Best Books for UPSC: Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) is a dream for many aspiring civil servants in India, but it requires dedication and a strategic study plan. With its rigorous selection process, having the right study materials is crucial for success. This article explores the best books for UPSC (2024 Edition), categorized for efficient preparation for both the Prelims and Mains stages.
Why is Choosing Best Books for UPSC is Important?
Best Books for UPSC: As we all know that UPSC syllabus is very big and we get to see a lot of books for every subject due to which we get confused as to which book is right for us OR the Best Books for UPSC. Therefore, it is very important for us to choose the right books which give us a lot of benefits like
Strong Foundation and Clear Concepts
The UPSC syllabus is vast and covers a wide range of subjects. Using the right books ensures you get a comprehensive understanding of the core concepts and factual details tested in the exam.
Targeted Preparation and Time Management
A well-curated booklist prevents you from getting overwhelmed by the sheer volume of study material available. Focusing on high-quality resources helps you utilize your study time efficiently.
Exam-Oriented Approach and Answer Writing Skills
Many toppers recommend starting with NCERT books, and then moving on to subject-specific reference books that are known for their UPSC-oriented approach. These books often provide insights into past exam trends and question patterns, helping you tailor your preparation for the actual exam.
Look for books that cover the latest syllabus revisions and exam trends to stay updated and optimize your preparation strategy.
Reliable and Up-to-Date Information
Relying on accurate and up-to-date information is paramount for the UPSC exam. Standard reference books by established authors go through rigorous editing and fact-checking processes, minimizing the risk of encountering outdated or incorrect information.
Consistency and Confidence
Best Books for UPSC: Using well-regarded books can boost your confidence as you progress through your preparation. Knowing you’re using the same resources trusted by past toppers can be a powerful motivator.
Sticking to a well-defined set of books helps you stay consistent with your studies and avoid confusion. Using a variety of unreliable sources can lead to conflicting information and make it difficult to retain knowledge effectively. Trusted books provide a sense of direction and boost your confidence in your understanding of the material
Why are NCERT Books Essential?
Best Books for UPSC: Lay a strong foundation with NCERT books (Class VI-XII) for History, Geography, Polity, Economics, and Science. These provide a clear understanding of core concepts – a must for UPSC prelims and mains.
Best books for UPSC IAS Prelims & Mains 2024
History
- Indian Struggle for Independence by -(Bipin Chandra) (Most imp..)
- Indian Art and Culture by -(Nitin Singhania) (Most imp..)
- Ncert XI(Ancient & Medival)
- Ncert XII(Modern Indian History)
- India After Independence by-(Bipan Chandra)
- Ancient India by -(R.S Sharma)
- History of Medival India by-(Satish Chandra)
- A Brief History of Modern India -(Spectrum)
- History of World by -(Arjun dev, Ncert)
- Ncert Class(XI-XII) (Most imp..)
Geography
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography by -(Goh Cheng Leong) (Most imp..)
- Geography of India by-(Majid Husain) (Most imp..)
- Oxford School Atlas for India
- Ncert Class(VI-X) (Old Ncert)
- Ncert Class(XI-XII)(New Ncert)
Note:- Both Indian and World Geography are Complete in Above Books.
Polity
- Indian Polity by -(M Laxmikant) (Most imp..)
- Ncert Class(IX-XII)
Economy
- Indian Economy by -(Ramesh Singh) (Most imp..)
- Ncert Class(IX-XII)
International Relation
- Ncert Class(XII) Political Science – Contemporary World Politics
- Ministry of External Affairs Website (Selective Reading)
- Current Affairs
- India YearBook
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
- Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude by -(G. Subba Rao & P N Roy Chowdhary)
- 2nd ARC Report, Ethics in Governance
- Lexicon for Ethics
- Integrity & Aptitude by-(Chronicle Publications)
Science & Technology
- Standard Ncert book -Biology
- Class XI-Biology= Chapter 4&5
- Class XII-Biology= Chapter 8,9,10 & Technology
- Class XI-Chemestry= Chepter 14
- Class XII-Chemestry= Chepter 10
- Ncert Class(VI-X)
- Current Affairs
- ISRO & DRDO Website for the latest Development
- Vajiram & Ravi Or Vision IAS Notes
Social Issues
- Ncert Class(XI-XII) (Sociology)
- Current Affairs
Ecology & Environment
- Ncert Class XII-Biology=Chapter 13,14,15,16
- Ncert Class XI-Chemestry=Chapter 14
- Ncert Geography
- India year Book
- Shankar IAS Notes
Governance Issues
- Ethics in Governance 2ARC Report
- Three Year Action Agenda – NITI Aayog
- Strategy of New India – NITI Aayog
Internal Security
- Challenges to Internal Security of India by (Ashok Kumar)
- IDSA Website (Selective Reading)
- Ministry of Home Affairs Website (Selective Reading)
- Current Affairs
Development Issues
- Human Development Report & World Development Report
- News Paper
- Magazines (YOJNA OR KURUKCHETRA)
Agriculture
- Down to Earth(Selective Reading)
- Magazines
Disaster & Disaster Management
- NDMA Guidelines(Selective Reading)
The Essential UPSC Study Material Includes
- 2nd ARC Report (To Read More on ARC Report)
- Economic Survey(Latest)
- Budget (Latest)
- Finance Commission Report(Latest)
- Annual Reports by Central Ministries
- Current Affairs
- The Hindu Newspaper Or The Indian Express
- Yojana Magazine
- Press Information Bureau Releases
- NITI Aayog Action Agenda
NOTE:- You Can Also Choose Books As Per Your Need.
How to Crack UPSC Exam in First Attempt?
Hello friends, how are you all, as you know clearing the UPSC exam in one year is a challenging task. But when we do any work with full devotion, it is said that the whole universe (world) joins us to make it happen. No matter how difficult the destination may be, we should have the passion for achieving it.
We should have such a passion that no matter how many nights it takes us to achieve that destination, we will keep on achieving it. During the preparation for the UPSC exam, we should always be motivated. Most of us are motivated by watching motivational videos on YOUTUBE, you must have seen that this type of motivation is for some time, as long as we keep watching videos, we remain motivated and when we stop watching videos, our motivation is also over. goes But we need such a Motivation which is with us every day.
For this, we should make small targets for every day that we have to cover these topics today. When we have completed the target given to us, then we will feel happy. This is the real motivation. To pass the UPSC exam in one year, we have to take special care of one thing: we have to keep our study material limited because the more we limit our study material, the more we will be able to cover it. It will be easy
TOPPER Satyam Gandhi said in an interview that it does not matter how many books you read. What matters is how many times you read a book. Satyam Gandhi said he had revised Indian Polity (M.Laxmikanth) at least 20 times. For that, I have prepared a Best Books List For UPSC Preparation For One Year, recommended books for ias by toppers from my 6 Months of experience. I want to share with you, I have collected this book list from different sources. Like from the sites of top coaching institutes, and from the interviews of Toppers. If you FOLLOW this book list, then a lot of your time will be saved from being wasted. And I hope that if you follow this book list continuously, then you will definitely get success.
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