Can I use Bengali language in UPSC interview?

Candidates can opt for English, Hindi or any other regional language when facing the UPSC panel.

Is Bengali literature a good optional for UPSC?

It is a highly skilled subject and the candidates who have Bengali as a subject in their curriculum course or the language is their mother tongue and they are well-versed then only candidates should opt for it.

Is Bengali language available in UPSC exam?

Bengali is one of the UPSC's optional literary subjects for the UPSC Mains test.

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025 for IAS Mains Exam

Table of Contents

The UPSC Mains exam requires candidates to choose an optional subject, and Bengali Literature is a great choice. As one of India’s 22 official languages, this subject covers Bengal’s rich literary tradition, from ancient to modern works, including famous authors, genres, and movements. It helps candidates understand the socio-cultural contexts and themes of Bengali literature, offering a deep knowledge of Bengal’s cultural heritage. This article will explore the Bengali literature to help candidates score high marks in the subject.

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025 Overview

Candidates who have studied Bengali or are proficient in the language have the opportunity to take advantage of this subject. The exam requires writing in the Bengali script. The UPSC Mains examination includes two papers for Bengali Literature, namely Paper-I and Paper-II, each carrying 250 marks, totaling 500 marks.

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025 Overview
Name of Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Mode Of Exam	paper pen (offline mode) based examination
Name of Exam	Bengali Literature
Bengali Literature Optional Subject	Paper I & II
Total Marks	250 Marks for Each (Paper I & II)
Total Time	3 Hours Each
Language of Question Paper	English and Hindi only
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

UPSC Mains Result 2024

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025

Candidates preparing for the UPSC 2025 exams should refer to the official Bengali syllabus provided by UPSC to help in their preparation. The detailed UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus is available for reference.

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus for Optional Paper I

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025: Below is the syllabus for Paper-I of Bengali Literature in the civil services examination.

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025 for Mains Optional Paper I (Answers must be written in Bengali)
History of Language and Literature	Chronological track from Proto-Indo-European to Bangla
	Historical stages of Bangla and their linguistic features (Old, Middle, New)
	Dialects of Bangla and its distinguishing characteristics
	Elements of Bangla Vocabulary
	Forms of Bangla Literary Prose—Sadhu and Chalit
	Processes of language change relevant for Bangla- Apinihiti (Anaptyxis), Abhishruti (umlaut), Murdhanyibhavan (centralization), 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
	Problems of standardization and reform of alphabet and spelling and those of transliteration and Romanization
	Phonology, Morphology, and Syntax of Modern Bangla
History of Bangla Literature	Periodization of Bangla Literature: Old Bangla and Middle Bangla
	Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature
	Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature
	Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms; Mangal Kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, Adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata), and religious biographies
	Secular forms in middle Bangla literature
	Narrative and lyric trends in Nineteenth-century Bangla Poetry
	Development of prose
	Bangla dramatic literature (19th century, Tagore, Bangla drama)
	Tagore and post-Tagoreans
	Fiction authors: Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibhusan, Tarasankar, Manik
	Women and Bangla literature: creators and created

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus for Optional Paper II

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025: Below is the syllabus for Paper II of Bengali Literature in the civil services examination.

UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus 2025 for Mains Optional Paper II (Answers must be written in Bengali)
Part A	Vaishnava Padavali- Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas and Balaramdas
	Chandimangal Kalketu episode- Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi)
	Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila- Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi)
	Meghnadbadh Kavya- Madhusudan Dutta
	Kapalkundala- Bankimchandra Chatterjee
	Samya and Bangadesher Krishak- Bankimchandra Chatterjee
	Sonar Tari- Rabindranath Tagore
	Chhinnapatravali- Rabindranath Tagore
Part B	Raktakarabi- Rabindranath Tagore
	Nabajatak- Rabindranath Tagore
	Grihadaha- Saratchandra Chatterjee
	Prabandha Samgraha, Vol. 1- Pramatha Choudhuri
	Aranyak- Bibhutibhusan Banerjee
	Short stories- Manik Bandyopadhyay: Atashi Mami, Pragaitihasik, Holud-Pora, Sarisrip, Haraner Natjamai, Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri, Kustharogir Bou, Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy
	Shrestha Kavita- Jibanananda Das
	Jagori- Satinath Bhaduri
	Ebam Indrajit- Badal Sircar

UPSC Bengali Literature Exam Pattern 2025

The UPSC Civil Services exam is one of the most prestigious government exams. Candidates should keep the exam pattern and marking scheme in thier mind to plan their preparation for both prelims and mains. The preliminary exam comprises a total of 400 marks and consists of a general studies paper and an aptitude test. You must qualify the prelims to appear for the mains exam. The UPSC mains includes several papers, including the Bengali Literature Optional paper. Here’s the exam pattern for the mains:

UPSC Bengali Literature Exam Pattern 2025
Mains Papers	Subject	Marks
Paper VI	Optional Subject Paper-I	250
Paper VII	Optional Subject Paper-II	250
Total		500
Time duration		3 hours (180 minutes)

How to prepare for UPSC Bengali Literature Exam

Check out the following tips to prepare for UPSC Bengali Literature Exam.

Know the syllabus. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the syllabus for the exam. This will give you an idea of the topics that will be covered and the level of detail that you need to know.
Select the best reference books. There are several good reference books available for the UPSC Bengali Literature Exam. You will need to select the books that are most suitable for your learning style and level of preparation.
Create a study plan. Once you have selected your reference books, you need to create a study plan. This will help you to stay on track and make sure that you are covering all of the important topics.
Start studying early. The UPSC Bengali Literature Exam is a competitive exam, so it is important to start studying early. This will give you time to learn the material and develop your writing skills.
Practice writing. The UPSC Bengali Literature Exam requires you to write essays and answer questions in Bengali. It is important to practice writing in Bengali regularly. This will help you to improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills.
Solve previous year’s question papers. The UPSC Bengali Literature Exam is pattern-based. This means that the questions that are asked in the exam are similar to the questions that have been asked in previous years. Solving previous year’s question papers will help you to get familiar with the pattern of the exam and the type of questions that are asked.
Take mock tests. Mock tests are a great way to assess your preparation and identify areas where you need to improve. Taking mock tests will also help you get used to the pressure of the exam.
Get feedback from your mentors. If you have mentors or tutors, it is helpful to get feedback from them on your progress. They can help you to identify areas where you need to improve and provide you with tips on how to improve your writing skills.
Stay motivated. The UPSC Bengali Literature Exam is a challenging exam, but it is important to stay motivated throughout the preparation process. Remember why you are taking the exam and keep your focus on your goals.