This article provides UGC NET Law Syllabus in detail for the aspirants looking to pursue a career as Junior Research Fellow or Assistant professor in Law. The UGC NET law syllabus comprises 10 units and comprises important topics and sub-topics under each unit. The exam pattern of UGC NET is the same for all major subjects – Paper 1 and Paper 2. All the questions in Paper 1 and Paper 2 are compulsory. The questions in both papers will be objective in nature. Paper 2 is subject-specific, and thus aspirants need to be thorough with opted subject syllabus.

UGC NET Syllabus – Unit-Wise

UNIT 1 – Jurisprudence

• Nature and sources of law
• Schools of jurisprudence 
• Law and morality 
• Concept of rights and duties 
• Legal personality

UNIT 2 – Constitutional & Administrative Law

• Preamble, fundamental rights and duties, directive principles of state policy. 
• Union and State executives and their interrelationship 
• Union and State legislature and distribution of legislative powers 
• Judiciary 
• Emergency provisions

UNIT 3 – Public International Law & IHL

• International law – Definition, nature and basis 
• Sources of International law 
• Recognition of states and governments
•  Nationality, immigrants, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) 
• Extradition and asylum 
• United Nations and its organs

UNIT 4 – Law of Crimes

• General principles of criminal liability – Actus reus and mens rea, individual and group liability and constructive liability 
• Stages of crime and inchoate crimes – Abetment, criminal conspiracy and attempt 
• General exceptions 
• Offences against human body 
• Offences against state and terrorism

UNIT 5 – Law of Torts & Consumer Protection

• Nature and definition of tort 
• General principles of tortious liability 
• General defenses 
• Specific torts – Negligence, nuisance, trespass and defamation 
• Remoteness of damages 
• Strict and absolute liability

UNIT 6 – Commercial Law

• Essential elements of contract and e-contract 
• Breach of contract, frustration of contract, void and voidable agreements 
• Standard form of contract and quasi-contract 
• Specific contracts – Bailment, pledge, indemnity, guarantee and agency 
• Sale of Goods Act, 1930 
• Partnership and limited liability partnership

UNIT 7 – Family Law

• Sources and schools 
• Marriage and dissolution of marriage 
• Matrimonial remedies – Divorce and theories of divorce 
• Changing dimensions of the institution of marriage – Live-in relationship 
• Recognition of foreign decrees in India on marriage and divorce 
• Maintenance, dower and stridhan

UNIT 8 – Environment & Human Rights Law

• Meaning and concept of ‘environment’ and ‘environmental pollution 
• International environmental law and UN Conferences 
• Constitutional and legal framework for the protection of the environment in India 
• Environmental Impact Assessment and control of hazardous waste in India 
• National Green Tribunal
• Concept and development of human rights

UNIT 9 – Intellectual Property Rights & Information Technology Law

• Concept and meaning of intellectual property 
• Theories of intellectual property 
• International conventions pertaining to intellectual properties 
• Copyright and neighbouring rights – Subject matters, limitations and exceptions, infringement and remedies 
• Law of patent – Patentability, procedure for grant of patent, limitations and exceptions, infringement and remedies

UNIT 10 – Comparative Public Law & Systems of Governance

• Comparative Law – Relevance, methodology, problems and concerns in Comparison 
• Forms of governments – Presidential and parliamentary, unitary and federal 
• Models of federalism – USA, Canada and India 
• Rule of Law – ‘Formal’ and ‘substantive’ versions 
• Separation of powers – India, UK, USA and France 

These are some of the major topics in the UGC NET Law Syllabus, and aspirants can download the entire Law syllabus below.

UGC NET Law Syllabus PDF:-Download PDF Here

Law concepts are vast and need a thorough understanding. Therefore, aspirants must be well-versed in the terminologies, concepts and other important aspects of the subject. Practising previous years’ question papers and mock tests can help in scoring well in the UGC NET Law syllabus.

Candidates should also make notes during the study to revise important concepts better. This exam is of moderate level, and candidates with 4 to 5 months of thorough preparation can score well in the exam. Aspirants must seek help from experts and mentors in case of any doubts about any concepts related to Law subject. 

Aspirants must save enough time for final revision. Revision should never be skipped, especially for vast subjects such as Law. Try to solve frequently asked questions related to the high-weightage chapters in the subject. This will help you score well on the exam.

Related Links: