UPSC Urdu Syllabus 2020 – IAS Urdu Optional Syllabus

In IAS Mains Examination, Urdu Optional subject consists of two paper, i.e. Paper 1 and 2. Each paper carries 250 marks, in a total of 500 marks. One can easily score in this optional subject. In this article, we provide you with the latest UPSC Urdu Optional Syllabus for IAS Mains 2020.

UPSC Mains Urdu Syllabus PAPER – I

Answers must be written in Urdu.

Section-A

Development of Urdu Language

a) Development of Indo-Aryan

• Old Indo-Aryan
• Middle Indo Aryan
• New Indo Aryan

b) Western Hindi and its dialects Brij Bhasha Khadi Boli, Haryanavi Kannauji, Bundeli-Theories about the origin of Urdu Language

c) Dakhani Urdu-Origin and development, its significant linguistic features.

d) Social and Cultural roots of Urdu language-and its distinctive features.

Script, Phonology, Morphology, Vocabulary.

Section-B

a) Genres and their development

• Poetry: Ghazal, Masnavi, Qasida, Marsia, Rubai, Jadid Nazm,
• Prose: Novel, Short Story, Dastan, Drama, Inshaiya, Khutoot, Biography.

b) Significant features of: (i) Deccani, Delhi and Lucknow schools (ii) Sir Syed movement, Romantic Movement, Progressive movement, Modernism.

c) Literary Criticism and its development with reference to Hali, Shibli, Kaleemuddin Ahmad, Ehtisham Hussain, Ale-Ahmad Suroor.

d) Essay writing (covering literary and imaginative topics)

IAS candidates who are targeting the UPSC 2020 Exam may check the linked article.

UPSC Mains Urdu Syllabus PAPER – II

Answers must be written in Urdu.

This paper will require first hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

Section-A

• Mir Amman Bagho-Babar
• Ghalib Intikhab-e-Khutoot-e Ghalib
• Mohd. Husain Nairang-e-Khayal Azad
• Prem Chand Godan
• Rajendra Singh Apne Dukh Mujhe Bedi Dedo
• Abul Kalam Azad Ghubar-e-Khatir

Section-B

• Mir Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Mir  (Ed. Abdul Haq.)
• Mir Hasan Sahrul Bayan
• Ghalib Diwan-e-Ghalib
• Iqbal Bal-e-Jibrail
• Firaq Gul-e-Naghma
• Faiz Dast-e-Saba
• Akhtruliman Bint-e-Lamhat

Also, Check Other UPSC Optional Subject’s Syllabus

More about the Urdu Language

Urdu is the language widely spoken in the countries of India and Pakistan. Hindi and Urdu are like twin languages that can be understood with mutual co-relations. It is part of the Indo Aryan group of languages.

Considering the speaking population in both India and Pakistan, it can be estimated that Urdu has a speaking base of more than 170 million people. It is also popularly spoken in the UAE, UK and parts of the US as well.

Urdu began to spread in northwestern parts of India mainly after the attack of Muslims began in that region. This can be dated back to almost 12th century CE. Urdu began to be commonly used in the written form as Hindavi language. The most famous poet in Urdu till date is Amir Khusrau. Hindavi continued its prominence till the 19th century.

It was during Amir Khusrau’s period that Urdu took new forms of literary conquests. There was a variety on offer as he served people with Dohas, folklores, riddles, speech, etc. Phonetically and grammatically Urdu is very similar to the Hindi language. What is different in the two languages is the lexical part. This is mainly because Urdu owes lexical similarities with Arabic and Persian and Hindi with Sanskrit.

Also, Read Other UPSC Articles