What are the important books for the UPSC's prelims and Mains?

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:

For Prelims

General Studies Paper 1

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

2. Geography:

   • "Geography of India" by Majid Husain

   • "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong

   • NCERT Class 6-12 Geography textbooks

3. Polity:

   • "Indian Polity" by M. Laxmikanth

   • "Introduction to the Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu

4. Economics:

   • "Indian Economy" by Ramesh Singh

   • "Economic Development & Policies in India" by Jain & Ohri (NCERT Class 11 and 12)

5. Environment and Ecology:

   • "Environment" by Shankar IAS Academy

   • NCERT Biology Class 12 (Last 4 chapters)

6. Science and Technology:

   • NCERT Science textbooks (Class 6-10)

   • Current affairs for updates on recent scientific developments

7. 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

For Mains

General Studies Paper 1

1. History:

   • Same books as Prelims with additional focus on cultural aspects and world history

   • "History of the World" by Arjun Dev

2. Geography:

   • "Geography of India" by Majid Husain

   • "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong

3. Indian Society:

   • "Social Problems in India" by Ram Ahuja

4. Art and Culture:

   • "Indian Art and Culture" by Nitin Singhania

General Studies Paper 2

1. Polity:

   • Same books as Prelims

   • "Introduction to the Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu

2. Governance:

   • "Governance in India" by M. Laxmikanth

3. International Relations:

   • "India's Foreign Policy" by Rajiv Sikri

   • Articles from "The Hindu" and "Indian Express"

General Studies Paper 3

1. Economy:

   • Same books as Prelims

   • "Economic Survey" by Government of India

   • "India Year Book"

2. Environment and Ecology:

   • Same books as Prelims

3. Science and Technology:

   • Current Affairs

   • "Science and Technology in India" by TMH

4. Security Issues:

   • "Challenges to Internal Security of India" by Ashok Kumar

General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

1. 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

Optional Subjects

The choice of optional subjects varies widely among candidates. Some popular choices include:

1. Public Administration:

   • "Public Administration" by M. Laxmikanth

   • "Administrative Thinkers" by Prasad and Prasad

2. Geography:

   • "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong

   • "Geography of India" by Majid Husain

3. Anthropology:

   • "Physical Anthropology" by P. Nath

   • "Anthropology Simplified" by Vivek Bhasme

Conclusion

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.