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UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus 2025, Download Paper 1 and 2 PDF

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus 2025 Candidates appearing for the UPSC Mains 2025 can find the complete UPSC Marathi Paper I and II syllabus, preparation tips, patterns, and recommended books.
authorImageAnil Solonki27 Aug, 2025
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UPSC Marathi Literature Syllabus

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus 2025 is one of the 48 optional subjects provided to the candidates appearing for the UPSC IAS Mains exam. Marathi is among the 23 literature languages available for the exams. It is a gateway for candidates to dive deep into the vibrant literary heritage and traditions of Maharashtra, offering a unique lens to explore the linguistic depth and diverse literary landscape of the Marathi language.

Opting for Marathi Literature as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination is an enriching choice for those interested in Marathi culture , history , and literature . If you are willing to choose Marathi Literature as your optional subject, then this comprehensive guide is for you. We will walk you through the UPSC Marathi Literature syllabus for Paper I and Paper II , including preparation strategies , previous year's question papers , exam patterns , and recommended books .

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus 2025

Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language , is predominantly spoken in Maharashtra and parts of neighbouring states. It is also one of the official languages of India. It boasts a rich literary tradition that dates back centuries, with an extensive body of work encompassing various genres and styles . The Marathi language has played a pivotal role in shaping the socio-cultural landscape of Maharashtra, with its literature reflecting the region's history , philosophy , social movements , and cultural ethos . The UPSC Syllabus for Marathi literature Optional for the IAS Mains Exam covers a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the medieval to the modern era of Marathi literature. The syllabus is divided into two papers - Paper I and Paper II - each worth 250 marks, designed to test the candidate's comprehension , critical analysis , and appreciation of Marathi literary works. Candidates can download the UPSC optional Marathi literature syllabus pdf in Marathi from the official website. Here is the detailed syllabus for both papers:

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus 2025

Marathi literature covers a wide range of topics and styles, from ancient spiritual poetry to modern-day radical voices . It tells us about the beliefs , struggles , and creativity of the people of Maharashtra throughout history. It is deeply rooted in the socio-political landscape, it traverses through various forms, from the poetic expressions of saints like Tukaram to the radical voices of modern poets like Narayan Surve and Namdev Dhasal . Spanning from the 13th century to contemporary times, Marathi literature encompasses a spectrum of themes , styles , and movements , including the spiritual devotion of Varkari poetry, the social reformist zeal of Mahatma Phule , and the innovative exploration of writers such as Baburao Bagul in pushing the boundaries of literature. It intertwines folklore , dialects , and standard language , offering a multifaceted reflection of Maharashtra's cultural identity. Through its evolution, Marathi literature has mirrored societal changes and also served as a catalyst for cultural introspection and progress.

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus for Paper I

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Paper I syllabus focuses on the language and folk-lore, the history of Marathi literature, literary criticism , and the development of literary genres in Marathi. It provides insights into the evolution, significant periods, and critical analysis of Marathi literature. Answers must be written in Marathi.

Paper I Syllabus

Section A: Language and Folk-lore
  1. 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 the thirteenth century and seventeenth century.
  • Dialects of Marathi
Ahirani; Varhadi; Dangi.
  • Marathi Grammar
Parts of Speech; Case-system; Prayog-vichar (Voice).
  1. 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
      1. From the beginning to 1818 AD, with special reference to the following: The Mahanubhava writers, the Varkari poets, the Pandit poets, the Shahirs, Bakhar Literature.
      2. From 1850 to 1990, with special reference to developments in the following major forms: Poetry, Fiction (Novel and Short Story), and Drama; and major literary currents and movements, Romantic, Realist, Modernist, Dalit, Gramin, Feminist.
  • Literary Criticism
    1. Nature and function of Literature;
    2. Evaluation of Literature;
    3. Nature, Objectives and Methods of Criticism;
    4. Literature, Culture and Society.

