BharatNotes ⚡ TL;DR
Very few — Gujarati and Marathi have the most users (~40 and ~21 in 2022). Tamil, Telugu, Kannada each have ~5–6. Regional language success is possible but resources are extremely limited.
Approximate regional language Mains candidates (CSE 2022, from LBSNAA/UPSC data published via RTI and media reports):
| Language | Approx. Mains candidates |
|---|---|
| English | ~13,000 |
| Hindi | ~500 |
| Gujarati | ~40 |
| Marathi | ~21 |
| Tamil | ~6 |
| Telugu | ~6 |
| Kannada | ~5 |
| Malayalam | ~3 |
| Bengali | ~3 |
| Odia | ~2 |
| Others | <2 each |
Source: RTI responses and media analyses; UPSC does not publish official medium-wise breakdowns
Who succeeds in regional languages?
Successful regional language candidates typically:
- Had prior exposure to the language at university level (e.g., studied in Tamil medium until graduation)
- Chose a regional language optional (e.g., Tamil Literature) aligned with their medium
- Created their own notes in the regional language since study materials are almost nonexistent commercially
Challenges:
- No commercially available test series in most regional languages
- Evaluators for obscure languages may be limited, with longer result processing
- Technical terms in Economy, IR, S&T require English parenthetical notation
When regional medium makes sense:
- You have studied and thought in that language throughout education
- You cannot express complex policy analysis in English or Hindi with equal clarity
- You are willing to create your own study infrastructure from scratch
