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UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam Optional Subject consists of 2 papers. Each paper is of 300 marks, making a total of 600 marks.

The Urdu Literature paper is part of optional subjects. It has two papers with two sections each – Section A & Section B. The candidate has to answer them all in Urdu.

Urdu Literature Syllabus, UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam

PAPER-I

(Answers must be written in Urdu)

Section-A

Development of Urdu Language

a) Development of Indo-Aryan (i) Old IndoAryan (ii) Middle Indo Aryan (iii) New Indo Aryan

b) Western Hindi and its dialects Brij Bhasha Khadi Boli, Haryanavi Kannauji, Bundeli-Theories about the origin of Urdu Language

c) Dakhani Urdu-Origin and development, its significant linguistic features.

d) Social and Cultural roots of Urdu language-and its distinctive features.

Script, Phonology, Morphology, Vocabulary.

Section-B

a) Genres and their development : (i) Poetry : Ghazal, Masnavi, Qasida, Marsia, Rubai, Jadid Nazm,

(ii) Prose : Novel, Short Story, Dastan, Drama, Inshaiya, Khutoot, Biography.

b) Significant features of : (i) Deccani, Delhi and Lucknow schools (ii) Sir Syed movement, Romantic movement, Progressive movement, Modernism.

c) Literary Criticism and its development with reference to Hali, Shibli, Kaleemuddin Ahmad, Ehtisham Hussain, Ale-Ahmad Suroor.

d) Essay writing (covering literary and imaginative topics)

PAPER-II

(Answers must be written in Urdu)

This paper will require first hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

Section-A

1. Mir Amman Bagho-Babar
2. Ghalib Intikhab-e-Khutoot-e-Ghalib
3. Mohd. Husain Azad Nairang-e-Khayal
4 . Prem Chand Godan
5. Rajendra Singh Apne Dukh Mujhe Bedi Dedo
6. Abul Kalam Azad Ghubar-e-Khatir

Section-B

1. Mir Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Mir (Ed. Abdul Haq.)
2. Mir Hasan Sahrul Bayan
3. Ghalib Diwan-e-Ghalib
4. Iqbal Bal-e-Jibrail
5. Firaq Gul-e-Naghma
6. Faiz Dast-e-Saba
7. Akhtruliman Bint-e-Lamhat