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20 Essential International Law Terms Every Law Student & UPSC Aspirant Must Know
- The Law Gurukul
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Introduction
International law governs relationships between nations, addressing everything from trade to human rights. For CLAT, UPSC, and law students, understanding these concepts is crucial for tackling global issues and exam questions.
In Part 8 of our "Legal Lexicon" series, we break down 20 fundamental international law terms with definitions, landmark cases, and real-world applications.
1. Sovereignty
Definition: A state's supreme authority over its territory
Key Principle:
✔ Non-interference in domestic affairs (Article 2(7), UN Charter)
Example: Russia's annexation of Crimea violated Ukraine's sovereignty
2. Treaty vs. Customary International Law
Treaty | Customary Law |
Written agreement (e.g., Paris Climate Accord) | Unwritten but binding practices (e.g., diplomatic immunity) |
Only binds signatories | Binds all states |
3. Jus Cogens (Peremptory Norms)
Definition: Fundamental principles no nation can violate
Examples:
✔ Prohibition of genocide
✔ Ban on slavery
Case: Yugoslavia Tribunal upheld these norms
4. State Responsibility
When is a state liable?
Breach of international law
Attributable to the state
Causes damage
Example: Pakistan's responsibility for harboring terrorists (ICJ cases)
5. Diplomatic Immunity (Vienna Convention 1961)
Key Protections:
✔ Inviolability of embassy premises
✔ No arrest of diplomats
Limitation: Can be declared persona non grata
6-20: Key International Law Concepts
Term | Definition | Treaty/Case | Example |
6. UN Security Council Veto | Power to block resolutions (P5 nations) | UN Charter Article 27 | Russia vetoing Syria sanctions |
7. ICJ Jurisdiction | World Court's authority | ICJ Statute | India-Pakistan Kulbhushan Jadhav case |
8. ICC | Prosecutes genocide/war crimes | Rome Statute | Sudan's Al-Bashir arrest warrant |
9. Refugee Law | Protects displaced persons | 1951 Refugee Convention | Rohingya crisis |
10. Extradition | Transfer of accused between states | Bilateral treaties | Vijay Mallya case (UK-India) |
11. Law of the Sea | Maritime zones/rights | UNCLOS | South China Sea dispute |
12. WTO Disputes | Trade conflict resolution | WTO Agreements | India-US solar panels case |
13. Humanitarian Intervention | Use of force to prevent atrocities | R2P Doctrine | NATO in Kosovo (1999) |
14. State Recognition | Accepting new governments | Montevideo Convention | India recognizing Bangladesh (1971) |
15. Airspace Sovereignty | Control over aerial territory | Chicago Convention 1944 | US drone strike in Pakistan |
16. Cyber Warfare | Digital conflict rules | Tallinn Manual | Russian hacking of elections |
17. Climate Change Law | Emissions reduction targets | Paris Agreement | India's net-zero pledge |
18. Space Law | Governing outer space activities | Outer Space Treaty 1967 | SpaceX satellite launches |
19. Arbitration | Private dispute resolution | ICSID Convention | Vodafone tax case |
20. Sanctions | Economic/political penalties | UNSC Resolutions | North Korea sanctions regime |
Why These Terms Matter?
✅ Exam Relevance:
CLAT: 4-6 questions on international law
UPSC: Key for GS Paper II (IR) and Law Optional
Judiciary: Important for higher judicial services
✅ Current Applications:
Ukraine-Russia war legal implications
South China Sea territorial disputes
Climate change negotiations
Landmark Cases to Study
Nicaragua v USA (1986) - Illegal use of force
Congo v Uganda (2005) - Resource exploitation
Kulbhushan Jadhav Case (2019) - Consular access
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