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Necessary Books for UPSC
In this article, we are going to tell you about the books you will be needed in your preparation. All the candidates who are preparing for Civil Services Examination have to read this article.
There are many books available in the market which everyone recommends you to prepare for CSE. According to the syllabus, it demands a lot of books to refer as only one book is not enough for your preparation.
The syllabus for UPSC is large so to cover the whole syllabus you will need the accurate books. The single books cannot give you the information about everything. The choice of books matters a lot in UPSC. As if you prepare for right books you will be able to clear the exam more easily. There are many books available in the market which everyone recommends you to prepare for CSE.
So, for clearing the exam you need hard work, dedication as well as correct study material. The accurate study material will guide you further during your preparation. The list of books which you will be needed for your preparation is given below.
For your convenience, we are going to divide the books into two categories as well as subject so that you can recommend them easily.
Also read: About the journey of Utsav Kaushal: UPSC IAS topper.
Books for IAS Preliminary Examination
IAS Solved Papers
The solved papers will help you to analyze the pattern of the exam and types of question from different topics. You can understand the current pattern of CSE from the below books:
Buy General Studies IAS Prelims Topic-Wise Solved Papers
GS Manual for Paper 1
One of the highly recommended books for general studies is Mc-Graw Hill’s General Studies Manual. This book will cover all the topics of Paper 1. You can find all the information regarding general studies in this book.
Buy GS Manual Paper 1
CSAT Manual for Paper 2
In this topic, Mc-Graw Hill’s CSAT Manual will help you to cover all the topics of Paper 2. This book includes various examples as well as test questions. When you read this book you will understand that it the best suitable book for Paper 2 and you don’t have a need to switch to another book.
Buy CSAT Manual Paper 2
Manorama Year Book (MYB)
A necessary thing for IAS prelims is a good yearbook. MYB is the book which will help you to prepare for general knowledge information. It is one of the most recommended books. In this book, you will find the international section very helpful and useful.
Buy Manorama Year Book
Indian Year Book (IYB)
Another important yearbook is IYB. IYB is the official government publication. This book includes important sources of all the schemes, facts and figures related to census and other important topics. This book includes various topics like defense, economy, agriculture, education etc.
Buy Indian Year Book
Oxford Student Atlas
An atlas is a must for prelims as well as for mains. This will help you to tackle map based questions. Oxford Atlas has accurate maps of India and the World with the high quality. You can practice from this books only for 30 minutes daily.
Buy Oxford Student Atlas
Also read: The details of UPSC exam.
Topic Wise Books for Preliminary Examination
Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
Mc Graw Hill’s Indian Polity book covers the entire constitution. It includes articles, schedules, and amendments in details. This book is very easy to understand and it is written in easy language so that any layman can also read and understand the book.
Buy Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
Environment by Shankar
Every year many questions are asked about Environment and Ecology. It is a very important topic for prelims and mains. Shankar’s books cover this topic in details. This book includes recent developments on climate change, global warming, various international agreements etc.
Buy Environment by Shankar
Struggle for Independence by Chandra
There are many questions asked about Indian History and are asked from Modern History part. Bipin Chandra’s book is the best suitable book for this topic. This book starts from the 1857 Revolt and continues right till the independence period.
Buy Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra
Brief History of Modern India
This book covers all the topics which were left by Bipin Chandra’s book. This book covers social reform movements of the 19th century, important details of all the pro-independence movements of 20th century etc.
Buy Brief History of Modern India
Indian Art and Culture
Art and Culture is an important topic for both Prelims and Mains. This book covers all the details of this topic. You don’t have to refer different books on this topic.
Buy Indian Art and Culture
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
This book covers all the relevant sub-sectors of Indian Economy like planning, industrialization, banking, external trade, inflation, economic reforms etc.
Buy Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
Physical Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
Another very important book to read is Certificate Course in Physical Geography by Goh Cheng Leong to tackle questions related to physical geography.
Buy Physical Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
Books for IAS Main Examination
Also see: The inspirational journey of Nidhi Gupta: UPSC IAS topper.
