Language & Medium

The 23 Available Mediums for UPSC Mains

Candidates may write GS Papers I–IV, Essay, and both Optional papers in English, Hindi, or any of the 22 languages recognised by the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. That gives a total of 23 valid medium options.

Source: UPSC Civil Services Examination Rules (published annually in the Gazette of India); UPSC CSE 2025 Notification, upsc.gov.in

The 22 Eighth Schedule Languages — Grouped by Region/Family

Historical note: The Eighth Schedule originally had 14 languages in 1950. Sindhi was added in 1967 (21st Amendment); Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali were added in 1992 (71st Amendment); Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santali were added in 2003 (92nd Constitutional Amendment Act).

Key Rules on Medium Use

One medium for all merit papers: Once you declare a medium in the DAF, every GS paper and Essay must be written in that language. You cannot write GS Paper I in English and GS Paper II in Hindi.

Exceptions that do not violate the medium rule:

• Paper A (Compulsory Indian Language): Written in the Eighth Schedule language you select for Paper A — this is a separate choice from your main medium and does not break the medium consistency rule.
• Paper B (Compulsory English): Always in English for every candidate. Writing this paper does not count as your 'medium' and does not violate consistency if you are a Hindi-medium candidate.
• Literature Optionals: If you choose Hindi Literature, Telugu Literature, Tamil Literature, etc. as your optional subject, those two optional papers are written in that language regardless of your declared main medium. This is a recognised exception under UPSC rules.

GS in Hindi + Optional in English: Permitted — if your main GS medium is Hindi but your optional subject is a technical/science paper (e.g., Geography, Chemistry, Mathematics), you may write the optional in English. The reverse — GS in English, optional in Hindi — is NOT permitted.

How and When to Declare Your Medium

Important: Once DAF-I is submitted, the medium cannot be changed for that attempt. Plan carefully — switching is possible only in a future attempt by filing a fresh DAF.

Interview Medium

For the Personality Test (Interview), you may choose English, Hindi, or the same Eighth Schedule language as your declared Mains medium. This is declared in DAF-II. Most candidates — including many who wrote Mains in Hindi — opt for English in the interview. You may NOT switch to a new language that was not your Mains medium for the interview.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Medium

Frequently Asked Questions on Medium Rules

Q: If I choose Hindi as medium but my optional is Geography (not literature), must I write Geography in Hindi? A: No — if your GS medium is Hindi, you may write your optional in English. This is the one permitted asymmetry. The reverse (GS in English, optional in Hindi) is not permitted.

Q: If I choose Tamil as medium for Mains, can I interview in English? A: Yes. Interview medium (DAF-II) is independently declared and may differ from your Mains medium.

Q: Is Santali medium viable? A: Technically permitted, but the Santali Mains candidates count is typically fewer than 2 per year nationally. Evaluator availability for Santali (written in Ol Chiki script) is limited. This medium is only viable if you are genuinely literate in Santali and cannot express equally well in any other available medium.

Mentor Tips

• Decide before you begin preparing, not after. Switching medium mid-preparation loses 6–12 months of fluency investment.
• The 22 Eighth Schedule languages are the same list used for both the medium choice and the Paper A (Indian Language) choice — but these are two independent decisions.
• No medium has an official advantage. UPSC instructs evaluators to assess content, not language. The practical disadvantage of non-English mediums is resource availability, not examiner bias.
• Write at least 20 timed practice answers in your chosen medium before confirming your medium in DAF — this is the only reliable self-test.

The Numbers: English vs Hindi Medium

UPSC does not officially publish medium-wise selection statistics, but multiple RTI responses, coaching institute analyses, and UPSC annual report data consistently show:

Sources: RTI analyses, UPSC Annual Report 2022-23, coaching institute surveys. UPSC does not publish official medium-wise breakdowns.

The ratio of English to Hindi is roughly 20:1 among Mains candidates, and roughly similar among those finally recommended. This reflects candidate preference, not examiner preference.

Recent Hindi Medium Toppers: Proof It Works

Mohanlal Jakhar (AIR 53, CSE 2023) from Barmer, Rajasthan wrote all GS papers in Hindi and scored 1,006 marks overall with 190 in interview. His answer booklets are commercially available and widely studied by Hindi medium aspirants.

Divya Tanwar (AIR 105, CSE 2022) from Nimbi village, Mahendragarh, Haryana studied in a government Hindi-medium school and cleared the exam without coaching. She chose Hindi Literature as her optional.

Arguments For English Medium

• Vastly more study material: textbooks, test series, coaching, model answers, and topper copies are overwhelmingly in English
• Current affairs sources (The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS) are English-dominant
• Technical vocabulary in Economy, International Relations, and Science & Technology is primarily English — you must write it in English parenthetically in Hindi medium anyway
• Peer group, mock interview panels, and online communities skew English
• Access to UPSC topper answer copies and evaluation benchmarks is far easier in English

Arguments For Hindi Medium

• Candidates who have studied and worked in Hindi their entire lives will express complex policy analysis more fluently in Hindi
• UPSC rules explicitly state examiners are instructed not to penalise based on medium — content is what is evaluated
• Comprehensive Hindi-medium material now exists: Drishti IAS, Vision IAS Hindi, NCERT Hindi PDFs (free at ncert.nic.in), Laxmikanth in Hindi
• Strong Hindi medium test series: Vision IAS, Drishti IAS, PW OnlyIAS
• Hindi-medium aspirants from UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan often find they can write richer, more nuanced answers in Hindi

How to Make the Decision

Step 1: Write a 250-word practice answer on a UPSC-type question (e.g., 'Discuss the significance of federalism in India') in both English and Hindi without stopping to think about vocabulary.

