Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Sources of Law

Classification of Law: Public, Private, Civil, Criminal

Updated 10 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Classification of law means grouping laws by their nature and purpose. The main pairs are public and private law, civil and criminal law, and substantive and procedural law. To answer MCQs, identify who is involved (State or individuals), what the law gives (rights or process) and what the result is (punishment or compensation).

Understand Classification of Law

Law is a large body of rules. To study it, we sort it into groups. Each group answers a different question, so the same law can sit in more than one group.

Public law and private law. Public law deals with the relationship between the State and individuals, and with how the State is organised. Constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are public law. Private law deals with relations between individuals. Law of contract, law of torts, property law and family law are private law.

Civil law and criminal law. A civil wrong is a violation of a private right. The injured person sues, and the usual remedy is compensation, a decree or an injunction. A crime is a wrong against society, and the State prosecutes. The usual result is punishment such as fine or imprisonment. For example, if a supplier in Pune fails to deliver goods under a contract, it is a civil matter. If someone steals goods from a shop, it is a criminal matter.

Substantive law and procedural law. Substantive law defines rights, duties and offences. The Indian Contract Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 are examples. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and has been in force from 1 July 2024. Procedural law lays down the method of enforcing those rights: how to file a case, how evidence is led, how a trial is held. The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 are examples. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Other groupings also appear, such as municipal law (law of a country) and international law (rules between nations). Learn the pairs with one test question each: who is the parties, what is the aim, and is it about rights or process.

Key formulas to remember

Public law vs private law: Public law = State and individual; Private law = individual and individual; Criminal law is treated as public law because the State prosecutes.
Civil law vs criminal law: Civil = private right, compensation or remedy; Criminal = wrong against society, punishment; In a civil case the injured party sues. In a criminal case the State prosecutes.
Substantive law vs procedural law: Substantive = defines rights and duties; Procedural = method of enforcing them; Substantive law says what; procedural law says how.
Municipal law vs international law: Municipal = law within a country; International = rules between nations; Municipal law is made and enforced by the State itself.

How to solve Classification of Law questions

Use this method for any question that asks you to classify a law or distinguish between two types.

1Read the question and find the pair being tested: public/private, civil/criminal or substantive/procedural.
2Identify the parties in the scenario. If the State is one side as ruler or prosecutor, think public law.
3Ask what the law does. If it creates rights, duties or offences, it is substantive. If it lays down steps for court work, it is procedural.
4Check the outcome. Compensation or a remedy points to civil law. Fine or imprisonment points to criminal law.
5Match the clue to the option and eliminate options that mix up the pair.
6Check if the question uses words like 'only', 'always' or 'never', and be careful with such options.

Quickest way: Three-clue shortcut

When to use it: Use for one-line MCQs where you must pick the correct statement or the type of law.

Clue 1: State involved means public. Two private persons means private.
Clue 2: Punishment means criminal. Compensation means civil.
Clue 3: 'Rights and duties' means substantive. 'Procedure, trial, filing' means procedural.
Pick the option that fits the clue and drop the rest.

Common mistakes in Classification of Law

Calling criminal law private law because a person is harmed.
Students look at the victim and ignore who prosecutes.
Fix: Remember that crime is a wrong against society and the State prosecutes, so it is public law.
Treating the Code of Civil Procedure as substantive law because it has 'civil' in its name.
The word 'civil' misleads.
Fix: Look for the word 'procedure'. Procedural codes lay down method, not rights.
Saying civil law always means compensation only.
Compensation is the most common remedy, so it is taken as the only one.
Fix: Civil remedies also include injunctions, specific performance and decrees. Say 'usually' compensation.
Thinking one law belongs to only one class.
Students memorise pairs as separate lists.
Fix: A law can be in several groups. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is public, criminal and substantive at once.
Confusing municipal law with local body rules only.
The word 'municipal' suggests a city municipality.
Fix: Municipal law here means the law of a country, as against international law.

Worked examples

Example 1

Ramesh does not pay Suresh the agreed price of goods under a contract. Suresh files a suit for recovery of the price. Which type of law is mainly involved?
(a) Criminal law
(b) Civil law
(c) International law
(d) Procedural law only

Show the solution

The parties are two private persons, Ramesh and Suresh.
The wrong is breach of a private right under a contract.
Suresh sues for money, which is a civil remedy, not punishment.
So the matter is civil law, and the answer is not criminal. International law does not apply. Procedural law only supports the case, it does not define the right.

Answer: (b) Civil law

Example 2

Which of the following is an example of procedural law?
(a) Law that defines the offence of theft
(b) Law that lays down how a criminal trial is to be conducted
(c) Law that defines when a contract is valid
(d) Law that gives a person the right to property

Show the solution

Procedural law deals with the method of enforcing rights.
Option (a) defines an offence, so it is substantive.
Option (c) defines validity of a contract, so it is substantive.
Option (d) gives a right, so it is substantive.
Option (b) is about the conduct of a trial, which is procedure.

Answer: (b) Law that lays down how a criminal trial is to be conducted

Exam tips

Expect direct 'which of the following is' questions and short scenario questions. Learn one example for each type.
Learn which Acts are substantive and which are procedural, since examples are a common way to test this.
Beware of options with 'always' or 'only'. Real classes of law overlap.
Use the aim of the law as a tie-breaker: compensation for civil, punishment for criminal.
Since there is no negative marking, answer every question even after elimination leaves two options.

Practice questions from Sources of Law

Classification of Law in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

Classification of Law: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between public law and private law?

Public law governs the relationship between the State and individuals and how the State works, such as constitutional and criminal law. Private law governs relations between individuals, such as contract and torts. The test is whether the State is involved in its sovereign role.

What is the difference between civil law and criminal law?

Civil law protects private rights and gives remedies like compensation. Criminal law deals with wrongs against society and gives punishment such as fine or imprisonment. In civil cases the injured person sues, while in criminal cases the State prosecutes.

What is substantive law vs procedural law?

Substantive law creates and defines rights, duties and offences. Procedural law lays down the steps to enforce them in court. Think of substantive law as 'what' and procedural law as 'how'.

Can the same act be both a civil and a criminal wrong?

Yes, some acts can give rise to both. For example, an act may be an offence punishable by the State and also cause loss for which the victim can claim compensation. The two proceedings have different aims.