The OCS Mains 2025 Odia Literature optional exam was held on 7 November 2026. For aspirants who chose Odia as their optional subject, the question paper shows what the Odisha Public Service Commission expects: sound knowledge of the language, a clear grasp of literary texts, and the ability to analyse them. RAYACADEMY IAS has prepared this analysis of both papers, covering the pattern, the questions, a topic-wise breakdown and preparation advice.
1. Paper Pattern at a Glance
Both papers follow the same structure:
Feature | Details |
Time allowed | 3 hours |
Full marks | 250 per paper |
Total questions | 18 (Group A: 12, Group B: 6) |
Group A | Attempt 10 questions, about 250 words each, 15 marks each (150 marks) |
Group B | Attempt 5 questions, about 300 words each, 20 marks each (100 marks) |
Language | Questions in Odia |
What this means for you: you can leave out 2 questions in Group A and 1 in Group B. Pick the questions you can answer with the most confidence, and plan about 10 to 12 minutes per answer.
2. OCS Mains 2025 Odia Optional Paper 1: Question Paper
Paper I is about the Odia language: its history, linguistics, grammar and the history of Odia literature. The questions below are given in English for easy understanding. The original Odia wording is in the PDF.OCS Mains 2025 Odia Optional Question Paper
Group A (15 marks each, 250 words)
ଓଡିଆ ଭାଷାରେ ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ବୈଦେଶିକ ପ୍ରଭାବର କାରଣ ଓ ପ୍ରଚଳନ ସଂପର୍କରେ ବିଶଦ୍ ଭାବେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବାକ୍ୟର ରୂପାନ୍ତର ବିଷୟରେ ଉଦାହରଣ ପ୍ରଦାନ ପୂର୍ବକ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାର ଉତ୍ପତ୍ତି ଓ ପଞ୍ଚଦଶ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀର ଶେଷଭାଗ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଏହାର ବିକାଶଧାରା ସଂପର୍କରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ଭାଷାତାତ୍ତ୍ୱିକ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିକୋଣରୁ ଅଭିଲେଖ ଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆଭାଷାର ସ୍ଥିତି ନିରୂପଣ କର ।
‘ସୁଭାଷଣ’ କହିଲେ କ’ଣ ବୁଝ ? ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସୁଭାଷଣର ବ୍ୟବହାରିକ ଦିଗ ସଂପର୍କରେ ସମୀକ୍ଷା କର ।
ଧ୍ୱନି ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନର ଦଶଗୋଟି ମୁଖ୍ୟ କାରଣ ସଂପର୍କରେ ବିଶଦ୍ଭାବେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ଭାଷାର ରୂପଭେଦ ମୁଖ୍ୟତଃ କେତୋଟି ଆଧାର ଉପରେ ନିର୍ଭର କରେ ? ପ୍ରତିଟି ଆଧାର ସଂପର୍କରେ ବିଶଦ୍ଭାବେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ବାକ୍ୟଗଠନରେ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନର କାରଣ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଏକ ସମୀକ୍ଷା କର ।
ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ବିରାମଚିହ୍ନର ପ୍ରୟୋଗ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟାପଦରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାର ସ୍ୱରୂପ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଏକ ଭାଷାତାତ୍ତ୍ୱିକ ବିଶ୍ଳେଷଣ କର ।
ଓଡିଆ ଭାଷା ଉପରେ ଦ୍ରାବିଡ ଭାଷାର ପ୍ରଭାବ ଉଦାହରଣ ସହକାରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର ।
ସାରଳାଦାସଙ୍କ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୃତିରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆଭାଷା କିପରି ପରିପୃଷ୍ଟି ସାଧନ କରିଛି, ଉଦାହରଣ ସହ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର ।
Group B (20 marks each, 300 words)
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ବିଲୋପ ଷଡ଼ଯନ୍ତ୍ରର ମୁଖ୍ୟ କାରଣ ଓ ଭାଷା ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ସାରଳା ମହାଭାରତର ଲୋକକଥାରେ ଲୋକ ଚରିତ୍ର କିପରି ରୂପାୟିତ ହୋଇଛି, ଉଦାହରଣ ସହ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର ।
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଗୀତିକାବ୍ୟରେ ‘ଚଉପଦୀ’ର ସ୍ଥାନ : ବିଶଦ୍ଭାବେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
ରାଧାନାଥ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଏକ ସମନ୍ୱୟଧର୍ମୀ ସାହିତ୍ୟର ଅପୂର୍ବ ଦୃଷ୍ଟାନ୍ତ : ଏହି ଉକ୍ତିର ଯଥାର୍ଥତା ପ୍ରତିପାଦନ କର ।
‘ଚମ୍ପୂ’ କହିଲେ କ’ଣ ବୁଝ ? ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଚମ୍ପୂ ସାହିତ୍ୟର ପରମ୍ପରା ଓ ବିଶେଷତ୍ୱ ସଂପର୍କରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର ।
ଉତ୍କଳର ଧର୍ମୀୟ ଭାବଧାରାରେ ପଞ୍ଚସଖା ଓ ଶ୍ରୀଚୈତନ୍ୟ – ଏକ ତାତ୍ତ୍ୱିକ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
3. OCS Mains 2025 Odia Optional Paper 2: Question Paper
Paper II is text-based. It covers medieval and modern poetry, the Bhagabata, novels, short stories and drama.
Group A (15 marks each, 250 words)
‘ଲାବଣ୍ୟବତୀ’ର ପ୍ରଥମ ଛାନ୍ଦରେ ଉପେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଭଞ୍ଜଙ୍କ କାବ୍ୟାଦର୍ଶ ଓ ପାଣ୍ଡିତ୍ୟ କିପରି ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶିତ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର ।
ଗଦାପର୍ବ ଆଧାରରେ ସାରଳା ଦାସଙ୍କର ଆହରଣ ଓ ଆରୋପଣ କୁଶଳତା ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର ।
ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଜନଜୀବନ ପାଇଁ ‘ଯଦୁ ଅବଧୂତ ସମ୍ବାଦ’ର ପ୍ରାସଙ୍ଗିକତା ଦର୍ଶାଅ ।
‘ମହାନଦୀରେ ଜ୍ୟୋତ୍ସ୍ନା ବିହାର’ କବିତାରେ ବାରବାଟୀ ଦୁର୍ଗ ଓ ଉତ୍କଳର ଗୌରବମୟ ଅତୀତକୁ ନେଇ କବିଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଯେଉଁ କ୍ଷୋଭ ପ୍ରକାଶ ପାଇଛି ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
‘ବାଜି ରାଉତ’ କବିତାରେ କବିଙ୍କର ବୈପ୍ଲବିକ ଚିନ୍ତାଧାରା ବୁଝାଅ ।
‘ରସକଲ୍ଲୋଳ’ କାବ୍ୟର ୧୬ଶ ଛାନ୍ଦରେ ଥିବା ବର୍ଷା ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନାର ବୈଶିଷ୍ଟ୍ୟ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
‘ମହାନଦୀରେ ଜ୍ୟୋତ୍ସ୍ନା ବିହାର’ କବିତାରେ ପ୍ରତୀକିତ ମାନବବାଦୀ ଭାବଧାରା ଉପରେ ଆଲୋକପାତ କର ।
ରମାକାନ୍ତ ରଥଙ୍କ ‘ସପ୍ତମ ଋତୁ’ କବିତାରେ ମଣିଷର ନିଃସଙ୍ଗତା ଓ ବିଷାଦବୋଧ କିପରି ପ୍ରକାଶ ପାଇଛି ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କର ।
ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଭାଗବତର ଏକାଦଶ ସ୍କନ୍ଧରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ ଚବିଶ ଗୁରୁ ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗର ତାତ୍ପର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କର ।
