Manipuri Literature

About this optional

Manipuri 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, Manipuri 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 Manipuri.
• 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 Manipuri may be written in the Bengali or the Meitei Mayek script: the question paper is printed in the Bengali script, and candidates are free to answer in either 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 Manipuri Literature Paper I, as printed in the notice (the Commission's own wording, spelling and numbering).

(Answers must be written in Manipuri)

Section A

Language:

(a) General characteristics of Manipuri Language and history of its development; its importance and status among the Tibeto-Burman Languages of North-East India; recent development in the study of Manipuri Language; evolution and study of old Manipuri script.

(b) Significant features of Manipuri Language:
(i) Phonology: Phoneme-vowels, consonants juncture, tone, consonant cluster and its occurrence, syllable-its structure, pattern and types.
(ii) Morphology: Word-class, root and its types; affix and its types; grammatical categories-gender, number, person, case, tense and aspects, process of compounding (samas and sandhi).
(iii) Syntax: Word order; types of sentences, phrase and clause structures.

Section B

(a) Literary History of Manipuri:
Early period (up to 17th Century)–Social and cultural background; Themes, diction and style of the works.
Medieval period (18th and 19th Century)-Social, religious and political background; Themes, diction and style of the works.
Modern period-Growth of major literary forms; change of Themes, diction and style.

(b) Manipuri Folk Literature:
Legend, Folktale, Folksong, Ballad, Proverb and Riddle.

(c) Aspects of Manipuri Culture:
Pre-Hindu Manipuri Faith; Advent of Hinduism and the process of syncreticism;
Performing arts-Lai Haraoba, Maha Ras;
Indigenous games-Sagol Kangjei, Khong Kangjei, Kang.

Paper II

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

(Answers must be written in Manipuri)

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

Section A: Old and Medieval Manipuri Literature

(a) Old Manipuri Literature:
1. O. Bhogeswar Singh (Ed.): Numit Kappa
2. M. Gourachandra Singh (Ed.): Thawanthaba Hiran
3. N. Khelchandra Singh (Ed.): Naothingkhong Phambal Kaba
4. M. Chandra Singh (Ed.): Panthoibi Khonggul

(b) Medieval Manipuri Literature:
1. M. Chandra Singh (Ed.): Samsok Ngamba
2. R.K. Snahal Singh (Ed.): Ramayana Adi Kanda
3. N. Khelchandra Singh (Ed.): Dhananjoy Laibu Ningba
4. O. Bhogeswar Singh (Ed.): Chandrakirti Jila Changba

Section B: Modern Manipuri Literature

(a) Poetry and Epic

(I) Poetry:

(a) Manipuri Sheireng (Pub) Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, 1998 (Ed.)
Kh. Chaoba Singh: Pi Thadoi, Lamgi Chekla Amada, Loktak
Dr. L. Kamal Singh: Nirjanata, Nirab Rajani
A. Minaketan Singh: Kamalda, Nonggumlalkkhoda.
L. Samarendra Singh: Ingagi Nong, Mamang Leikai Thambal Satle
E. Nilakanta Singh: Manipur, Lamangnaba
Shri Biren: Tangkhul Hui
Th. Ibopishak: Anouba Thunglaba Jiba.

(b) Kanchi Sheireng. (Pub) Manipur University 1998 (Ed.)
Dr. L. Kamal Singh: Biswa-Prem
Shri Biren: Chaphadraba Laigi Yen
Th. Ibopishak: Norok Patal Prithivi

(II) Epic:

1. A. Dorendrajit Singh: Kansa Bodha
2. H. Anganghal Singh: Khamba-Thoibi Sheireng (San-Senba, Lei Langba, Shamu Khonggi Bichar)

(III) Drama:

1. S. Lalit Singh: Areppa Marup
2. G.C. Tongbra: Matric Pass
3. A. Samarendra: Judge Saheb ki Imung

(b) Novel, Short-story and Prose

(I) Novel:

1. Dr. L. Kamal Singh: Madhabi
2. H. Anganghal Singh: Jahera
3. H. Guno Singh: Laman
4. Pacha Meetei: Imphal Amasung, Magi Ishing, Nungsitki Phibam

(II) Short-story:

(a) Kanchi Warimacha (Pub) Manipur University 1997 (Ed.)
R.K. Shitaljit Singh: Kamala Kamala
M.K. Binodini: Eigi Thahoudraba Heitup Lalu
Kh. Prakash: Wanom Shareng

(b) Parishadki Khangatlaba Warimacha (Pub) Manipuri Sahitya Parishad 1994 (Ed.)
S. Nilbir Shastri: Loukhatpa
R.K. Elangba: Karinunggi

(c) Anouba Manipuri Warimacha (Pub) The Cultural Forum Manipur 1992 (Ed.)
N. Kunjamohon Singh: Ijat Tanba
E. Dinamani: Nongthak Khongnang

(III) Prose:

(a) Warenggi Saklon [Due Part] (Pub) The Cultural Forum Manipur 1992 (Ed.)
Kh. Chaoba Singh: Khamba-Thoibigi Wari Amasung Mahakavya

(b) Kanchi Wareng (Pub) Manipur University, 1998 (Ed.)
B. Manisana Shastri: Phajaba
Ch. Manihar Singh: Lai-Haraoba

(c) Apunba Wareng (Pub) Manipur University, 1986 (Ed.)
Ch. Pishak Singh: Samaj Amasung Sanskriti
M.K. Binodini: Thoibidu Warouhouida
Eric Newton: Kalagi Mahousa (translated by I.R. Babu)

(d) Manipuri Wareng (Pub) The Cultural Forum Manipur 1999 (Ed.)
S. Krishnamohan Singh: Lan

Overlaps with General Studies

• General Studies I: Paper I, Section B (c) is itself a short course in Manipur's culture: the pre-Hindu faith, the coming of Hinduism and the blending of the two, the performing arts of Lai Haraoba and Maha Ras (the Ras Lila of Manipuri dance) and indigenous games such as Sagol Kangjei (polo). These serve answers on the art forms and cultural diversity of North-East India.
• General Studies II: Manipuri is one of the languages of the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (added in 1992 by the Seventy-first Amendment); the Schedule and the official-language provisions are part of the polity syllabus.
• Indian Language (qualifying): Paper A is not compulsory for candidates from Manipur and some other North-Eastern States, but a candidate who takes Manipuri as the Paper A language practises the same reading and writing skills. 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.