Step 2: Have someone evaluate both for clarity of argument, not grammar.

Step 3: The language where your thinking flows more naturally — where you pause less for words — is your medium.

Decision matrix:

Common Mistakes

• Switching mid-preparation because you see English medium toppers — your 12 months of Hindi notes are not transferable.
• Assuming English medium gets more marks — examiners mark content; a crisp Hindi answer scores as well as a crisp English answer on the same content.
• Choosing Hindi medium for ideological reasons while actually thinking in English — this creates internal friction and slower writing speed.

UPSC's Official Position

'The medium of answers shall be the candidate's choice... examiners shall be instructed not to penalise on the basis of medium.' — UPSC Civil Services Examination Rules (Gazette of India)

Bottom line: Roughly 3–4% of selected candidates write in Hindi. That is a small number — but every year, some of those candidates clear in the top 100. Language is not a ceiling; resources and fluency are the real variables.

UPSC's Statutory Position on Medium and Marks

The Civil Services Examination Rules — published every year in the Gazette of India — explicitly state that the medium of answers shall not be used as a criterion for evaluation. UPSC appoints separate evaluation panels for each language medium, typically comprising Hindi-knowing civil servants and academics for the Hindi medium, and regional language scholars for regional medium papers.

The marking scheme is content-based: structure, relevance, examples, analysis, and presentation — not the language in which these appear.

What Data Shows (and What It Does Not Show)

UPSC does not publish medium-wise average marks data. Inferences come from:

• RTI responses obtained by aspirants (aggregated by coaching institutes)
• An article in Economic & Political Weekly (2019) analysing medium and performance
• LBSNAA trainee data compiled by coaching institutes

Findings from these sources:

Important caveat: The observed gap in average marks is not statistically proven to be caused by evaluator bias. The leading explanation is the resource and ecosystem gap — English medium aspirants have richer test series, more model answers to calibrate against, and better peer groups.

The Real Disadvantages of Hindi and Regional Medium

1. Fewer test series and model answers The overwhelming majority of UPSC test series — both offline coaching and online platforms — are in English. Hindi-medium aspirants must work harder to find benchmarks.

2. Calibration problem in Essay Essay paper scores depend heavily on writing style, imagery, and tone. English medium essay feedback is abundant (topper copies, coaching reviews). Hindi medium essays have fewer reference points.

3. Technical terminology in Economy, IR, S&T Hindi and regional medium candidates must use the parenthetical technique — writing the English term in brackets — for every technical term (GDP, fiscal consolidation, sovereignty, etc.). This is permitted but adds cognitive load.

4. Limited topper copy circulation Post-result, UPSC uploads topper answer copies (available via upsc.gov.in). Hindi medium copies exist but are far outnumbered by English ones. Regional language topper copies are almost unavailable online.

What Helps Non-English Medium Candidates Close the Gap

Worked Example: How Medium Affects a GS Paper III Answer

Question (typical UPSC 2023-style): 'Discuss the significance of GST in achieving cooperative federalism. What structural challenges remain?'

English medium candidate approach:

• Writes '...the GST Council (Article 279A) embodies cooperative federalism...' — no vocabulary friction
• References fiscal consolidation, revenue buoyancy, IGST mechanism fluently
• Can quote The Hindu editorial phrasing directly from memory

Hindi medium candidate approach:

• Writes '...जीएसटी परिषद (GST Council), जो अनुच्छेद 279A के तहत स्थापित है, सहकारी संघवाद (Cooperative Federalism) का मूर्त रूप है...'
• Must translate every technical term with parenthetical on first use
• Must create analysis using Hindi that conveys the same policy depth

Is one structurally better-scored? No — evaluators are instructed to assess policy depth, not language. Both approaches can score equally if the analysis is equally strong. The Hindi answer takes slightly more time per sentence (parenthetical construction), but contains the same content.

Frequently Asked Questions on Medium and Marks

Q: Can I request to be re-evaluated in a different medium if I feel my marks were low? A: No. UPSC does not permit re-evaluation requests under normal circumstances. You may only request rechecking (totalling only, not re-marking) via RTI.

Q: Do evaluators get paid less for Hindi/regional medium papers? A: No — UPSC applies the same evaluation norms and honoraria regardless of medium.

Q: If I use more English parenthetical terms than Hindi text, will my paper be rejected? A: Yes — if evaluators find the paper is predominantly in English with Hindi parenthetical terms rather than the reverse, it violates the medium declaration. The parenthetical should be the exception, not the rule.

