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CSS written syllabus
CSS International Law Syllabus
International Law is a 100-mark Group VI optional subject in the CSS written exam, examined in one three-hour paper. Below is FPSC's official syllabus, word for word: every section, topics and suggested readings.
- Marks
- 100
- Papers
- 1
- Time
- 3 hours a paper
- Group
- Group VI
- Subject code
- 40
The paper
100 marks- I.Nature, Origin and Basis of International Law.
- •
- The Emergence of International Law
- Early European Authors
- The Nation-State System
- The Enforcement of International Law
- The Effectiveness of International Law
- The Weakness of International Law
- The Juridical Basis of International law
- The Future of International law and Material Sources of International Law
- II.Relation between International Law and State Law.
- •Article 38 of the Statute of International Court of Justice, Primary Sources of International Law, Subsidiary Sources of International Law, International Soft Law
- III.State in General and Recognition
- •Personality and Statehood in International Law, The Subjects of International Law, Recognition of State and Government in International Law, Recognition of State and Government in National Law.
- IV.The Law and Practice as to Treaties
- •The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
- V.The Settlement of International Disputes.
- •Negotiation, Mediation and Good Offices, Inquiry, Settlement by the United Nations, Conciliation, Arbitration, The International Court of Justice.
- VI.International Humanitarian Law.
- •
- International and Non-International Armed Conflicts
- Non-International Armed Conflict
- ‘Combatant’ and ‘Protected Persons’
- Protection of Wounded
- Sick and Ship-Wrecked Persons
- POWs
- Civilians
- Limitations on the Conduct of War
- Limits on the Choice of Methods and Means of Warfare
- VII.The Use of Force
- •The Law before the UN Charter, The Law after the Charter, The Collective Use of Force, The Right of Self-Defence.
- VIII.International Institutions
- IX.State Territorial Sovereignty.
- X.State Responsibility.
- XI.State Jurisdiction.
- XII.Succession to Rights and Obligations.
- XIII.The State and the Individual.
- XIV.The State and the Economic Interest.
- XV.Diplomatic Envoys, Counsels and other Representatives.
- XVI.War, Armed Conflicts and other Hostilities.
- XVII.Neutrality.
Suggested readings
- 1.International LawMalcolm N. Shaw
- 2.Principles of Public International LawLan Brownlie
- 3.International LawDr. S.K. Kapoor
- 4.Introduction to International LawJ.G. Starke, QC
- 5.International Humanitarian LawICRC Pakistan
- 6.Extradition Act, 1972Nil
- 7.The Diplomatic and Consular Privileges Act, 1972Nil
- 8.Territorial Waters and Maritime Zone Act, 1976Nil
- 9.U.N. Convention on Law of the Sea, 1984Nil
- 10.Cases and Materials on International LawD.J. Harris
Past papers
FPSC's International Law papers from 2016 to 2026, as text. Open a year, or see them all.