Kannada Literature

About this optional

Kannada 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 Kannada 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.

• 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 Kannada. 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 Kannada script for Kannada.
• 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 Kannada Literature Paper I, as printed in the notice (the Commission's own wording, spelling and numbering).

(Answers must be written in Kannada)

Section A

A. History of Kannada Language

What is Language? General characteristics of Language. Dravidian Family of Languages and its specific features. Antiquity of Kannada Language. Different phases of its Development.

Dialects of Kannada Language: Regional and Social. Various aspects of developments of Kannada Language: phonological and Semantic changes. Language borrowing.

B. History of Kannada Literature

• Ancient Kannada literature: Influence and Trends, Poets for study: Specified poets from Pampa to Ratnakara Varni are to be studied in the light of contents, form and expression: Pampa, Janna, Nagachandra.
• Medieval Kannada literature: Influence and Trends.
• Vachana Literature: Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi.
• Medieval Poets: Harihara, Raghavanka, Kumara-Vyasa.
• Dasa literature: Purandara and Kanaka.
• Sangataya: Ratnakarvarni

C. Modern Kannada literature: Influence, trends and ideologies, Navodaya, Pragatishila, Navya, Dalita and Bandaya.

Section B

A. Poetics and Literary Criticism

Definition and concepts of poetry; Word, Meaning, Alankara, Reeti, Rasa, Dhwani, Auchitya.

Interpretations of Rasa Sutra. Modern Trends of literary criticism: Formalist, Historical, Marxist, Feminist, Post-colonial criticism.

B. Cultural History of Karnataka

• Contribution of Dynasties to the culture of Karnataka: Chalukyas of Badami and Kalyani, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara rulers, in literary context.
• Major religions of Karnataka and their cultural contribution.
• Arts of Karnataka; Sculpture, Architecture, Painting, Music, Dance—in the literary context.
• Unification of Karnataka and its impact of Kannada literature.

Paper II

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

(Answers must be written in Kannada)

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

Section A

A. Old Kannada Literature

• 1. Vikramaarjuna Vijaya of Pampa (Cantos 12 & 13), (Mysore University Pub.)
• 2. Vaddaraadhane (Sukumaraswamyia Kathe, Vidyutchorana Kathe)

B. Medieval Kannada Literature

• 1. Vachana, Kammata, Ed. K. Marulasiddappa K.R. Nagaraj (Bangalore University Pub.)
• 2. Janapriya Kanakasamputa, Ed. D. Javare Gowda (Kannada and Culture Directorate, Bangalore)
• 3. Nambiyannana Ragale, Ed., T.N. Sreekantaiah (Ta. Vem. Smaraka Grantha Male, Mysore)
• 4. Kumaravyasa Bharata: Karna Parva (Mysore University)
• 5. Bharatesha Vaibhava Sangraha Ed Ta. Su. Shama Rao (Mysore University)

Section B

A. Modern Kannada Literature

• 1. Poetry: Hosagannada Kavite, Ed. G.H. Nayak (Kannada Saahitya Parishattu, Bangalore)
• 2. Novel: Bettada Jeeva—Shivarama Karanta
  Madhavi—Anupama Niranjana
  Odalaala—Deva-nuru Mahadeva
• 3. Short Story: Kannada Sanna Kathegalu, Ed. G.H. Nayak (Sahitya Academy, New Delhi)
• 4. Drama: Shudra Tapaswi—Kuvempu. Tughalak—Girish Karnad.
• 5. Vichara Sahitya: Devaru—A.N. Moorty Rao (Pub: D.V.K.Moorty, Mysore.)

B. Folk Literature:

• 1. Janapada Swaroopa—Dr. H.M. Nayak. (Ta. Vem. Smaraka Grantha Male, Mysore.)
• 2. Janpada Geetaanjali—Ed. D. Javare Gowda. (Pub: Sahitya Academy, New Delhi).
• 3. Kannada Janapada Kathegalu—Ed. J.S. Paramashiviaah (Mysore University).
• 4. Beedi Makkalu Beledo. Ed. Kalegowda Nagavara (Pub: Bangalore University).
• 5. Savirada Ogatugalu—Ed. S.G. Imrapura.

Overlaps with General Studies

• General Studies I: the largest overlap for this literature. The cultural history of Karnataka in Paper I (the Chalukyas of Badami and Kalyani, the Rashtrakutas, the Hoysalas and Vijayanagara, with their sculpture, architecture, painting, music and dance) is part of Indian art and culture; the Vachana movement of Basavanna and Akka Mahadevi and the Dasa poets Purandara and Kanaka belong to the Bhakti tradition; and the unification of Karnataka connects with the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines after independence.
• Prelims General Studies Paper I: history of India and Indian culture.
• Essay: examples from Kannada literature, including the Vachana and Dalita and Bandaya writing, for essays on social reform, equality and culture.

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.