The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest and most competitive exams in the country. It consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. To crack this exam, candidates need to have a thorough knowledge of various subjects and a good writing and communication skill.
One of the most important aspects of UPSC preparation is selecting the right books for each stage and subject. There are hundreds of books available in the market and online platforms, but not all of them are suitable or relevant for the CSE. Choosing the wrong books can lead to wastage of time, money, and effort.
In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of the best books for UPSC preparation for each stage and subject. We will also give you some tips on how to utilize these books effectively and supplement them with online resources and mock tests.
Best Books for UPSC Prelims
The Prelims stage tests the candidate’s basic knowledge and understanding of various subjects such as history, geography, polity, economy, science, environment, and current affairs. The questions are mostly factual or conceptual in nature and require a good memory and accuracy.
Some of the best books for Prelims are:
- History: India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania, NCERT Class XI (Ancient & Medieval), NCERT Class XII (Modern Indian History)
- Geography: Certificate Physical And Human Geography by G C Leong, NCERT Class VI – X (Old Syllabus), NCERT Class XI, XII (New Syllabus), World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
- Polity: Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth, NCERT Class IX-XII
- Economy: Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania, Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Indian Economy Key Concepts by Sankarganesh Karuppiah
- Science: Science and Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari
- Environment: Environment by Shankar IAS, Environment by PMF IAS
- Current Affairs: India 2022 Yearbook by Rajiv Mehrishi, The Malayala Manorama English Yearbook 2022 by Mammen Mathew, India 2022 by Publications Division
Best Books for UPSC Mains
The Mains stage tests the candidate’s advanced knowledge and understanding of various subjects such as history, geography, polity, economy, society, ethics, international relations, optional subject, and essay writing. The questions are mostly analytical or opinion-based and require a good writing skill, critical thinking, and expression.
Some of the best books for Mains are:
- General Studies Paper 1: Indian Heritage and Culture by Nitin Singhania, The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham, A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir, World History by Norman Lowe, Social Problems in India by Ram Ahuja
- General Studies Paper 2: Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth, Governance in India by M Laxmikanth, Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu, Social Justice: Indian Perspective by R.P. Singh, Pax Indica by Shashi Tharoor
- General Studies Paper 3: Science and Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari, Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania, Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Indian Economy Key Concepts by Sankarganesh Karuppiah, Environment by Shankar IAS, Environment by PMF IAS, Challenges to Internal Security of India by Ashok Kumar and Vipul, Disaster Management by NIDM
- General Studies Paper 4: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by G Subba Rao and P N Roy Chowdhury, Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Niraj Kumar
- Optional Subject: Candidates can choose one optional subject from a list of 26 subjects given by UPSC. Some of the popular optional subjects and their best books are:
- Sociology: Sociology: Themes and Perspectives by Haralambos and Holborn, Indian Society by SC Dubey, Social Change in Modern India by M.N. Srinivas
- Geography: Certificate Physical And Human Geography by G C Leong, NCERT Class XI (Fundamentals of Physical Geography), NCERT Class XII (India: People and Economy), Models in Geography by Majid Husain, Geographical Thought by Majid Husain
- History: India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania, NCERT Class XI (Ancient & Medieval), NCERT Class XII (Modern Indian History), Post-Independence India: For Civil Services Examinations by Sonali Bansal and Snehil Tripathi
- Public Administration: Public Administration by M Laxmikanth, New Horizons of Public Administration by Mohit Bhattacharya, Indian Administration by Ramesh K Arora and Rajni Goyal
- Essay Paper: Candidates need to write two essays of 1000-1200 words each on any one topic from each section. Some of the best books for essay paper are:
- Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing by Anudeep Durishetty
- Mastering Essay and Answer Writing by Awdesh Singh
Read: How to Start UPSC Preparation from Scratch in 2023: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Best Books for UPSC Interview
The Interview stage tests the candidate’s personality and suitability for a career in civil services. The interview is conducted by a board of experts appointed by UPSC. The interview aims to assess the candidate’s mental caliber, personality traits, leadership skills, social awareness, moral integrity, etc.
Some of the tips on how to improve one’s communication skills, body language, and knowledge on current affairs are:
- Communication Skills: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
- Body Language: The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease, What Every Body is Saying by Joe Navarro
- Knowledge on Current Affairs: The Hindu Newspaper, Yojana Magazine, India Year Book
How to Utilize These Books Effectively
Reading these books is not enough to prepare well for the UPSC exam. Candidates need to utilize these books effectively by following some strategies such as:
- Reading with a purpose: Candidates should read these books according to the syllabus, the exam pattern, the previous year papers, the mock tests, etc.
- Reading with understanding: Candidates should read these books with an understanding and comprehension of the concepts, facts, figures, arguments, etc.
- Reading with revision: Candidates should read these books with a regular and systematic revision of the key points, important terms, definitions, concepts, theories, models, formulas, diagrams, graphs, etc.
Online Resources and Mock Tests
Reading these books is not sufficient to prepare well for the UPSC exam. Candidates need to supplement these books with online resources and mock tests by following some benefits such as:
- Online Resources: Online resources are the sources of information that are available on the internet or digital platforms. They provide updated and relevant information on various subjects and topics that are related to the UPSC syllabus and exam pattern. They also provide interactive and engaging content that enhance the learning experience and outcome. Some of the online resources that candidates can use are: BYJU’S Free IAS Prep, ClearIAS, UPSC Pathshala
- Mock Tests: Mock tests are the simulated tests that are designed to mimic the actual UPSC exam in terms of syllabus, pattern, difficulty level, time limit, etc. They provide an opportunity to practice and evaluate one’s preparation level, performance, strengths, weaknesses, etc. They also provide feedback and analysis on one’s answers, scores, ranks, etc. Some of the benefits of mock tests are:
- They help in improving one’s speed, accuracy, time management, etc.
- They help in identifying one’s gaps, errors, mistakes, etc.
- They help in enhancing one’s confidence, motivation, etc.
- They help in developing one’s strategy, technique, etc.
Read: How to Become DFO in Forest Department: A Complete Guide for Aspiring Candidates
Conclusion
In this article, we have provided you with a comprehensive list of the best books for UPSC preparation for each stage and subject. We have also given you some tips on how to utilize these books effectively and supplement them with online resources and mock tests. By following this article, you will be able to prepare for the UPSC exam in a systematic and efficient manner. We hope that this article will help you in your UPSC journey and wish you all the best for your success.
