Booklist for UPSC
booklist for UPSC: Best books for UPSC Prelims and Mains and Optional Subjects.
How To Read This Article
The first thing is to know the basic books which every aspirant should read. Understand that every aspirant should read them.
Do not get books for every topic mentioned in the syllabus. Only general awareness is needed especially for GS papers.
The same is applicable for optional subjects. There are some basic books for that particular subject. Try to understand these books.
UPSC Booklist for Prelims
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - History
History is a core part of UPSC prelims syllabus which requires a thorough understanding of ancient, medieval and modern India. A strong foundation in history is necessary to develop analytical skills and connect the dots between past and present. Nearly 15-20 questions are asked from this section almost every year. It varies every year but in 201 UPSC had asked nearly 22 question from history alone. This section has a bunch of UPSC booklists for history that cover India’s vast historical landscape and provides context to historical movements and milestones.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Art & Culture
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania
|
Subjects
Art & Culture
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT An Introduction to Indian Arts
|
Subjects
Ancient History
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT 11th Ancient History
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Subjects
Ancient History
|
Best Books For UPSC
Old NCERTs Ancient by RS Sharma
|
Subjects
Medieval History
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT 11th Medieval History
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Subjects
Medieval History
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Best Books For UPSC
Medieval India by Satish Chandra
|
Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT 12th Modern Indian History
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Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT by Bipan Chandra (For the period 1700s to 1857)
|
Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
A Brief History of Modern India- Spectrum Publications
|
Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra (Selective Reading)
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Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
From Plassey to Partition and After - Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
|
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - Geography
Geography is a interdisciplinary subject in UPSC syllabus which has physical, human and economic geography. A deep understanding of geographic concepts helps you to interpret various topics from landforms and climates to population trends and urbanization. Almost 10-15 questions are asked in UPSC prelims every single year. These questions are not very difficult so this section with the right study is very high scoring. Here we have the compiled the best upsc booklist that simplifies these complex topics and gives you a comprehensive understanding of Indian and world geography.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Physical Geography Basics
|
Best Books For UPSC
Fundamentals of Physical Geography XI NCERT
|
Subjects
Indian Physical Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
India: Physical Environment XI NCERT
|
Subjects
Human Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
Fundamentals of Human Geography XII NCERT
|
Subjects
Economic Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
India: People and Economy XII NCERT
|
Subjects
Physical & World Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
Certificate Physical and Human Geography: GC Leong
|
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - Indian Economy
Indian economy is a part of UPSC prelims syllabus as the exam tests both theoretical understanding and practical application. From macroeconomic concepts to fiscal policy and market dynamics the economy books for UPSC should help you understand complex topics in a simple way. You can expect somewhere from 10-20 question every year in UPSC prelims. This section has the best books for UPSC Indian economy so you can get a foundation in both basic principles and current trends.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Indian Economy Basics
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Economic Development – NCERT Class XI
|
Subjects
Macroeconomics
|
Best Books For UPSC
Macroeconomics – NCERT Class XII
|
Subjects
Indian Economy Overview
|
Best Books For UPSC
The Indian Economy - Sanjiv Verma
|
Subjects
Indian Economy Full Coverage
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
|
Subjects
Indian Economy Full Coverage
|
Best Books For UPSC
Mrunal.org articles
|
Subjects
State of the Economy
|
Best Books For UPSC
Economic Survey
|
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - Indian Polity
Indian Polity is a basic subject in UPSC syllabus which covers the structure, functions and dynamics of Indian government. Aspirants need to have a clear understanding of the Constitution, important laws and political institutions. You can expect 10-20 question every year from polity alone. In 2017 they had asked 22 questions just from polity. This section has the best books for upsc polity that gives you a deep dive into the working of Indian governance from Constitution to state policies so you can navigate the complex world of Indian Polity.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Introduction
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT IX-XII
|
Subjects
Full Indian Polity
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
|
Subjects
Full Indian Polity
|
Best Books For UPSC
Introduction to Indian Constitution – D.D.Basu
|
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - Environment
