UGC Net (Law) Examination is perhaps the most important exam after students complete their LLM if they wish to pursue a career in academics in India. Qualifying UGC NET (Law) Examination is a mandatory requirement for the grant of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to pursue a PhD and for appointment as Assistant Professors in Law Colleges and Universities across the country. In this article we bring you the complete syllabus of UGC NET-Law as an exam to assist your preparation. Read on!
The NET Examination tests the Research, Teaching and Legal Aptitude of young postgraduates to certify whether they are fit to teach students of Law. National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts this examination twice a year on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The syllabus and the structure of the examination have been designed by the UGC. The Exam is completely objective (MCQ based Questions) and is conducted at Physical Centres across the country and is Computer Based. The examination involves 2 papers:
- Paper-I- 50 questions/100 marks
Evaluates the candidate’s skills and eligibility for Teaching and Research Ability
- Paper-II: 100 questions/200 marks
Questions will be based on the chosen subjects opted by the candidate (Domain Knowledge)
The following Units (I-X) represent the chapter and section-wise topics for the upcoming UGC NET Law section test:
Unit – I: Jurisprudence
The general understanding of the science of nature and sources of law, studies related to concepts of moral, culture, rights, theories and practices of the law involved, concepts and liabilities with ownership and possession more often in the law firms.
| Sl.no | Chapters |
| 1 | Nature and sources of law |
| 2 | Schools of jurisprudence |
| 3 | Law and morality |
| 4 | Concept of rights and duties |
| 5 | Legal personality |
| 6 | Concepts of property, ownership, and possession |
| 7 | Concept of liability |
| 8 | Law, poverty, and development |
| 9 | Global justice |
| 10 | Modernism and post-modernism |
Unit – II: Constitutional and Administrative Law
Constitutional law is considered the highest law of the land and lays down all the relevant provisions regarding nature of state, division of power in a federal system, powers and functions of all the organs of the government, fundamental rights and much more. This part is especially important as all other laws have to pertain to constitutional values and principles.
| Sl.no | Chapters |
| 1 | Preamble, fundamental rights, and duties, directive principles of state policy |
| 2 | Union and State executive and their interrelationship |
| 3 | Union and State executive and their interrelationship |
| 4 | Judiciary |
| 5 | Emergency provisions |
| 6 | Temporary, transitional, and special provisions in respect of certain states |
| 7 | Election Commission of India |
| 8 | Nature, scope, and importance of administrative law |
| 9 | Principle of natural justice |
| 10 | Judicial review of administrative actions – Grounds |
Unit – III: Public International Law and IHL
The area of law studies focuses on the definition, nature, basis of international law, its sources, and recognition, standards applied between sovereign states and their organizations.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | International law | Definition, nature, and basis |
| 2 | Sources of International law | — |
| 3 | Recognition of states and governments | |
| 4 | Nationality, immigrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) | |
| 5 | Extradition and asylum | |
| 6 | United Nations and its organs | |
| 7 | Settlement of international disputes | |
| 8 | World Trade Organization (WTO) | |
| 9 | International Humanitarian Law (IHL) | Conventions and protocols |
| 10 | Implementation of IHL | Challenges |
Unit – IV: Law of Crimes
Criminal laws are one of the most important areas of study for a law student and basic knowledge in this field is encouraged for all. One of the most important sections, including topics on the general principles, stages, exceptions, offenses, theories, and variable punishments exercised under the law and of criminal liability or crimes.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | General principles of criminal liability | Actus reus and men’s rea, individual and group liability, and constructive liability |
| 2 | Stages of crime and inchoate crimes | Abetment, criminal conspiracy, and attempt |
| 3 | General exceptions | — |
| 4 | Offenses against the human body | |
| 5 | Offenses against state and terrorism | |
| 6 | Offenses against property | |
| 7 | Offenses against women and children | |
| 8 | Drug trafficking and counterfeiting | |
| 9 | Offenses against public tranquillity | |
| 10 | Theories and kinds of punishments, compensation to the victims of crime |
Unit – V: Law of Torts and Consumer Protection
Discusses from the general principles, nature, and definition, consumer rights, law, and act followed by the courts in India based on many other common principles or acts amended followed in other countries as well.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | Nature and definition of tort | — |
| 2 | General principles of tortious liability | |
| 3 | General defences | |
| 4 | Specific torts | Negligence, nuisance, trespass, and defamation |
| 5 | Remoteness of damages | — |
