Optional
Marathi Literature
UPSC Civil Services Mains, optional subject
Syllabus
Paper I
(Answers must be written in Marathi)
Section A
Language and Folk-lore
Nature and Functions of Language (with reference to Marathi)
- Language as a signifying system : Langue and Parole
- Basic functions
- Poetic Language
- Standard Language and dialect
- Language variations according to social parameters.
- Linguistic features of Marathi in thirteenth century and seventeenth century.
Dialects of Marathi
- Ahirani
- Varhadi
- Dangi.
Marathi Grammar
- Parts of Speech
- Case-system
- Prayog-vichar (Voice).
Nature and kinds of Folk-lore (with special reference to Marathi)
- Lok-Geet, Lok Katha, Lok Natya.
Section B (History of Literature and Literary Criticism)
History of Marathi Literature
- From beginning to 1818 AD, with special reference to the following : The Mahanubhava writers, the Varkari poets, the Pandit poets, the Shahirs, Bakhar Literature.
- From 1850 to 1990, with special reference to developments in the following major forms : Poetry, Fiction (Novel and Short Story), Drama
- and major literary currents and movements, Romantic, Realist, Modernist, Dalit, Gramin, Feminist.
Literary Criticism
- Nature and function of Literature;
- Evaluation of Literature;
- Nature, Objectives and Methods of Criticism;
- Literature, Culture and Society.
Paper II
(Answer must be written in Marathi)
- Textual study of prescribed literary works.
- The paper will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidate's critical ability.
Section A (Prose)
- ‘Smritisthala’
- Mahatma Jotiba Phule
- “Shetkaryacha Asud’
- ‘Sarvajanik Satyadharma’
- S.V. Ketkar‘Brahmankanya’
- P.K. Atre‘Sashtang Namaskar’
- Sharchchandra Muktibodh‘Jana Hey Volatu Jethe’
- Uddhav Shelke‘Shilan’
- Baburao Bagul‘Jevha Mi Jaat Chorli Hoti’
- Gouri Deshpande‘Ekek Paan Galavaya’
- P.I. Sonkamble‘Athavaninche Pakshi’
Section B (Poetry)
- ‘Namadevanchi Abhangawani’
- Ed: Inamdar, Relekar, Mirajkar
- Modern Book Depot, Pune
- ‘Painjan’
- Ed : M.N. Adwant
- Sahitya Prasar Kendra, Nagpur
- ‘Damayanti-Swayamvar’By Raghunath Pandit
- ‘Balakvinchi Kavita’By Balkavi
- ‘Vishakha’By Kusumagraj
- ‘Maridgandh’By Vinda Karandikar
- ‘Jahirnama’By Narayan Surve
- ‘Sandhyakalchya Kavita’By Grace
- ‘Ya Sattet Jeev Ramat Nahi’By Namdev Dhasal
Syllabus as published by UPSC in the Civil Services Examination 2026 notification.