Legal Studies Class 11 Syllabus 2025

The syllabus consists of five units: (i) Introduction to Political Institutions (ii) Basic Features of The Constitution of India (iii) Jurisprudence, Nature and Sources of Laws (iv) Judiciary: Constitutional, Civil and Criminal Courts and Processes (v) Family Justice System.

Legal Studies Class 11 Syllabus 2025

Exam Structure

S. No. Units Marks
1 Introduction to Political Institutions 15
2 Basic Features of The Constitution of India 15 
3 Jurisprudence, Nature and Sources of Laws 15
4 Judiciary: Constitutional, Civil and Criminal Courts and Processes 20 
5 Family Justice System 15
  Total 80 

Unit I: Introduction to Political Institutions

1. Concept of State

  • What is a State?
  • The concept of State and Article 12 of the Indian Constitution
  • What is a Government?
  • Emergence of the State from Society
  • Definition of State
  • Theories on the Origin of State
  • Elements of a State
  • Role of a State

2. Forms and Organs of Government

  • Introduction to the Organs of Government
  • Forms of Government
    • Monarchy
    • Aristocracy
    • Dictatorship
    • Democracy
  • Main organs of Government and its functions
    • General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
    • General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
    • General Functions of Judiciary as an Organ of the Government

3. Separation of Powers

  • Concept of Separation of Powers
  • Historical Background and Evolution of Montesquieu’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Montesquieu’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Basic Features of the Doctrine Separation of Powers as Enunciated by Montesquieu
    • Checks and Balances of Power
    • Impact of the Doctrine
  • Evaluation of The Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Key Benefits and Advantages of The Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Defects of the Doctrine
  • Separation of Powers In Practice
    • Separation of Powers in Britain
    • Separation of Powers in the United States of America
    • Separation of Powers in India

Unit 2: Basic Features of The Constitution of India

1. Salient Features of The Constitution of India

  • Meaning of the term Constitution
  • Definition of the term Constitution
  • Historical Perspective of Indian Constitution
  • Salient Features of The Constitution of India
    • A Modern Constitution
    • Lengthiest written Constitution
    • Preamble to the Constitution
    • Fundamental Rights; Directive Principles of State Policy; Fundamental Duties
    • Constitutional Provision for Amendment of the Indian Constitution
    • Adult Suffrage
    • Single Citizenship
    • Independent Judiciary
    • Emergency Provisions
    • Federal in form Unitary in character
    • Division of Power - Centre-State Relations
    • Schedules to the Constitution

2. Administrative law

  • Background
  • Administrative Law and Constitutional Law: Key Differences
  • Reasons for Growth, Development and Study of Administrative law
  • Types of Administrative Actions
  • Fundamental Principle of Administrative Law: Rule of Law
  • Droit System

Unit 3: Jurisprudence, Nature and Sources of Laws

1 Jurisprudence, Nature and Meaning of Law

  • Introduction
  • Historical Perspective
  • Schools of Law
  • Function and Purpose of Law

2. Classification of Laws

  • Classification of Law based on Subject matter
  • Classification of Law based on Scope of Law
  • Classification of Law based on Jurisdiction

3. Sources of Law

  • Where does law come from?
  • Custom as a source of Law
  • Importance of Custom as a source of Law in India
  • Judicial Precedent as a Source of Law
  • Legislation as a Source of Law

4. Law Reform

  • Need for Law Reform
  • Law Reforms in India
  • Recent Law Reforms in Independent India

5. Cyber Laws, Safety and Security in India

  • Introduction
  • Why do we need Cyber Laws
  • What is Cyber Law?
  • What is Cyber safety and Security?
  • What is cyber Crime?
  • Categories of Cyber Crime
  • Cyber law in India
  • Scope and Extent of The Information and Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act)
  • What was Section 66A of IT Act, 2000?

Unit 4: Judiciary: Constitutional, Civil and Criminal Courts and Processes

1. Introduction: Establishment of the Supreme Court and High Courts

2. Constitution, Roles and Impartiality

  • Independence and Impartiality of the Supreme Court
  • Structure and Hierarchy of the Courts in India
  • The civil process and functioning of Civil courts

3. The Civil Court Structure

  • Common legal terminology
  • Types of jurisdiction
  • Res subjudice and Res judicata in code of civil procedure 1908

4. Structure and Functioning of Criminal Courts in India

  • Types of offences
  • Criminal investigation and First Information Report (FIR)
  • The criminal process - Investigation and prosecution
  • Doctrine of autrefois acquit and autrefois convict (i.e. previously acquitted and previously convicted)
  • Function and Role of Police

5. Other courts in India

  • Family Courts
  • Administrative Tribunals

Unit 5: Family Justice System

1. Institutional Framework; Marriage and Divorce

  • Nature of Family law in India
  • Human rights and gender perspective
  • Institutional framework - family Courts
  • Role of women in the creation of family courts
  • Role of lawyers and counselors in Family courts
  • Role of counselors and gender issues
  • Marriage and Divorce

2. Child Rights

  • Child Rights
  • Right to Education
  • Right to Health
  • Right to Shelter
  • Child Labour
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Juvenile Justice

3. Adoption

  • Adoption
  • Minor custody and Guardianship

4 Property, Succession and Inheritance

  • Concept of Property: Joint Family Property and Separate Property
  • Inheritance and Succession
  • Intestate Succession
  • Rules relating to Intestate Succession
  • Testamentary Succession

5. Prevention of Violence against Women

  • What is Domestic abuse / violence?
  • International legal framework
  • Laws in India on prevention of violence against women