Here’s the complete, semester-wise DU BA (Hons.) Hindi syllabus under the NEP UGCF 2022 structure — covering all Discipline Specific Core (DSC) papers from Semester 1 to 6, along with the credit distribution and a quick guide to each semester’s focus.
Use this page to plan your semester ahead of time, then head to our DU Hindi PYQs page to see how each paper has actually been examined in past years.
Programme Structure at a Glance
BA (Hons.) Hindi carries 3 DSC papers per semester across Semesters 1–6, plus a Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) pool starting from Semester 3, including single-author papers on figures like Kabirdas, Tulsidas, and Mahadevi Verma in later semesters. Each core paper is worth 4 credits (3 theory + 1 tutorial).
Semester 1
हिंदी कविता : आदिकाल एवं निर्गुण भक्तिकाव्य (Hindi Poetry: Adikal & Nirgun Bhakti) — DSC-1 · हिंदी साहित्य का इतिहास (आदिकाल एवं मध्यकाल) (History of Hindi Literature: Adikal & Medieval) — DSC-2 · हिंदी कहानी (Hindi Short Story) — DSC-3
Semester 1 establishes the earliest periods of Hindi poetry and literary history alongside the short-story form — a mix of chronological literary history and genre study that continues through the degree.
Semester 2
हिंदी कविता : सगुण भक्तिकाव्य एवं रीतिकालीन काव्य (Saguna Bhakti & Ritikal Poetry) — DSC-4 · हिंदी साहित्य का इतिहास (आधुनिक काल) (History of Hindi Literature: Modern Period) — DSC-5 · हिंदी निबंध एवं अन्य गद्य विधाएँ (Hindi Essay & Other Prose Forms) — DSC-6
Semester 2 moves the poetry timeline into Saguna Bhakti and Ritikal traditions, brings literary history into the modern period, and introduces prose forms beyond fiction.
Semester 3
भारतीय साहित्य (Indian Literature) — DSC-7 · हिंदी नाटक एवं एकांकी (Hindi Drama & One-Act Plays) — DSC-8 · सामान्य भाषा विज्ञान (General Linguistics) — DSC-9
Semester 3 introduces the DSE pool alongside core papers — options include Oral & Folk Literature Tradition and Creative Writing. The DSC papers this semester widen the lens to Indian literature more broadly, drama, and linguistics.
Semester 4
भारतीय काव्यशास्त्र (Indian Poetics) — DSC-10 · आधुनिक हिन्दी कविता (छायावाद तक) (Modern Hindi Poetry up to Chhayavad) — DSC-11 · हिन्दी उपन्यास (Hindi Novel) — DSC-12
Semester 4 covers Indian poetics theory, the modern poetry timeline up to the Chhayavad movement, and the Hindi novel as a form, with DSE options like Hindi Folk Theatre and Environment and Hindi Literature.
Semester 5
पाश्चात्य काव्यशास्त्र (Western Poetics) — DSC-13 · आधुनिक हिंदी कविता (छायावादोत्तर) (Modern Hindi Poetry post-Chhayavad) — DSC-14 · हिंदी आलोचना (Hindi Criticism) — DSC-15
Semester 5 remains core DSC (not purely elective) — bringing in Western poetics for comparison, continuing the modern poetry timeline, and introducing Hindi literary criticism as its own paper. DSE options include Indian & Western Theatre and Hindi Cinema.
Semester 6
हिंदी भाषा : स्वरूप, संरचना एवं इतिहास (Hindi Language: Form, Structure & History) — DSC-16 · अस्मितामूलक हिंदी साहित्य (Identity-based Hindi Literature: Dalit, Feminist & Adivasi Discourse) — DSC-17 · कथेतर गद्य साहित्य (Non-Fiction Prose Literature) — DSC-18
Semester 6 completes your core Hindi Honours coursework — the structure and history of the Hindi language itself, identity-based literary discourse (Dalit, feminist, and Adivasi writing), and non-fiction prose. DSE options include Applied Hindi Grammar and Research Methodology.
Full DSC Paper & Credit Structure
| Semester | Paper (Hindi) | English Gloss | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | हिंदी कविता : आदिकाल एवं निर्गुण भक्तिकाव्य | Hindi Poetry: Adikal & Nirgun Bhakti | DSC-1 | 4 (3+1) |
| I | हिंदी साहित्य का इतिहास (आदिकाल एवं मध्यकाल) | History of Hindi Literature: Adikal & Medieval | DSC-2 | 4 (3+1) |
| I | हिंदी कहानी | Hindi Short Story | DSC-3 | 4 (3+1) |
| II | हिंदी कविता : सगुण भक्तिकाव्य एवं रीतिकालीन काव्य | Saguna Bhakti & Ritikal Poetry | DSC-4 | 4 (3+1) |
| II | हिंदी साहित्य का इतिहास (आधुनिक काल) | History of Hindi Literature: Modern Period | DSC-5 | 4 (3+1) |
| II | हिंदी निबंध एवं अन्य गद्य विधाएँ | Hindi Essay & Other Prose Forms | DSC-6 | 4 (3+1) |
| III | भारतीय साहित्य | Indian Literature | DSC-7 | 4 (3+1) |
| III | हिंदी नाटक एवं एकांकी | Hindi Drama & One-Act Plays | DSC-8 | 4 (3+1) |
| III | सामान्य भाषा विज्ञान | General Linguistics | DSC-9 | 4 (3+1) |
| IV | भारतीय काव्यशास्त्र | Indian Poetics | DSC-10 | 4 (3+1) |
| IV | आधुनिक हिन्दी कविता (छायावाद तक) | Modern Hindi Poetry up to Chhayavad | DSC-11 | 4 (3+1) |
| IV | हिन्दी उपन्यास | Hindi Novel | DSC-12 | 4 (3+1) |
| V | पाश्चात्य काव्यशास्त्र | Western Poetics | DSC-13 | 4 (3+1) |
| V | आधुनिक हिंदी कविता (छायावादोत्तर) | Modern Hindi Poetry post-Chhayavad | DSC-14 | 4 (3+1) |
| V | हिंदी आलोचना | Hindi Criticism | DSC-15 | 4 (3+1) |
| VI | हिंदी भाषा : स्वरूप, संरचना एवं इतिहास | Hindi Language: Form, Structure & History | DSC-16 | 4 (3+1) |
| VI | अस्मितामूलक हिंदी साहित्य | Identity-based Hindi Literature | DSC-17 | 4 (3+1) |
| VI | कथेतर गद्य साहित्य | Non-Fiction Prose Literature | DSC-18 | 4 (3+1) |
Source: University of Delhi, Office of Academic Affairs – Department of Hindi programme structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same syllabus as BA Hons Hindi Patrakarita evam Jansanchar (Journalism)?
No — these are two separate honours programmes under the Department of Hindi with entirely different DSC papers (literature/language vs. media/journalism). This page covers BA (Hons.) Hindi only.
Are Semester 5 and 6 elective-only?
No — Semester 5 and 6 both carry 3 DSC (core) papers each, same as every other semester. DSE (elective) papers run alongside DSC from Semester 3 onward, they don’t replace it.
Where can I find the detailed reading list (पाठ्यक्रम विवरण) for a specific paper?
This page covers the paper list and credit structure. For the full prescribed text/reading list, check the linked notes for each paper above (once added), or the official DU syllabus PDF for that paper.
Is this the CBCS or NEP syllabus?
This reflects the current NEP UGCF 2022 structure. If you’re on an older CBCS batch, paper names and sequencing will differ — check with your college for your exact syllabus year.