The Bottom Line

Writing in Hindi or a regional language does not penalise you structurally. The UPSC machinery is designed to be language-neutral. The practical challenge is an ecosystem gap — fewer resources, fewer peer groups, fewer calibration benchmarks. With disciplined effort to replicate the English-medium ecosystem in your language, the gap closes significantly.

The single most actionable step: join or form a dedicated Hindi-medium or regional-medium peer group that reviews each other's answers weekly. This creates the calibration feedback that test series provide for English-medium candidates.

Approximate Regional Language Mains Candidates

UPSC does not publish official medium-wise breakdowns. The following figures are drawn from RTI responses, UPSC annual report data, and coaching institute analyses (CSE 2022 cycle):

Source: RTI-based analyses (Byjus, coaching institutes); UPSC Annual Reports 2022-23. These are approximate figures; UPSC does not publish official medium-wise data.

Why Gujarati and Marathi Dominate Regional Medium

Gujarati and Marathi have the largest absolute candidate pools (Maharashtra and Gujarat together contribute over 15% of total CSE applicants) and the most developed state PSC ecosystems in those languages. Candidates who studied in Gujarati or Marathi medium up to graduation have the linguistic foundation to write UPSC in those languages.

Case Studies: Regional Medium Successes

Himanshu Tembhekar (AIR 738, CSE 2023) chose Marathi medium despite having an entirely English-medium academic background. He secured a position in the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). He noted that descriptive GS answers were manageable in Marathi but that technical Economy and IR sections required careful English parenthetical notation throughout.

Nandini KR (AIR 1, CSE 2016) is widely cited in Tamil-medium discussions as proof that regional linguistic backgrounds produce top rankers — though she wrote in English, her academic journey in Karnataka is an inspiration for regional language aspirants.

The Practical Challenges: Documented

UPSC Question Paper Translation

UPSC provides question papers in all 22 Eighth Schedule languages plus English. For language-medium candidates, the question paper is available in their chosen medium. However, candidates may also read the English version alongside and answer in their medium — this is standard practice for regional medium candidates.

When Regional Medium Makes Sense

Regional medium is a rational choice only if all of the following apply:

1. You have studied through graduation in that language and think in it naturally
2. You can write complex policy analysis (federalism, fiscal policy, environmental governance) in that language fluently without pausing for words
3. You are willing to build your entire study infrastructure from scratch — your own notes, your own glossary, your own peer group
4. You align your optional subject with the same language (e.g., Marathi Literature) so at least the optional papers have established resources

Mentor tip: If you are considering a regional medium primarily because your English is weak, switching to Hindi (which has a richer resource ecosystem) is almost always a better strategic choice than switching to a regional language. Hindi has Drishti, Vision IAS, Laxmikanth in Hindi, and Mohanlal Jakhar's answer copies. Regional languages have almost none of these.

The UPSC Rule on Mixing Languages

The Civil Services Examination Rules state that candidates must write their answer papers in the declared medium. Using a different language within the same answer booklet is not permitted and carries real consequences:

• Answers that prominently mix languages may be marked zero by evaluators
• Persistent or systematic mixing is treated as a violation of examination conduct rules
• In extreme cases, the entire paper may be treated as violating the declared medium

Source: UPSC CSE Rules (Gazette of India, annual); UPSC FAQ section, upsc.gov.in

The Parenthetical Technique: The One Permitted Exception

Writing an English technical term in parentheses after its Hindi or regional language equivalent is universally accepted and is standard practice among Hindi-medium toppers. This is not considered mixing — it is considered a documentation aid.

How to do it correctly:

Key constraint: Keep parenthetical English to genuinely technical terms only. Do not write phrases, policy explanations, or arguments in English within a Hindi answer — only proper nouns, internationally recognised acronyms, and terms with no accepted Hindi equivalent.

Can Different GS Papers Use Different Mediums?

The UPSC rules specify a single medium for the entire Mains examination, not on a per-paper basis. Some older UPSC circulars were ambiguously worded, but the current standard UPSC guidance is clear: one medium applies to all GS papers and Essay.

Changing medium between GS Paper I and GS Paper II (or any other merit paper) is not recommended. Evaluators flag such inconsistencies during central scrutiny.

Recognised Exceptions That Are NOT Mixing

Practical Worked Example

Scenario: Rohan has declared Hindi as his medium. In GS Paper III (Economy), the question asks about 'fiscal federalism and GST architecture.'

Correct approach: Write the entire answer in Hindi. On first mention of GST, write 'वस्तु एवं सेवा कर (GST)'. On first mention of fiscal federalism, write 'राजकोषीय संघवाद (Fiscal Federalism)'. Use these Hindi terms throughout, with the English form only in parentheses on first use. Do not switch to English sentences at any point.

Incorrect approach: After two paragraphs in Hindi, write: 'The GST Council has 33 members including Finance Minister of each state. Article 279A establishes it.' — This switches to English mid-paper and violates the medium rule.

Mentor Tips

• Develop your Hindi vocabulary list before Mains. Create a personal glossary of 200–300 technical terms with Hindi equivalent + English in parentheses. Drishti IAS publishes a free Hindi technical glossary (Shabd Kosh).
• Practise writing entire answers in your medium under timed conditions — this builds muscle memory and prevents mid-exam language slippage.
• Never leave a technical term untranslated without the parenthetical — evaluators may not know the Hindi form of obscure technical terms and may mark the answer down for confusion.

