UPSC Kashmiri Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

UPSC Kashmiri Literature Optional Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 

Section A

1. Genealogical relationship of the Kashmiri language: various theories.

2. Areas of occurrence and dialects (geographical/social).

• Phonology and grammar:

1. Vowel and consonant system.

2. Nouns and pronouns with various case inflections.

3. Verbs: various types and tenses.

• Syntactic structure:

1. Simple, active, and declarative statements.

2. Coordination

3. Relativisation

Section B

1. Kashmiri literature in the 14th century (Socio-cultural and intellectual background with special reference to Lal Dyad and Sheikhul Alam).

2. Nineteenth-century Kashmiri literature (development of various genres: vatsun, ghazal, and mathnavi.

3. Kashmiri literature in the first half of the twentieth century (with special reference to Mahjoor and Azad; various literary influences).

4. Modern Kashmiri literature (with special reference to the development of the short story, drama, novel, and nazm)

UPSC Kashmiri Literature Optional Syllabus 2026 for Paper 2 

Section A

1. Intensive study of Kashmiri poetry up to the nineteenth century :

1. Lal Dyad

2. Sheikhul Aalam

3. Habba Khatoon

• Kashmiri poetry : 19th Century

1. Mahmood Gami (Vatsans)

2. Maqbool shah (Gulrez)

3. Rasool Mir (Ghazals)

4. Abdul Ahad Nadim (N’at)

5. Krishanjoo Razdan (Shiv Lagun)

6. Sufi Poets (Test in Sanglaab, published by the Deptt. of Kashmiri, University of Kashmir)

• Twentieth Century Kashmiri poetry (text in Azich Kashir Shairi, published by the Deptt. Of Kashmiri, University of Kashmir).

• Literary criticism and research work : development and various trends.

Section B

1. An analytical study of the short story in Kashmiri.

1. Afsana Majmu’a, published by the Deptt. of Kashmiri, University of Kashmir.

2. Kashur Afsana Az, published by the Sahitya Akademi.

3. Hamasar Kashur Afsana, published by the Sahitya Akademi.

4. The following short story writers only : Akhtar Mohi-ud Din, Kamil, Hari Krishan Kaul, Hraday Kaul Bharti, Bansi Nirdosh, Gulshan Majid.

• Novel in Kashmiri :

1. Mujrim by G. N. Gowhar

2. Marun—Ivan Ilyichun, (Kashmiri version of Tolstoy’s) The Death of Ivan Ilyich (published by Kashmiri Deptt.)

• Drama in Kashmiri :

1. Natuk Kariv Band by Hari Krishan Kaul

2. Qk Angy Natuk, ed. Motilal Keemu, published by the Sahitya Akademi.

3. Razi Oedipus, tr. Naji Munawar, published by the Sahitya Akademi.

• Kashmiri Folk Literature :

1. Kashur Luki Theatre by Mohammad Subhan Bhagat, published by the Deptt. of Kashmiri, University of Kashmir.

2. Kashiry Luki Beeth (all volumes) published by the J&K Cultural Academy.

Paper 1: History of Kashmiri Literature

Paper 2: Literary Genres (Poetry, Prose, Drama etc.)

• Early Kashmiri Literature (14th-17th Century)

• A Short History of Kashmiri Literature by Amin Kamil

• Kashmiri Language and Literature by G.M. Sufi

• Medieval Kashmiri Literature (18th-19th Century)

• Lalla Ded : The Mystic Poetess of Kashmir by Jaishri Raina

• Habba Khatoon : The Nightingale of Kashmir by Pamela Varma

• Modern Kashmiri Literature (20th-21st Century)

• Kashmiri Short Stories edited by Arshia Sattar

• An Anthology of Kashmiri Poetry edited by Akhtar Qalander

• Kashmiri Sufi Poetry

• Rooj Anat by Lalla Ded

• Heeray Rang by Habba Khatoon

• Kashmiri Wazwan (Cuisine)

• Wazwan : The Cuisine of Kashmir, by Neelam Irshad Malik

• The Memoirs of a Kashmir Kitchen by Asha Rani Bhat

• Kashmiri Drama

• Yussuf Shah Chak, by Dinanath Nadim

• Saet Batul by Ghulam Nabi Khayal

• Other literary works are mentioned in the syllabus.