Odia Literature Syllabus for UPSC

About Odia Language: –

Odia language is a Indo-Aryan language with some 50 million speakers. A language officially recognized, or “scheduled,” in the Indian constitution, it is also the main official language of the Indian state of Odisha (Oriya). The language has several dialects; Mughalbandi (Coastal Odia) is the standard dialect and the language of education.

Odia Syllabus Subject For UPSC

Odia 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 Odia 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 Odia Syllabus and previous papers for reference. The aspirants who are well versed with the Odia language and are familiar with the grammatical aspects can easily score high marks in this optional. 

Odia Syllabus Exam Pattern: –

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

Advantages of choosing Odia  

· 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 Odia

  • 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.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Odia Paper 1

Answers must be written in Odia

Section A – History of Odia Language

  • Origin and development of Odia Language-Influence of Austric, Dravidian, Perso-Arabic and English on Odia Language.
  • Phonetics and Phonemics : Vowels, Consonants Principles of changes in Odia sounds.
  • Morphology : Morphemes (free, bound compound and complex), derivational and inflectional affixes, case inflection, conjugation of verb.
  • Syntax : Kinds of sentences and their transformation, structure of sentences.
  • Semantics-Different types of change in meaning Euphemism.
  • Common errors in spellings, grammatical uses and construction of sentences.
  • Regional variations in Odia Language (Western, Southern and Northern Odia) and Dialects (Bhatri and Desia)

Section B – History of Odia Literature

  • Historical backgrounds (social, cultural and political) of Odia Literature of different periods.
  • Ancient epics, ornate kavyas and padavalis.
  • Typical structural forms of Odia Literature (Koili, Chautisa, Poi, Chaupadi, Champu).
  • Modern trends in poetry, drama short story, novel, essay and literary criticism.
  • IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Odia Paper 2
  • Answers must be written in Odia
  • Critical Study of texts – The paper will require first hand reading of the text and test the critical ability of the candidate.

Section A – Poetry

  • Ancient
  • Sarala Das-Shanti Parva from Mahabharata.
  • Jaganath Das-Bhagabate, XI Skandha-Jadu Avadhuta Sambada.
  • Medieval
  • Dinakrushna Das-Rasakallola- (Chhandas-16 & 34)
  • Upendra Bhanja-Lavanyabati (Chhandas-1 & 2)
  • Modern
  • Radhanath Ray-Chandrabhaga
  • Mayadhar Manasinha-Jeevan Chita
  • Satchidananda Routray-Kabita- 1962
  • Ramakanta Ratha-Saptama Ritu.

Section B

  • Drama
  • Manoranjan Das-Katha-Ghoda
  • Bijay Mishra-Tata Niranjana
  • Novel
  • Fakir Mohan Senapati-Chhamana Athaguntha
  • Gopinath Mohanty-Danapani
  • Short Story
  • Surendra Mohanty-Maralara Mrityu
  • Manoj Das-Laxmira Abhisara
  • Essay
  • Chittaranjan Das-Taranga O Tadit (First five essays)
  • Chandra Sekhar Rath-Mun Satyadharma Kahuchhi (First five essays)