Contract Law Study Guide

Contract Law

A structured path through the principles that make promises legally enforceable. The guides combine the Indian Contract Act with foundational common law cases, practical examples and exam-focused analysis that remains useful across law schools.

Core modules
4
Topics mapped
26
Detailed guides
26
Landmark cases
30

Start with formation

Offer, invitation and acceptance belong together

OfferInvitation to treatAcceptance
Begin the guide

Core module

Formation of Contract

  1. 01Meaning, Nature and Scope of ContractAgreement, promise, contract and the basic structure of enforceability.Read guide
  2. 02Offer or ProposalDefinition, communication, revocation, and general and specific offers.Read guide
  3. 03Invitation to TreatHow an invitation differs from an offer in shops, advertisements, tenders and auctions.Read guide
  4. 04AcceptanceDefinition, communication, revocation, tenders and auctions.Read guide
  5. 05Effect of Valid, Void, Voidable, Illegal and Unlawful AgreementsClassification of agreements and the legal consequence of each category.Read guide
  6. 06Standard Form of ContractNotice of terms, real consent, exclusion clauses and unequal bargaining power.Read guide
  7. 07Online ContractsClickwrap, electronic records, electronic signatures and proof of online assent.Read guide

Core module

Consideration and Capacity

  1. 01Consideration: Definition, Kinds and EssentialsThe statutory meaning of consideration, its three forms and the rules that make it valid.Read guide
  2. 02Privity of ContractWho can enforce a contract, the Indian rule on third-party consideration and key exceptions.Read guide
  3. 03Capacity to Enter into a ContractMajority, soundness of mind and legal disqualifications under Sections 11 and 12.Read guide
  4. 04Minor's PositionWhy a minor cannot ordinarily be bound by a contractual promise.Read guide
  5. 05Nature and Effect of Minor's AgreementsNecessaries, beneficial arrangements, restitution, agency and other practical consequences.Read guide

Core module

Validity, Discharge and Performance of Contract

  1. 01Free ConsentConsent, free consent, causation and the different legal effects of defective consent.Read guide
  2. 02CoercionThreats, forbidden acts, unlawful detention of property and voidability under Section 19.Read guide
  3. 03Undue InfluenceDominating the will, unfair advantage, burden of proof and relief under Section 19A.Read guide
  4. 04Misrepresentation and FraudFalse statements, active concealment, silence, intent and the remedies available.Read guide
  5. 05MistakeBilateral and unilateral mistake of fact, mistake of law and the effect on agreement.Read guide
  6. 06Unlawful Consideration and ObjectThe five grounds in Section 23, severability under Section 24 and the effect of illegality.Read guide
  7. 07Discharge of ContractsHow contractual obligations end through performance, agreement, impossibility, breach and law.Read guide
  8. 08Performance of ContractsWho must perform, valid tender, reciprocal promises, time and place of performance.Read guide
  9. 09Impossibility of Performance and FrustrationInitial impossibility, supervening events, force majeure and the limits of Section 56.Read guide
  10. 10Anticipatory and Present BreachRefusal before the due date, failure when performance is due and the promisee's election.Read guide

Core module

Remedies and Quasi-Contracts

  1. 01Breach of ContractTermination, damages, specific relief, restitution and the duty to mitigate loss.Read guide
  2. 02Damages and Their KindsOrdinary, special, nominal and stipulated damages under Sections 73 and 74.Read guide
  3. 03Quantum MeruitWhen reasonable payment can be claimed for work or value already provided.Read guide
  4. 04Quasi-ContractsRestitutionary obligations under Sections 68 to 72 despite the absence of agreement.Read guide

Case law index

Foundational cases in this guide

Each case appears inside the topic where its principle is actually used. This index brings the core authorities together for revision.

  1. Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. (1893) All ER Rep. 127
  2. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v. Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd. (1952) 2 All ER 456
  3. Balfour v. Balfour (1919) 2 KB 571
  4. Lalman Shukla v. Gauri Datt (1913) XL ALJR 489
  5. Bhagwandas Goverdhandas Kedia v. Girdharilal Parshottamdas & Co. AIR 1966 SC 543
  6. Harvey v. Facey (1893) AC 552
  7. Felthouse v. Bindley (1862) 11 CB (NS) 869
  8. Kedarnath Bhattacharji v. Gorie Mahomed (1886) ILR 14 Cal 64
  9. Chinnaya v. Ramayya (1882) ILR 4 Mad 137
  10. M.C. Chacko v. State Bank of Travancore AIR 1970 SC 504
  11. Mohori Bibee v. Dharmodas Ghose (1903) 30 IA 114
  12. Khan Gul v. Lakha Singh AIR 1928 Lah 609
  13. Mathai Mathai v. Joseph Mary (2015) 5 SCC 622
  14. Chikkam Ammiraju v. Chikkam Seshamma (1918) ILR 41 Mad 33
  15. Subhas Chandra Das Mushib v. Ganga Prosad Das Mushib AIR 1967 SC 878
  16. Ningawwa v. Byrappa AIR 1968 SC 956
  17. Derry v. Peek (1889) 14 App Cas 337
  18. Raffles v. Wichelhaus (1864) 2 H&C 906
  19. Tarsem Singh v. Sukhminder Singh (1998) 3 SCC 471
  20. Gherulal Parakh v. Mahadeodas Maiya AIR 1959 SC 781
  21. Lata Construction v. Dr. Rameshchandra Ramniklal Shah (2000) 1 SCC 586
  22. Hind Construction Contractors v. State of Maharashtra (1979) 2 SCC 70
  23. Satyabrata Ghose v. Mugneeram Bangur & Co. AIR 1954 SC 44
  24. Energy Watchdog v. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (2017) 14 SCC 80
  25. Hochster v. De La Tour (1853) 2 E&B 678
  26. Murlidhar Chiranjilal v. Harishchandra Dwarkadas AIR 1962 SC 366
  27. Fateh Chand v. Balkishan Das AIR 1963 SC 1405
  28. Kailash Nath Associates v. Delhi Development Authority (2015) 4 SCC 136
  29. State of West Bengal v. B.K. Mondal & Sons AIR 1962 SC 779
  30. Sales Tax Officer v. Kanhaiya Lal Mukundlal Saraf AIR 1959 SC 135
Coverage

The subject map follows the standard sequence used to teach contract law in India, with common law authorities included where they explain a foundational rule.