Assamese Literature
Two papers (Paper VI and Paper VII of the Main Examination), 250 marks each, three hours each. Complete syllabus as notified by UPSC; reproduced without changes.
NOTE (i).—A candidate may be required to answer some or all the Questions in the language concerned. NOTE (ii).—In regard to the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to Constitution, the scripts will be the same as indicated in Section II (B) of Appendix I relating to the Main Examination. NOTE (iii).—Candidates should note that the questions not required to be answered in a specific language will have to be answered in the language medium indicated by them for answering papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subjects.
Paper I 250 marks
[Answers must be written in Assamese]
Section A
Language
(a) History of the origin and development of the Assamese Language —its position amongthe Indo-Aryan
language—periods in its history.
(b) Development of Assamese prose.
(c) Vowels and consonants of the Assamese Language—Rules of phonetic changes with stress on
Assamese coming down from Old Indo-Aryan.
(d) Assamese vocabulary—and its sources.
(e) Morphology of the language—conjugation—enclitic definitives and pleonastic suffixes.
(f) Dilectical divergences—the Standard colloquial and the Kamrupi dialect in particular.
(g) Assamese script—its evolution through the ages till 19th century A.D.
Section B
Literary Criticism and Literary History
(a) Principles of literary criticism up to New criticism.
(b) Different literary genres.
(c) Development of literary forms in Assamese.
(d) Development of literary criticism in Assamese.
(e) Periods of the literary history of Assam from the earliest beginnings, i.e. from the period of the
charyyageeta with their socio-cultural background : the proto Assamese Pre-Sankaradeva—
Sankaradeva—Post-Sankaradeva—Modern period (from the coming of the Britishers)—Post-
Independence period. Special emphasis is to be given on the Vaisnavite period, the gonaki and the
post-independence periods.
Paper II 250 marks
This paper will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidate’s
critical ability.
[Answers must be written in Assamese]
Section A
Râmâyana (Ayodhyâ Kânda —by Madhava Kandali only)
Pârijât-Harana —by Sankaradeva.
Râsakrîdâ —by Sankaradeva (From Kirtana Ghosa)
Bârgeet —by Madhavadeva.
Râjasûya —by Madhavadeva.
Kathâ-Bhâgavata(Books I and II) —by Baikurthanath Bhattacharyya.
Gurucarit-Kathâ (Sankaradeva’s Part only) —ed. by Maheswar Neog.
SECTION B
Mor Jeevan Soñwaran —by Lakshminath Bezbaroa.
Kripâbar BorbaruârKakatar Topola —by Lakshminath Bezbaroa.
Pratimâ —by Chandra KumarAgarwalla.
Gâonburhâ —by Padmanath GohainBarua.
Manomatî —by Rajanikanta Bordoloi.
Purani Asamîyâ Sâhitya —by Banikanta Kakati.
Kârengar Ligirî —by Jyotiprasad Agarwalla
Jeevanar Bâtat —by Bina Barva(BirinchiKumar Barua)
Mrityunjoy —by Birendrakumar Bhattacharyya
Samrât —by Navakanta Barua
Source: UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE dated 04.02.2026 (Civil Services Examination, 2026), Section III, Part B: Syllabi. Always check the current year’s official notification before you begin preparation.