2019)

FOR CONTEMPORARY LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS :

· "The Supreme Court of India in public interest litigation cases relating to COVID-19 pandemic adopted a judicial policy of non-interference into the policies of the Government." Elucidate with the help of decided cases" (UPSC 2020)

· "The intellectual property right and competition law generally work in tandem but often become friends in disagreement." Elucidate the above statement by referring to the mandate of the TRIPS Agreement, 1995 and its compliance under the Competition Act, 2002. (UPSC 2020)

The above-said questions are listed out so that one could understand that merely reading does not help. You should master the art of answer-writing for UPSC law optional.

The number of books you have read does not matter unless the same is reflected in your answer sheet. It is high time you join a test series or answer-writing for UPSC law Optional. Ours is joined by AIR 14 Dr. Neha Jain (2017), AIR 5 Mr Jeydev CS (2019), AIR 35 Kanchan and many more. Check this page for availability of courses: https://www.lawxpertsmv.com/law-optional-courses

Most students of our test series have always felt that our test series reflects most of the actual questions every year in UPSC. As we are in the field of preparing questions for UPSC Law Optional, you can easily use our expertise in unfolding the hidden and tricky questions. In this way, you would be exposed to a variety of questions you have never heard of. This would come in handy while sitting in UPSC examination hall scratching with UPSC law Optional Question paper.