‘ଚିଲିକା’ କାବ୍ୟରେ ରାଧାନାଥଙ୍କ ଅସାଧାରଣ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା ଚାତୁରୀରେ ନୂତନତା ବିଚାର କର ।
‘ଇତିହାସ ରଙ୍ଗସ୍ଥଳୀ ତୁ ଚିଲିକା’ – ଏହି ଉକ୍ତିର ସାର୍ଥକତା ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କର ।
ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଭାଗବତର ପାଠ୍ୟାଂଶକୁ ଭିତ୍ତି କରି କବିଙ୍କ କବିତ୍ଵ ଓ ଭକ୍ତିଭାବ ଦର୍ଶାଅ ।
Group B (20 marks each, 300 words)
‘ମରାଳର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ’ର ପଠିତ ଗଳ୍ପ ଗୁଡିକ ଲେଖକଙ୍କର ବିଚିତ୍ର ଅନୁଭୂତି ଓ ଅଭିଜ୍ଞତାରେ ନେଇ ରଚିତ, ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
‘ଦାନାପାଣି’ ଉପନ୍ୟାସରେ ଆଧୁନିକ ଚାକିରୀ ଜୀବନର ବାସ୍ତବ ଛବି କିପରି ପ୍ରତିଫଳିତ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କର ।
ମନୋରଞ୍ଜନ ଦାସଙ୍କ ‘କ୍ଳାନ୍ତ ପ୍ରଜାପତି’ ନାଟକର ଚରିତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କର ମନସ୍ତାତ୍ତ୍ଵିକ ବିଶ୍ଳେଷଣ କର ।
‘ଛମାଣ ଆଠଗୁଣ୍ଠ’ ଉପନ୍ୟାସର ଗୌଣ ଚରିତ୍ର ସଂପର୍କରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
“ସଂସାରରୁ ପଳାଇଗଲେ ସଂସାର ବଦଳେ ନାହିଁ, ସଂସାର ଭିତରେ ରହି ନିର୍ଭୟ ହୋଇ ଆପଣାର କଥା ପଦକ କହିବାକୁ ଶିଖିଲେ ହୁଏତ ସଂସାର ବଦଳିବ” – ପାଠ୍ୟାଂଶକୁ ଭିତ୍ତିକରି ଏହି ଉକ୍ତିର ଯଥାର୍ଥତା ବିଚାର କର ।
ଗଠନଶିଳ୍ପ ଓ ସଂଳାପ ପ୍ରୟୋଗର ଅଭିନବତା ‘ତଟ ନିରଞ୍ଜନା’କୁ କିପରି ସାର୍ଥକ ନାଟକ କରିପାରିଛି, ଆଲୋଚନା କର ।
4. Detailed Analysis of the Question Paper
Paper 1 Analysis
Overall difficulty: Moderate. Most questions come straight from the standard syllabus, but several need precise linguistic terms and clear examples.
Topic-wise distribution:
History and origin of the Odia language: Q3 (origin to 15th century), Q4 (inscriptions), Q10 (Charyapada)
Linguistic change (sound, form, sentence): Q2 (sentence transformation), Q6 (sound change), Q7 (form variation), Q8 (sentence structure change)
Language contact and influences: Q1 (foreign words), Q11 (Dravidian influence)
Grammar and usage: Q5 (Subhashana), Q9 (punctuation)
Literary and religious history: Q12 (Sarala Das), Q14 (Sarala Mahabharata folk tales), Q15 (Chaupadi), Q16 (Radhanath), Q17 (Champu), Q18 (Panchasakha and Sri Chaitanya)
Language movement: Q13 (language protection movement)
Key observations:
Language and linguistics dominated. About 12 to 13 of the 18 questions were about the language itself: its origin, change, contact and usage. Candidates who prepared only literary history would have struggled.
Direct, scoring questions such as Q1, Q3, Q6, Q9 and Q11 reward clear definitions and examples.
Sarala Das appeared twice (Q12 and Q14), once for language and once for folk characters. This shows how often the Sarala tradition returns in different forms.
Group B was about literature and ideas, covering the Chaupadi, Champu, Radhanath and Panchasakha, so it needed a different style of answer from Group A.
Q13 linked language, history and social movement, so a balanced answer with dates and events would score best.