The Standard Parenthetical Technique

Every experienced Hindi-medium topper uses the same approach: write the Hindi term, then the English term in parentheses on first use only. Subsequent uses in the same answer use the Hindi term alone (or just the acronym for well-known abbreviations).

Template: [Hindi equivalent] ([English term]) on first use → [Hindi equivalent] or [Acronym] on subsequent uses

Glossary: Most Common UPSC Technical Terms in Hindi

When the English Form Alone is Acceptable

1. Internationally recognised acronyms: GDP, IMF, WTO, BRICS, NATO, ISRO, NASA, WHO, UNSC — these function as proper nouns in any language
2. Names of institutions and treaties: Paris Agreement, UNGA, RCEP, ASEAN — write in English regardless of medium
3. Transliterated English loan-words: इंटरनेट (Internet), टेलीविज़न (Television) — transliteration is acceptable
4. Brand new coined terms without established Hindi translation: Terms like 'Platform Economy', 'Gig Workers' — the English is the primary form; add Hindi transliteration if needed

Official Resource: CSTT (Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology)

The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, publishes official Hindi equivalents for scientific, administrative, legal, and economic terminology. Their glossaries are available free at cstt.nic.in and cover:

• Administrative terminology (राजभाषा शब्दावली)
• Legal terminology (विधि शब्दावली)
• Economic terminology (अर्थशास्त्र शब्दावली)
• Scientific terminology (विज्ञान शब्दावली)

Key resources for Hindi-medium candidates:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mentor Tips from Hindi Medium Toppers

• Prepare a personal 200-term glossary covering Polity, Economy, Ethics, IR, and Environment before Mains begins. Refer to it daily until automatic.
• Read your draft answers aloud in Hindi — wherever you stumble for a word, that is a gap in your vocabulary that needs filling before the exam.
• Do not over-Sanskritise — Mohanlal Jakhar (AIR 53) wrote clear, simple Hindi; he did not use archaic vocabulary that evaluators might misread.

Overview: Two Compulsory Qualifying Papers

Source: UPSC CSE 2025 Notification; CSE Rules, Gazette of India; UPSC Compulsory Language Paper analysis (PWOnlyIAS, 2025)

Paper A — Indian Language: Full Details

Qualifying marks: 75 out of 300 (25%). This threshold is absolute — there is no grace, and there is no relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates on qualifying papers.

Language options for Paper A: Candidates choose one from the 22 Eighth Schedule languages listed below:

Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri (Meitei), Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu

Key: The language chosen for Paper A does not have to match your Mains medium. A candidate writing GS in English can choose Tamil for Paper A.

Paper A Structure (300 marks):

Source: UPSC Compulsory Language Paper syllabus 2025; PWOnlyIAS, VisionIAS analysis

Paper B — English: Full Details

Who must appear: Every single UPSC Mains candidate, without exception. There is no state-based or background-based exemption from Paper B.

Qualifying marks: 75/300 (25%). Same absolute threshold as Paper A.

Paper B Structure: Mirrors Paper A in format — Essay, Comprehension, Précis, Translation (Indian language to English and reverse), Grammar. The level tested is approximately Class 10–12 standard English proficiency.

Critical consequence: If you fail Paper B, none of your GS Papers or Optional papers are evaluated. You are effectively disqualified from Mains, regardless of how well you wrote other papers. This applies to every candidate including those writing GS in Hindi or regional languages.

North-East State Exemption from Paper A

Candidates whose home state's official language is not on the Eighth Schedule are exempted from Paper A. The six states are:

These candidates still must appear for Paper B (English) — there is no exemption from that.

Common Mistakes Candidates Make on Paper A and B

Mentor Tips

• Prepare for Paper A with at least 20–30 practice sessions on précis writing and translation. These are skill-based, not knowledge-based — you improve with drills.
• For translation sections: Practise translating 1–2 paragraphs of editorial-level English text into your chosen Indian language and back every week for three months before Mains.
• For Paper B: Native Hindi-medium candidates sometimes underperform on the English précis and translation sections. Spend 15 minutes a day for two months reading editorials and summarising them in 80 words — this is the entire skill being tested.
• Do not choose a language for Paper A that you cannot write fluidly. Some candidates choose Sanskrit hoping it is easier — it is not, and poor Sanskrit results in disqualification.

The UPSC Rule: Switching Is Permitted

You declare your Mains medium in the DAF-I each attempt independently. UPSC has no institutional memory of your previous medium declaration. There is no rule preventing you from writing in English in Attempt 1 and Hindi in Attempt 2 — or any combination across attempts.

Source: UPSC CSE DAF Guidelines; UPSC CSE Rules (Gazette of India)

Why Switching Is Strategically Risky

1. Answer-writing fluency resets completely

Fluent UPSC answer writing — structured paragraphs, crisp opening statements, precise use of policy language, appropriate examples — takes 6–12 months of practice to build in any language. When you switch medium, this fluency does not transfer. Your Hindi answer-writing practice does not make you fluent at English UPSC answers. You are starting from scratch on a skill that is critical for scoring 120+ on each GS paper.

