Optional subject · Literature of languages
UPSC Urdu Literature Optional Syllabus 2026
Paper 1 and Paper 2, word for word from UPSC's CSE 2026 notice (pp. 121–122). 250 marks each, three hours each.
हिन्दी में पढ़ेंMains Paper VI · 250 marks · 3 hours
Urdu Literature — Paper I
Answer must be written in Urdu
Section A
Development of Urdu Language
Development of Indo-Aryan
Old Indo-Aryan
Middle Indo-Aryan
New Indo-Aryan.
Western Hindi and its dialects Brij Bhasha Khadi Boli, Haryanavi, Kannauji, Bundeli—Theories about the origin of Urdu language.
Dakhani Urdu—origin and development, its significant linguistic features.
Social and Cultural roots of Urdu language— and its distinctive features.
Script, Phonology, Morphology, Vocabulary.
Section B
Genres and their development:
Poetry: Ghazal, Masnavi, Qasida, Marsia, Rubai Jadid Nazm.
Prose: Novel, Short Story, Dastan, Drama, Inshaiya, Khutoot, Biography.
Significant features of: (i) Deccani, Delhi and Lucknow schools, (ii) Sir Syed movement, Romantic movement, Progressive movement, Modernism.
Literary Criticism and its development with reference to Hali, Shibli, Kaleemuddin Ahmad, Ehtisham Hussain, Ale-Ahmad Suroor.
Essay writing (covering literary and imaginativetopics).
Mains Paper VII · 250 marks · 3 hours
Urdu Literature — Paper II
Answer 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
Mir Amman Bagho-Babar
Ghalib Intikhab-e-Khutoot-e Ghalib
Mohd. Husain Azad Nairang-e-Khayal
Prem Chand Godan
Rajendra Singh Bedi Apne Dukh Mujhe Dedo
Abul Kalam Azad Ghubar-e-Khatir
Section B
Mir Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Mir (Ed. Abdul Haq.)
Mir Hasan Sahrul Bayan
Ghalib Diwan-e-Ghalib
Iqbal Bal-e-Jibrail
Firaq Gul-e-Naghma
Faiz Dast-e-Saba
Akhtruliman Bint-e-Lamhat
Text: UPSC, UPSC Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSP (Civil Services Examination, 2026), pp. 121–122 ↗. Any spelling is UPSC's own.
Other literature of languages optionals
FAQ
Urdu Literature optional: questions, answered
How many papers are there in the UPSC Urdu literature optional?
Two — Mains Papers VI and VII (Optional Paper 1 and Paper 2), 250 marks and three hours each, 500 marks in all.
What does the UPSC Urdu literature optional syllabus cover?
The full syllabus for both papers is on this page in UPSC's words, from its CSE 2026 notice (pp. 121–122).
Where is the official Urdu literature optional syllabus?
In UPSC's notice for the Civil Services Examination 2026 (Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSP), Section III, Part B, pp. 121–122.