Can UPSC Mains answers be written in Urdu, and what are the script and special provisions?

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.