Indian Writing in English: UGC NET English Previous Year Solved Question Paper


“This UGC NET English practice set covers questions from the topic  Indian Writing in English with  answers and concise explanations. These questions have been extracted from previous year UGC NET English question papers. ”

Table of Contents

Introduction

Indian Writing in English is a core and consistently recurring area in the UGC NET English syllabus, with questions frequently framed around authorship, chronology, genres, and thematic concerns. In recent years, the National Testing Agency has relied heavily on match-the-following, arrangement, and multiple-correct-statement formats from this section. This post presents a carefully curated set of Indian Writing in English questions modeled on previous year papers, accompanied by accurate answers and brief, exam-oriented explanations. The objective is to support concept-based revision and help aspirants identify recurring patterns rather than rely on memorization alone.

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Solved Previous Year Questions with Explanations

1. Which of the following was written by Rabindranath Tagore

    A. Tiger-Claw 

    B. Chandalika 

    C. A Touch of Brightness

     D. Image Breakers

Correct Answer: Chandalika

Explanation: Chandalika is a well-known dance drama written by Rabindranath Tagore, inspired by a Buddhist legend. The other options are works by different modern Indian English writers and critics.

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2. Arrange the following texts in the correct chronological order of publication:

A. Coolie
B. The Big Heart
C. The Village
D. Two Leaves and a Bud

Also Read: UGC/NTA NET English Solved Paper with Explanation: Set-3
E. Seven Summers

Correct Answer: A – D – C – B – E

Explanation: These works were written by Mulk Raj Anand. Coolie (1936) was followed by Two Leaves and a Bud (1937), The Village (1939), The Big Heart (1945), and finally Seven Summers (1951). This tests knowledge of publication chronology.


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3. Match the following texts with their authors:

Text Author
A. Autobiography of an Unknown IndianI. Nirad C. Chaudhuri
B. My Son’s FatherII. Dom Moraes
C. All Through the Gandhian EraIII. A. S. Iyenger
D. My God Died YoungIV. Sasthi Brata

Correct Answer: A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV

Explanation: All four works belong to Indian English autobiographical or autobiographical-style writing.  My Son’s Father is written by the Indian poet and writer Dom Moraes.   He was a noted Indian English poet, novelist, and journalist, and this work is his autobiography about growing up in Bombay and at Oxford.  All Through the Gandhian Era is an autobiographical work by A. S. Iyengar, an Indian English writer and academic.  My God Died Young is an autobiography written by Sasthi Brata. The book is his life story, reflecting his youthful angst, personal experiences in India and abroad, and his search for identity. 

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1.     4. Who wrote The Life Divine?

  1. Dante

  2. Emerson

  3. Sri Aurobindo

  4. Jayant Mahapatra

Answer: Sri Aurobindo

Explanation: The Life Divine is a philosophical work by Sri Aurobindo in which he explores the evolution of human consciousness and the spiritual destiny of man.

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6. In which year was Kanthapura published?

A. 1938
B. 1960
C. 1965
D. 1947

Answer: A.  1938

Explanation: Kanthapura is the debut novel of R.K. Narayan. Published in 1938, it depicts the life of a South Indian village and the impact of the Gandhian nationalist movement on its people.

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7. Match the Following (Women Writers)

AuthorWork
A. Kamala Markandeya      I.   Possession
B. P. SivakamiII. The Grip of Change
C. Anita Desai                   III    Cry, the Peacock
D. Raj Lakshmi Debi IV   The Enchanted Fruit

Correct Answer:  A → I, B → II, C → III, D → IV

Explanation:

  • Kamala Markandeya wrote Possession

  • P. Sivakami wrote The Grip of Change

  • Anita Desai wrote Cry, the Peacock

  • Raj Lakshmi Debi wrote The Enchanted Fruit

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8. Match authors with their works:

A. Basudev Sunani —          I. Cast Out
B. Om Prakash Valmiki       II. Joothan
C. Bama                               III. Karukku
D. Urmila Pawar                  IV. Weave of My Life

Correct Answer: A → I, B → II, C → III, D → IV

Explanation:

  • Basudev Sunani wrote Cast Out

  • Om Prakash Valmiki wrote Joothan

  • Bama wrote Karukku

  • Urmila Pawar wrote Weave of My Life

9.  Which of the following options is/are correct regarding Joothan by Om Prakash Valmiki:

A. It is a novel

B. It represents the Dalit Valmiki community critically

C. It discusses the difficulties of being a Dalit

D. It critiques upper castes

Answer:   B, C and are correct options 

Explanation:

  • Joothan is an autobiographical work of Om Prakash Valmiki, not a fictional novel

  • It highlights the life and struggles of the Dalit Valmiki community

  • Critiques caste oppression by upper-caste society

10. Match LIST-I (Author) with LIST-II (Text):

LIST-I (Author)
A. Manohar Malgonkar
B. Chaman Nahal
C. Ruskin Bond
D. Arun Joshi

LIST-II (Text)

I. The Weird Dance and Other Stories
II. The Survivor
III. Rumble Tumble
IV. Neighbour’s Wife and Other Stories

Options:
A. A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
B. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
C. A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV
D. A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I

