UPSC Punjabi Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

Answers must be written in Punjabi in Gurumukhi script

Origin of Punjabi Language; different stages of development and recent development in Punjabi Language; characteristics of Punjabi phonology and the study of its tones; classification of vowels and consonants.

Punjabi morphology; the number-gender system (animate and inanimate), prefixes, affixes and different categories of Post positions; Punjabi word formation; Tatsam. Tad Bhav. forms; Sentence structure, the notion of subject and object in Punjabi; Noun and verb phrases.

Language and dialect: the notions of dialect and idiolect: major dialects of Punjabi : Pothohari, Majhi,

Doabi, Malwai, Paudhi; the validity of speech variation on the basis of social stratification, the distinctive features of various dialects with special reference to tones Language and script; origin and development of Gurumukhi; Suitability of Gurumukhi for Punjabi.

Classical background: Nath Jogi Sahit.

Medieval Literature: Gurmat, Suti, Kissa and Var : janamsakhis.

Modern trends Mystic, romantic, progressive and neomystic (Vir Singh, Puran Singh, Mohan Singh,

Amrita Pritam, Bawa Balwant, Pritam Singh Safeer, J. S. Neki).

Experimentalist (Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Ravinder Ravi, Ajaib Kamal).

Aesthetes (Harbhajan Singh, Tara Singh). Neo-progressive (Pash, Jagtar, Patar).

Folk Literature Folk songs, Folk tales, Riddles, Proverbs.

Epic

(Vir Singh, Avtar Singh Azad, Mohan Singh).

Lyric

(Gurus, Sufis and Modern Lyricists-Mohan Singh, Amrita Pritam, Shiv Kumar,

Harbhajan Singh).

Drama

(I.C. Nanda, Harcharan Singh, Balwant Gargi, S.S. Sekhon, Charan Das Sidhu). Novel (Vir Singh, Nanak Singh, Jaswant Singh Kanwal, K.S. Duggal, Sukhbir, Gurdial Singh, Dalip Kaur Tiwana, Swaran Chandan).

Short Story (Sujan Singh, K. S. Virk, Prem Parkash, Waryam Sandhu).

Socio-cultural Sanskrit, Persian and Western.

Literary influences;

Essay

(Puran Singh, Teja Singh, Gurbaksh Singh). Literary Criticism (S.S. Sekhon, Attar Singh, Kishan Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Najam Hussain Sayyad).

Answers must be written in Punjabi in Gurumukhi script This paper will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

Sheikh Farid

The complete Bani as includedin the Adi Granth.

Guru Nanak

Japu Ji. Baramah. Asa di Var.

Bulleh Shah

Kafian

Waris Shah

Heer

Shah Mohammad Jangnama (Jang Singhante Firangian)

Dhani Ram Chatrik Chandan Vari

Nanak Singh

Chitta Lahu

(Novelist)

Pavittar Papi

Ek Mian Do Talwaran

Gurbaksh Singh Zindagi-di-Ras

(Essayist)

Nawan Shivala

Merian Abhul Yadaan.

Balraj Sahni

Mera Roosi Safarnama

(Travelogue)

Mera Pakistani Safarnama

Balwant Gargi

Loha Kutt

(Dramatist)

Dhuni-di-Agg

Sultan Razia

Sant Singh Sekhon Sahityarth

(Critic)

Parsidh Punjabi Kavi

Punjabi Kav Shiromani.