Santhali Literature · UPSC Civil Services

About this optional

Santhali 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	Santhali Literature Paper I	250	3 hours
Paper VII	Santhali 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 Santhali the syllabus says answers must be written in Santhali in both papers.
Script: the question paper is printed in Devanagari script, and candidates are free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchiki.

Paper I

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

(Answers must be written in Santhali)

Section A

Part I—History of Santhali Language

1. Main Austric Language family, population and distribution.
2. Grammatical structure of Santhali Language.
3. Important character of Santhali Language: Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Translation, Lexicography.
4. Impact of other languages of Santhali.
5. Standardization of Santhali Language.

Part II—History of Santhali Literature

1. Literary trend of the following four periods of history of Santhali Literature.
- (a) Ancient Literature before 1854.
- (b) Missionary period Literature between 1855 to 1889 AD.
- (c) Medieval period: Literature between 1890 to 1946 AD.
- (d) Modern period: Literature from 1947 AD to till date.
2. Writing tradition in History of Santhali literature.

Section B

Literary forms—Main characteristics, history and development of following literary forms.

Part I

Folk Literature in Santhali—folk song, folk tale, phrase, idioms puzzles, and Kudum.

Part II

Modern literature in Santhali

1. Development of poetry and prominent poets.
2. Development of prose and prominent writers.
- (i) Novels and prominent Novelists.
- (ii) Stories and prominent story writers.
- (iii) Drama and Prominent Dramatist.
- (iv) Criticism and prominent critics.
- (v) Essay, sketches, memoirs, travelogues and prominent writers.

Santhali writers

Shyam Sundar Hembram, Pandit Raghunath Murmu, Barha Beshra, Sadhu Ramchand Murmu, Narayan Soren ‘Toresutam’, Sarda Prasad Kisku, Raghunath Tudu, Kalipada Soren, Sakla Soren, Digamber Hansda, Aditya Mitra ‘Santhali’, Babulal Murmu ‘Adivasi’, Jadumani Beshra, Arjun Hembram, Krishna Chandra Tudu, Rupchand Hansda, Kalendra Nath Mandi, Mahadev, Hansda, Gour Chandra Murmu, Thakur Prasad Murmu, Hara Prasad Murmu, Uday Nath Majhi, Parimal Hembram, Dhirendra Nath Baske, Shyam Charan Hembram, Damayanti Beshra, T.K. Rapaj, Boyha Biswanath Tudu.

Part III

Cultural Heritage of Santhali tradition, customs, festival and rituals (birth, marriage and death).

Paper II

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

(Answers must be written in Santhali)

Section A

This paper will require in-depth reading of the following texts and the questions will be designed to test the candidates’ critical ability.

Ancient Literature:

Prose

(a) Kherwal Bonso Dhorom Puthi—Majhi Ramdas Tudu “Rasika”.
(b) Mare Hapramko Reyak Katha—L.O. Scrafsrud.
(c) Jomsim Binti Lita—Mangal Chandra Turkulumang Soren.
(d) Marang Buru Binti—Kanailal Tudu.

Poetry

(a) Karam Sereng—Nunku Soren.
(b) Devi Dasain Sereng—Manindra Hansda.
(c) Horh Sereng—W.G. Archer.
(d) Baha Sereng—Balaram Tudu.
(e) Dong Sereng—Padmashri Bhagwat Murmu ‘Thakur’.
(f) Hor Sereng—Raghunath Murmu.
(g) Soros Sereng—Babulal Murmu “Adivasi”.
(h) More Sin More Ndia—Rup Chand Hansda.
(i) Judasi Madwa Latar—Tez Narayan Murmu.

Section B

Modern Literature

Part I—Poetry

(a) Onorhen Baha Dhalwak—Paul Jujhar Soren.
(b) Asar Binti—Narayan Soren “Tore Sutam”.
(c) Chand Mala—Gora Chand Tudu.
(d) Onto Baha Mala—Aditya Mitra “Santhali”.
(e) Tiryo Tetang—Hari Har Hansda.
(f) Sisirjon Rar—Thakur Prasad Murmu.

Part II—Novels

(a) Harmawak Ato—R.Karstiars (Translator—R.K. Kisku Rapaz).
(b) Manu Mati—Chandra Mohan Hansda.
(c) Ato Orak—Doman Hansdak.
(d) Ojoy Gada Dhiph re—Nathenial Murmu.

Part III—Stories

(a) Jiyon Gada—Rup Chand Hansda and Jadumani Beshra.
(b) Mayajaal—Doman Sahu ‘Samir’ and Padmashri Bhagwat Murmu ‘Thakur’.

Part IV—Drama

(a) Kherwar Bir—Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
(b) Juri Khatir—Dr. K.C. Tudu.
(c) Birsa Bir—Ravi Lal Tudu.

Part V—Biography

Santal Ko Ren Mayam Gohako—Dr. Biswanath Hansda.

Overlaps with General Studies

General Studies I: Indian society and the diversity of India. The cultural heritage of the Santhals (customs, festivals and life-cycle rituals) and their folk literature are part of India's tribal culture.
General Studies I: Indian culture (art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times), to which Santhali folk and modern literature belong.
Essay: material for essays on tribal identity, language and culture.

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.