UPSC Bengali Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

UPSC Bengali Literature Optional Syllabus For Paper I 

Section A: Topics from the History of the Bangla language

1. The chronological track from Proto Indo-European to Bangla (Family tree with branches and approximate dates).

2. Historical stages of Bangla (Old, Middle, New) and their linguistic features.

3. Dialects of   Bangla and their distinguishing characteristics.

4. Elements of Bangla Vocabulary.

5. Forms of Bangla Literary Prose—Sadhu and Chalit.

6. Processes of language change relevant for Bangla :

• Apinihiti (Anaptyxis), Abhishruti (umlaut), Murdhanyibhavan (cerebralization), Nasikyibhavan (Nasalization), Samibhavan (Assimilation), Sadrishya (Analogy), Svaragama (Vowel insertion) —Adi Svaragama, Madhya Svaragama or Svarabhakti, Antya Svaragama, Svarasangati (Vowel harmony), y—shruti and w—shruti.

7. Problems of standardization and reform of alphabet and spelling, and those of transliteration and Romanization.

8. Phonology, Morphology, and Syntax of Modern Bangla. (Sounds of Modern Bangla, Conjuncts; word formations, compounds; basic sentence patterns.)

Section B: Topics from the History of Bangla Literature

1. Periodization of Bangla Literature: Old Bangla and Middle Bangla.

2. Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature.

3. Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature.

4. Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms: Mangal Kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, Adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata), and religious biographies.

5. Secular forms in middle Bangla literature.

6. Narrative and lyric trends in the nineteenth-century Bangla poetry.

7. Development of prose.

8. Bangla dramatic literature (nineteenth century, Tagore, Post-1944 Bangla drama).

9. Tagore and post-Tagoreans.

10. Fiction, major authors: Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibhusan, Tarasankar, Manik ).

11. Women and Bangla literature: creators and created.

UPSC Bengali Literature Optional Syllabus For Paper II  

Section A

1. Vaishnava Padavali (Calcutta University) Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas, and Balaramdas

2. Chandimangal Kalketu episode by Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi)

3. Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila by Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi)

4. Meghnadbadh Kavya by Madhusudan Dutta

5. Kapalkundala by Bankimchandra Chatterjee

6. Samya and Bangadesher Krishak by Bankimchandra Chatterjee

7. Sonar Tari by Rabindranath Tagore

8. Chhinnapatravali by Rabindranath Tagore

Section B

1. Raktakarabi by Rabindranath Tagore

2. Nabajatak by Rabindranath Tagore

3. Grihadaha by Saratchandra Chatterjee

4. Prabandha Samgraha, Vol. 1, by Pramatha Choudhuri

5. Aranyak by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee

6. Short stories by Manik Bandyopadhyay: Atashi Mami, Pragaitihasik, Holud-Pora, Sarisrip, Haraner Natjamai, Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri, Kustharogir Bou, Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy

7. Shrestha Kavita by Jibanananda Das

8. Jagori by Satinath Bhaduri

9. Ebam Indrajit by Badal Sircar

Book

Author

The Oxford India Anthology of Bengali Literature (1941–1991)

Kalpana Bardhan

Bangla Sahityer Sankshipta Itihas

Bhudeb Chaudhuri

Bangla Nataker Itihash

Ajit Kumar Ghosh

The Bengalis: A Portrait of a Community

Sudeep Chakravarti

The Epic City: The World on the Streets of Calcutta

Kushanava Choudhuri

Bengali Prose Style: 1800–1857

Dinesh Chandra Sen

Types of Early Bengali Prose

Mitra

Bangla Sahityer Itihas (Vol 1 & 2)

Sukumar Sen

Bangla Sahityer Kotha

Sajani Kanta Dasgupta