Free UPSC Law Optional notes
Read less, revise more. Sixty topic notes for Paper I and Paper II, sorted by subject. Read ours, then write your own revision notes, the way our toppers did.
Read the note, then make your own
A note helps only if it becomes your note. Three steps for every topic. The full method is in our preparation strategy.
Step 1
Read once for the concept
Each note gives the provision, the principle and the leading cases. Read it before any book.
Step 2
Write one page of your own
Headings, the article or section, two cases and one recent judgment. Like Jeydev's pages above.
Step 3
Test it on the papers
Find the topic in the past question papers, then add the month's law current affairs.
Free notes, subject by subject
Paper I is public law; Paper II is crimes and private law. Pick a subject, open a note, and download a sample of our printed notes.
Paper I, Section A
Constitutional and Administrative Law
14 free notes · 3 sample PDFs
→ Constitutionalism (2024 question, answered)
→ Constitution and constitutionalism
→ Article 19: freedom of speech and expression
→ Fundamental rights and directive principles
→ Centre–State legislative relations
→ Centre–State administrative relations
→ Delegated legislation: policy and guideline theory
→ Ombudsman: Lokpal and Lokayukta
Paper I, Section B
International Law
10 free notes · 2 sample PDFs
Paper II, Section A
Law of Crimes
11 free notes · 2 sample PDFs
Paper II, Section A
Law of Torts
3 free notes · 1 sample PDF
Paper II, Section B
Contracts and Mercantile Law
4 free notes · 1 sample PDF
→ Offer
→ Capacity to contract (past question)
→ Group of companies doctrine in arbitration
↓ Sample of our printed notes: PDF
Paper II, Section B
Contemporary Legal Developments
4 free notes · 1 sample PDF
→ Intellectual property: what to read
→ Exemptions under the RTI Act
↓ Sample of our printed notes: PDF
New this year: the 2026 paper and the judgments to add
Notes go stale if you never add to them. These answers and judgments show where each topic stands in 2026.
Question papers, answered
2026 and 2025 questions
→ 2026 Paper I and Paper II, full text
→ 2026 Paper I Q1(b): judicial review and basic structure
→ 2026 Paper I Q5(c): is asylum a fundamental right?
→ 2026 Paper II Q1(e): from sedition to Section 152, BNS
→ 2025 Paper II Q8(b): arbitration agreements under Section 7
→ 2025: who is a public servant under the PC Act
Current affairs, with the syllabus topic
Judgments to add to your notes
→ Srinivasa T. v. State of Karnataka
Constitutional Law: can a legislature undo a final judgment?
→ Maharashtra methanol rules struck down
Administrative Law: judicial review of delegated legislation
→ Section 17A, Prevention of Corruption Act
Law of Crimes: demanding a bribe is not an official decision
→ Law current affairs, October 2026
The month's judgments and statutes, by subject
When single topics are not enough: the Trio-Notes
The free notes cover one topic at a time. Our Trio-Notes cover the whole syllabus in three layers. Many toppers made their own notes from them.
LAYER 3 · THE LAST MONTHS
Revision notes
Short notes built to be read again and again.
LAYER 2 · THE DEPTH
Comprehensive notes
Every syllabus topic: provisions, leading cases, recent judgments.
LAYER 1 · THE FOUNDATION
Understanding notes
The concept first, in plain language, so the bare act makes sense.
Build from the foundation up: understand the concept, cover it in depth, then revise from short notes.
Questions about the notes
Are these notes free?
Yes. Every note on this page is free to read, with no sign-up.
Are the free notes enough to clear Law Optional?
No. Our paid courses cover the whole syllabus.
Are the crimes notes updated for the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Older notes use IPC section numbers. Newer ones, such as sedition and Section 152, use the BNS. Read every crimes topic with the BNS beside you.