Paper 2 Analysis
Overall difficulty: Moderate to difficult. The paper is text-based, so it needs close reading of the prescribed works. Memorised notes alone are not enough.
Topic-wise distribution:
Medieval texts: Q1 (Labanyabati), Q2 (Gadaparba), Q6 (Rasakallola), Q9 and Q12 (Bhagabata), and Q3 (Yadu-Avadhuta Samvad, which also belongs to the Bhagabata tradition)
Modern poetry: Q4 and Q7 (Mahanadire Jyotsna Bihar), Q5 (Baji Raut), Q8 (Saptama Ritu), Q10 and Q11 (Chilika)
Short story: Q13 (Maralara Mrutyu)
Novel: Q14 (Danapani), Q16 and Q17 (Chha Mana Atha Guntha, assuming the Q17 statement is from the prescribed novel)
Drama: Q15 (Klanta Prajapati), Q18 (Tata Niranjana)
Key observations:
Jagannath Das’s Bhagabata got heavy weightage, with at least two direct questions (Q9 and Q12) and one more on the Avadhuta episode (Q3).
One poem, two questions. Mahanadire Jyotsna Bihar was asked twice (Q4 and Q7), once for historical feeling and once for humanism. Prepare each text from several angles.
Q10 and Q11 tested Radhanath’s Chilika from two sides: description and its historical meaning.
Group B tested analysis. Questions on characters, psychology, social reality and dramatic craft needed examples and arguments from the texts.
Q17 was a statement-based question, which needs a clear stand, textual evidence and a balanced conclusion.
5. How to Score Well in OCS Odia Optional: Expert Tips
Master linguistics for Paper 1. Learn definitions, types and examples for sound change, form change, sentence change and language contact. Examples earn marks.
Read the prescribed texts for Paper 2. Answers backed by lines, scenes and characters from the text score higher than general writing.
Prepare every text from multiple angles. Theme, character, language, social message and craft can each become a separate question.
Use a clear answer structure. Write a short introduction, a body with 3 to 4 points and examples, and a crisp conclusion.
Respect the word limit. Practise 250-word and 300-word answers with a timer.
Connect literature to society and history. This helps in questions like Q13 (Paper 1) and Q4 and Q14 (Paper 2).
Solve previous years’ papers. Topics such as Sarala Das, Radhanath, the Bhagabata, language change and modern drama repeat in different forms.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When was the OCS Mains 2025 Odia Optional exam held?The exam was held on 7 November 2026.
Q2. How many questions are there in each Odia Optional paper?Each paper has 18 questions: 12 in Group A (attempt 10) and 6 in Group B (attempt 5).
Q3. What are the word limit and marks?Group A answers are about 250 words and carry 15 marks each. Group B answers are about 300 words and carry 20 marks each. Each paper is 250 marks.
Q4. What does Paper 1 cover?Paper 1 covers the Odia language: its origin, development, linguistics, grammar and the history of Odia literature.
Q5. What does Paper 2 cover?Paper 2 covers the prescribed literary texts, including medieval poetry, the Bhagabata, modern poems, novels, short stories and drama.
Q6. Where can I download the question paper?You can download the PDF from this page. Look for the download link above.
Q7. Which texts were important in Paper 2?Jagannath Das’s Bhagabata, Mahanadire Jyotsna Bihar, Chilika, Chha Mana Atha Guntha and the plays Klanta Prajapati and Tata Niranjana all featured.
The OCS Mains 2025 Odia Optional papers tested both language knowledge and literary understanding. Paper 1 focused strongly on linguistics, language history and literary tradition, while Paper 2 asked for close reading of the prescribed texts. The medieval and modern balance, the repeated use of key authors, and the analytical Group B questions show that regular reading and answer writing are the keys to a good score.
To prepare for the next OCS Mains, study this paper carefully, revise the linguistic concepts with examples, and re-read the prescribed texts with a question-setter’s eye. For structured guidance, RAYACADEMY IAS can help you plan your preparation. Visit www.rayacademy.co.in or call 7606024205 to know more.
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