Nepali Literature

About this optional

Nepali 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, Nepali 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 Nepali.
• 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 Nepali is written in the Devanagari 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 Nepali Literature Paper I, as printed in the notice (the Commission's own wording, spelling and numbering).

(Answers must be written in Nepali)

Section A

1. History of the origin and development of Nepali as one of the new Indo Aryan Languages.
2. Fundamentals of Nepali Grammar and phonology:
(i) Nominal forms and categories:— Gender, Number, Case, Adjectives, Pronouns, Avyayas
(ii) Verbal forms and categories:— Tense, Aspects, Voice, Roots and Fixes
(iii) Nepali Swara and Vyanjana;
3. Major Dialects of Nepali
4. Standardisation and Modernisation of Nepali with special reference to language movements (viz. Halanta Bahiskar, Jharrovad etc.)
5. Teaching of Nepali language in India—Its history and development with special reference to its socio-cultural aspects.

Section B

1. History of Nepali literature with special reference to its development in India.
2. Fundamental concepts and theories of Literature: Kavya/Sahitya, Kavya Prayojan, Literary genres, Shabda Shakti, Rasa, Alankara, Tragedy, Comedy, Aesthetics, Stylistics.
3. Major literary trends and movements— Swachchhandatavad, Yatharthavad, Astitwavad, Ayamik Movement Contemporary Nepali writings, Postmodernism.
4. Nepali folklores (the following folk-form only)—Sawai, Jhyaurey, Selo, Sangini, Lahari.

Paper II

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

(Answers must be written in Nepali)

This paper will require first hand reading of the texts prescribed below and questions will be designed to test the candidate's critical acumen.

Section A

1. Santa Jnandil Das: Udaya Lahari
2. Lekhnath Poudyal: Tarun Tapasi (Vishrams III, V, VI, XII, XV, XVIII only)
3. Agam Sing Giri: Jaleko Pratibimba Royeko Pratidhwani (The following Poems only-Prasawako Chichyahatsanga Byunjheko Ek Raat, Chhorolai, Jaleko Pratibimba: Royeko Pratidhwani, Hamro Akashmani Pani Hunchha Ujyalo, Tihar).
4. Haribhakta Katuwal: Yo Zinadagi Khai Ke Zindagi: (The following poems only-Jeevan: Ek Dristi, Yo Zindagi Khai Ke Zindagi, Akashka Tara Ke Tara, Hamilai Nirdho Nasamjha, Khai Manyata Yahan Atmahutiko Balidan Ko).
5. Balkrishna Sama: Prahlad.
6. Manbahadur Mukhia: Andhyaroma Banchneharu (The following One-Act only-Andhyaroma Banchneharu' ‘Suskera’)

Section B

1. Indra Sundas: Sahara.
2. Lilbahadur Chhetri: Brahmaputra ko Chheuchhau
3. Rupnarayan Sinha: Katha Navaratna (The following stories only—Biteka Kura, Jimmewari Kasko, Dhanamatiko Cinema—Swapna, Vidhwasta Jeevan).
4. Indrabahadur Rai: Vipana Katipaya (The following stories only—Raatbhari Huri Chalyo, Jayamaya Aphumatra Lekhapani Aipugi, Bhagi, Ghosh Babu, Chhutuaiyo).
5. Sanu Lama: Katha Sampaad (The following stories only—Swasni Manchhey, Khani Tarma Ekdin, Phurbale Gaun Chhadyo, Asinapo Manchhey).
6. Laxmi Prasad Devkota: Laxmi Nibandha Sangraha (The following essays only—Sri Ganeshaya Namha, Nepali Sahityako Itihasma Sarvashrestha Purus, Kalpana, Kala Ra Jeevan, Gadha Buddhiman ki Guru?)
7. Ramkrishna Sharma: Das Gorkha (The following essays only—Kavi, Samaj Ra Sahitya, Sahityama Sapekshata, Sahityik Ruchiko Praudhata, Nepali Sahityako Pragati).

Note: the notice prints these two sections as a table of author and work; the author's name is given first here.

Overlaps with General Studies

• General Studies I: Indian culture includes the salient aspects of literature from ancient to modern times. The syllabus is unusual in looking at Nepali as a language of India: its development in India, the language movements, its teaching in India and its folk forms connect with the GS I themes of India's linguistic and cultural diversity, particularly in Sikkim, the Darjeeling hills and the North-East.
• General Studies II: Nepali 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): a candidate who also takes Nepali 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.