Answer: A)  A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II

Explanation:

  • Manohar Malgonkar → Rumble Tumble

  • Chaman Nahal → The Weird Dance and Other Stories

  • Ruskin Bond → Neighbour’s Wife and Other Stories

  • Arun Joshi → The Survivor

11. Match Texts with Their Authors:

LIST-I (Text)
A. The Golden Light
B. The Lotus
C. Indian Dancers
D. The Harp of India

LIST-II (Author)

I. Toru Dutt

II. Sarojini Naidu
III. Henry Derozio
IV. Sri Aurobindo

Options:
A. A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III
B. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I
C. A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I
D. A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III

Answer: D)  A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III

Explanation:

  • The Golden Light → Sri Aurobindo

  • The Lotus → Toru Dutt

  • Indian Dancers → Sarojini Naidu

  • The Harp of India → Henry Derozio

12. Which of the following works by R. K. Narayan were published after Indian Independence (1947)?

A. The Dark Room

B. The English Teacher

C. The Financial Expert

D. Swami and Friends

E. The Guide

Answer: C and E only

Explanation: Swami and Friends (1935), The Dark Room (1938), and The English Teacher (1945) were published before Independence. The Financial Expert was published in 1952 and The Guide in 1958, both after 1947.

Next Read: Romantic Criticism: UGC NET English Previous Year Solved Papers

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14. Arrange the following works in the correct order of year of publication:

A. Men and Rivers — Humayun Kabir
B. The Vermillion Boat — Sudhindra N. Ghose
C. The House at Adampur — Anand Lall
D. The Wound of Spring — S. Menon Marath
E. Delinquent Chacha — Ved Mehta

Options:
A)     E, D, C, B, A
B)     B, D, C, A, E
C)     A, B, C, D, E
D)     D, C, B, A, E

Answer: C)  A, B, C, D, E

Explanation:

  • Men and Rivers — 1945

  • The Vermillion Boat — 1953

  • The House at Adampur — 1956

  • The Wound of Spring — 1960

  • Delinquent Chacha — 1966

15. Which statements about A. K. Ramanujan are true?

 A) He is a poet of the sixties

B) His poetry draws sustenance from Hindu heritage

C) He has a poor sense of rhythm

D) His verse poorly utilizes Akam techniques

E) He utilizes Akam techniques in his poetry

Options:
A. A, D and E only
B. A, B and E only
C. B, C and D only
D. B, D and E only

Answer: A, B and C only

Explanation:
Ramanujan’s The Striders (1966) places him among the poets of the sixties. His poetry draws deeply from Hindu traditions and successfully employs Tamil Akam poetic structures, not poorly. 

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17. Which of the following works by Kamala Das was published first?

  1. Summer in Calcutta

  2. The Old Playhouse and Other Poems

  3. My Story

  4. Collected Poems 1960–2000

Answer: Summer in Calcutta

Explanation:
Summer in Calcutta (1965) was Kamala Das’s debut poetry collection and predates her autobiography and later compilations.

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18. Who wrote Clear Light of Day, a Partition novel?

A. Anita Desai
B. Bapsi Sidhwa
C. Rohinton Mistry
D. Shashi Deshpande

Answer: Anita Desai

Explanation:
Clear Light of Day (1980) by Anita Desai explores family memory, time, and the impact of Partition on Indian society.

19. Identify the text written by a Dalit woman writer:

A. Karukku
B. Untouchable
C. Coolie
D. The Guide

Answer: Karukku

Explanation:
Karukku is Bama’s autobiographical narrative and a foundational text in Dalit women’s writing.

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20. Who among the following is not an Indian Writing in English author?

A. Salman Rushdie
B. Arundhati Roy
C. Vikram Seth
D. Chinua Achebe

Answer: Chinua Achebe

Explanation:
Chinua Achebe is basically  a Nigerian (African) writer. 

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21. Which is the earliest published Indian English novel among the following?

A. Kanthapura
B. Untouchable
C. Coolie
D. The Guide

Answer: Untouchable

Explanation:

  • Untouchable — 1935

  • Coolie — 1936

  • Kanthapura — 1938

  • The Guide — 1958

Conclusion

Indian Writing in English demands both factual precision and contextual understanding, making it essential for serious UGC NET aspirants to engage with questions analytically. The practice set presented here reflects commonly repeated examination themes and question structures, enabling candidates to strengthen their command over authors, texts, and publication history. Regular engagement with such focused revision material, alongside close reading of primary texts, can significantly improve accuracy and confidence in the examination. Aspirants are encouraged to revisit these questions periodically as part of their final revision strategy.

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Academic Note / Exam Disclaimer

These questions and explanations are intended strictly for academic practice and UGC NET preparation. While the content is aligned with previous year question patterns and standard literary references, aspirants are advised to consult original texts, official syllabi, and multiple sources for comprehensive preparation. This material should be used as a revision and concept-clarification aid, not as a substitute for primary reading.

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Further Reading: Wordsworth's Theory of Poetry

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