UPSC Maithili Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

(Answers must be written in Maithili)

History of Maithili Language

Place of Maithili in Indo-European Language family.

Origin and development of Maithili language. (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Avhatt, Maithili)

Periodic division of Maithili Language. (Beginning, Middle era, Modern era).

Maithili and its different dialects.

Relationship between Maithili and other Eastern languages (Bengali, Asamese, Oriya)

Origin and Development of Tirhuta Script.

Pronouns and Verbs in Maithili Language.

History of Maithili Literature

Background of Maithili Literature (Religious, Economic, Social, Cultural).

Periodic division of Maithili literature.

Pre-Vidyapati Literature.

Vidyapati and his tradition.

Medieval Maithili Drama (Kirtaniya Natak, Ankia Nat, Maithili dramas written in Nepal).

Maithili Folk Literature (Folk Tales, Folk Drama, Folk Stories, Folk Songs).

Development of different literary forms in modern era:

Development of Maithili Magazines and Journals.

(Answers must be written in Maithili) The paper will require first-hand reading of the prescribed texts and will test the critical ability of the candidates.

Poetry

Vidyapati Geet-Shati—Publisher: Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Lyrics— 1 to 50)

Govind Das Bhajanavali—Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna (Lyrics— 1 to 25)

Krishnajanm—Manbodh

Mithilabhasha Ramayana—Chanda Jha (only Sunder-Kand)

Rameshwar Charit Mithila Ramayan—Lal Das (only Bal-kand)

Keechak-Vadh—Tantra Nath Jha.

Datta-Vati—Surendra Jah ‘Suman’ (only 1st and 2nd Cantos).

Chitra-Yatri

Samakaleen Maithili Kavita—Publisher: Sahitaya Akademi, New Delhi.

Varna Ratnakar—Jyotirishwar (only 2nd Kallol)

Khattar Kakak Tarang—Hari Mohan Jha

Lorik—Vijaya Manipadma

Prithvi Putra—Lalit

Bhaphait Chahak Jinagi—Sudhanshu ‘Shekhar’ Choudhary

Kriti Rajkamlak—Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna (First Ten Stories only)

Katha–Sangrah–Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna.