The UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus holds great significance for UPSC aspirants who have chosen Maithili Literature as their optional subject for the prestigious IAS Exam. The syllabus for UPSC Maithili Literature encompasses a comprehensive study of the Maithili language and literature, spanning various periods and genres. It covers ancient and modern Maithili literary works, notable authors, literary movements, and cultural aspects related to Maithili literature. Aspirants are expected to delve into the rich heritage of Maithili literature, analyze literary texts, explore the socio-cultural context, and critically evaluate literary theories.

Here are a few important details about the UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus:

• The UPSC Mains Syllabus covers 48 optional subjects and Maithili Literature is one of them.
• There are two papers for the Maithili Literature Optional Subject in the UPSC Mains Exam each consisting of 250 marks.
• Both the Papers for Maithili Literature need to be written in the Maithili Language.

In this article, all the detailed information about UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus and Paper Pattern is provided for candidates’ quick reference.

UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus PDF

The candidates must make sure that they have familiarized themselves well with the help of the UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus.  Maithili Literature Syllabus is divided into two papers, namely, Maithili Optional Paper-I and Maithili Optional Paper-II. Candidates can download the UPSC Maithili Syllabus PDF from the table below.

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UPSC Maithili Optional Syllabus For Paper 1

The Syllabus of Maithili Literature Optional Paper 1 majorly focuses on the History of Maithili Literature. Have a look at the detailed syllabus for Maithili Optional Paper 1 below.

Section-A

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

Section-B

• Background of Maithili Literature (Religious, Economic, Social, Cultural).
• Periodic division of Maithili literature.
• Pre-Vidyapati Literature.
• Vidyapati and his tradition.
• Medieval Maithili Drama (Kirtaniya Natak, Ankia Nat, Maithili dramas written in Nepal).
• Maithili Folk Literature (Folk Tales, Folk Drama, Folk Stories, Folk Songs)
• Development of Maithili Magazines and Journals.
• Development of different literary forms in modern era :
  • Prabandh-kavya
  • Muktak-kavya
  • Novel
  • Short Story
  • Drama
  • Essay
  • Criticism
  • Memoirs
  • Translation

UPSC Maithili Optional Syllabus For Paper 2

Candidates can have a look at the detailed UPSC Maithili Optional Paper 2 Syllabus in the table below.

Section-A (Poetry)

• Vidyapati Geet-Shati-Publisher: Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Lyrics- 1 to 50)
• Govind Das Bhajanavali-Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna (Lyrics- 1 to 25)
• Krishnajanm-Manbodh
• Mithilabhasha Ramayana-Chanda Jha (only Sunder-Kand)
• Rameshwar Charit Mithila Ramayan-Lal Das (only Bal-kand)
• Keechak-Vadh-Tantra Nath Jha.
• Datta-Vati-Surendra Jah ‘Suman’ (only 1st and 2nd Cantos).
• Chitra-Yatri
• Samakaleen Maithili Kavita-Publisher: Sahitaya Akademi, New Delhi.

Section-B

• Varna Ratnakar-Jyotirishwar (only 2nd Kallol)
• Khattar Kakak Tarang-Hari Mohan Jha
• Lorik-Vijaya Manipadma
• Prithvi Putra-Lalit
• Bhaphait Chahak Jinagi-Sudhanshu ‘Shekhar’ Choudhary
• Kriti Rajkamlak-Publisher: Maithili Academy, Patna (First Ten Stories only)
• Katha–Sangrah–Publisher: Maithili Academy, Patna

UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus & Paper Pattern

Maithili Literature Optional Subject is a part of the Mains Examination stage of the UPSC Civil Services exam.

• There will be two papers for Maithili Literature in the UPSC Mains Examination.
• Both the papers of the Maithili Literature Optional Subject will be 250 marks each, which totals up to 500 marks.
• Both the Optional Papers are subjective.
• There is no negative marking.
• Both the Maithili Literature Optional Subject Papers are supposed to be written in the Maithili language only.

Check out the complete UPSC Exam Pattern here.

How To Prepare For UPSC Maithili Literature Subject?

Candidates choosing Maithili Literature have a great chance of scoring well because of the less competition due to language specificity and assumed familiarity with the subject. But the candidates only have a chance to feature in the UPSC Civil Services Exam Merit List if they organise and plan their preparation for UPSC Maithili Literature Optional Subject.

Here are some tips that may help candidates while preparing for the exam are:

• The most important tip is to thoroughly read and understand the primary texts mentioned in the syllabus well. Without reading the texts the candidates would not be able to score well.
• Get an understanding of the literary works, and form your opinions, interpretations, criticisms and analyses.
• Ground the works in the socio-political context of the times they were written in as well as try to find their contemporary relevance.
• Try to understand the social location of the author/poet to understand their motivations behind writing that work.
• Solve UPSC Maithili Optional Question Papers to understand the pattern of questions in a better way.
• Practice writing answers to capture your thoughts and arguments concisely within the time limit.
• Plan the preparation beforehand and try to stick to the plan as much as possible.
• Use reference books and other reviewers/critics to understand different perspectives on the same set of literary works.

UPSC Maithili Optional Syllabus - Recommended Books

It is important that candidates prepare for the exam from reliable sources and good study material. We have curated a collection of the best UPSC Civil Services books to prepare for the Maithili Literature Optional Subject. Have a look at them below:

• Maithili Sahitya Itihas by Dr. Durganath Jha.
• Maithili Patrakaritak Itihas  by Chandranath Mishra Amar.
• Tirhuta Lipik Vikas by Dr. Rajeshwar Jha.
• Maithili Kathak Vikas by Sahitya Academy

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