📚 Official Syllabus — Law Paper II (Criminal & Allied Laws)

Law Paper II covers criminal law, procedure and several special/modern statutes. Key items include:

• The Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC)
• The Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
• The Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC)
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
• The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
• The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO)
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013
• Rajasthan Excise Act, 1950
• The Information Technology Act, 2000
• Framing of Charge / Judgment Writing (Criminal)

🔎 How to Read & Prioritize Topics

1. Start with core statutes: Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita/Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (2023) and CrPC — these are central to most questions.
2. Master basic IPC offences: Offences against person, property, sections commonly debated in case law, and defences.
3. Special laws & procedure: POCSO, Domestic Violence Act, Probation, and Juvenile Justice — know procedural rules and sentencing principles.
4. Framing charges & judgments: Practice framing charges from hypothetical facts and write concise criminal judgments regularly.
5. IT & commercial offences: Understand IT Act provisions and negotiable instruments offences which are frequently tested.

🛠 Practical Preparation Strategy (8–12 week focused plan)

Week 1–3: Foundation & Bare Acts

Read the bare acts carefully (CrPC, IPC, BNS/BNS equivalent) and make one-page notes of key sections and landmark judgments.

Week 4–6: Application & Answer Writing

Solve past-year criminal law questions, practice short and long answers, and write 3–4 criminal judgments per week. Time yourself to build speed.

Week 7–9: Special Laws & Case Law

Revise special statutes (POCSO, DV Act, Juvenile Justice), and compile key case law points that illustrate principles and sentencing norms.

Final 2–3 Weeks: Revision & Mock Tests

Take at least 2 full-length mock tests for Law Paper II, review your answers critically, and refine judgment templates.

✍️ Judgment & Charge Framing — Practical Tips

• Charge framing: Identify exact sections, list essential ingredients, and draft concise charge language.
• Judgment structure: Facts → Issues → Relevant Law → Discussion (analysis of evidence) → Conclusion (finding) → Sentence (if applicable).
• Use headings & sections: Mark the sections you rely on in answers (e.g., “Section 299 IPC — Culpable Homicide not amounting to murder”).
• Be neutral & analytical: Avoid rhetorical flourishes — judges prefer clarity and legal reasoning over verbosity.

📘 Recommended Study Material & Resources

• Bare Acts (annotated where possible) — IPC, CrPC, BNS/BNS texts
• Delhi Law Academy’s RJS Mains Study Notes (Criminal Law)
• Past year question papers and model answers
• Standard commentaries for IPC and CrPC for difficult topics

See our Best Books for RJS Mains Preparation for a full list of recommended texts.