Sanskrit Literature · UPSC Civil Services

About this optional

Sanskrit 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 a set of listed languages, and this is one of 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.

Paper	Subject paper	Marks	Duration
Paper VI	Sanskrit Literature Paper I	250	3 hours
Paper VII	Sanskrit Literature Paper II	250	3 hours

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 rule for all literature papers: the notice says a candidate may be required to answer some or all of the questions in the language concerned, and 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.
For Sanskrit the syllabus itself says which questions must be answered in Sanskrit: in Paper I, three questions indicated in the question paper (the rest in Sanskrit or in your medium); in Paper II, the groups named at the head of each section below.
Script: Devanagari.

Paper I

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

There will be three questions as indicated in the Question Paper which must be answered in Sanskrit. The Remaining questions must be answered either in Sanskrit or in the medium of examination opted by the candidate.

Section A

1. Significant features of the grammar, with particular stress on Sanjna, Sandhi, Karaka, Samasa, Kartari and Karmani vacyas (voice usages) (to be answered in Sanskrit).

(a) Main characteristics of Vedic Sanskrit language
(b) Prominent feature of classical Sanskrit language
(c) Contribution of Sanskrit to linguistic studies

3. General Knowledge of:—

(a) Literary history of Sanskrit
(b) Principal trends of literary criticism
(c) Ramayana
(d) Mahabharata
(e) The origin and development of literary geners of:
- Mahakavya
- Rupaka (drama)
- Katha
- Akhyayika
- Campu
- Khandakavya
- Muktaka Kavya.

Section B

4. Essential of Indian Culture with stress on:

(a) Purusãrthas
(b) Samskãras
(c) Varnãsramavyavasthã
(d) Arts and fine arts
(e) Technical Sciences.

5. Trends of Indian Philosophy

(a) Mïmansã
(b) Vedãnta
(c) Nyaya
(d) Vaisesika
(e) Sãnkhya
(f) Yoga
(g) Bauddha
(h) Jaina
(i) Carvãka

6. Short Essay (in Sanskrit)

7. Unseen passage with the questions (to be answered in Sanskrit).

Paper II

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

Question from Group 4 is to be answered in Sanskrit only. Questions from Groups 1, 2 and 3 are to be answered either in Sanskrit or in the medium opted by the candidate.

Section A

General study of the following groups:—

Group 1

(a) Raghuvamsam—Kalidasa
(b) Kumarasambhavam—Kalidasa
(c) Kiratarjuniyam—Bharavi
(d) Sisupalavadham—Magha
(e) Naisadhiyacaritam—Sriharsa
(f) Kadambari—Banabhatta
(g) Dasakumaracaritam—Dandin
(h) Sivarajyodayam—S.B. Varnekar

Group 2

(a) Isãvãsyopanisad
(b) Bhagavadgitã
(c) Sundarakanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana
(d) Arthasastra of Kautilya

Group 3

(a) Svapanavasavadattam—Bhasa
(b) Abhijnanasakuntalam—Kalidasa
(c) Mricchakatikam—Sudraka
(d) Mudraraksasam—Visakhadatta
(e) Uttararamacaritam—Bhavbhuti
(f) Ratnavali—Sriharshavardhana
(g) Venisamharam—Bhattanarayana

Group 4

Short notes in Sanskrit on the following:—

(a) Meghadutam—Kalidasa
(b) Nitisatakam—Bhartrhari
(c) Pancatantra
(d) Rajatarangini—Kalhana
(e) Harsacaritam—Banabhatta
(f) Amarukasatakam—Amaruka
(g) Gitagovindam—Jayadeva.

Section B

This section will require first hand reading of the following selected texts:— (Questions from Groups 1 & 2 are to be answered in Sanskrit only) Questions from Groups 3 and 4 are to be answered either in Sanskrit or in the Medium opted by the candidate.

Group 1

(a) Raghuvamsam—Canto I, Verses 1 to 10
(b) Kumarasambhavam—Canto I, Verses 1 to 10
(c) Kiratarjuniyaue—Canto I, Verses 1 to 10

Group 2

(a) Isavasyopanisad—Verses—1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 15 and 18
(b) Bhagavatgita II Chapter Verses 13 to 25
(c) Sundarakandam of Valmiki Canto 15, Verses 15 to 30 (Geeta Press Edition)

Group 3

(a) Meghadutam—Verses 1 to 10
(b) Nitisatakam—Verses 1 to 10 (Edited by D.D. Kosambi Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Publication)
(c) Kadambari—Sukanasopadesa (only)

Group 4

(a) Svapnavasavadattam Act VI
(b) Abhijnansakuntalam Act IV Verses 15 to 30 (M.R. Kale Edition)
(c) Uttararamacaritam Act I Verses 31 to 47 (M.R. Kale Edition).

Overlaps with General Studies

General Studies I: Indian culture (art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times). The literary history of Sanskrit, the epics, the classical kavyas and dramas, and the essentials of Indian culture (purusarthas, samskaras, arts and technical sciences) all feed this part.
Prelims General Studies Paper I: History of India, whose ancient period takes in the Vedic literature, the epics, Buddhism and Jainism.
General Studies IV: contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India. The Bhagavadgita, the Isavasya Upanishad, the Arthasastra and the Nitisataka are standard sources for ethics answers.
Essay: quotations and ideas from Sanskrit texts for essays on culture, values and governance.

Source: UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, 4 February 2026 (Civil Services Examination, 2026), Appendix I, Section II (B) and Section III, Part B, PDF. Last checked 11 November 2026.