Books for GS Paper 1
Books on Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra
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Facets of Indian Culture by Spectrum
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A New Look at Modern Indian History by BL Grover
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India Since Independence by Bipin Chandra
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A History of Modern World by Ranjan Chakravarti
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India’s Struggle for Independence and New Look at Modern Indian History cover the period from 19th century to India’s independence. Both books present the entire period in the proper perspective and narrative while BL Grover’s book lists the various acts and reforms during the British period in a point-wise format which is easier to grasp and reproduce in the Mains paper.
Facets of Indian Culture provides you the short description of Indian culture and heritage topics. Answers to 2, 3 and 5 mark questions on this topic can be easily located in this book.
India Since Independence is written by Bipin Chandra and it covers historical as well as current periods.
A History of the Modern World includes World History topics including French and Industrial revolutions, World Wars and accompanying political changes in the world.
Books on Geography
Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
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Indian and World Geography by Majid Hussain
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NCERTs of class XI and XII
Goh Cheng Leong’s books is a good book for Physical Geography for Mains as well as Prelims. This book includes testing questions on geography basics.
Indian and World Geography by Majid Hussain is another recommended book for economic geography and World geography topics.
Book on Development, Participation, Secularism, Women Issues
India: Development and Participation by Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze
This is the best book for authoritative understanding on various issues. Since questions relating to development and its costs will be more analytical than factual Amartya Sen’s book will help you develop the critical understanding to tackle this tricky topic.
Also see: The inspirational journey of Suharsha Bhagat: UPSC IAS topper.
Books for GS Paper 2
Books on Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
Our Constitution by Subhash Kashyap
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Our Parliament by Subhash Kashyap
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Governance in India by M Laxmikanth
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International Relations in 21st Century by Pushpesh Pant
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Our Constitution is the recommended book on Indian Polity for Mains as well as Prelims. It’s explanatory as well as the analytical writing style is well suited for Mains.
Our Parliament is also authored by Subhash Kashyap and explains all the parliamentary processes, committees and procedures in detail.
Governance in India by Laxmikanth is a good book to get an overview of the administrative setup in India. It has detailed chapters on civil services as well apart from state and union governments, legislative bodies etc.
International Relations by Pushpesh Pant is a recommended book to understand India’s relations with the international community, its foreign policy, various regional organizations and changing dynamics in South Asia.
Must read: Everything about UPSC exam from scratch.
Books for GS Paper 3
Books on Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
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Indian Economy: Performance and Policies by Uma Kapila
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Economic Survey
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Environment & Ecology: Biodiversity, Climate Change & Disaster Management by Majid Hussain
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Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh is a must-read book for Mains as well as Prelims to understand the basic economic concepts. This book includes the fundamentals of Indian economy and related economic terms; this book does this job really well.
Uma Kapila’s book focusses on the current economic issues and is updated almost every year. It is a good book for analysis of current economic issues.
Economic Survey of India released by the Finance Ministry every year before the budget presentation is a must-read book for Mains as well as Prelims. Questions directly related to the economic survey have been asked in the Mains. GS papers in the past and you just cannot ignore this vital book without losing precious marks.
Environment and Ecology by Majid Hussain is a book for all issues related to environment and ecology including disaster management in India, for both Mains as well as Prelims.
Also read: About the journey of Kothamasu Dinesh Kumar: UPSC IAS topper.
Books for GS Paper 4
Book on Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao
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Paper 4 of general studies include topics on integrity and ethics and your aptitude for it. The questions on this topic are not straightforward and will test your resolve to serve the country without fear. This book also contains case studies on ethics and integrity.
Also read: The UPSC interview strategy.
Except for the above books for IAS examination, you should also read the newspaper daily. You can read newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express. You should also stay updated with the latest development in the field of Science and technology, Ecological issues, International Relations, Polity, Economic developments through online and offline news sources.
These were the list of some books which will help you or guide you further during your preparation.
If you have any doubt or need guidance you can comment below, our team will try to answer it.