Optional
Gujarati Literature
UPSC Civil Services Mains, optional subject
Syllabus
Paper I
(Answers must be written in Gujarati)
Section A: Gujarati Language : Form and History
- History of Gujarati Language with special reference to New Indo-Aryan i.e. last one thousand years.
- Significant features of the Gujarati language : phonology, morphology and syntax.
- Major dialects : Surti, pattani, charotari and Saurashtri.
History of Gujarati literature: Medieval
- Jaina tradition
- Bhakti tradition : Sagun and Nirgun (Jnanmargi)
- Non-sectarian tradition (Laukik parampara)
Modern
- Sudharak yug
- Pandit yug
- Gandhi yug
- Anu-Gandhi yug
- Adhunik yug
Section B: Literary Forms
- (Salient features, history and development of the following literary forms :)
Medieval
- Narratives : Rasa, Akhyan and Padyavarta
- Lyrical: Pada
Folk
- Bhavai
Modern
- Fiction : Novel and Short Story
- Drama
- Literary Essay
- Lyrical Poetry
Criticism
- History of theoretical Gujarati criticism
- Recent research in folk tradition.
Paper II
(Answers must be written in Gujarati)
- The paper will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the critical ability of the candidate.
Section A: Medieval
- Vasantvilas phagu—AJNATKRUT
- Kadambari—BHALAN
- Sudamacharitra—PREMANAND
- Chandrachandravatini varta—SHAMAL
- Akhegeeta—AKHO
Sudharakyug & Pandityug
- Mari Hakikat—NARMADASHA
- Farbasveerah—DALPATRAM
- Saraswatichandra-Part 1—GOVARDHANRAM TRIPATHI
- Purvalap—‘KANT’ (MANISHANKAR RATNAJI BHATT)
- Raino Parvat—RAMANBHAI NEELKANTH
Section B: Gandhiyug & Anu Gandhiyug
- Hind Swaraj—MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI
- Patanni Prabhuta—KANHAIYALAL MUNSHI
- Kavyani Shakti—RAMNARAYAN VISHWANATH PATHAK
- Saurashtrani Rasdhar-Part 1—ZAVERCHAND MEGHANI
- Manvini Bhavai—PANNALAL PATEL
- Dhvani—RAJENDRA SHAH
Adhunik yug
- Saptapadi—UMASHANKAR JOSHI
- Janantike—SURESH JOSHI
- Ashwatthama—SITANSHU YASHASCHANDRA.
Syllabus as published by UPSC in the Civil Services Examination 2026 notification.