Appearing for UGC NET Law? Here are the important topics for UGC NET in Law along with the exam pattern and the direct link to its complete syllabus.

The UGC National Eligibility Test, popularly known as NET, is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted twice a year for the recruitment of Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor both for various Indian Universities and colleges.
Conducted by the National Testing Agency, UGC NET is held in June and November. The test will comprise two papers, both of which will consist of objective type questions or MCQs.
Candidates who are going to appear for the UGC NET 2020 in Law must have a fair knowledge of the important topics under it. In this article, we have covered the UGC NET 2020 Exam Pattern for law along with the important topics under the subject on which the candidate needs to focus the most.
UGC NET 2020 Exam Pattern for Law
Check out the exam pattern for UGC NET 2020 which will comprise two papers- Paper 1 and Paper 2. While Paper 1 shall be primarily based on the candidate’s teaching and research aptitude, Paper 2 shall evaluate the candidate’s domain knowledge.
Paper | Total Marks | Total Duration | Questions Based On | Number of Questions |
1 | 100 | 3 hours with no break in between. | Teaching and research aptitude, communication, mathematical reasoning and aptitude, comprehension, logical reasoning, ICT, people, development and environment, data interpretation and higher education system | 50 |
2 | 200 | The subject of law | 100 |
UGC NET 2020 Important Topics for Law
Candidates taking the UGC NET 2020 for the subject of law can find the important topics which will help them ace the exam and get the award of JRF and/or the eligibility for Assistant Professor.
Unit 1:
Jurisprudence | |
Concepts of ownership, property and possession Law and development Concept of liability Modernism and post-modernism Global justice | Nature and sources of law Concept of rights and duties Law and morality Schools of jurisprudence Legal personality |
Also Read: CSIR UGC NET: Dates, Application Form (Live), Answer Key, Eligibility, Syllabus, Results, Selection
Unit 2:
Administrative and Constitutional Law | |
Preamble, directive principles of state policy, fundamental rights and duties, Union Legislature, State legislature and distribution of their legislative powers Union and State executive Election Commission of India Judiciary | Nature, scope and significance of administrative law Temporary, transitional and exclusive provisions of certain states Emergency provisions Judicial review of administrative actions – Grounds. Principle of natural justice. |
Unit 3:
Law of Crimes | |
General principles of criminal liability – mens rea and Actus reus, individual, group liability and constructive liability Offences against the human body Offences against property Counterfeiting and Drug trafficking Offences against public tranquillity | Offences against women and children Theories and types of punishments, compensation to the victims of crime General exceptions in crimes Stages of crimes and inchoate crimes - Criminal conspiracy, Abetment and attempt Offences against state and terrorism |
Unit 4:
IHL and Public International Law | |
Sources of International law International law – Meaning, nature and basis Recognition of states and governments Refugees, Nationality, immigrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) | United Nations and its organs World Trade Organization (WTO) Asylum and Extradition International humanitarian law (IHL) - Protocols and Conventions Settlement of international disputes Implementation of International Humanitarian Law - Its Challenges |
Unit 5:
Commercial Law | |
The frustration of Contract, Breach of contract, void and voidable agreements Specific contracts - Indemnity, guarantee and agency, Bailment, pledge The standard form of quasi-contract and contract Essential elements of contract and e-contract | Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881 Company law – Meetings and Directors Corporate social responsibility (CSR) Partnership and limited liability Company law –Prospectus, shares and debentures, incorporation of a company Sale of Goods Act, 1930 |
Unit 6:
Systems of Governance and Comparative Public Law | |
Systems of constitutional review – Switzerland, India, USA and France Ombudsman – India, Sweden, UK Open Government and Right to Information (RTI) - India, USA, UK Judicial activism, Independence of judiciary and accountability – India, USA and UK Amendment of the Constitution – South Africa, India, USA | Rule of Law – ‘Substantive’ and ‘Formal’ versions Forms of governments – Unitary and federal, Presidential and parliamentary, Models of federalism – Canada, USA and India Comparative Law – Problems and concerns in Comparison, relevance, methodology Separation of powers – USA, France, India and the UK |
Unit 7:
Consumer Protection and Law of Torts | |
Specific torts – Nuisance, trespass and defamation and negligence. Tortious liability of the State The Competition Act, 2002 - Abuse of dominant position and regulation of combinations, the prohibition of certain agreements. Nature and definition of tort General principles of tortious liability General defences | The Consumer Protection Act 1986 - Consumer Rights and redressal mechanism and definitions, Remoteness of damages The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 -Third-party insurance and claims tribunal, no-fault liability Strict and absolute liability |
Also Read: UGC NET Important Topics for English Literature
Unit 8:
Human Rights and Environment Law | |
Group rights – Elderly persons, women, minorities, children, persons with disabilities and weaker sections Enforcement and Protection of human rights in India – National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (ST) National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Women National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Minorities Meaning and concept of ‘environment’ and ‘environmental pollution’ | UN Conferences and International environmental law Legal and Constitutional framework for the protection of the environment in India Environmental Impact Assessment Control of hazardous waste in India Concept and development of human rights Cultural relativism and Universalism International Bill of Rights National Green Tribunal (NGT) |
Unit 9:
Family Law | |
Marriage and the dissolution of it Matrimonial remedies - Divorce and its theories Changing dimensions of the institution of marriage and Live-in relationship Sources and schools Gift, wakf and will | Maintenance, dowry and stridhan Adoption, guardianship and acknowledgement Succession and inheritance Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Recognition of foreign decrees in India on divorce and marriage |
Unit 10:
IT and Intellectual Property Law | |
Theories of intellectual property International conventions related to intellectual properties Copyright and neighbouring rights – Subject matters, infringement and remedies, limitations and exceptions Cybercrimes, adjudication and penalties Protection of Geographical Indications | Law of patent – Patentability, limitations and exceptions, the procedure for grant of patent, infringement and remedies Law of trademark – Registration of trademarks, infringement and passing off, remedies, kinds of trademarks, Concept and meaning of intellectual property |
Click Here to Check out the complete syllabus for UGC NET in Law
UGC NET in a Glimpse
Here is all the crucial information about the UGC NET that you must be aware of before applying for the exam.
That’s all regarding the important topics of law for UGC NET 2020. CollegeDekho’s team of experts also provide with the best preparation tips to score well in the exam. For any admission related assistance, you can talk to our admission counsellors by just dialling 1800-572-9877 (toll-free). In case of your queries, drop them in the QnA zone.
Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more updates on UGC NET and other such exams.
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