There is a famous saying that’ Learn a language, and you’ll avoid a war’. Especially when you are at an administrative position, communication plays a major role. To handle IAS officer responsibility knowing the language is important. So, UPSC has added language paper in IAS mains exam to check your understanding of the language. There will be two language papers in IAS mains:

• English
• Any one Indian language from the given list.

Candidates can choose any Indian language of their choice. Usually, the UPSC language selection is based on the candidate’s familiarity with the language or preferably the mother tongue language.

UPSC language paper is qualifying paper. Therefore, candidates have to qualify this paper to get their other IAS mains paper evaluated. Also, UPSC will not count the marks obtained in language papers for the final UPSC ranking.

Further, UPSC mains language paper will be set at matriculation or equivalent standards. Hence, the difficulty of question in the IAS mains language paper will be less. Basic knowledge of the language is sufficient to clear the exam.

As IAS mains language papers are qualifying in nature, many candidates neglect this in their IAS preparation. But language papers are equally important as the other IAS mains papers. Language paper will not affect your IAS ranking, but they are essential for clearing IAS Mains. Let IAS Mains compulsory paper be the focus of your IAS preparations. But, make sure you study UPSC mains languages in sidelines.