| 6 | Strict and absolute liability | |
| 7 | Tortious liability of the State | |
| 8 | The Consumer Protection Act 1986 | Definitions, consumer rights, and redressal mechanism |
| 9 | The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 | No-fault liability, third party insurance, and claims tribunal |
| 10 | The Competition Act, 2002 | Prohibition of certain agreements, abuse of dominant position, and regulation of combinations |
Unit – VI: Commercial Law
Trade law or commercial law applies to the rights, contracts, relations, conducts of person and business with the financing of goods and services with certain transactions.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | Essential elements of contract and e-contract | — |
| 2 | Breach of contract, the frustration of contract, void and voidable agreements | |
| 3 | A standard form of contract and quasi-contract | |
| 4 | Specific contracts | Bailment, pledge, indemnity, guarantee, and agency |
| 5 | Sale of Goods Act, 1930 | — |
| 6 | Partnership and limited liability partnership | |
| 7 | Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 | |
| 8 | Company law | Incorporation of a company, prospectus, shares, and debentures |
| 9 | Company law | Directors and meetings |
| 10 | Corporate social responsibility | — |
Unit – VII: Family Law
Topics involve the study of the law practice on family issues, relationships like divorce and theories of divorce, adoption, acknowledgment, guardianship and civil unions, alimony, and others.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | Sources and schools | — |
| 2 | Marriage and dissolution of marriage | |
| 3 | Matrimonial remedies | Divorce and theories of divorce |
| 4 | Changing dimensions of the institution of marriage | Live-in relationship |
| 5 | Recognition of foreign decrees in India on marriage and divorce | — |
| 6 | Maintenance, dower, and stridhan | |
| 7 | Adoption, guardianship, and acknowledgement | |
| 8 | Succession and inheritance | |
| 9 | Will, gift, and wakf | |
| 10 | Uniform Civil Code |
Unit – VIII: Environment and Human Rights Law
Meaning and concept of ‘environment’ and ‘environmental pollution’, the environment and human rights, group rights, protection implemented under the law.
| Sl.no | Chapters |
| 1 | Meaning and concept of ‘environment’ and ‘environmental pollution’ |
| 2 | International environmental law and UN Conferences |
| 3 | Constitutional and legal framework for the protection of the environment in India |
| 4 | Environmental Impact Assessment and control of hazardous waste in India |
| 5 | National Green Tribunal |
| 6 | Concept and development of human rights |
| 7 | Universalism and cultural relativism |
| 8 | International Bill of Rights |
| 9 | Group rights |
| 10 | Protection and enforcement of human rights in India |
Unit – IX: Intellectual Property Rights and Information Technology Law
Starting from the theories to the concepts, meaning, protection, patent law, a trademark of the laws governing the rights deriving from the intellectual and technological invention and discoveries against cyber-crimes or geographical indications, and others as listed below in the underlying topics.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | Concept and meaning of intellectual property | — |
| 2 | Theories of intellectual property | |
| 3 | International conventions pertaining to intellectual properties | |
| 4 | Copyright and neighboring rights | Subject matters, limitations, and exceptions, infringement and remedies |
| 5 | Law of patent | Patentability, the procedure for grant of patent, limitations and exceptions, infringement and remedies |
| 6 | Law of trademark | Registration of trademarks, kinds of trademarks, infringement and passing off, remedies |
| 7 | Protection of Geographical Indications | — |
| 8 | Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge | |
| 9 | Information technology law | digital signature and electronic signature, electronic governance, electronic records and duties of subscribers |
| 10 | Cybercrimes, penalties, and adjudication | — |
Unit – X: Comparative Public Law and Systems of Governance
Models, forms, rules, constitution amendment of the differences and similarities in the law and government of the different countries, The system of governance globally carved out in different methods are also studied in the chapters below.
| Sl.no | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | Comparative Law | Relevance, methodology, problems, and concerns in Comparison |
| 2 | Forms of governments | Presidential and parliamentary, unitary and federal |
| 3 | Models of federalism | USA, Canada, and India |
| 4 | Rule of Law | ‘Formal’ and ‘substantive’ versions |
| 5 | Separation of powers | India, UK, USA, and France |
| 6 | Independence of judiciary, judicial activism, and accountability | India, UK, and USA |
| 7 | Systems of constitutional review | India, USA, Switzerland, and France |
| 8 | Amendment of the Constitution | India, the USA, and South Africa |
| 9 | Ombudsman | Sweden, UK, and India |
| 10 | Open Government and Right to Information | USA, UK, and India |
Although the syllabus is length, a proper strategy and consistency in preparation can increase one’s chances to crack the exam and pursue a successful career in academics.
YLCC would like to thank Riya Gupta for her valuable inputs in this article.