2. Notes and study materials cannot be reused

If your entire revision notes are in Hindi, switching to English means re-reading every source in English and re-synthesising your notes. This effectively doubles preparation time. Most aspirants underestimate this cost.

3. Cognitive framework disruption

The way you construct arguments, select examples, and frame policy analysis is language-dependent. A candidate who has practiced analysis in Hindi for two years does not automatically analyse as well in English — and vice versa. Rebuilding this cognitive habit takes time beyond just vocabulary.

4. You lose your calibration benchmarks

If you built your standard of writing quality against Hindi model answers and test series feedback, switching to English puts you in a different benchmarking ecosystem where your self-assessment is unreliable until you recalibrate.

When Switching May Be Justified

Switching medium is justified only if a structured diagnostic confirms the medium itself is the bottleneck:

Switching is NOT justified if:

• You scored low because of thin content, not poor expression
• You have fewer than 12 months before the next Mains attempt
• Your command of the target language is not genuinely stronger than your current medium
• You are switching because of general discouragement, not a specific diagnosed language bottleneck

Practical Decision Framework

RTI Route: Accessing Your Own Answer Sheets

The Right to Information Act allows UPSC Mains candidates to apply for photocopies of their evaluated answer sheets. Process:

1. File an RTI application addressed to the Central Public Information Officer, UPSC, New Delhi
2. Pay the ₹10 RTI fee (demand draft or postal order)
3. Request answer sheets for specific papers by roll number and year
4. UPSC typically responds within 30 days

Reviewing your actual evaluated answer sheets — including any evaluator marks and ticks — gives you genuine evidence about where marks were lost. This is more reliable than any external estimate.

Common Mistakes When Switching Medium

• Deciding to switch immediately after a failed attempt, during emotional distress — this is rarely a rational decision. Wait two weeks, then evaluate.
• Switching from Hindi to English assuming English resources guarantee a result — English resources are richer, but a candidate who thinks in Hindi and forces English will produce weaker answers than their best Hindi output.
• Switching back in the next attempt because the transition was harder than expected — this zigzag strategy is the most wasteful of preparation time. Decide once, commit fully.

Interview Medium: The Formal Rules

According to UPSC Civil Services Personality Test (Interview) rules and DAF-II guidelines:

• You may use English, Hindi, or any Eighth Schedule language that you declared as your Mains medium for the interview
• This is declared in DAF-II, filed after Mains results are announced
• The interview board is constituted with language capability matching your declared medium
• You may switch between Mains medium and interview medium — a candidate who wrote Mains in Hindi may interview in English, and vice versa

Source: UPSC CSE Personality Test Rules; DAF-II guidelines, upsc.gov.in; IASGyan DAF-II analysis 2024

The Key Flexibility: Interview Medium ≠ Mains Medium

Unlike the Mains medium rule (where GS in English means optional in English), the interview medium is independently chosen in DAF-II. This creates the following options:

Who Actually Uses Hindi in the Interview?

Based on LBSNAA analyses and coaching institute surveys:

• Approximately 90%+ of interview candidates use English, even those who wrote Mains in Hindi
• Among Hindi-medium Mains candidates, roughly 70–80% switch to English for the interview
• A small but consistent group of Hindi-medium candidates who are genuinely more comfortable in Hindi — typically from UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP backgrounds — interview in Hindi with success

Why do Hindi Mains candidates switch to English for interview?

1. UPSC interview boards include senior IAS/IPS officers, domain experts, and retired bureaucrats — many of whom have spent their careers conducting interviews in English
2. Nuanced expression of personality — humour, personality, warmth — is harder to convey in a formal setting in a language the board may not be equally comfortable in
3. English allows technical and policy discussion with more precision without needing Hindi equivalents for every term

When Hindi Interview Works Well

Can You Switch Languages Mid-Interview?

Officially, no — you declare a medium and the board prepares accordingly. In practice, UPSC interview boards are experienced and humane: if you struggle with a specific English term, briefly clarifying in Hindi is unlikely to be penalised. However, relying on mid-interview switching as a strategy is dangerous — it signals preparation gaps rather than bilingual strength.

Choosing Your Interview Medium: Decision Checklist

Ask yourself:

1. In which language do I naturally express wit, warmth, and spontaneity? — This is more important than fluency in policy discussion
2. Have I done at least 5 mock interviews in the target language with experienced panelists? — If not, do not declare that medium
3. Can I discuss my DAF topics (hobbies, home state, optional subject, past work) fluidly in this language? — These are the high-probability discussion areas
4. Am I choosing English out of genuine comfort or out of peer pressure? — Both are valid reasons, but you must be honest about which applies

Mentor Tips

• If you wrote Mains in English, interview in English — the cognitive consistency is an advantage, and your panel will likely be more comfortable engaging in English.
• If you wrote Mains in Hindi and are a natural Hindi speaker, seriously consider interviewing in Hindi — Mohanlal Jakhar (AIR 53, CSE 2023) scored 190/275 in interview and is a documented Hindi medium success story.
• Prepare mock interviews in your chosen medium with panels that include at least one person who can challenge you sharply in that language. Uncontested preparation does not simulate the actual board.

