About Marathi Language: –

Marathi is a member of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to Hindi and Punjabi. Marathi is the fourth largest language of India. Marathi is derived from Sanskrit through a Prakrit dialect called Maharashtri in the 1st-2nd centuries AD. Marathi is one of the 22 official languages and 14 regional languages of India. It is the co-official language of the state of Maharashtra. The State of Goa also recognizes Marathi as an official language.

Marathi Syllabus Subject For UPSC

Marathi is the language provided as a Literature Optional which focuses on the candidates’ understanding of the basic concepts of literature. Candidates who have studied the Marathi literature can opt for it as an optional subject in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Exam. Analytical and unconventional questions are appearing in previous papers so while preparing students should keep IAS Mains Marathi Syllabus and previous papers for reference. The aspirants who are well versed with the Marathi language and are familiar with the grammatical aspects can easily score high marks in this optional. 

Marathi Syllabus Exam Pattern: –

The Marathi language is one of the optional subjects offered for the 2 optional papers in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Main Exam. Each Marathi optional paper consists of 250 marks. Duration for each Marathi mains paper is 3 hours. With well-planned strategies, you can easily score well in the Marathi literature. Interest should be the prime criteria for choosing any optional. The aspirants have to answer the questions from both the papers in Marathi language.

Advantages of choosing Marathi  

· Well defined syllabus and Less subjectivity

  • Direct and straightforward questions
  • Ample scope to score marks with diagrams
  • The inquiries in this subject are immediate and crucial.
  • Room for interpretation in the written answers
  • Quality of answers as there is no limitation to different kinds of answers.
  • Updation in the syllabus is rare

Disadvantages of choosing Marathi

  • Subjective Nature of the answers can lead to less scoring at times if your views do not match with the evaluator.
  • Lack of resources
  • No syllabus overlaps with GS papers
  • Essay writing and interviews won’t pose much of a problem as the amount of reading will help with these.

Paper-I

Section-A

Language and Folk-Iore

(a) Nature and Functions of Language (with reference to Marathi)

Language as a signifying system : Langue and Parole; Basic functions; Poetic language; Standard Language and dialect; Language variations according to social parameters.

Linguistic features of Marathi in thirteenth century and seventeenth century.

(b) Dialects of Marathi

Ahirani; Varhadi; Dangi

(c) Marathi Grammar

Parts of Speech; Case-system; Prayog-vichar (Voice)

(d) Nature and kinds of Folk-lore (with special reference to Marathi)

Lok-Geet, Lok Katha, Lok Natya

Section-B

History of Literature and Literary Criticism

(a) History of Marathi Literature

  1. From beginning to 1818 AD, with special reference to the following : The Mahanubhava writers, the Varkari poets, the Pandit poets, the Shahirs, Bakhar literature.
  2. From 1850 to 1990, with special reference to developments in the following major forms : Poetry, Fiction (Novel and Short Story), Drama; and major literary currents and movements, Romantic, Realist, Modernist, Dalit Gramin, Feminist.

(b) Literary Criticism

  1. Nature and function of Literature;
  2. Evaluation of Literature;
  3. Nature, Objectives and Methods of Criticism;
  4. Literature, Culture and Society.

                                                                 Paper-II

Section-A

Prose

(1) ‘Smritishala’

(2) Mahatma Jotiba Phule “Shetkaryacha Asud; ‘Sarvajanik Satyadharma’

(3) S.V. Ketkar ‘Brahmankanya;

(4) P.K. Atre ‘Sashtang Namaskar’

(5) Sharchchandra Muktibodh ‘Jana Hey Volatu Jethe’

(6) Uddhav Shelke ‘Shilan’

(7) Baburao Bagul ‘Jevha Mi Jaat Chorli Hoti’

(8) Gouri Deshpande ‘Ekek Paan Galavaya’

(9) P.I. Sonkamble ‘Athavaninche Pakshi’

Section-B

Poetry

(1) Namadevanchi Abhangawani’

Ed: Inamdar, Relekar, Mirajkar

Modern Book Depot, Pune

(2) ‘Painjan’ Ed : M.N. Adwant Sahitya Prasar Kendra, Nagpur

(3) ‘Damayanti-Swayamvar’ By Raghunath Pandit

(4) ‘Balakvinchi Kavita’ By Balkavi

(5) ‘Vishakha’ By Kusumagraj

(6) ‘Mridgandh’ By Vinda Karandikar

(7) ‘Jahirnama’ By Narayan Surve

(8) ‘Sandhyakalchya Kavita’ By Grace

(9) ‘Ya Sattet Jeev Ramat Nahi’ By Namdev Dha