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.
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:
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.
C. Modern Kannada literature:
Influence, trends and ideologies, Navodaya, Pragatishila, Navya, Dalita and Bandana.
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.
The paper will require first-hand reading of the Texts prescribed and will be designed to test the critical ability of the candidates.
Analytical and unconventional questions are appearing in previous papers so while preparing student should keep IAS Mains Kannada Syllabus and previous papers for reference.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.