UPSC Books – Best Books For IAS Exam
Note :
- This is a sample booklist for UPSC CSE. We provide you the list of Best books for the IAS Preparation.
- The best IAS Books can vary from candidate to candidate. However below are the books widely recommended by toppers.
Current Affairs
- The Hindu , The Indian Express (Preferably The Hindu)
- The Indian Express (Best for Editorial)
- TIA Monthly Magazine
- Press Information Bureau (keep checking the Features section for imp articles and our weekly PIB Gist)
PRS (only for recent Bills and articles related to them) - IDSA: Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis (keep checking every 2-3 days for in-depth IR articles)
- Yojana and Kurukshetra (no need to read all articles – read selectively)
LokSabha and RajyaSabha Debates
Art & Culture:
- New TN History textbook
- 6th-12th new NCERT history textbooks (this will not include 12th Fine arts textbook on painting)
- Introduction to Indian art (NCERT class 11th)
- Living Craft Traditions of India (NCERT class 12th)
- Indian Culture by Nitin Singhania
Post Independence India:
- Politics in India since Independence, NCERT Class 12th
- India since independence Bipin Chandra
Ancient History:
NCERT 11th Ancient India’ (OLD)- R.S. Sharma
NCERT 12th Themes in Indian History- Part I (NEW) – Chapters 1 to 6- Ancient India – R S Sharma
Medieval History:
NCERT Class 7th Our pasts – I , Our pasts – II (New)
NCERT Class 11th New TamilNadu History Textbook – Class XI- Medieval India – Satish Chandra
Modern India History:
- NCERT – Class 8th New Our past III (Both part 1 & part 2)
Themes in Indian History – III (NCERT Class XII)
- A brief History of Modern India – Spectrum Modern India – Rajiv Ahir
- India’s struggle for independence – Bipin Chandra
World History:
- Themes in World History: NCERT Class XI
- History of the World by Arjun Dev
- Mastering Modern World History – Norman Lowe
Geography:
World Geography:- Our Environment – Class VII
- The Earth Our Habitat – Class VI
- Fundamentals of Physical Geography (NCERT Class XI)
- Fundamentals of Human Geography (NCERT Class XII)
- Goh Cheng Leong
Indian Geography:
- Resource and Development – Class VIII
- Contemporary India – II – Class X
- India Physical Environment (NCERT Class XI)
- India – People and Economy (NCERT Class XII)
Indian Society:
- NCERT Class XI – Sociology:
- Understanding Society
- NCERT Class XII – Indian Society
- NCERT Class XII – Social Change and Development in India
Governance:
- Transform ias academy Study Materials
- 2nd ARC reports (selective) Three Year Action Agenda, 2017 18 to 201920 – NITI Aayog
- Strategy for New India @ 75 – NITI Aayog
Polity:
- Democratic Politics – IX
- Democratic Politics, II. Class X
- Indian Constitution at Work (NCERT Class XI)
- LAXMIKANTH – Indian Polity
Social justice:
- Transform ias academy Study Materials
- Yojana
- Kurukshetra
- Three Year Action Agenda, 201718 to 201920 – NITI Aayog
- Strategy for New India @ 75 – NITI Aayog
International Relations:
- Class 12th Political Science Contemporary World Politics
- Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri
- Ministry of External Affairs website (Selective Reading)
- Observer Research Foundation (ORF) (Selective Reading)
Science and technology Class VI to Class X
- Class XI – Chemistry: Unit 14
- Class XI – Biology: Units 4 & 5
- Class XII – Chemistry: Unit 16
- Class XII – Biology: Units 8, 9 & 10 ce & Technology
Economy:
- Economics NCERT Class IX
- Understanding Economic Development (NCERT Class 10th)
- Indian Economic Development (NCERT Class XI)
- Introductory Macroeconomics (NCERT Class XII)
- RAMESH SINGH –Indian Economy
Ecology & Environment:
- 12th Biology NCERT Chapter No 13,14,15,16
- 11th Chemistry NCERT Chapter No 14
- Geography NCERTs Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Chapters from Std 811
- ICSE Environment Education Std 10(Especially for Mains)
Current affairs: The Hindu S&T SectionInternal security:
- Transform ias academy Materials
- Challenges to Internal Security of India by Ashok Kumar IPS
- Ministry of Home Affairs Website (Selective Reading)
Disaster and disaster management:
- Transform ias academy Materials
- NDMA guidelines (Selective Reading)
Ethics:
- Any standard book like (A Practical Approach to Ethics Integrity and Aptitude By D.K Balaji Or Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)
- 2 nd ARC Reports (Selective Reading)
- Newspaper for contemporary examples