UPSC Bengali Syllabus

UPSC aspirants need to select one subject as their optional paper for the civil services exam. Bengali is among the 48 optional subjects available and can be opted by the candidates who have some knowledge related to this subject. To prepare for this subject in the best possible manner, it is important to gain familiarity with the syllabus. In this article, the candidates can find the detailed information related to the UPSC Bengali syllabus 2023 and then prepare for their exam accordingly.

Bengali Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services

There are going to be two papers of this subject in the UPSC IAS exam namely paper I and paper II. Each paper will be divided into two sections- A and B. It is important that the candidates familiarize themselves with syllabus of both the papers and all their sections in order to prepare well for them.

Paper I Syllabus for Bengali (Answers must be written in Bengali)

History of Language and Literature

Section A: Topics from the History of Bangla language

  1. Dialects of Bangla and their distinguishing characteristics
  2. The chronological track from Proto Indo-European to Bangla (Family tree with branches and approximate dates)
  3. Historical stages of Bangla (Old, Middle, New) and their linguistic features
  4. Elements of Bangla Vocabulary
  5. Phonology, Morphology and Syntax of Modern Bangla (Sounds of Modern Bangla, Conjuncts, word formations, compounds, basic sentence patterns)
  6. Processes of language change relevant for Bangla: Apinihiti (Anaptyxis), Abhishruti (Umlaut), Murdhanyibhavan (cerebralization), Nasikyibhavan (Nasalization), Samibhavan (Assimilation), Sadrishya (Analogy), Svaragama (Vowel insertion) Adi Svaragama, Madhya Svaragama or Svarabhakti, Antya Svaragama, Svarasangati (Vowel harmony), y-shruti and w-shruti
  7. Forms of Bangla Literary Prose- Sadhu and Chalit
  8. Problems of standardization and reform of alphabet and spelling, and those of transliteration and Romanization

Section B: Topics from the History of Bangla Literature

  1. Women and Bangla literature: creators and created
  2. Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature
  3. Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature
  4. Fiction, major authors: Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibhusan, Tarasankar, Manik)
  5. Development of prose
  6. Periodization of Bangla Literature: Old Bangla and Middle Bangla
  7. Secular forms in middle Bangla literature
  8. Bangla dramatic literature (nineteenth century, Tagore, Post-1944 Bangla drama)
  9. Tagore and post-Tagoreans
  10. Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms, Mangal Kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, Adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata) and religious biographies
  11. Narrative and lyric trends in the nineteenth century Bangla poetry

Paper I Syllabus for Bengali (Answers must be written in Bengali)

Prescribed texts for close study

Section A

  1. Sonar Tari by Rabindranath Tagore
  2. Chandimangal Kalketu episode by Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi)
  3. Kapalkundala by Bankimchandra Chatterjee
  4. Meghnadbadh Kavya by Madhusudan Dutta
  5. Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila by Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi)
  6. Samya and Bangadesher Krishak by Bankimchandra Chatterjee
  7. Vaishnava Padavali (Calcutta University)- Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas and Balaramdas
  8. Chhinnapatravali by Rabindranath Tagore

Section B

  1. Ebam Indrajit by Badal Sircar
  2. Nabajatak by Rabindranath Tagore
  3. Grihadaha by Saratchandra Chatterjee
  4. Prabandha Samgraha, Vol. 1 by Pramatha Choudhuri
  5. Raktakarabi by Rabindranath Tagore
  6. Shrestha Kavita by Jibanananda Das
  7. Short stories by Manik Bandyopadhyay: Atashi Mami, Pragaitihasik, Holud-Pora, Sarisrip, Haraner Natjamai, Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri, Kustharogir Bou, Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy
  8. Jagori by Satinath Bhaduri
  9. Aranyak by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee
Literature Bengali

UPSC Bengali Syllabus: Download PDF

UPSC Syllabus

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