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Syllabus for Paper II

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Paper II Syllabus delves into the analysis and interpretation of prescribed Marathi literary texts from various genres, including poetry, drama, novels, short stories, essays, and biography/autobiography. Answers must be written in Marathi. Paper II Syllabus
Part A (Prose)
  • ‘Smriti Sthal’
  1. Mahatma Jotiba Phule
‘‘ Shetkaryacha Asud Sarvajanik Satyadharma
  1. S.V. Ketkar
Brahmankanya
  1. P.K. Atre
Sashtang Namaskar
  1. Sharchchandra Muktibodh
Jana Hey Volatu Jethe
  1. Uddhav Shelke
Shilan
  1. Baburao Bagul
Jevha Mi Jaat Chorli Hoti
  1. Gouri Deshpande
Ekek Paan Galavaya
  1. P.I. Sonkamble
Athavaninche Pakshi
Section B (Poetry)
  1. Nama Devanchi Abhangwani
Ed: Inamdar, Relekar, Mirajkar Modern Book Depot, Pune
  1. Painjan
Ed : M.N. Adwant Sahitya Prasar Kendra, Nagpur
  1. Damayanti-Swayamvar
By Raghunath Pandit
  1. Balakvinchi Kavita
By Balkavi
  1. Vishakha
Kusumagraj
  1. Maridgandh
By Vinda Karandikar
  1. Jahirnama
By Narayan Surve
  1. Sandhyakalchya Kavita
By Grace
  1. Ya Sattet Jeev Ramat Nahi
By Namdev Dhasal

UPSC Marathi Literature Optional Exam Pattern 2025

The UPSC exam pattern for the UPSC Marathi Literature Optional consists of two papers, each carrying 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. The papers feature descriptive questions aimed at assessing the candidate's understanding, analytical abilities, and interpretation skills regarding Marathi literary texts.
Particular Details
Mains Paper Paper VI and Paper VII
Subjects Marathi Literature Optional Paper-I and Paper-II
Total Marks 500 (250 Each)
Time allowed 3 Hours for each paper
Sections Section A and Section B
Questions total 8 questions with subparts
Compulsory Question Questions Nos. 1 and 5
Marks Distribution 10, 15, and 20 marker questions
Writing Language Marathi

Pros and Cons of UPSC Marathi Literature Optional

Before selecting the Marathi Literature optional UPSC, candidates can go through the advantages and disadvantages they can get from this subject and how it may affect their overall score in the UPSC Mains exam:

Pros of UPSC Marathi Literature Optional

  • Deep cultural insight into Maharashtra's rich literary tradition.
  • Generally scoring with proper preparation.
  • Availability of study materials and resources.
  • Grammar section where candidates can get full marks.
  • Limited competition is due to fewer candidates choosing literature subjects.
  • Enjoyable preparation for literature enthusiasts, with engaging content.
  • Enhanced exam performance for those with strong reading and writing skills.
  • Stable syllabus, ensuring the long-term relevance of your preparation.

Cons of UPSC Marathi Literature Optional

  • Making a strong impression requires unique responses in Marathi literature.
  • - Marathi literature is perceived as less scoring due to subjective interpretations.
  • Choosing Marathi literature is recommended if you have a profound knowledge of it, ideally from academic studies, due to extensive reading requirements.
  • Limited coaching resources are available for Marathi literature.
UPSC Literature Optional Syllabus
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Marathi Literature Optional Preparation Tips 

