UPSC Maithili Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

UPSC Maithili Literature Optional Syllabus for Paper I 

Part A - History of Maithili Language And Its Literature

1. Place of Maithili in the Indo-European Language family.

2. Origin and development of the Maithili language. (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Avhatt, Maithili)

3. Periodic division of the Maithili Language. (Beginning, Middle era, Modern era).

4. Maithili and its different dialects.

5. Relationship between Maithili and other Eastern languages (Bengali, Assamese, Oriya)

6. Origin and Development of the Tirhuta Script.

7. Pronouns and Verbs in the Maithili Language.

Part B: History of Maithili Literature

1. Background of Maithili Literature (Religious, Economic, Social, Cultural).

2. Periodic division of Maithili literature.

3. Pre-Vidyapati Literature.

4. Vidyapati and his tradition.

5. Medieval Maithili Drama (Kirtaniya Natak, Ankia Nat, Maithili dramas written in Nepal).

6. Maithili Folk Literature (Folk Tales, Folk Drama, Folk Stories, Folk Songs).

7. Development of different literary forms in the modern era :

1. Prabandh-kavya

2. Muktak-kavya

3. Novel

4. Short Story

5. Drama

6. Essay

7. Criticism

8. Memoirs

9. Translation

8. Development of Maithili Magazines and Journals

UPSC Maithili Literature Optional Syllabus for Paper 2 II

PART A - Poetry

1. Vidyapati Geet-Shati—Publisher: Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Lyrics— 1 to 50)

2. Govind Das Bhajanavali—Publisher: Maithili Academy, Patna (Lyrics— 1 to 25)

3. Krishna Janm—Manbodh

4. Mithila Bhasha Ramayana—Chanda Jha (only Sunder-Kand)

5. Rameshwar Charit Mithila Ramayan—Lal Das (only Bal-kand)

6. Keechak-Vadh—Tantra Nath Jha.

7. Datta-Vati—Surendra Jah ‘Suman’ (only 1st and 2nd Cantos).

8. Chitra-Yatri

9. Samakaleen Maithili Kavita—Publisher: Sahitaya Akademi, New Delhi.

Part B

1. Varna Ratnakar—Jyotirishwar (only 2nd Kallol)

2. Khattar Kakak Tarang—Hari Mohan Jha

3. Lorik—Vijaya Manipadma

4. Prithvi Putra—Lalit

5. Bhaphait Chahak Jinagi—Sudhanshu ‘Shekhar’ Choudhary

6. Kriti Rajkamlak—Publisher: Maithili Academy, Patna (First Ten Stories only)

7. Katha–Sangrah–Publisher: Maithili Academy, Patna.

Books for Paper I

Books for Paper II

• Maithili ka Udgam aur Vikas by Pandit Govind Jha

• Durga Nath Jha “Shreesh”

• Maithili Sahitya Kaalik Vibhajan, by Mayanand Mishr

• Maithili Bhasha ka Vikas by Pandit Govind Jha

• Ucchtar Maithili Vyakaran by Pandit Govind Jha

• Varini by Dr. Veena Thakur

• Itihas Darpan by Dr. Veena Thakur

• Parichayika by Dr. Bhimnath Jha

• Maithili Sahityik Itihas by Dinesh Kumar Jha

• Maithili Bhasha Shastra by Dr. Dhirendra Nath Mishr

• Maithili Safalta Sopan by Dr. Raman Kumar Jha

• Maithili Sahityik Aalochanatamak Itihas by Dr.

• Maithili Gadya Gaurav

• Maithili Safalta Sopan by Dr. Raman Kumar Jha

• Govind Das Bhajanavali by Maithili Academy, Patna (Publisher)

• Krishna Janam by Manbodh

• Mithila Bhasha Ramayana by Chanda Jha

• Krishna Janam Alochana by Dr. Raman Kumar Jha

• Vidyapati Geet-Shati by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Publisher)

• Datta-Vati by Surendra Jah ‘Suman’

• Khattar Kakak Tarang by Hari Mohan Jha

• Varna Ratnakar by Jyotirishwar

• Lorik by Vijaya Manipadma

• Prithvi Putra by Lalit

• Samakaleen Maithili Kavita by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Publisher)

• Bhaphait Chahak Jinagi by Sudhanshu ‘Shekhar’ Choudhary

• Kriti Rajkamlak by Maithili Academy, Patna (Publisher)

• Katha–Sangrah by Maithili Academy, Patna (Publisher)