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UPSC Exam Languages – Complete Guide (History, Allowed Languages & Rules)

📌 Introduction

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is India’s most prestigious exam for services such as IAS, IPS, and IFS. One distinctive feature of the exam is language choice. Because India is multilingual, UPSC allows candidates to write the exam in several languages.

In this guide, you’ll find:

• A brief history of language policy in the Civil Services exam
• The complete list of allowed languages today
• Key rules and practical notes for candidates

🏛️ A Brief History: Languages in the Civil Services Exam

• British Era (1855–1947):
  The Civil Services exam was conducted in London and only in English. This posed a major barrier for Indian candidates.
• Post-Independence (1947–1979):
  The exam moved to India, but English remained dominant. Hindi and some Indian languages were gradually introduced.
• Kothari Commission (1976):
  UPSC moved to greater inclusion of regional languages, allowing candidates to write the exam in their mother tongue. This significantly widened access for rural and regional candidates.

📚 UPSC Language Options Today

UPSC currently permits the exam to be written in English, Hindi, and the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

✅ List of Allowed Languages (Eighth Schedule + English)

1. Assamese
2. Bengali
3. Bodo
4. Dogri
5. Gujarati
6. Hindi
7. Kannada
8. Kashmiri
9. Konkani
10. Maithili
11. Malayalam
12. Manipuri
13. Marathi
14. Nepali
15. Odia
16. Punjabi
17. Sanskrit
18. Santali
19. Sindhi
20. Tamil
21. Telugu
22. Urdu
23. English (additional option)

📖 Exam & Language Rules

Prelims

• Question papers are provided in English and Hindi.
• Answers are marked on OMR sheets, so language selection does not apply to answer text in Prelims.

Mains

• Paper A (Indian Language): Choose one from the 22 Eighth-Schedule languages. Qualifying only (minimum 25%).
• Paper B (English): Compulsory qualifying paper (minimum 25%).
• GS, Essay, and Optional Papers: You may write in English, Hindi, or any one of the 22 Eighth-Schedule languages (as per your choice indicated in the application/DAF).

Interview (Personality Test)

• You may opt for the language in which you are most comfortable. UPSC provides interpreters/translators where needed.

⚠️ Important Notes

• Exemption from Paper A: Candidates from certain North-Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim) are exempted from Paper A (Indian Language).
• Qualifying threshold: You must score at least 25% in both Paper A and Paper B.
• Failure in Paper A or B: If you fail in either qualifying language paper, your Mains answer scripts are not evaluated.
• Locking your language: Your chosen language for Mains is indicated in your application/DAF and should be consistent across papers.

🧭 Why Language Flexibility Matters

1. Ensures equal opportunity across India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
2. Allows candidates to express ideas clearly in their mother tongue.
3. Reinforces UPSC’s inclusive, pan-India character.

🗓️ Timeline of Eighth-Schedule Languages (How We Reached 22)

Original 14 (1950): Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia (Oriya), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

❓ FAQs

Q1. Is writing the UPSC exam in English mandatory?
No. You can write Mains in English, Hindi, or any one of the 22 Eighth-Schedule languages.

Q2. Can I choose Hindi (or another Indian language) for the Interview?
Yes. You can choose the language you’re comfortable with. Interpreters are provided when required.

Q3. Do all candidates have to take Paper A (Indian Language)?
No. Certain North-Eastern state candidates are exempted from Paper A.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes. Always refer to the official UPSC notifications and upsc.gov.in for the most current rules and updates.