About Telugu Language: –

Telugu language, largest member of the Dravidian language family. Primarily spoken in southeastern India, it is the official language of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In the early 21st century Telugu had more than 75 million speakers. The Telugu script is derived from that of the 6th-century Calukya dynasty and is related to that of the Kannada language. Telugu literature begins in the 11th century with a version of the Hindu epic Mahabharata by the writer Nannaya Bhatta.

Telugu Syllabus Subject For UPSC

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

Telugu Syllabus Exam Pattern: –

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

Advantages of choosing Telugu  

· 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 Telugu

  • 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 Telugu Paper 1

(Answers must be written in Telugu)

Section A – Language

Place of Telugu among Dravidian languages and its antiquity-Etymological history of Telugu, Tenugu and Andhra.

Major linguistic changes in phonological, morphological, grammatical, and syntactical levels, from Proto-Dravidian to old Telugu and from old Telugu to Modern Telugu.

Evolution of spoken Telugu when compared to classical Telugu-Formal and functional view of Telugu language.

Influence of other languages and their impact on Telugu.

Modernization of Telugu language.

Linguistic and literary movements and their role in the modernization of Telugu.

Role of media in modernization of Telugu (Newspapers, Radio, TV, etc.)

Problems of terminology and mechanisms in coining new terms in Telugu in various discourses including scientific and technical.

Dialects of Telugu-Regional and social variations and problems of standardization.

Syntax-Major divisions of Telugu sentences-simple, complex and compound sentences-Noun and verb predications-Processes of nominalization and relativization-Direct and indirect reporting-conversion processes.

Translation-Problems of translation, cultural, social, and idiomatic-Methods of translation-Approaches to translation-Literary and other kinds of translation-various uses of translation.

Section B – Literature

Literature in Pre-Nannaya Period-Marga and Desi poetry.

Nannaya Period-Historical and literary background of Andhra Mahabharata.

Saiva poets and their contribution-Dwipada, Sataka, Ragada, Udaharana.

Tikkana and his place in Telugu literature.

Errana and his literary works-Nachana Somana and his new approach to poetry.

Srinatha and Potana-Their woks and contribution.

Bhakti poets in Telugu literature-Tallapaka Annamayya, Ramadasu, Tyagayya.

Evolution of prabandhas-Kavya and prabandha.

Southern school of Telugu literature-Raghunatha Nayaka, Chemakura Vankatakavi and women poets-Literary forms like yakshagana, prose and padakavita.

Modern Telugu Literature and literary forms-Novel, Short Story, Drama, Playlet, and poetic forms.

Literary Movements: Reformation, Nationalism, Neo-classicism, Romanticism and Progressive, Revolutionary movements.

Digambarakavulu, Feminist and Dalit Literature.

Main divisions of folk literature-Performing folk arts.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Telugu Paper 2

(Answers must be written in Telugu.)

Aesthetic approach-Rasa, Dhwani, Vakroti and Auchitya-Formal and Structural-Imagery and Symbolism.

Sociological, Historical, Ideological, Psychological approaches.

Section A

Nannaya-Dushyanta Charitra (Adiparva 4th Canto verses 5-109)

Tikkana-Sri Krishna Rayabaramu (Udyoga parva -3rd Canto verses 1-144)

Srinatha-Guna Nidhi Katha (Kasi-khandam, 4th Canto, verses 76-133)

Pingali Surana-Sugatri Salinulakatha (Kalapurnodayamu 4 Canto verses, 60-142)

Molla-Ramayanamu (Balakanda including avatarika)

Kasula Purushothama Kavi-Andhra Nayaka Satakamu

Section B

Gurajada Appa Rao-Animutyalu (Short stories)

Viswanatha Satyanarayana-Andhra prasasti

Devulapalli Krishna Sastry-Krishnapaksham (excluding Urvasi and Pravasam)

Sri Sri-Maha prastanam.

Jashuva-Gabbilam (Part I)

  1. Narayana Reddy-Karpuravasanta rayalu.

Kanuparti Varalakshmamma-Sarada lekhalu (Part I)

Atreya-N.G.O.

Racha konda Visswanatha Sastry-Alpajaeevi.