Hindi Medium: A Near-Complete Ecosystem

Hindi-medium candidates in 2025 have access to a comprehensive preparation ecosystem that did not exist a decade ago. The gap with English is still real, but it is narrowing.

Foundation Textbooks in Hindi:

Current Affairs in Hindi:

Test Series in Hindi:

Reference Topper Copies in Hindi:

• Mohanlal Jakhar (AIR 53, CSE 2023): Full GS Papers 1–4 and Essay answer booklets are commercially published (search Amazon.in) and widely used as benchmarks
• Divya Tanwar (AIR 105, CSE 2022): Copies circulated by coaching institutes; also featured in Strategy IAS analysis
• UPSC posts official topper copies on upsc.gov.in post-result; Hindi medium copies are available but require active searching

Regional Language Material: The Hard Truth

For Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Punjabi, Urdu, and all other Eighth Schedule languages, the commercial UPSC study material ecosystem is nearly absent.

What exists:

What does NOT exist for any regional language:

• UPSC-specific GS test series
• Model answers or topper copies in regional languages
• Integrated current affairs magazines pitched at UPSC level
• Commercial coaching at the quality of Drishti or Vision IAS Hindi

Strategy for Regional Language Aspirants

Step 1: Build foundation using Hindi or English sources (whichever you have stronger access to)

Step 2: Translate and convert notes into your regional language as you go — this dual-processing also deepens retention

Step 3: Use state PSC preparation material as a starting bridge — it covers overlapping topics in your language

Step 4: Form a small peer group (4–6 candidates) who are also writing in your regional language — peer review of each other's answers is the only available test series substitute

Step 5: Practice translating UPSC questions from English into your regional language yourself — this builds the linguistic bridging skill you will use on exam day

Step 6: Download UPSC question papers from previous years in your regional language from upsc.gov.in (question papers are officially published in all 22 languages + English)

Online Resources: YouTube and Community

Mentor Tips

• Do not wait for regional language UPSC material to appear commercially — it is not economically viable for publishers given the tiny candidate pool. Accept that you will build your own infrastructure.
• State PSC preparation is a genuine head start, not a compromise — MPSC, TNPSC, KPSC, APPSC syllabi overlap substantially with UPSC GS content and their materials are in your language.
• Hindi medium aspirants: Your ecosystem is now strong enough to prepare fully without English. Use Vision IAS or Drishti as your primary platform, not a supplement.
• Request UPSC topper copies in your language via RTI if you know of regional language candidates who cleared — this gives you the only authentic benchmark available.

Verified Hindi-Medium Toppers (2020-2024)

Note: Aditya Srivastava (AIR 1, 2023) is from Lucknow and hailed as an inspiration for Hindi-medium aspirants, but his confirmed Mains medium is not officially verified in public sources — he studied at IIT Kanpur and his examination language has not been confirmed as Hindi in available media.

Selection Rate Data

Based on LBSNAA analyses and media reporting:

• Hindi-medium candidates appearing in Mains: approximately 500 out of ~14,000 (roughly 3-4%)
• Hindi-medium selections per year: approximately 25-50 out of ~900-1,000 (roughly 3-5%)
• The selection ratio (selections / Mains appearances) for Hindi medium is therefore broadly comparable to the overall ratio, suggesting no systemic disadvantage in final conversion
• However, Hindi-medium candidates who clear Prelims are a self-selected, highly motivated group — raw comparison is not straightforward

Why Hindi-Medium Topper Data Matters

The 2021 performance of Sihag and Dhanwanta broke a multi-year drought of Hindi-medium candidates in the top 25. UPSC itself does not publish medium-wise rank breakdowns; figures are derived from RTI responses, LBSNAA training data, and media interviews with toppers. Always verify a topper's claimed medium through their own stated interviews rather than coaching-institute marketing.

Paper A Format (300 Marks, 3 Hours)

Source: UPSC CSE Notification and compulsory language paper pattern (PW Live, testbook.com, 2026)

Qualifying Threshold Risk

The 25% threshold (75/300) appears easy, but candidates have been eliminated by scoring 60-70. Common causes:

• Writing the essay in an informal or colloquial register
• Literal translation that garbles meaning
• Ignoring grammar section (40 marks are straightforward if prepared)

Preparation Strategy

Essay (100 marks): Practice writing 600-800 word essays on social and governance topics in your language. Use formal register, not casual prose. Read newspaper editorials in your chosen language daily.

Precis (60 marks): Reduce a 300-word passage to roughly 100 words without losing the core argument. Practise this mechanically — 10 precis exercises from standard textbooks.

Translation (40 marks): See the separate FAQ on translation strategy. Key principle: translate meaning, not words.

Grammar (40 marks): These are fixed-pattern questions. Obtain the last 5 years of Paper A question papers for your language and identify recurring grammar patterns. One to two months of targeted revision is sufficient.

Most Commonly Chosen Paper A Languages

Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada account for the vast majority of Paper A takers. Sanskrit is also a valid choice and has a well-defined grammar tradition. Choosing a language in which you have formal schooling (Class 10 level or above) is strongly advisable.

