Malayalam Literature

About this optional

Malayalam Literature is one of the optional subjects of the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination. The Commission's list of optional subjects includes the literature of any one of 23 languages, Malayalam among them. A candidate chooses one optional subject, 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 the answers

• The syllabus states, for both papers, that answers must be written in Malayalam.
• The notice's general rule for all literature papers: a candidate may be required to answer some or all of the questions in the language concerned, and any question not required to be answered in a specific language is answered in the medium the candidate has chosen for the Essay, General Studies and optional papers.
• In this examination Malayalam is written in the Malayalam script.
• The rule that question papers are set in Hindi and English only applies to the other papers, not to the literature papers.

Paper I

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

(Answers must be written in Malayalam)

Section A

1—Early phase of Malayalam Language:
1.1 Various theories: Origin from proto Dravidian, Tamil, Sanskrit.
1.2 Relation between Tamil and Malayalam: Six nayas of A. R. Rajarajavarma.
1.3 Pattu School—Definition, Ramacharitam, later pattu works—Niranam works and Krishnagatha.

2—Linguistic features of:
2.1 Manipravalam—definition. Language of early manipravala works—Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works. Later manipravala works—medieval Champu and Attakkatha.
2.2 Folklore—Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.
2.3 Early Malayalam Prose—Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.

3—Standardisation of Malayalam:
3.1 Peculiarities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.
3.2 Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.
3.3 Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam; Malayalam as administrative language. Language of scientific and technical literature—media language.

Section B: LITERARY HISTORY

4—Ancient and Medieval Literature:
4.1 Pattu—Ramacharitam, Niranam Works and Krishnagatha.
4.2 Manipravalam—early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
4.3 Folk Literature.
4.4 Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

5—Modern Literature—Poetry:
5.1 Venmani poets and contemporaries.
5.2 The advent of Romanticism—Poetry of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol.
5.3 Poetry after Kavitraya.
5.4 Modernism in Malayalam Poetry.

6—Modern Literature—Prose:
6.1 Drama.
6.2 Novel.
6.3 Short story.
6.4 Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.

Paper II

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

(Answers must be written in Malayalam)

This paper will require first hand reading of the texts prescribed and is designed to test the candidate's critical ability.

Section A

Unit 1
1.1 Ramacharitam—Patalam 1.
1.2 Kannassaramayanam—Balakandam first 25 stanzas.
1.3 Unnunilisandesam—Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana.
1.4 Mahabharatham Kilippattu—Bhishmaparvam.

Unit 2
2.1 Kumaran Asan—Chintavisthayaya Sita.
2.2 Vailoppilli—Kutiyozhikkal.
2.3 G. Sankara Kurup—Perunthachan.
2.4 N. V. Krishna Variar—Tivandiyile pattu.

Unit 3
3.1 O. N. V.—Bhumikkoru Charamagitam.
3.2 Ayyappa Panicker—Kurukshetram.
3.3 Akkittam—Pandatha Messanthi.
3.4 Attur Ravivarma—Megharupan.

Section B

Unit 4
4.1 O. Chanthu Menon—Indulekha.
4.2 Thakazhy—Chemmin.
4.3 O. V. Vijayan—Khasakkinte Ithihasam.

Unit 5
5.1 M. T. Vasudevan Nair—Vanaprastham (Collection).
5.2 N. S. Madhavan—Higvitta (Collection).
5.3 C. J. Thomas—1128-il Crime 27.

Unit 6
6.1 Kuttikrishna Marar—Bharataparyatanam.
6.2 M. K. Sanu—Nakshatrangalute Snehabhajanam.
6.3 V. T. Bhatttathirippad—Kannirum Kinavum.

Overlaps with General Studies

• General Studies I: Indian culture includes the salient aspects of literature and art forms from ancient to modern times. Manipravalam, the Pattu school, Kilippattu and Tullal, and Attakkatha (the literary text of Kathakali) serve answers on South Indian literature and performing arts; the contribution of European missionaries and the rise of the modern novel connect with the social and cultural history of modern India.
• General Studies II: Malayalam is one of the languages of the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (one of the languages listed since the Constitution came into force); the Schedule and the official-language provisions are part of the polity syllabus. Malayalam as an administrative language (Paper I, 3.3) is the same theme seen from the State's side.
• Indian Language (qualifying): a candidate who also takes Malayalam as the Paper A language gets daily practice in reading and writing it, though Paper A is only of Matriculation standard and qualifying.
• Essay: wide reading in a literature, and the habit of critical writing, help with essays on culture, society and values.

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.