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Basic Environmental Studies
|
Best Books For UPSC
ICSE Board- Environmental studies- Class 10th and 11th
|
Subjects
Basic Environmental Studies
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT- Geography Books (in 6th to 12th there are lot of chapters on Environment)
|
Subjects
Comprehensive Environmental Studies
|
Best Books For UPSC
Shankar IAS Notes
|
Subjects
Current Environmental Issues
|
Best Books For UPSC
Down to Earth, Current Affairs
|
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - Science & Technology
Science and Technology is a dynamic part of UPSC syllabus as innovation and development is becoming more and more important in governance and society. Understanding the latest developments in areas like biotechnology, space technology and artificial intelligence is necessary to answer both static and current affairs based questions. UPSC has asked from 6-20 questions every year from this section. We have given a list of UPSC booklists that need to be covered for this section.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Basic Science
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT- Class 6th to 10th
|
Subjects
Biology I
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT – Biology – 11th (Unit IV & V only – read basic concepts not technical details)
|
Subjects
Biology II
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Biology – 12th (Chapters 4, 5 and rest from 7 to 16 – all important – read line by line except technical details)
|
Subjects
Physics
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT – Physics – 11th (Chap 1,5 & 8) and 12th (Chap 15 only)
|
Subjects
Chemistry
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT – Chemistry – 11th (Chap 1 & 14 only) and 12th (Chap 14 & 16 only)
|
Subjects
Technological Developments
|
Best Books For UPSC
The Hindu-Monday Edition (not technical news, only application based science & Tech)
|
UPSC Booklist For Prelims - Current Affairs
| Source | Best Books For UPSC which are Newspapers |
|---|---|
Source
Source 1
|
Best Books For UPSC which are Newspapers
The Hindu
|
Source
Source 2
|
Best Books For UPSC which are Newspapers
The Indian Express
|
UPSC Booklist for Mains
UPSC Mains is the second hurdle to become a civil servant, where a candidate’s depth of knowledge, analytical skills and clarity of thought is tested. With four General Studies (GS) papers covering a wide range of subjects, Mains requires focused preparation with resources that go into details of complex topics. This UPSC booklist for Mains is curated to provide the best books for each paper so that aspirants can build a strong foundation and prepare well for the written exam.
UPSC Booklist For General Studies I
GS1 has history, geography and social issues, tests an aspirant’s understanding of India’s heritage, historical events, geographic principles and societal dynamics. This paper requires a good grasp of India’s cultural diversity, important historical events, geographic elements and social issues and ability to analyze social issues from an informed perspective. We have recommended the best books for upsc for GSI/UPSC booklist for GSI which will cover these topics in detail so that aspirants are well prepared to answer the broad questions of GS1.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Art & Culture
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Introduction to Indian Arts
|
Subjects
Art & Culture
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
|
Subjects
Ancient History
|
Best Books For UPSC
Ancient India by RS Sharma
|
Subjects
Medieval History
|
Best Books For UPSC
History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
|
Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
|
Subjects
Modern History
|
Best Books For UPSC
A Brief History of Modern India - Spectrum
|
Subjects
Post Independent India
|
Best Books For UPSC
India after Independence by Bipan Chandra
|
Subjects
World History
|
Best Books For UPSC
World History – by Krishna Reddy
|
Subjects
World History
|
Best Books For UPSC
History of the World – by Arjun Dev
|
Subjects
World History ( Reference )
|
Best Books For UPSC
Modern World History - Norman Lowe
|
Subjects
Physical Geography Basics
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Fundamentals of Physical Geography - Textbook of Class-XI
|
Subjects
Indian Physical Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT India: Physical Environment - Textbook of Class-XI
|
Subjects
Indian Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
Geography of India by Majid Husain
|
Subjects
Physical & World Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G C Leong
|
Subjects
World Geography
|
Best Books For UPSC
World Geography by Majid Husain
|
Subjects
Atlas
|
Best Books For UPSC
Orient Black Swan
|
Subjects
Introduction to Sociology
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Introducing Sociology - Textbook for Class-XI
|
Subjects
Societal Concepts & Theories
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Understanding Society - Textbook for Class-XI
|
Subjects
Sociology Book
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Society: Themes and Social Issues by Nadeem Hasnain ( Only Selected Chapters )
|
Subjects
Sociology (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Society – by M Senthil Kumar
|
UPSC Booklist For General Studies II
GS2 is about governance, Indian Constitution, policy issues, social justice and India’s international relations. This paper tests an aspirant’s knowledge of India’s political structure, legal framework, government policies and relations with other countries. Preparing for GS2 requires resources that provide conceptual clarity and current developments in governance and diplomacy. Here we recommend UPSC booklist for GS2/Best books for UPSC GS2 that cover the intricacies of Indian political and administrative system and key global issues relevant to Indian foreign policy.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Indian Polity