How UPSC Evaluates Mains Answers

UPSC assigns separate evaluators for each medium; Hindi-medium papers go to Hindi-knowing civil servants, academics, or subject experts empanelled by UPSC. The evaluation framework is content-driven:

• Relevance and directness of answer to the question
• Logical structure (introduction → body → conclusion or dimensions)
• Use of examples, data, and policy references
• Clarity of expression

Convoluted sentences in Hindi are penalised just as much as in English. Evaluators are specifically instructed not to reward ornate language over substantive content.

Characteristics of High-Scoring Hindi Mains Answers

Structure: Clear paragraph breaks, use of bullet points where appropriate, and headings for long answers. Hindi-medium topper copies (available commercially from Drishti IAS and upsccopycenter.com) show that top scorers use a readable, direct structure — not flowery prose.

Vocabulary: A mix of standard Hindi (not heavily Sanskritised) with English technical terms in parentheses on first use. Example: 'राजकोषीय घाटा (Fiscal Deficit)' followed by consistent use of the Hindi form.

Tone: Analytical and policy-focused, not narrative. Even in GS1 (History, Geography), high scorers write with analytical framing.

Length discipline: Within the word/time limit. Over-writing in Hindi (a common failure mode) leads to incomplete later answers.

Accessing Hindi-Medium Topper Answer Copies

• UPSC publishes recommended candidates' mark sheets on upsc.gov.in after results
• Candidates can obtain their own evaluated answer sheets via RTI (Right to Information Act, Section 6) filed with UPSC
• Topper copies: Ravi Kumar Sihag (AIR 18, 2021), Sunil Kumar Dhanwanta (AIR 22, 2021), and Divya Tanwar (AIR 105, 2022) answer copies circulate through coaching institutes and are available for purchase or free download from sites like upsccopycenter.com
• Note: UPSC does not officially publish evaluated answer copies of other candidates due to privacy rules; only your own can be obtained via RTI

Urdu as a UPSC Mains Medium

Urdu is listed as one of the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India and is therefore a valid Mains medium. Candidates who choose Urdu as their examination medium must:

• Write all GS papers, Essay, and Optional (if not a literature subject) in Urdu
• Use the Perso-Arabic (Nastaliq) script — not Devanagari. UPSC's compulsory Urdu language papers explicitly require Persian/Nastaliq script
• Choose an optional subject that is available in Urdu or write it in their declared medium

Script Requirement

The Nastaliq script (خط نستعلیق) is the standard calligraphic style for written Urdu. UPSC evaluators for Urdu medium are familiar with this script. Writing Urdu in Devanagari (a practice sometimes called 'Hindi-Urdu') is not acceptable for the examination — the answer booklet will be in Nastaliq.

Urdu as Paper A Language

Candidates whose Mains medium is English or Hindi may also choose Urdu as their Paper A (Indian Language) qualifying paper. In this case:

• Paper A is answered in Nastaliq script
• Qualifying threshold: 75/300 (25%)
• The essay, precis, translation, and grammar are all in Urdu

Special Provisions

There are no special concessions for Urdu beyond those applicable to all Eighth Schedule languages. Urdu does not have an exemption from Paper B (English). The North-East state Paper A exemption does not apply to Urdu-speaking candidates in other states.

Practical Reality

URDU medium candidates in UPSC Mains are extremely few — single digits or low double digits annually based on UPSC data compiled via RTI requests. Study material is almost entirely absent; candidates create their own notes. Urdu literature is, however, a recognised UPSC optional subject (two papers of 250 marks each), which some candidates find synergistic with Urdu medium.

What the Data Shows

UPSC does not publish a cross-tabulation of medium choice versus reserved category. The available data points are:

Category-wise selections (CSE 2024, approximate):

Source: PW Live analysis of UPSC 2024 selection data

Medium data (separate): English ~13,000 Mains candidates, Hindi ~500, regional languages combined ~100 (CSE 2022, RTI-derived).

Since medium-category cross-tabulation is not published, any claim about 'SC/ST candidates preferring Hindi medium' is not directly verifiable from official UPSC data.

Observed Patterns (Qualitative)

• Many verified Hindi-medium toppers come from OBC and rural UP/Bihar/Rajasthan/MP backgrounds (e.g., Ravi Kumar Sihag — OBC, Rajasthan; Divya Tanwar — rural Haryana background)
• Sunil Kumar Dhanwanta (AIR 22, 2021, Hindi medium) is from a modest background — his story is documented extensively
• These patterns suggest a correlation between socio-economic background and medium, but UPSC does not publish category-medium data to confirm this statistically

Policy Context

The Mandal Commission era (post-1990) saw a surge in OBC candidates using Hindi medium as reservations opened civil service access to first-generation aspirants from non-English educational backgrounds. The long-term trend, however, is convergence toward English as English-medium schooling spreads through OBC and SC communities.

Conclusion

In the absence of official cross-tabulated data, candidates should not choose medium based on category assumptions. Medium should be chosen based solely on language proficiency and access to study material.

