To clear the UPSC Exam, there are two compulsory language papers, one in English and another in any regional Indian language (this paper allows you to select from any of the 22 specified official languages in the Indian Constitution’s Eighth Schedule), which is called Paper A. These 22 regional language papers are Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Hence, you could choose any of them as per your interest. Though compulsory papers do not count during the preparation of the final merit list, they serve as a qualifying paper to test the language proficiency of a prospective civil servant applicant. Both papers are qualifying in nature, so you must clear them so that your main paper will be evaluated. Many aspirants still face difficulties getting the minimum qualifying marks in this paper despite having decent performance in General Studies and Optional. One should not ignore them. Therefore, we are here to provide you with some important tips and suggestions on compulsory papers in a detailed manner.
Language Paper Format in UPSC Mains Exam:
There are two compulsory language papers in the UPSC Mains Exam.
- English Paper: 300 Marks and 3 HoursÂ
- Any other regional language exam (300 points, three hours)Â
Qualifying Marks of Each Paper:
According to the UPSC 2020 guidelines, the qualifying percentages for both examinations are 25% or 75 marks for each paper.
Compulsory Indian Language Paper:
- Essay writing- 100 MarksÂ
- Reading Comprehension-60 MarksÂ
- Precis Writing-60 MarksÂ
- Translation:Â Â
(i). Translating English to the Compulsory Language Paper 20 marks.
(ii). Translating the Compulsory Indian Language Paper to English 20 marks.
- Usage of Language and Vocabulary -40 Marks.\
Some Important Tips for Compulsory Language Paper:
The UPSC’s major goal is to assess a candidate’s basic proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehension skills in Indian languages. The questions asked are basic matriculation or equivalent in nature. It would be easier if you selected a language that you learned in school. The (Std-X) CBSE school level will serve. After school, most of us lost touch with our writing and comprehension skills in our native language, a major concern while appearing for UPSC exams. Here are some suggestions that would be followed:
- In addition to your regular paper, start reading a vernacular newspaper daily. This will help you improve your vocabulary, comprehensive skills, sentence building, and so on.
- Once you read the regional language newspaper, start writing short paragraphs using your own words. It will help you to speed up you’re writing and essay-writing sections. Make sure to use simple language. 
- Coming to the translation section, read the complete passage thoroughly. Understand the essence of the passage to make the crucial points and translate them.
- Coming to the vocabulary and usage of the language section, it is slightly different from the English paper. The best of this section would be to prefer the study material of your matriculation level language books, which would help you prepare for grammatical roots, vocabulary, and sentence formation.
Compulsory English Paper in UPSC:
The main objective of this English language paper is to understand the ability of the candidate to read and understand serious descriptive prose and to express his/her ideas eloquently. You should obtain the minimum mark to qualify for this paper.
- Essay Writing: 100 Marks
- Reading Comprehension: 75 Marks
- Precis Writing-75 Marks.
- Vocabulary and Grammer Usage-50 Marks
Some Tips and Suggestions for Compulsory English Language Paper:
- For Essay Writing– Use three patterns, such as introduction, main part, and conclusion, to organize a better essay. As we should have to use only 600 words, the main intent of the essay is to understand the candidate’s opinions, thoughts, and emotions in English at a basic level. During your UPSC preparation, reading a select newspaper regularly will help you improve your language and writing skills.
- Reading Comprehension- To build a more likely response, read the content carefully to gain a better understanding of it. Go over the questions and reread the passage. Make a list of the important points that could be used as possible answers to the questions. Now rework and rewrite your answers to the questions in your own words. Make sure you don’t repeat any of the sentences in the passage. It might not make a good first impression, and you might end up with a low score as a result. To make it easier to respond in exams, practice reading comprehension problems from previous years’ question papers.
- Precis Writing– Precise writing is defined as summarizing a given comprehension in a short number of words while assigning all of the passage’s main phases. Candidates could use the methods outlined below to avoid making mistakes when drafting a piece. A summary should include all key points so that anyone reading it may understand the idea stated in the original passage. Keep in mind that it’s difficult to rewrite identical sentences in a paragraph, no matter how important they are. You must rewrite the sentences such that they include the idea that the paragraph wishes to repeat in fewer words, skipping over the paragraph’s less important notions. The most crucial aspect of precis writing is determining which concepts are relevant to the paragraph and eliminating those that are not.
- Grammer Usage and Vocabulary– This section contains 1 mark for each question which asks questions like “correct the sentence,” “missing words,” “usage of correct verbs,” “antonyms,” “synonyms,” “rewriting the sentences,” “filling in the blanks,” “structuring sentences using phrases” etc. For this section, candidates should practice previous question papers to understand the pattern clearly, and reading English newspapers helps you to some extent.
Some Essential Tips:
- As mentioned above, anything you are good at understanding, just start with that.Â
- Make sure you understand the fundamentals of English grammar
- Neat handwriting helps with a better understanding of your thoughts and ideas
- Avoiding spelling mistakesÂ
- Have clarity in your answers
- Develop your vocabulary skills by reading newspapers and other general books for your UPSC Exam preparation
- Writing and practicing daily is essential if you haven’t been writing in the regional language since you finished school
- Practice with previous year’s question papers to understand the current paper of the exam
FAQs
1. What is the format of the Compulsory Language Paper in UPSC Mains?
Answer: The Compulsory Language Paper in UPSC Mains consists of two parts: Part-A and Part-B. Part-A requires candidates to write an essay in the chosen language, while Part-B assesses their language skills, including comprehension, précis writing, and language usage.
2. How should I choose between the listed languages for the Compulsory Language Paper?
Answer: UPSC provides a list of languages, and candidates need to choose one for the Compulsory Language Paper. It is advisable to choose a language in which the candidate is proficient, as this paper is designed to test the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively rather than their expertise in a specific language.
3. What is the role of grammar and language proficiency in the Compulsory Language Paper?
Answer: Language proficiency, including grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, plays a crucial role in the evaluation of the Compulsory Language Paper. Candidates should focus on developing a strong command of the chosen language to effectively convey their thoughts in a coherent and structured manner.
4. How can I enhance my writing skills for the essay portion of the Compulsory Language Paper?
Answer: Improving writing skills involves regular practice and reading. Candidates should engage in essay writing on diverse topics, paying attention to clarity, coherence, and logical organization. Reading newspapers, articles, and quality literature in the chosen language can also enhance vocabulary and expression.
5. Are there any specific resources or strategies for preparing for the comprehension and précis writing section?
Answer: To prepare for the comprehension and précis writing section, candidates should practice reading passages from newspapers, magazines, and literary works. Focus on understanding the main ideas, summarizing information accurately, and developing the ability to express the essence of a passage concisely. Regular practice and time management are key to excelling in this section.
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