UPSC Mains Language Papers Syllabus
The two language papers — Paper A (an Indian language) and Paper B (English) — carry 300 marks each. They are qualifying: you need 25% in each, and the marks are not added to your rank. The syllabus below is split into 12 topics across 2 subjects, with how often each was asked from 2016 to 2025.
Most asked Mains Language Papers topics
- Comprehension PassageHigh-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Precis WritingHigh-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Short Essay WritingHigh-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Comprehension (Regional)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Precis Writing (Regional)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Translation (Eng to Regional)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Translation (Regional to Eng)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Grammar & UsageHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Grammar & VocabularyHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Vocabulary in ContextHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
English — Paper B (Qualifying) — 6 topics
- Comprehension PassageHigh-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Precis WritingHigh-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Grammar & UsageHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Vocabulary in ContextHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Short Essay WritingHigh-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Translation Skillsasked 3/10 yrs
Indian Language — Paper A (Qualifying) — 6 topics
- Comprehension (Regional)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Precis Writing (Regional)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Translation (Eng to Regional)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Translation (Regional to Eng)High-yieldasked 9/10 yrs
- Grammar & VocabularyHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Short Essay (Regional)asked 4/10 yrs
Other UPSC papers
Track the Mains Language Papers syllabus
Tick off topics as you finish them and keep a revision count for each — free, in Hindi or English.
Start tracking — free