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Tuesday, 6 October 2026 · New Delhi

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UPSC CSE Mains · Optional Subject

Maithili Literature

The Maithili language and its literature — history, criticism and prescribed texts.

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Paper I

250marks

3 hours each

Paper II

250marks

3 hours each

Optional total

500marks

Counts toward the Mains merit

Paper I syllabus

250 marks · 3 hours

HISTORY OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE AND ITS LITERATURE (Answers must be written in Maithili)

PART A

  1. 1. Place of Maithili in Indo-European Language family.
  2. 2. Origin and development of Maithili language. (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Avhatt, Maithili)
  3. 3. Periodic division of Maithili Language. (Beginning, Middle era, Modern era).
  4. 4. Maithili and its different dialects.
  5. 5. Relationship between Maithili and other Eastern languages (Bengali, Asamese, Oriya)
  6. 6. Origin and Development of Tirhuta Script.
  7. 7. Pronouns and Verbs in Maithili Language.

PART B

  1. 1. Background of Maithili Literature (Religious, Economic, Social, Cultural).
  2. 2. Periodic division of Maithili literature.
  3. 3. Pre-Vidyapati Literature.
  4. 4. Vidyapati and his tradition.
  5. 5. Medieval Maithili Drama (Kirtaniya Natak, Ankia Nat, Maithili dramas written in Nepal).
  6. 6. Maithili Folk Literature (Folk Tales, Folk Drama, Folk Stories, Folk Songs).
  7. 8. Development of Maithili Magazines and Journals.

PART B: 7. Development of different literary forms in modern era

  1. (a) Prabandh-kavya
  2. (b) Muktak-kavya
  3. (c) Novel
  4. (d) Short Story
  5. (e) Drama
  6. (f) Essay
  7. (g) Criticism
  8. (h) Memoirs
  9. (i) Translation

Paper II syllabus

250 marks · 3 hours

(Answers must be written in Maithili) The paper will require first-hand reading of the prescribed texts and will test the critical ability of the candidates.

PART A

  1. 1. Vidyapati Geet-Shati—Publisher : Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Lyrics— 1 to 50)
  2. 2. Govind Das Bhajanavali—Publisher : Maithili Acadamy, Patna (Lyrics— 1 to 25)
  3. 3. Krishnajanm—Manbodh
  4. 4. Mithilabhasha Ramayana—Chanda Jha (only Sunder-Kand)
  5. 5. Rameshwar Charit Mithila Ramayan—Lal Das (only Bal-kand)
  6. 6. Keechak-Vadh—Tantra Nath Jha.
  7. 7. Datta-Vati—Surendra Jah ‘Suman’ (only 1st and 2nd Cantos).
  8. 8. Chitra-Yatri
  9. 10. Varna Ratnakar—Jyotirishwar (only 2nd Kallol)
  10. 11. Khattar Kakak Tarang—Hari Mohan Jha
  11. 12. Lorik—Vijaya Manipadma
  12. 13. Prithvi Putra—Lalit
  13. 14. Bhaphait Chahak Jinagi—Sudhanshu ‘Shekhar’ Choudhary
  14. 15. Kriti Rajkamlak—Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna (First Ten Stories only)
  15. 16. Katha–Sangrah–Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna.

PART A: 9. Samakaleen Maithili Kavita—Publisher: Sahitaya Akademi, New Delhi.

  1. PART-B

Syllabus as per the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination notification. Topic-wise study notes for Maithili Literature are being added — check back soon.

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