How to Prepare UPSC Sanskrit Language Paper 2024 – IAS Mains

Prepare UPSC Sanskrit: Check out How to Prepare UPSC Sanskrit Optional subject 2024 – Study Strategy. UPSC Mains Sanskrit Optional subject Preparation Tips are provided here. UPSC Notification 2022 has released. Today we’ve provided a Preparation strategy for UPSC Sanskrit optional Paper. UPSC has already announced the IAS / Civil Services Exam Dates (यूपीएससी संस्कृत भाषा का पेपर). Before going to start the preparation strategy for UPSC, know UPSC Mains Syllabus. You can check Suggested Strategy for Sanskrit optional for the UPSC IAS mains exam.

How to Prepare UPSC Sanskrit Optional Subject 2024

 Not many IAS candidates take up Sanskrit as their optional subject in the UPSC civil services. Despite being a scoring subject, this ancient language does not find many takers. One reason is the general unpopularity of this language among school children itself. Most students prefer a commonly used language. Also, there is a perception that Sanskrit is a tough language. The two things that make it seem tough are the very precise and scientific grammar rules in this language and the fact that one cannot hear Sanskrit spoken on a daily basis. But there are students who do take Sanskrit as their optional subject in the civil services.

On average, the success rate for this optional is about 8% which is not that bad. With the right approach, it is possible to clear this exam in the first attempt but don’t get depressed if you fail.

  • know your UPSC Civil Services Exam syllabus
  • Select Best Reference Books
  • Prepare a Study plan
  • Prepare own Preparation Notes
  • Practice Previous Question Papers
  • Practice few Mock Test Papers

UPSC Preparation Tips

UPSC Aspirants should follow exam tips to write the exam. Preparation tips are needed for any exam. UPSC exam should be conducted once in every year. Planning and hard work are very important to face any competitive exam. Below are some of the tips for preparation. Each UPSC mains Sanskrit paper consists of 250 marks. The duration for each Sanskrit language mains paper is 3 hours.

Step 1: Know UPSC Sanskrit syllabus

In the previous article, we’ve provided UPSC Mains Sanskrit Syllabus. You can check and find what are the applicable topics and chapter for UPSC IAS Mains Exam.

CheckUPSC Sanskrit Syllabus 2024 – IAS Mains Optional Subjects

Step 2: Select Best Reference Books for UPSC Sanskrit

To prepare UPSC Sanskrit Optional Subject, UPSC aspirants should prepare some reference books. We’ve already provided UPSC Reference Books for All optional papers. You can check our best-recommended books for the IAS exam at the given link below. The suggested books are included in optional and language Subjects.

Check – UPSC Mains Sanskrit Reference Books

Recommended books for Sanskrit:

Step 3: Prepare a Study Plan

The study plan is very important for every exam preparation. It plays a key role in the success of getting a good score in the UPSC exam.  Prepare a study plan for the UPSC exam. Make a monthly plan, weekly plan and daily schedule to prepare UPSC Sanskrit, Optional Paper. Allot the time for exam preparation and set the time for playing, eating, watching TV, and studying.

Daily prepare a few hours and spend at least 8 hours for IAS exam preparation.

UPSC Nepali Preparation Plan for 3 months

If you have 3 months of preparation time for the UPSC Mains exam, you can prepare 8-9 hours per day.

UPSC Preparation Plan for Sanskrit (Before 3 Months)
SubjectAllocation Time
Paper A – Indian Language1 hr daily
Paper B – English1 hr daily
Paper 2 – General Studies 11 hrs. daily
Paper 3 – General Studies 21 hrs. daily
Paper 4 – General Studies 31 hrs. daily
Paper 5 – General Studies 41 hrs. daily
Paper 6 – Sanskrit Optional Paper 1 1 hrs. daily
Paper 7 – Sanskrit Optional Paper 21 hrs. daily

Step 4: Prepare UPSC Sanskrit Important Topics

Sanskrit Paper I and Paper II Important Topics

Paper I contains Origin of Punjabi language, Punjabi morphology, Language and dialect, Modern Trends, Folk literature that is important for the preparation. Paper-II in languages optional will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

As you know the marks of the optional paper are crucial to deciding your ranking in the final list, you to have to perform exceptionally well in the paper of your choice. Since the rest of the papers are compulsory for all, its only the optional paper that can make or break your fortune. So don’t try to do selective reading and gamble, as there is only one optional paper now.