Translation Section Overview

The Paper A translation section carries 40 marks:

• English → Indian language: 20 marks (one passage, approximately 150-200 words)
• Indian language → English: 20 marks (one passage, approximately 150-200 words)

The passages used are at an upper-secondary to graduate difficulty level, typically on social, governance, or general-interest topics matching the UPSC style.

Core Principle: Translate Meaning, Not Words

The most penalised error in UPSC translation is literal word-for-word rendering, which can garble meaning and sounds unnatural. Examples:

• English: 'The government has taken steps to address the issue.' — A literal Hindi translation word-for-word sounds stilted. A natural Hindi rendering conveys the same idea in idiomatic Hindi sentence structure.
• Regional language → English: Do not transliterate cultural terms. 'Panchayat' stays as 'Panchayat (village council)' — not translated literally.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Preparation Method

1. Past papers: Obtain the last 5-7 years of Paper A question papers for your language (available on UPSC website and coaching sites). Translate the passages yourself, then compare with model answers.
2. Editorial practice: Take one editorial daily from The Hindu or a national newspaper, translate it into your Indian language; the next day, translate it back to English and compare with the original.
3. Vocabulary expansion: Maintain a bilingual vocabulary notebook for governance, economy, and social sector terms.
4. Time allocation: Allocate approximately 20-25 minutes for the translation section within the 3-hour paper.

Allocating Time in Paper A

Recommended time split: Essay 50 minutes, Comprehension 30 minutes, Precis 30 minutes, Translation 25 minutes, Grammar 25 minutes, buffer/review 20 minutes.

When Is Medium Declared?

From the UPSC CSE 2025 notification onwards, major structural changes were made to the application process:

• Medium of examination is declared during the Prelims application form, not in a separate DAF stage
• The form now has four stages rather than two; medium is among the details locked at the Prelims stage
• Cadre preferences are filled in a 10-day window after Prelims results; medium is not re-declared at this stage

In prior years (pre-2025), medium was declared in DAF-I (submitted after Prelims selection). The 2025 change brought this declaration forward.

Can Medium Be Changed After Submission?

No. Multiple official and coaching-institute analyses of the 2025 notification confirm:

• Medium of examination is among the fields that cannot be modified even during the application correction window
• Details like optional subject, exam centre, Paper A language choice, and medium are all locked at submission
• UPSC's application correction window (typically a 5-7 day window after Prelims form closure) explicitly excludes medium from editable fields

Consequence of Discrepancy

If a candidate declares English medium but writes answers in Hindi, or vice versa, the answer papers may be treated as irregularly submitted. UPSC rules provide that answers not in the declared medium may be ignored or attract zero marks. In practice, UPSC answer booklets have the medium printed on the cover; a mismatch creates a formal irregularity.

Key Advice

• Decide medium before filling the Prelims form — not tentatively
• Do not assume you can update it later; you cannot
• If genuinely undecided, write two full mock GS papers in each language and compare the quality of your expression before the form deadline
• UPSC Prelims notification (typically February each year) specifies the exact deadline for form submission

Source: UPSC CSE 2025 Notification (upsc.gov.in, January 2025); Vision IAS and PW OnlyIAS analysis of notification changes.

Sanskrit as a Mains Medium

Sanskrit is listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and is therefore a valid UPSC Mains medium. In principle, a candidate may write all GS papers, Essay, and Optional in Sanskrit.

How Many Candidates Use Sanskrit Medium?

UPSC does not publish language-medium breakdowns in its standard annual reports. Based on available RTI-derived data and UPSC medium statistics published by coaching platforms:

• Sanskrit routinely figures in the 'single digits or none' category among Mains candidates
• In the LBSNAA and UPSC data breakdowns cited for CSE 2022, Sanskrit appears among the languages with fewer than 2 candidates in a given year
• There are no publicly documented cases of a candidate reaching the UPSC interview using Sanskrit as their primary GS medium in recent years (2015-2025)

Challenges of Sanskrit Medium

No study material: Unlike Hindi or even Marathi, there are no UPSC-specific GS books in Sanskrit. Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh, and NCERT textbooks are not available in Sanskrit (NCERT Sanskrit textbooks cover Sanskrit language and literature, not GS subjects).

Technical vocabulary: Modern concepts such as fiscal policy, international institutions, and science and technology have no standardised Sanskrit equivalents in common use. A Sanskrit-medium candidate would need to use highly Sanskritised neologisms or English parentheticals for almost every GS concept.

Evaluator availability: UPSC must empanel evaluators competent in the declared medium. For Sanskrit, this may add complexity to the evaluation logistics, though UPSC is obligated to provide this.

When Sanskrit Medium Could Be Considered

• Candidates with formal Sanskrit education to Acharya level (equivalent to postgraduate) who think analytically in Sanskrit
• Candidates taking Sanskrit Literature as optional (the optional is well-defined and has scholarly resources)
• Even in this case, most candidates with Sanskrit Literature optional choose Hindi or English as their primary GS medium and use Sanskrit only for the optional papers

Sanskrit as Paper A Choice

A more practical use of Sanskrit is as the Paper A (Indian Language) qualifying paper. Sanskrit grammar is systematic and highly teachable; the 75/300 qualifying threshold is achievable with focused preparation even for candidates with moderate Sanskrit background.