UPSC Prelims Preparation Books and Sources

Here are the list of UPSC Prelims Preparation Books to Refer;

Note: Reference books are not absolutely necessary to read from exam point of view. But, if you are seeking more understanding and knowledge, and have the required time and energy, they are worth reading.

For Mains Strategy and Books– Click Here

UPSC Prelims Preparation Books to Refer

1. CURRENT AFFAIRS:

Important Sources (Follow any one newspaper for news items (preferably The Hindu); one for editorial (best Indian Express); and one Business newspaper  – only editorials (best is Livemint).

• The Hindu

• The Indian Express

• 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

OR

• Baba’s Monthly Magazine; Yojana, RSTV and PIB Gist (If you refer to this alone, you will only need to read a daily newspaper)

2. HISTORY

Modern India

• NCERT – Class 8^th (New) – ‘Our Pasts – III’

• NCERT-Class 12^th ‘Modern India’ (OLD)

• Tamil Nadu Edition- Class 12^th

OR

• Spectrum Modern India – Rajiv Ahir

Reference Book: India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra; Plassey to Partition by Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

Medieval India

• NCERT – Class 7^th (New) –‘Our Pasts –II’

• NCERT – Class 11^th ‘Medieval India’ (OLD)- Satish Chandra

• Tamil Nadu Edition-Class 11^th

• Ancient and Medieval India –  Poonam Dalal Dahiya

Ancient India

• NCERT– Class 11^th ‘Ancient India’ (OLD)- R.S. Sharma

• NCERT– Class 12^th ‘Themes in Indian History- Part I’ (NEW)- Chapters 1 to 6

• Tamil Nadu Edition – Class 11^th
• Ancient and Medieval India –  Poonam Dalal Dahiya

NOTE: Most part of ‘Culture’ section overlaps with Ancient and Medieval History. Apart from the above mentioned books, you can refer the below link for more information on Culture.

You need to study CCRT Website –  CCRT ; Performing Arts and Literary Arts

3. GEOGRAPHY

• NCERT Social Science, Class 6^th (New) ‘The Earth Our Habitat’

• NCERT Social Science, Class 7^th (New) ‘Our Environment’

• NCERT Social Science, Class 8^th (New) ‘ Resource and Development’

• NCERT Social Science, Class 9^th (New) ‘Contemporary India’

• NCERT Social Science, Class 10th (New) ‘Contemporary India-Part II’

• NCERT – Class 11^th (New)
  • Fundamentals of Physical Geography
  • India physical environment

• NCERT – Class 12^th (New)
  • Fundamentals of Human Geography
  • India – People and Economy

• Atlas: Orient BlackSwan School Atlas (or) Oxford School Atlas

Reference Book: Certificate Physical and Indian Geography – Goh Cheng Leong; OLD NCERT Geography – Class 11^th and 12^th (if you can find them 🙂 )

4. POLITY

• NCERT – 6^th to 8^th (for basic understanding)

• NCERT- Class 9^th to 12^th (for understanding more on democracy and federalism)

• Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth

Reference Book: Introduction to Indian Constitution – D.D.Basu

5. ECONOMICS

• Macroeconomics- Class 12^th , NCERT

• NCERT 11^th – Indian Economic Development

• NCERT- Class 9^thand 10^th (for basics)

• Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh-Selective (Chapters on)

• Introduction (GDP, GNP, growth etc.)

• Evolution of the Indian economy

• Banking

• Inflation & Business Cycle

• Agriculture

• India and the Global Economy (include chapters relating to it)

• Human development

• Technology and environment

For understanding concepts refer to either of these:

• Mrunal.org Economy Section

• Khan Academy Macroeconomics videos

• Investopedia – University (also read basics of Microeconomics from here)

• Sriram’s IAS Economics Notes

6. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• The Hindu-Monday Edition (not technical news, only application based science & Tech)

• NCERT- Class 6^th to 10^th

• NCERT – Biology – 11^th (Unit IV & V only – read basic concepts not technical details)

• NCERT Biology – 12^th (Chapters 4, 5 and rest from 7 to 16 – all important – read line by line except technical details)

• NCERT – Biology – 12^th (OLD) – Chapter 9 onwards

• NCERT – Physics – 11^th (Chap 1,5 & 8) and 12^th (Chap 15 only)

• NCERT – Chemistry – 11^th (Chap 1 & 14 only) and 12^th (Chap 14 & 16 only)

• Science reporter- Selectively

 7. ENVIRONMENT

• ICSE Board- Environmental studies- Class 10^th and 11^th

• NCERT- Geography Books (in 6^th to 12^th there are lot of chapters on Environment)

• Science NCERT books mentioned above

• Shankar IAS Notes

• Current affairs

• downtoearth.org.in

Reference material : Shankar IAS notes on Environment

8. SOCIAL ISSUES & NEW POLICIES/SCHEMES

• vikaspedia.in (lists all schemes Ministry and sector wise with details)

• India yearbook

• NCERT books mentioned above

• Current affairs (also keep checking our weekly PIB Gists – very important)

Ending notes:

• We will never make you restrict your choices. But the above is essential for a solid preparation. 

• There are people who qualify without even reading NCERTs or any most followed resources. The key to their success is smart study. They spend more time in chalking out what not to study than what to study.

• If they follow one source, they keep on revising from the same along with complementing it with dynamic updates.

• If you trust your resource, please stick to it. Never rush to fascinating books or suggested resources that are never ending. You are bound to fall. Because you are running behind them.

• While NCERT books may sound deceptively simple, trust us, they are not!

All the best! Please leave your doubts and comments here.

Thank you 🙂