Can I write Paper II in any language other than English?

Yes, you can write Paper II in any language other than English. The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) allows candidates to choose any of the 22 listed languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution for writing the Paper II of the UPSC examination. This provision is made to ensure that candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds can participate in the examination and showcase their knowledge and skills.

Eligible Languages for Paper II
Candidates can choose any of the following languages for writing Paper II:

1. Assamese
2. Bengali
3. Bodo
4. Dogri
5. Gujarati
6. Hindi
7. Kannada
8. Kashmiri
9. Konkani
10. Maithili
11. Malayalam
12. Manipuri
13. Marathi
14. Nepali
15. Odia
16. Punjabi
17. Sanskrit
18. Santali
19. Sindhi (Devanagari/Arabic script)
20. Tamil
21. Telugu
22. Urdu

Important Considerations
While choosing a language other than English for Paper II, candidates should keep the following considerations in mind:

1. Medium of Examination: The medium of examination for Paper II should be the same language chosen by the candidate. It is important to note that Paper I (General Studies) will be conducted in both English and Hindi.

2. Language Proficiency: Candidates should have a good command of the chosen language. The paper will assess the candidate's understanding of the chosen language, comprehension skills, and the ability to express ideas effectively.

3. Language Paper Format: The format and content of the language paper will be the same for all languages. It will consist of comprehension passages, precis writing, translation, essay writing, etc. The difficulty level will be similar for all languages.

4. Language Selection: Candidates should carefully consider their language proficiency and comfort level while selecting a language for Paper II. It is advisable to choose a language in which the candidate is fluent and confident.

5. Scoring and Evaluation: The language paper will be evaluated based on the candidate's understanding, expression, and coherence of ideas. The evaluation process will be fair and unbiased for all languages.

Conclusion
In conclusion, candidates appearing for the UPSC examination have the option to choose any language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution for writing Paper II. This provision ensures inclusivity and promotes linguistic diversity among the candidates. It is important for candidates to choose a language in which they are proficient and comfortable to effectively showcase their knowledge and skills.