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UPSC Preparation Books

UPSC Preparation Books: It is essential to use the appropriate study materials when getting ready for the UPSC CSE. Aspirants must conduct research to narrow down their list of recommended study resources, even with the abundance of books and study materials available both online and offline. It is advised that those preparing for the UPSC begin with NCERT books and progress to standard reference books subsequently.

The candidate’s prior exam experience and subject-matter understanding will determine the reference book they choose.

UPSC Preparation Books

There are 2 papers in the Prelims for General Studies Paper – I and CSAT & both are of objective type with negative marking. Here are the best IAS Prelims Best Books given below –

UPSC Preparation Books

Subject UPSC Books List
History
  • NCERT 11th Ancient and Medieval
  • NCERT 12th Modern Indian History
  • Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania
  • India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra
Geography
  • NCERT VI-X Old Syllabus
  • NCERT XI, XII New Syllabus
  • World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
  • Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong
Indian Polity
  • NCERT IX-XII
  • Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
  • NCERT XI
  • Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri
Economics
  • Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania
International Relations
  • Current Affairs
  • NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)
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

UPSC Preparation Book List – Best Books for IAS Mains

The candidates can follow the given book details for the preparation of the UPSC Preparation 2024. Here, we have mentioned the best general studies books for the UPSC CSE Mains.

UPSC Preparation Book List – Best Books for IAS Mains

Subject UPSC Books
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 (Orient Black Swan)
  • Certificate in 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: Pushpesh Pant
Economy

[GS Paper 3]

  • Environment and Disaster Management by Tata McGraw Hill
  • Indian Economy – 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
Solved Papers
  • IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers – Vishal Publications

UPSC Book List for Optional Subjects 

Below we have provided the UPSC Book List for Optional Subjects –

UPSC Book List for Optional Subjects
Agriculture
  • Agronomy By Yellamananda Reddy
  • Soil Science – D.K Das or Brady
  • Genetics By B.D.Singh
  • Entomology – Vasantha Raj & David
  • Special Issue of Agriculture by The Hindu
Anthropology
  • N. Hasnain: Tribal India
  • Herskovits: Cultural Anthropology
  • Surender Nath: Forensic Anthropology
  • Herskovits: Cultural Anthropology
  • Stein & Rowe: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Botany
  •   Taxonomy: Nair along with Datta
  • Embryology: Bhojwani and Bhatnagar
  • Physiology and Biochemistry: Salisbury and Ross or Fritz and Noggle
  • Economic Botany: Kochar or Verma
Chemistry
  • Theoretical principles of inorganic chemistry – G.S. Manku,
  • Extraction of metals, Principle of inorganic chemistry – Puri, Sharma, Jauhar.
  • Advanced physical chemistry – Gurdeep Raj
  • A guide to mechanism in organic chemistry – Peter Sykes
Economics
  • International Economics – Bo Soderston
  • National Income Accounting – Bakerman
  • Banking – S.B. Gupta
  • International Trade – Bo Soderston
History
  • History of Modern India – Shekhar Bandopadhyaya/Bipan Chandra
  • India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma
  • The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Basham
  • Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas – Romila Thapar
  • India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra and Others
Management
  • Financial: Pandey/Chandra/Khan & Jain/Bearley
  • Economics: Any good economics book
  • Operations: Adams/Taha
  • Organisational Design: Khandwala; Madhukar Shukla
Mathematics
  • Ordinary Differential EQs:- MD Raising Lumina, Golden series-NP Bali
  • Real Analysis – Shanti Narayan, Royden
  • Linear Programming – SD Sharma
  • Solid Mechanism – Kazmioo
Electrical Engineering
  • Modern Central Engineering – Ogata
  • Electromagnetic Waives and Field – R.N. Singh
  • Surveying and Levelling – T P Kanetakar
  • Heat Conversion – Arora & Kundwar
Urdu
  • Urdu Shairi ka Tauqidi Mutala – Suenbul Nigar
  •  Urdu Nasr ka Tauqidi Mutala – Suenbul Nigar
  • Urdu Adab Ki Tarikh – Noorul Hasan Naqvi
Psychology
  • Psychology Robert A Baron
  • Social Psychology Baron & Byrne
  • The Psychology of Small Groups Shaw

The Value of UPSC Preparation Books

For candidates getting ready for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations in India, UPSC textbooks can be quite helpful. Candidates are chosen for a variety of government positions, such as those in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), via these highly competitive examinations. In addition to providing practice questions and study materials to aid in exam preparation, preparation books can assist people in understanding the structure and subject matter of the exams.

It’s crucial to remember that, even though UPSC preparation books can be a useful study aid, they shouldn’t be the only source of knowledge and practice questions. Using a range of other resources, including practice tests, coaching sessions, and online study guides, is also advised to guarantee a thorough and well-rounded UPSC exam preparation.

Significance of UPSC Preparation Books

It is impossible to make up the value of excellent IAS books for preparing for the civil services exam. The following five points emphasize their importance:

Extensive Coverage: Reputable IAS books provide thorough coverage of the extensive curriculum, guaranteeing that candidates are well-equipped to tackle every topic and subject covered in the exam.
Concept Clarity: They facilitate the development of a solid foundation by providing applicants with a concise description of difficult concepts, which makes the material easier for them to understand and retain.

Exam Relevance: Appropriate IAS books are designed to meet the unique demands of the UPSC examination, offering material that is closely related to the subjects and questions that are covered in the exam.
Practice and Revision: A lot of IAS books come with practice problems, past years’ examinations, and revision guides that let candidates assess their understanding and make necessary revisions.

Time Efficiency: By pointing candidates towards the most crucial and relevant study resources and keeping them from falling into the sea of data, suggested IAS books can help candidates save time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are required for UPSC preparation?

There are 2 Papers in the UPSC Prelims – GS Paper 1 and the CSAT. For both the papers, the minimum number of books required is 15, while the maximum number of books required can go up to 25 for UPSC prelims preparation.

Which study material is best for UPSC?

The essential study materials for UPSC preparation include NCERT books for a strong foundation, standard reference books for specific subjects, newspapers for current affairs, previous year question papers, and quality online resources for additional information and practice.

Is NCERT textbook good for UPSC preparation?

NCERT textbooks serve as the foundational materials for UPSC preparation.