Bodo Literature · UPSC Civil Services

About this optional

Bodo Literature is one of the optional subjects of the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination: the notice offers the literature of any one of a list of languages as an optional subject, and Bodo is one of them. A candidate chooses one optional subject from the Commission's list, and it is examined in two papers: Paper VI (Optional Subject Paper 1) and Paper VII (Optional Subject Paper 2) of the Main Examination. Both papers are counted for merit. See UPSC Mains: Optional Subject (two papers) for the full list of optional subjects.

Paper	Subject paper	Marks	Duration
Paper VI	Bodo Literature Paper I	250	3 hours
Paper VII	Bodo Literature Paper II	250	3 hours

Questions are of the conventional (essay) type.
The two papers carry 500 of the 1,750 marks of the written part; the written marks and the Personality Test (275 marks) together decide the final ranking.
The scope of the optional papers is broadly of the honours degree level: higher than the bachelor's degree and lower than the master's degree.
Language of answers: the syllabus says, for both papers, that answers must be written in Bodo. The notice adds, for every literature optional, that a candidate may be required to answer some or all of the questions in the language concerned, and that questions not required to be answered in a specific language are answered in the medium the candidate has chosen for the Essay, General Studies and optional papers.
Script: the notice prescribes the Devanagari script for Bodo.
The rule that question papers are set in Hindi and English only does not apply to the literature papers.

Paper I

The official syllabus of Bodo Literature Paper I, as printed in the notice (the Commission's own wording, spelling and numbering).

History of Bodo Language and Literature

[Answers must be written in Bodo]

Section A: History of Bodo Language

1. Homeland, language family, its present status and its mutual contact with Assamese.
2. (a) phonemes: Vowel and Consonant Phonemes.
(b) Tones.
3. Morphology: Gender, Case and Case endings, Plural suffix, Definitives, Verbal suffix.
4. Vocabulary and its sources.
5. Syntax: Types of sentences, Word Order.
6. History of scripts used in writing Bodo Language since inception.

Section B: History of Bodo Literature

1. General introduction of Bodo folk Literature.
2. Contribution of the Missionaries.
3. Periodization of Bodo Literature.
4. Critical analysis of different genre (Poetry, Novel, Short Story and Drama).
5. Translation Literature.

Paper II

The official syllabus of Bodo Literature Paper II, as printed in the notice (the Commission's own wording, spelling and numbering).

The paper will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the critical ability of the candidates.

(Answers must be written in Bodo)

Section A

(a) Khonthai-Methai (Edited by Madaram Brahma & Rupnath Brahma)
(b) Hathorkhi-Hala (Edited by Pramod Chandra Brahma)
(c) Boroni Gudi Sibsa Arw Aroz: Madaram Brahma
(d) Raja Nilambar: Dwarendra Nath Basumatary
(e) Bibar (prose section) (Edited by Satish Chandra Basumatary).

Section B

(a) Bibi Bithai (Aida Nwi): Bihuram Boro
(b) Radab: Samar Brahma Chaudhury
(c) Okhrang Gongse Nangou: Brajendra Kumar Brahma
(d) Baisagu Arw Harimu: Laksheswar Brahma
(e) Gwdan Boro: Manoranjan Lahary
(f) Jujaini Or: Chittaranjan Muchahary
(g) Mwihoor: Dharanidhar Wary
(h) Hor Badi Khwmsi: Kamal Kumar Brahma
(i) Jaolia Dewan: Mangal Singh Hozowary
(j) Hagra Guduni Mwi: Nilkamal Brahma

Source: UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, 4 February 2026 (Civil Services Examination, 2026), Appendix I, Section III, Part B, PDF. Last checked 11 November 2026.