IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Kannada Optional Paper-Detailed Syllabus

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

As per the latest news for 2021, the notification for IAS (UPSC CSE) will be released anytime soon, but the exam dates for prelims remain unchanged and on June 27, 2021.

Who should opt for Kannada in IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains?

Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in the state of Karnataka. Candidates who have studied the Kannada literature can opt for it as an optional subject in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Exam. Some of the factors that one must account before choosing Kannada as an optional subject are:

Advantages of choosing Kannada

• Lesser competition as less number of aspirants chooses literature (Kannada included) as an optional.
• Stress reliever as an interest in the subject can work as a therapy.
• Quality of answers as there is no limitation to different kinds of answers.
• Updation in the syllabus is rare
• Essay writing and interviews won’t pose much of a problem as the amount of reading will help with these.

Disadvantages of choosing Kannada

• 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 overlap with GS papers

IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Kannada Paper 1 Syllabus

Section A

A. History of Kannada Language

What is Language? General characteristics of Language.

Dravidian Family of Languages and its specific features, Antiquity of Kannada Language, Different Phases of its Development.

Dialects of Kannada Language: Regional and Social Various aspects of the development of Kannada Language: phonological and Semantic changes. Language borrowing.

B. History of Kannada Literature

Ancient Kannada literature: Influence and Trends. Poets for study: Specified poets from Pampa to Ratnakara Varni are to be studied in the light of contents, form and expression: Pampa, Janna, Nagachandra.

• Medieval Kannada literature: Influence and Trends.
• Vachana literature: Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi.
• Medieval Poets: Harihara, Raghavanka, Kumar-Vyasa.
• Dasa literature : Purandra and Kanaka.
• Sangataya : Ratnakaravarni

C. Modern Kannada literature:

Influence, trends and ideologies, Navodaya, Pragatishila, Navya, Dalita and Bandana.

Section B

A. Poetics and literary criticism:

Definition and concepts of poetry: Word, Meaning, Alankara, Reeti, Rasa, Dhwani, Auchitya. Interpretations of Rasa Sutra. Modern Trends of literary criticism: Formalist, Historical, Marxist, Feminist, Post-colonial criticism.

B. Cultural History of Karnataka

Contribution of Dynasties to the culture of Karnataka: Chalukyas of Badami and Kalyani, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara rulers, in the literary context.

Major religions of Karnataka and their cultural contributions. Arts of Karnataka: Sculpture, Architecture, Painting, Music, Dance-in the literary context. Unification of Karnataka and its impact on Kannada literature.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Kannada Paper 2 Syllabus

The paper will require first-hand reading of the Texts prescribed and will be designed to test the critical ability of the candidates.

Section A

• Old Kannada Literature
  • Vikramaarjuna Vijaya of Pampa (cantos 12 & 13), (Mysore University Pub.)
  • Vaddaraadhane (Sukumaraswamyia Kathe, Vidyutchorana Kathe)
• Medieval Kannada Literature :
  • Vachana Kammata, Ed: K. Marulasiddappa K.R. Nagaraj (Bangalore University Pub.)
  • Janapriya Kanakasamputa, Ed. D. Javare Gowda (Kannada and Culture Directorate, Bangalore)
  • Nambiyannana Ragale, Ed., T.N. Sreekantaiah (Ta.Vem. Smaraka Grantha Male, Mysore)
  • Kumaravyasa Bharata : Karna Parva (Mysore University)
  • Bharatesha Vaibhava Sangraha Ed. Ta. Su. Shama Rao (Mysore University)

Section B

• Modern Kannada Literature
  • Poetry : Hosagannada Kavite, Ed : G.H. Nayak (Kannada Saahitya Parishattu, Bangalore)
  • Novel : Bettada Jeeva-Shivarama Karanta Madhavi-Arupama Niranjana Odalaala-Devanuru Mahadeva
  • Short Story : Kannada Sanna Kathegalu, Ed. G.H. Nayak (Sahitya Academy, New Delhi).
  • Drama : Shudra Tapaswi-Kuvempu. Tughlak-Girish Karnad.
  • Vichara Saahitya : Devaru-A.N. Moorty Rao (Pub : D.V.K. Moorty, Mysore.)
• Folk Literature
  • Janapada Swaroopa-Dr. H.M. Nayak. (Ta. Vem. Smaraka Grantha Male, Mysore.)
  • Janapada Geetaanjali-Ed.D. Javare Gowda. (Pub : Sahitya Academy, New Delhi.)
  • Kannada Janapada Kathegalu-Ed. J.S. Paramashivaiah, (Mysore University.)
  • Beedi Makkalu Beledo. Ed. Kalegowda Nagavara (Pub : Bangalore University.)
  • Savirada Ogatugalu-Ed : S.G. Imrapura.

Analytical and unconventional questions are appearing in previous papers so while preparing student should keep IAS Mains Kannada Syllabus and previous papers for reference.