Preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC full form) Civil Services Exam requires a strategic selection of books for both the Prelims and Mains. Here are some of the most important books recommended by successful candidates and experts:
General Studies Paper 1
History:
Ancient History: "Ancient India" by R.S. Sharma (NCERT)
Medieval History: "Medieval India" by Satish Chandra (NCERT)
Modern History: "A Brief History of Modern India" by Spectrum, "India's Struggle for Independence" by Bipan Chandra
Geography:
"Geography of India" by Majid Husain
"Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong
NCERT Class 6-12 Geography textbooks
Polity:
"Indian Polity" by M. Laxmikanth
"Introduction to the Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu
Economics:
"Indian Economy" by Ramesh Singh
"Economic Development & Policies in India" by Jain & Ohri (NCERT Class 11 and 12)
Environment and Ecology:
"Environment" by Shankar IAS Academy
NCERT Biology Class 12 (Last 4 chapters)
Science and Technology:
NCERT Science textbooks (Class 6-10)
Current affairs for updates on recent scientific developments
Current Affairs:
Newspapers like "The Hindu" or "The Indian Express"
Monthly magazines like "Yojana", "Kurukshetra"
Government publications such as the "Economic Survey" and "India Year Book"
General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT)
"CSAT Paper 2 Manual" by Tata McGraw Hill
"General Studies Paper 2" by Arihant
Practice reasoning and aptitude tests from various sources
General Studies Paper 1
History:
Same books as Prelims with additional focus on cultural aspects and world history
"History of the World" by Arjun Dev
Geography:
"Geography of India" by Majid Husain
"Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong
Indian Society:
"Social Problems in India" by Ram Ahuja
Art and Culture:
"Indian Art and Culture" by Nitin Singhania
General Studies Paper 2
Polity:
Same books as Prelims
"Introduction to the Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu
Governance:
"Governance in India" by M. Laxmikanth
International Relations:
"India's Foreign Policy" by Rajiv Sikri
Articles from "The Hindu" and "Indian Express"
General Studies Paper 3
Economy:
Same books as Prelims
"Economic Survey" by Government of India
"India Year Book"
Environment and Ecology:
Same books as Prelims
Science and Technology:
Current Affairs
"Science and Technology in India" by TMH
Security Issues:
"Challenges to Internal Security of India" by Ashok Kumar
General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
Ethics:
"Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude" by Chronicle
"Ethics in Governance" (ARC Report)
"Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude" by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury
The choice of optional subjects varies widely among candidates. Some popular choices include:
Public Administration:
"Public Administration" by M. Laxmikanth
"Administrative Thinkers" by Prasad and Prasad
Geography:
"Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong
"Geography of India" by Majid Husain
Anthropology:
"Physical Anthropology" by P. Nath
"Anthropology Simplified" by Vivek Bhasme
Selecting the right books is crucial for effective UPSC preparation. These recommendations cover the core areas of the syllabus and help build a solid foundation for both the Prelims and Mains stages of the exam. Consistent reading, regular revisions, and practicing answer writing will significantly enhance your chances of success.