Equip yourself with effective strategies for mastering Marathi literature, from comprehensive reading to rigorous practice and collaborative learning. Here we have provided some tips through which you can strategise your preparation and prepare well to excel in your exams:
    1. Understand the Syllabus: First, read the complete syllabus. The syllabus should be readily available for reference. Gather all the books. Strategize syllabus according to mark distribution.
  • Avoid Grammatical Errors: You should be proficient in this part. Frequent mistakes in this part can not be tolerated by examiners. You must be adept in its application while writing answers.
  • Paper II Syllabus: Read books mentioned in the syllabus of Paper II as a beginner. Try to write a summary of these books. Get this summary evaluated by experts, and based on their feedback, decide the future course of action.
  1. Thorough Reading: Start with a thorough reading of prescribed texts, focusing on understanding the context, themes, and literary devices used.
  2. Annotations and Notes: Make concise notes and annotations while reading, highlighting key points, quotes, and important passages for quick revision. You can also find Marathi literature notes in pdf format online to boost your preparation.
  3. Practice Writing: Regularly practice answering essay-type and analytical questions to improve writing skills and time management. Stay relevant to what is being asked in the question.
  4. Use Marathi Newspaper: Read good newspaper articles to gain command over Marathi. Try to write a summary of this article in your own words. It will help you to improve your proficiency in Marathi.
  5. PYQ’s and Mock Tests: Take  and solve the previous year's question papers to assess preparation levels and identify areas that need improvement.
  6. Use Other Language Literature: Incorporate references from other languages wherever possible, such as Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, etc. It can add uniqueness to your answer and give you a competitive edge.
  7. Discussion and Revision: Engage in discussions with peers or mentors to gain different perspectives, and revise regularly to reinforce understanding.

Marathi Literature Optional UPSC Previous Year's Question Paper

Analyzing the previous year's question papers can offer valuable insights into the exam's structure, types of questions asked, and key focus areas. Here are the previous years’ question papers through which you can practice understanding the pattern and syllabus better:
Year Download Link
2023 Marathi Literature Optional Paper I
Marathi Literature Optional Paper II
2022 Marathi Literature Optional Paper I
Marathi Literature Optional Paper II
2021 Marathi Literature Optional Paper I
Marathi Literature Optional Paper II
2019 Marathi Literature Optional Paper I
  Marathi Literature Optional Paper II

Marathi Literature Optional UPSC Books For Paper I & Paper II

Books for the UPSC Marathi Literature Optional include a variety of topics for both Paper I and II. Candidates should analyze and understand these texts deeply to do well on the exam.
 Books
  • Athavaninche Pakshi – P.I. Sonkamble
  • Balakvinchi Kavita – Balkavi
  • Damayanti-Swayamvar – Raghunath Pandit
  • Ekek Paan Galavaya – Gouri Deshpande
  • Brahmankany – S.V. Ketkar
  • Lōkasāhitya mimānsā – Vishwanath Shinde
  • Jevha Mi Jaat Chorli Hoti – Baburao Bagul
  • Jana Hey Volatu Jethe – Sharchchandra Muktibodh
  • Jahirnama- Narayan Surve
  • Mridgandh’ – Vinda Karandikar
  • Ya Sattet Jeev Ramat Nahi’ – Namdev Dhasa
  • Painjan – Ed: M.N. Adwant Sahitya Prasar Kendra
  • Namadevanchi Abhangawani – Ed: Inamdar, Relekar, Mirajkar
  • Pradashikna 1 and 2
  • Prācīna marāṭhī vāṅmayācā itihāsa – la. Rā. Nasirābādakara
  • Shilan’ – Uddhav Shelke
  • Sashtang Namaskar – P.K. Atre
  • Sandhyakalchya Kavita -Grace
  • Shetkaryacha Asud’, ‘Sarvajanik Satyadharma’ – Mahatma Jotiba Phule
  • Smritishala
  • Vishakha’ -Kusumagraj
  • Sugama marāṭhī vyākaraṇa va lēkhana – Mo. Ra. Valambe
However, you can prepare for Paper II through prescribed literary texts from various genres, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of Marathi literature.

UPSC Marathi Literature Syllabus FAQs

Is proficiency in Marathi required for choosing this option?

Yes, a good command of Marathi is necessary to understand, analyze, and interpret the literature effectively.

Are English translations of Marathi literary works sufficient for preparation?

While English translations can help understand the themes and contexts, reading original texts in Marathi is essential for deeper comprehension.

How can I effectively prepare for the optional Marathi literature?

Focus on thoroughly understanding the prescribed texts, analyzing literary trends, and practising writing answers.

Where can I find study materials for Marathi literature?

Look for books by renowned Marathi authors, university syllabi, and online resources dedicated to Marathi literature.

Can I score well in UPSC with Marathi literature as my optional?

Yes, with dedicated preparation and a deep understanding of the literature, Marathi literature can be a scoring option.
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