UPSC Hindi Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

UPSC Hindi Literature Optional Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 

Section A: History of Hindi Language and Nagari Lipi

1. Grammatical and applied forms of Apbhransh, Awahatta & Arambhik Hindi.

2. Development of Braj and Awadhi as literary languages during the medieval period.

3. Early form of Khari-boli in Siddha-Nath Sahitya, Khusero, Sant Sahitaya, Rahim etc., and Dakhni Hindi.

4. Development of Khari-boli and Nagari Lipi during the 19th Century.

5. Standardisation of Hindi Bhasha & Nagari Lipi.

6. Development of Hindi as a National Language during the freedom movement.

7. The development of Hindi as the national language of the Union of India.

8. Scientific & Technical Development of Hindi Language.

9. Prominent dialects of Hindi and their inter-relationship.

10. Salient features of Nagari Lipi and the efforts for its reform & Standard form of Hindi.

11. Grammatical structure of Standard Hindi.

Section B: History of Hindi Literature

1. The relevance and importance of Hindi literature and the tradition of writing, History of Hindi Literature.

2. Literary trends of the following four periods of the history of Hindi Literature.

1. Adikal —Sidh, Nath, and Raso Sahitya. Prominent poets—Chandvardai, Khusaro, Hemchandra, Vidyapati.

2. Bhaktikal —Sant Kavyadhara, Sufi Kavyadhara, Krishna Bhaktidhara, and Ram Bhaktidhara. Prominent Poets—Kabir, Jayasi, Sur & Tulsi.

3. Ritikal —Ritikavya, Ritibaddhkavya & Riti Mukta Kavya. Prominent Poets—Keshav, Bihari, Padmakar, and Ghananand.

• Adhunik KaL

1. Renaissance, the development of Prose, Bharatendu Mandal.

2. Prominent Writers—Bharatendu, Bal Krishna Bhatt & Pratap Narain Mishra.

3. Prominent trends of modern Hindi Poetry: Chhayavad, Pragativad, Prayogvad, Nai Kavita, Navgeet, and Contemporary poetry and Janvadi Kavita.

4. Prominent Poets—Maithili Sharan Gupta, Prasad, Nirala, Mahadevi, Dinkar, Agyeya, Muktibodh, Nagarjun.

• Katha Sahitya

1. Upanyas & Realism

2. The origin and development of Hindi Novels.

3. Prominent Novelists—Premchand, Jain-endra, Yashpal, Renu and Bhism Sahani.

4. The origin and development of Hindi short stories.

5. Prominent Short Story Writers—Premchand, Prasad, Agyeya, Mohan Rakesh & Krishna Sobti

• Drama & Theatre

1. The Origin & Development of Hindi Drama.

2. Prominent Dramatists—Bharatendu, Prasad, Jagdish Chandra Mathur, Ram Kumar Verma, Mohan Rakesh.

3. The development of Hindi Theatre.

• Criticism

1. The origin and development of Hindi criticism: Saiddhantik, Vyavharik, Pragativadi. Manovishleshanvadi & Nai Alochana.

2. Prominent critics—Ramchandra Shukla, Hajari Prasad Dwivedi, Ram Vilas Sharma & Nagendra.

• The other forms of Hindi prose—Lalit Nibandh, Rekhachitra, Sansmaran, Yatra-vrittant.

UPSC Hindi Literature Optional Syllabus 2026 for Paper 2 

Section A

1. Kabir: Kabir Granthawali, Ed. Shyam Sundar Das (First hundred Sakhis)

2. Soordas: Bhramar Geetsar, Ed. Ramchandra Shukla (First hundred Padas)

3. Tulsidas: RamcharitManas (Sundar Kand) Kavitawali (Uttarkand)

4. Jayasi: Padmawat Ed. Shyam Sundar Das (Sinhal Dwip Khand & Nagmativiyog Khand)

5. Bihari: Bihari Ratnakar Ed. Jagnnath Prasad Ratnakar (First 100 Dohas)

6. Maithili Sharan Gupta: Bharat Bharati

7. Prasad: Kamayani (Chinta and Shraddha Sarg)

8. Nirala: Rag-Virag, Ed. Ram Vilas Sharma (Ram Ki Shakti Pooja & Kukurmutta)

9. Dinkar: Kurukshetra

10. Agyeya: Angan Ke Par Dwar (Asadhya Veena)

11. Muktiboth: Brahm Rakhashas

12. Nagarjun: Badal Ko Ghirte Dekha Hai, Akal Ke Bad, Harijan Gatha.

Section B

1. Bharatendu: Bharat Durdasha

2. Mohan Rakesh : Ashadh Ka Ek Din

3. Ramchandra: Chintamani (Part I) (KavitaKya Shukla Hai, ShraddhaAurBhakti)

4. Dr. Satyendra: Nibandh Nilaya—Bal Krishna Bhatt, Premchand, Gulab Rai, Hajari Prasad, Dwivedi, Ram Vilas Sharma, Agyeya, Kuber Nath Rai.

5. Premchand: Godan, Premchand ki Sarvashreshtha Kahaniyan, Ed. Amrit Rai/Manjusha—Prem Chand ki Sarvashreshtha Kahaniyan. Ed. Amrit Rai.

6. Prasad: Skandgupta

7. Yashpal: Divya

8. Phaniswar Nath: Maila Anchal Renu

9. Mannu Bhandari: Mahabhoj

10. Rajendra Yadav: Ek Dunia Samanantar (All Stories)