The UPSC Civil Services Exam comprises three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Aspirants must select an optional subject for the UPSC IAS Mains exam, a choice that significantly impacts their ranking. Recent trends indicate a rising success rate in Literature subjects over the years.
Hindi, a widely spoken language in India, serves as an official language for governmental communication alongside English. The UPSC Mains exam includes Hindi as an optional literature subject and also offers it for the compulsory language paper in IAS Mains.
UPSC Hindi Literature Syllabus: PAPER I
1. History of Hindi Language and Nagari Lipi
I. Grammatical and applied forms of Apbhransh, Awahatta & Arambhik Hindi.
II. Development of Braj and Awadhi as Literary language during medieval period.
III. Early form of Khari-boli in Siddha-Nath Sahitya, Khusero, Sant Sahitya, Rahim, etc. and Dakhni Hindi.
IV. Development of Khari-boli and Nagari Lipi during 19th Century.
V. Standardisation of Hindi Bhasha & Nagari Lipi.
VI. Development of Hindi as a National Language during freedom movement.
VII. The development of Hindi as a National Language of the Union of India.
VIII. Scientific & Technical Development of Hindi Language.
IX. Prominent dialects of Hindi and their inter-relationship.
X. Salient features of Nagari Lipi and the efforts for its reform & Standard form of Hindi.
XI. Grammatical structure of Standard Hindi.
2. History of Hindi Literature
I. The relevance and importance of Hindi literature and tradition of writing History of Hindi Literature.
II. Literary trends of the following four periods of history of Hindi Literature.
A : Adikal—Sidh, Nath and Raso Sahitya.
Prominent poets—Chandvardai, Khusaro, Hemchandra, Vidyapati.
B : Bhaktikal—Sant Kavyadhara, Sufi Kavyadhara, Krishna Bhaktidhara and Ram Bhaktidhara.
Prominent Poets—Kabir, Jayasi, Sur & Tulsi.
C : Ritikal—Ritikavya, Ritibaddhkavya & Riti Mukta Kavya. Prominent Poets—Keshav, Bihari, Padmakar and Ghananand.
D: Adhunik Kal—
a. Renaissance, the development of Prose, Bharatendu Mandal.
b. Prominent Writers—Bharatendu, Bal Krishna Bhatt & Pratap Narain Mishra.
c. Prominent trends of modern Hindi Poetry: Chhayavad, Pragativad, Prayogvad, Nai Kavita, Navgeet and Contemporary Poetry and Janvadi Kavita.
Prominent Poets—Maithili Sharan Gupta, Prasad, Nirala, Mahadevi, Dinkar, Agyeya,
Muktibodh, Nagarjun.
3. Katha Sahitya
A : Upanyas & Realism
B: The origin and development of Hindi Novels.
C: ProminentNovelists—Premchand, Jain-endra, Yashpal, Renu and Bhism Sahani. D : The origin and development of Hindi short story.
E: Prominent Short Story Writers—Premchand, Prasad, Agyeya, Mohan Rakesh & Krishna Sobti.
4. Drama & Theatre
A: The Origin & Development of Hindi Drama.
B: Prominent Dramatists—Bharatendu, Prasad, Jagdish Chandra Mathur, Ram Kumar Verma, Mohan Rakesh.
C: The development of Hindi Theatre.
5. Criticism
A: The origin and development of Hindi criticism: Saiddhantik, Vyavharik, Pragativadi. Manovishleshanvadi & Nai Alochana.
B: Prominent critics—Ramchandra Shukla, Hajari Prasad Dwivedi, Ram Vilas Sharma & Nagendra.
6. The other form of Hindi prose—Lalit Nibandh, Rekhachitra, Sansmaran, Yatra-vrittant.
UPSC Hindi Literature Syllabus: PAPER II
The paper will require first-hand reading of the prescribed texts and will test the critical ability of the candidates.
Section A
- Kabir: Kabir Granthawali, Ed. Shyam Sundar Das (First hundred Sakhis)
- Soordas : Bhramar Geetsar, Ed. Ramchandra Shukla (First hundred Padas)
- Tulsidas : Ramcharit Manas (Sundar Kand) Kavitawali (Uttarkand)
- Jayasi : Padmawat Ed. Shyam Sundar Das (Sinhal Dwip Khand & Nagmativiyog Khand)
- Bihari : Bihari Ratnakar Ed. Jagnnath Prasad Ratnakar (First 100 Dohas)
- Maithili Sharan Gupta: Bharat Bharati
- Prasad : Kamayani (Chinta and Shraddha Sarg)
- Nirala : Rag-Virag, Ed. Ram Vilas Sharma (Ram Ki Shakti Pooja & Kukurmutta)
- Dinkar : Kurukshetra
- Agyeya : Angan Ke Par Dwar (Asadhya Veena)
- Muktiboth : Brahm Rakhashas
- Nagarjun : Badal Ko Ghirte Dekha Hai, Akal Ke Bad, Harijan Gatha.
Section B
- Bharatendu: Bharat Durdasha
- Mohan Rakesh: Ashadh Ka Ek Din
- Ramchandra: Chintamani (Part I) (KavitaKya Shukla Hai, ShraddhaAurBhakti)
- Dr. Satyendra: Nibandh Nilaya—Bal Krishna Bhatt, Premchand, Gulab Rai, Hajari Prasad Dwivedi, Ram Vilas Sharma, Agyeya, Kuber Nath Rai.
- Premchand: Godan, Premchand ki Sarvashreshtha Kahaniyan, Ed. Amrit Rai/Manjusha—Prem Chand ki Sarvashreshtha Kahaniyan. Ed. Amrit Rai.
- Prasad: Skandgupta
- Yashpal: Divya
- Phaniswar Nath Renu : Maila Anchal
- Mannu Bhandari: Mahabhoj
- Rajendra Yadav: Ek Dunia Samanantar (All Stories)
Books for UPSC Hindi Literature Syllabus
Important Books |
Publisher Name |
Aadhunik Sahitya ki Pravritiyan |
Namavar Sinha |
Jayashree Aakalan ke Aayaam |
Sadanand Shaahee |
Mahaabhoj Mulyankan ke Pariprekshya |
Sadanand Shaahee |
Mohan Raakesh aur Ashadh ka Ek din |
Gireesh Rastogi |
Khadi Boli ka Prarambhik Swaroop |
Nilesh Jain |
Niraala Rachita Ram Kee Shakti Pooja Bhaashy |
Dr. Surya Prasaad Dixit |
Kabeer ke Sabad |
Dr. Sukadev Sinha |
Kabeer |
Param Anand Srivastav |