Final Step: Prepare UPSC Sanskrit Previous Question Papers & Practice papers

Download UPSC Mains Sanskrit Question Papers. We’ve provided UPSC mains Sanskrit Previous Question papers for download in PDF format.

Click Here: UPSC Mains Sanskrit Question Papers Download in pdf

Who should opt for Sanskrit?

Sanskrit optional should be taken up only if you have previously studied Sanskrit in school for many years and you are comfortable in it. Although you are allowed to take up Sanskrit optional even without studying it beforehand, it would not be a wise move to start learning this language from scratch for the UPSC exam. Sanskrit is a very scientific language. Its grammar rules are precise and those who enjoy learning such a language will find it easier. He/She may score well in Paper I which is like general studies but Paper-II becomes the eliminating factor if it is not covered exhaustively.

  • Literature subjects are less informative.
  • good for who is creative
  • not too difficult to understand
  • to score good marks one should have good writing skill
  • creativity required
  • depth in philosophy required

How much time does it take to prepare?

4-5 months, if you study Punjabi 12-15 hours per week. This should be enough. Also, it depends on how much can you recall your graduation concepts.

Ideally, aspirants need 4-5 months to complete the optional subject solely. Here we are giving the best suitable strategies for Sanskrit optional for the UPSC IAS Mains Exam.

  • Aspirants should have an exhaustive knowledge about the syllabus of Sanskrit optional.
  • Candidates should know the basic concept of Sanskrit to tackle Paper-II.
  • Improve writing skills because every language should need good writing skills to answer the questions in a particular language.
  • In your essay, write in a simple but effective language. Attempt the essay question last with at least 40 minutes to spare. Once you are done with the other sections, you will have enough ‘flow’ to write your essay. Also, you should not waste time writing an elaborate essay at the beginning.
  • Basically, you can divide the Sanskrit syllabus into two:
    1. Grammar
    2. Non-grammar
  • Learn all the shabda roop, dhatu roop, and a lot of vocabulary. This will help you in understanding and translations.
  • Start with Sanskrit Vyakaran Praveshika by Dr. Baburam Saxena.
  • Practice a lot to improve your fluency and speed in Sanskrit.
  • For other materials, any MA Sanskrit textbooks would be sufficient.
  • Apart from your regular newspaper, read a newspaper in the language that you have opted for at least 15 minutes every day. This will familiarise you with the subtleties of the language. It will also give you the modern method of writing in the language.
  • The essential part of UPSC IAS Exam preparation is solving the previous year’s UPSC Mains questions papers. For Sanskrit also aspirants should go through the Previous year question paper to extract an idea about exam patterns, trends, etc.

This article titled “How to Prepare UPSC Sanskrit Optional subject 2024 – Study Strategy – Suggested by Toppers ” gives the detailed information about the tips for the preparation of the UPSC exam for all optional papers. Additional information like Reference books (यूपीएससी संस्कृत का पेपर) for UPSC Mains, IAS Previous question papers are also given above. Students should follow those tips and prepare well for the exam and download the links for more information about UPSC.

One comment

  1. Hello dear sir, thanks a lot for providing us this useful tips . Sir, I am a sanskrit student now i am doing graduating with sanskrit subject . Without wasting your time i want to tell you my problem, sir i saw the sanskrit full syllabus but sir i did not understand that what they wants from us, i mean they simply mentioned every shastras and so many mahakavyas, i want to know what i have to study from there i am not understanding from where to where i have to study . The most shocking problem is I have not yet found any books and i do not have any idea about booklet also. I request to you please help me about this problem sir, I will be grateful for you. Thank you sir.

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