Odia Literature

About this optional

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

(Answers must be written in Odia)

Section A: History of Odia Language

(i) Origin and development of Odia Language—Influence of Austric, Dravidian, Perso—Arabic and English on Odia Language.
(ii) Phonetics and Phonemics: Vowels, Consonants Principles of changes in Odia sounds.
(iii) Morphology: Morphemes (free, bound compound and complex), derivational and inflectional affixes, case inflection, conjugation of verb.
(iv) Syntax: Kinds of sentences and their trans-formation, structure of sentences.
(v) Semantics—Different types of change in meaning. Euphemism.
(vi) Common errors in spellings, grammatical uses and construction of sentences.
(vii) Regional variations in Odia Language (Western, Southern and Northern Odia) and Dialects (Bhatri and Desia).

Section B: History of Odia Literature

(i) Historical backgrounds (social, cultural and political) of Odia Literature of different periods.
(ii) Ancient epics, ornate kavyas and padavalis.
(iii) Typical structural forms of Odia Literature (Koili, Chautisa, Poi, Chaupadi, Champu).
(iv) Modern trends in poetry, drama short story, novel essay and literary criticism.

Paper II

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

(Answers must be written in Odia)

Critical Study of texts—

The paper will require first hand reading of the text and test the critical ability of the candidate.

Section A: Poetry

(Ancient)
1. Sãralã Dãs—Shanti Parva from Mahãbhãrata.
2. Jaganãth Dãs—Bhãgabata, XI Skadhã—Jadu Avadhuta Sambãda.

(Medieval)
3. Dinakrushna Dãs—Raskallola—(Chhãndas—16 & 34)
4. Upendra Bhanja—Lãvanyabati (Chhãndas—1 & 2).

(Modern)
5. Rãdhãnath Rãy—Chandrabhãgã.
6. Mãyãdhar Mänasinha—Jeevan—Chitã.
7. Sãtchidananda Routray—Kabitã—1962.
8. Ramãkãnta Ratha—Saptama Ritu.

Section B

Drama:
9. Manoranjan Dãs—Kätha-Ghoda.
10. Bijay Mishra—Tata Niranjanä.

Novel:
11. Fakir Mohan Senãpati—Chhamãna Ãthaguntha.
12. Gopinãth Mohãnty—Dãnãpani.

Short Story:
13. Surendra Mohãnty—Marãlara Mrityu.
14. Manoj Dãs—Laxmira Abhisãra.

Essay:
15. Chittaranjan Dãs—Tranga O Tadit (First Five essays).
16. Chandra Sekhar Rath—Mun Satyadharmã Kahuchhi (First five essays).

Overlaps with General Studies

• General Studies I: Indian culture includes the salient aspects of literature from ancient to modern times. Sarala Das's Mahabharata and Jagannath Das's Bhagabata, the ornate kavyas of Upendra Bhanja and the padavalis are material for answers on medieval regional literature and the Bhakti tradition of Odisha; Fakir Mohan Senapati's Chhamana Athaguntha, a novel about land and peasants under colonial rule, connects with the social history of modern India.
• General Studies II: Odia is one of the languages of the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (the Ninety-sixth Amendment of 2011 changed its name in the Schedule from Oriya to Odia); the Schedule and the official-language provisions are part of the polity syllabus.
• Indian Language (qualifying): a candidate who also takes Odia 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.