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
|
Subjects
Indian Polity (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
|
Subjects
Governance
|
Best Books For UPSC
Governance in India – by M. Laxmikanth
|
Subjects
Governance (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Governance in India – by M. Karthikeyan
|
Subjects
Political Science Basics
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Political Science Class IX & X
|
Subjects
Political Science Theories and Concepts
|
Best Books For UPSC
NCERT Political Science Class XI & XII
|
Subjects
International Relations
|
Best Books For UPSC
Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy - Rajiv Sikri
|
Subjects
International Relations
|
Best Books For UPSC
International Relations by Vinay Kumar Malhotra
|
Subjects
International Relations (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Global Politics by Andrew Heywood
|
Subjects
International Relations (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
International Relations: The Key Concept by Terry O’Callaghan, Martin Griffiths, Steven C. Roach
|
Subjects
International Relations (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy by David M. Malone, C Raja Mohan, Srinath Raghavan
|
UPSC Booklist For General Studies III
GS3 is a multidisciplinary paper that covers technology, economic development, environmental conservation, security and disaster management. The topics in GS3 are practical in nature and requires aspirants to be updated on current economic trends, technological advancements, environmental challenges and issues in internal and external security. This section has the best books for UPSC GS3/UPSC Booklist for GS3 that will provide comprehensive coverage of these areas so that aspirants can analyze the issues and suggest solutions.
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Indian Economy Basics
|
Best Books For UPSC
The Indian Economy By Sanjiv Verma
|
Subjects
Indian Economy Full Coverage
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Economy By Ramesh Singh
|
Subjects
Indian Economy Full Coverage
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Economy For Civil Services By Nitin Singhania
|
Subjects
Indian Economy (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Economy By Mishra & Puri
|
Subjects
Indian Economy (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Indian Economy By Datt & Sundharam
|
Subjects
Environmental Studies
|
Best Books For UPSC
Environment by Shankar IAS
|
Subjects
Environment & Disaster Management
|
Best Books For UPSC
Environment and Disaster Management by Tata McGraw Hill
|
Subjects
Internal Security
|
Best Books For UPSC
Challenges to Internal Security of India – by Ashok Kumar and Vipul Anekant
|
Subjects
Internal Security (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Internal Security – by Rajkumar SP
|
Subjects
Internal Security & Disaster Management (Reference)
|
Best Books For UPSC
Internal Security of India and Disaster Management by Syed Waquar Raza
|
UPSC Booklist For General Studies IV
GS4 also known as Ethics paper is designed to test an aspirant’s ethical reasoning, integrity and moral judgment. This paper goes beyond factual knowledge and tests candidates on their values, attitude and approach to ethical dilemmas. Preparing for GS4 requires books that provide theoretical understanding as well as practical examples to develop a balanced perspective on ethical issues. The books recommended in this section have case studies, frameworks and thought provoking content to help aspirants navigate the unique challenges of Ethics paper. The following are the best books for GS4/UPSC booklist for GS4 :
| Subjects | Best Books For UPSC |
|---|---|
Subjects
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
|
Best Books For UPSC
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudary
|
Subjects
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
|
Best Books For UPSC
Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude – by Niraj Kumar
|
Subjects
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
|
Best Books For UPSC
A Practical Approach to Ethics Integrity and Aptitude -DK BALAJI IAS
|
Subjects
Govt Recommendations on Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
|
Best Books For UPSC
2nd ARC Report
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to the most common queries. Click on the “Read More” if mentioned.
How many times upsc civil services exam is conducted in a year?
Ans: The UPSC exam is administered once a year, typically in June. The first phase of the exam which is the preliminary stage is conducted first followed by Mains and Interview
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How many attempts for UPSC civil services exam?
Ans: The number of attempts for UPSC civil services exam varies depending on the category which the candidate has opted for. For detailed answers click read more.
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How to apply upsc civil services exam?
Ans: The Union Public Service Commission will release the IAS notification. The candidates will be required to apply online for the UPSC civil services exam because no other application format is available.
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How to clear UPSC civil services exam?
Ans: The very first step is the understand the exam. After that prepare for the exam from the right sources and materials. Reading is important but so is giving the mock exams.
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How to clear UPSC in the first attempt?
Ans: Clearing the UPSC Exam in one go is tough, but many have done it. You can too with determination, focus, and a smart approach. The ones who have done it are …
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