Malayalam Optional Syllabus for Civil Service Examination

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is divided into three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Candidates must select one optional subject for the IAS Mains exam, which significantly influences their ranking. Recent trends indicate that the success rate of Literature subjects has been steadily rising.

Malayalam, a Dravidian language, is spoken in Kerala, parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the Lakshadweep islands, and Mahe, an administrative region of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It is also included as an optional subject in the UPSC Mains exam.

Malayalam boasts a rich history, with some of the earliest known literary works. The IAS syllabus for Malayalam covers the language’s history and development, the standardization of its grammar, and its linguistic characteristics. It also encompasses the ancient and medieval history of Malayalam literature, key works across all periods, including modern times, and various literary forms such as prose, poetry, and essays.

Malayalam Syllabus for UPSC Optional – Paper I

1. Early phase of Malayalam Language:

• Various theories: Origin from proto Dravidian, Tamil, Sanskrit.
• Relation between Tamil and Malayalam: Six nayas of A. R. Rajarajavarma.
• Pattu School-Definition, Ramacharitam, later pattu works-Niranam works and Krishnagatha.

    2. Linguistic features of:

• Manipravalam-definition. Language of early manipravala works-Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works. Later manipravala works-medieval Champu and Attakkatha.
• Folklore Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.
• Early Malayalam Prose-Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.

    3. Standardisation of Malayalam :

• Peculiarities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.

• Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam. 
• Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam; Malayalam as administrative language. Language of scientific and technical literature—media language.

LITERARY HISTORY 

1. Ancient and Medieval Literature:

• Pattu-Ramacharitam, Niranam Works and Krishnagatha.
• Manipravalam-early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
• Folk Literature.
• Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

2. Modern Literature-Poetry:

• Venmani poets and contemporaries.
• The advent of Romanticism-Poetry of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol. 
• Poetry after Kavitraya.
• Modernism in Malayalam Poetry.

3. Modern Literature-Prose:

• Drama.
• Novel.
• Short story.
• Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.

Malayalam Syllabus for UPSC Optional – Paper II

Unit 1

• Ramacharitam—Patalam 1.
• Kannassaramayanam-Balakandam first 25 stanzas.
• Unnunilisandesam-Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana. 
• Mahabharatham Kilippattu-Bhishmaparvam.

Unit 2

• Kumaran Asan-Chintavisthayaya Sita. 
• Vailoppilli-Kutiyozhikkal.
• G. Sankara Kurup-Perunthachan. 
• N. V. Krishna Variar-Tivandiyile pattu. 

Unit 3

• 0. N. V. Bhumikkoru Charamagitam. 
• Ayyappa Panicker-Kurukshetram. 
• Akkittam-Pandatha Messanthi. 
• Attur Ravivarma-Megharupan.

Unit 4

•  0. Chanthu Menon-Indulekha.
• Thakazhy—Chemmin.
• 0. V. Vijayan-Khasakkinte Ithihasam.

Unit 5

• M. T. Vasudevan Nair-Vanaprastham (Collection).
• N. S. Madhavan-Higvitta (Collection).
• C. J. Thomas-1128-il Crime 27.

Unit 6

• Kuttikrishna Marar-Bharataparyatanam.
• M. K. Sanu—Nakshatrangalute Snehabhajanam.
• V. T. Bhatttathirippad-Kannirum Kinavum.

If candidates go through all the texts mentioned in the UPSC Malayalam optional syllabus and thoroughly read them, and gain in-depth understanding of the language history, grammar, and literary evolution, passing the IAS exam.