Best Books for UPSC: Choosing the best books for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) is really important if you want to do well. These books should cover everything in a clear and organized way. They should also help you understand things easily and keep you updated on any changes in the exam.
Since the exam has different parts like Prelims and Mains, it is smart to pick books that suit each part. For Prelims, you need books that help with multiple-choice questions, and for Mains, you need books that help with writing detailed answers. So, picking the right books for each part of the exam is key to doing well in UPSC CSE.
UPSC Exam
The UPSC exam, or the Union Public Service Commission exam, is one of the most challenging and prestigious exams in India. It is conducted by the UPSC, a constitutional body responsible for recruiting candidates for various civil services positions in the Indian government.
The exam is held in three stages: the Preliminary Examination (Prelims), the Main Examination (Mains), and the Personality Test (Interview). The Prelims consist of two objective-type papers, while the Mains consist of nine descriptive papers. The UPSC exam covers a wide range of subjects, including General Studies, Optional Subjects, and Essay Writing.
Clearing this exam opens doors to prestigious positions like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.
Best Books for UPSC for Prelims
Here are some recommended books for UPSC Prelims, which consist of two papers: GS 1 and CSAT. Both papers are objective type with negative marking.
History:
- “India’s Struggle for Independence” by Bipan Chandra
- “Indian Art and Culture” by Nitin Singhania
- NCERT textbooks for Ancient & Medieval history (Class XI) and Modern Indian History (Class XII)
Geography:
- “Certificate Physical Geography” by G C Leong
- NCERT textbooks (Old Syllabus: Class VI – X, New Syllabus: Class XI – XII)
- “World Atlas” by Orient Black Swan
Indian Polity:
- “Indian Polity” by M Laxmikanth
- Bare act of Indian Constitution
- NCERT textbooks (Class IX – XII)
Economics:
- “Indian Economy” by Nitin Singhania
- “Economic Development & Policies in India” by Jain & Ohri
- NCERT textbook for Economics (Class XI)
International Relations:
- NCERT textbook “Contemporary World Politics” (Class XII)
Current Affairs: PT 365
CSAT:
- “Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual”
- “Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning” by R S Aggarwal
Solved Papers:
- “IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers” by Vishal Publications
These books cover various subjects comprehensively and are recommended for effective preparation for the UPSC Prelims exam.
Best Books for UPSC for Mains
Here is a list of recommended books for UPSC Mains preparation, covering various subjects:
History, Indian Heritage & Culture (GS Paper 1):
- “Ancient India” by RS Sharma
- “India after Independence” by Bipan Chandra
- “History of Medieval India” by Satish Chandra
- “Indian Art and Culture” by Nitin Singhania
- “India’s Struggle for Independence” by Bipan Chandra
Geography (GS Paper 1):
- “Geography of India” by Majid Husain
- “World Atlas” by Orient Black Swan
- “Certificate Physical and Human Geography” by G C Leong
- “World Geography” by Majid Husain
- “Fundamentals of Physical Geography” NCERT Class 11
Polity & International Relations (GS Paper 2):
- “Introduction to the Constitution of India” by DD Basu
- “Indian Polity” by M. Laxmikanth
- “International Relations” by Pushpesh Pant
Economy (GS Paper 3):
- “Environment and Disaster Management” by Tata McGraw Hill
- “Indian Economy” by Nitin Singhania
- “Challenges to Internal Security of India” by Ashok Kumar
Ethics (GS Paper 4):
- “Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination” by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudary
These books provide comprehensive coverage of the subjects and are recommended for effective preparation for the UPSC Mains examination.
Best Books for UPSC for Optional Subjects
Here are the recommended books for various optional subjects in the UPSC Mains examination:
- Agriculture:
- “Agronomy” by Yellamananda Reddy
- “Soil Science” by D.K Das or Brady
- “Genetics” by B.D.Singh
- “Entomology” by Vasantha Raj & David
- Special Issue of Agriculture by The Hindu
- Anthropology:
- “Physical Anthropology” by P Nath
- “Anthropology Simplified” by Vivek Bhasme
- “Indian Anthropology” by Nadeem Hasnain
- “Tribal India” by Nadeem Hasnain
- Public Administration:
- “Public Administration” by Laxmikanth
- “New Horizons Of Public Administration” by Mohit Bhattacharya
- “Administrative Thinkers” by D. Ravindra Prasad
- “Introduction to the Constitution of India” by D.D. Basu
- Political Science and International Relations:
- “An Introduction To Constitution” by D.D. Basu
- “An Introduction To Political Theory” by O.P Gauba
- “India’s Foreign Policy” by V P Dutt
- “International Relations” by V N Khanna
- Philosophy:
- “A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy” by C. D. Sharma
- “Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy”
- Commerce and Accountancy:
- “Accounting Standards” by D. S. Rawat
- “Income Tax” by V.K. Singhania or Girish Ahuja
- “Human Resource Management” by K. Aswathappa
- History:
- “Mastering Modern World History” by Norman Lowe
- “The Penguin History Of Early India: From The Origins To AD 1300” by Romila Thapar
- “History Of Modern India” by Bipan Chandra
- Geography:
- “Human Geography” by Majid Husain
- “Physical Geography” by Savindra Singh
- “Economic and Social Geography” by Rupa Publisher
- Mathematics:
- “Krishna Series on Matrices”
- “Mathematical Analysis” by Malik and Arora
- Sociology:
- “Introduction to Sociology” by Anthony Giddens
- “Sociology Themes and Perspectives” by Haralambos & Holborn
- Economics:
- “Advanced Economic Theory: Microeconomic Analysis” by H. L. Ahuja
- “Macroeconomics” by H. L. Ahuja
- Psychology:
- “Introduction to Psychology” by Morgan & King
- “Social Psychology” by Baron & Byrne
Importance of Following Best UPSC Books
Following the best UPSC books is of utmost importance for aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination. Here’s why:
Comprehensive Coverage: The best UPSC books provide comprehensive coverage of the entire syllabus, ensuring that candidates don’t miss any important topics or concepts.
Accurate Information: These books are authored by experts and renowned scholars in their respective fields, guaranteeing accuracy and reliability of the information provided.
Structured Learning: The best UPSC books are organized in a structured manner, making it easier for candidates to navigate through different topics and study in a systematic manner.
Conceptual Clarity: These books explain complex concepts in a clear and concise manner, helping candidates develop a strong understanding of the subjects.
Updated Content: UPSC exam patterns and syllabus undergo periodic revisions, and the best UPSC books are regularly updated to reflect these changes. Studying from updated books ensures that candidates are well-prepared for the exam.
Practice Materials: Many of the best UPSC books include practice questions, model tests, and previous years’ papers, allowing candidates to assess their preparation level and practice answering different types of questions.
Time Efficiency: Following the best UPSC books saves candidates time by providing all the necessary study material in one place, eliminating the need to refer to multiple sources.
