 UPSC CSE - GS

LoginJoin for Free

 Study Material

 Prelims

 Mains

 Exam Updates

 Test & Practice

 Rankers Guide
UPSC UPSC CSE Notifications UPSC Preparation Books – Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains
» »

UPSC Preparation Books – Best Books for IAS

Prelims and Mains
Learn more about why aspirants must refer to the right books to prepare for UPSC CSE.

TABLE OF CONTENT
 UPSC Preparation Books Best Books For IAS Prelims
 UPSC Preparation Book List Best Books For IAS Mains
 UPSC Book List For Optional Subjects

UPSC Exam 2024: The UPSC has announced the exam dates for 2024. The UPSC Prelims for 2024 are set for

May 26, and the UPSC Mains is scheduled for September 20.
When preparing for UPSC CSE, it is crucial to refer to the right study material. Although many books
and study materials are available online and offline, aspirants must research to shortlist the study
materials that will help them ace their preparation. It is recommended that UPSC aspirants start their
preparation with NCERT books and move to the standard reference books later. The choice of
reference book will depend on the subject-matter knowledge of the candidate and their previous
expertise in the exam.

Table of Contents
1. UPSC Preparation Books – Best Books For IAS Prelims
2. UPSC Preparation Book List – Best Books For IAS Mains
3. UPSC Books For Optional Subjects
4. Highlights of UPSC Notes 2.0 by Unacademy
UPSC Preparation Books – Best Books For IAS
Prelims
Download Free SampleThere are 2 papers in the Prelims for General Studies Paper – I and CSAT &

both are of objective type with negative marking. Here are the best IAS Prelims Best Books given
below –
Subject UPSC Books List

History
 NCERT 11th Ancient and Medieval
 NCERT 12th Modern Indian History
 Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania
 India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra

Geography
 NCERT VI-X Old Syllabus
 NCERT XI, XII New Syllabus
 World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
 Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong

Indian Polity
 NCERT IX-XII
 Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
 NCERT XI
 Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri

Economics
 Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania

International Relations
 Current Affairs
 NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)

CSAT
 Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
 Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal

Solved Papers
 IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers by Vishal Publications
UPSC Preparation Book List – Best Books For
IAS Mains
List of UPSC BooksThe candidates who qualify for the UPSC prelims examination will be eligible for the

IAS Mains examination. There are 9 theory papers out of which 2 papers are optional. The candidates
can follow the given book details for the preparation of the UPSC Preparation 2023 – Here, we have
mentioned the best general studies books for the UPSC Mains 2023 –
Subject UPSC Books

History, Indian Heritage &

 Ancient India by RS Sharma
Culture [GS Paper 1]
 India after Independence by Bipan Chandra
 History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
 Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
 India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

Geography [GS Paper 1]

 Geography of India by Majid Husain
 World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
 Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G C Leong
 World Geography by Majid Husain
 Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11

Polity & International Relations [GS

 Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
Paper 2]
 Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
 International Relations: Pushpesh Pant

Economy [GS Paper 3]

 Environment and Disaster Management by Tata McGraw Hill
 Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania
 Challenges to Internal Security of India by Ashok Kumar

Ethics [GS Paper 4]

 Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao
and P.N. Roy Chaudary

Solved Papers
 IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers – Vishal Publications
UPSC Book List For Optional Subjects
Agriculture
 Agronomy By Yellamananda Reddy
 Soil Science – D.K Das Or Brady
 Genetics By B.D.Singh
 Entomology – Vasantha Raj & David
 Special Issue of Agriculture by The Hindu

Anthropology
 N. Hasnain: Tribal India
 Herskovits: Cultural Anthropology
 Surender Nath: Forensic Anthropology
 Herskovits: Cultural Anthropology
 Stein & Rowe: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology

Botany
 Taxonomy: Nair along with Datta
 Embryology: Bhojwani and Bhatnagar
 Physiology and Biochemistry: Salisbury and Ross or Fritz and Noggle
 Economic Botany: Kochar or Verma

Chemistry
 Theoretical principles of inorganic chemistry – G.S. Manku,
 Extradiction of metals, Principle of inorganic chemistry – Puri, Sharma, Jauhar.
 Advance physical chemistry – Gurdeep Raj
 A guide to mechanism in organic chemistry – Peter Sykes

Economics
 International Economics – Bo Soderston
 National Income Accounting – Bakerman
 Banking – S.B. Gupta
 International Trade – Bo Soderston

History
 History of Modern India – Shekhar Bandopadhyaya/Bipan Chandra
 India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma
 The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Basham
 Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas – Romila Thapar
 India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra and Others

Management
 Financial: Pandey/Chandra/Khan & Jain/Bearley
  Economics: Any good economics book
 Operations: Adams/Taha
 Organisational Design: Khandwala; Madhukar Shukla

Mathematics
 Ordinary Differential EQs:- MD Raising Lumina, Golden series-NP Bali
 Real Analysis – Shantinarayan, Royden
 Linear Programming – SD Sharma
 Solid Mechanism – Kazmioo

Electrical Engineering
 Modern Central Engineering – Ogata
 Electromagnetic Waives and Field – R.N. Singh
 Surveying and Levelling – T P Kanetakar
 Heat Conversion – Arora & Kundwar

Urdu
 Urdu Shairi ka Tauqidi Mutala – Suenbul Nigar
 Urdu Nasr ka Tauqidi Mutala – Suenbul Nigar
 Urdu Adab Ki Tarikh – Noorul Hasan Naqvi

Psychology
 Psychology Robert A Baron
 Social Psychology Baron & Byrne
 The Psychology of Small Groups Shaw

The Value of UPSC Preparation Books

 UPSC preparation books can be very valuable for individuals preparing for the Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC) exams in India. These exams are highly competitive and are used to select
candidates for various government jobs, including those in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS),
Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Preparation books can help individuals
understand the exam format and content, as well as provide practice questions and study materials to
help them prepare for the exams. It’s important to note that while UPSC preparation books can be a
helpful resource for studying, they should not be the only source of information and practice materials
used. It’s also recommended to use a variety of other resources, such as online study guides, practice
tests, and coaching classes, to ensure a well-rounded and comprehensive preparation for the UPSC
exams.

Highlights of UPSC Notes 2.0 by Unacademy

 Integration of UPSC PYQs
o All the UPSC Questions asked in the Mains Examination from 2013-2020 are integrated into Notes 2.0. Learning PYQs will help
learners understand the demand of exams.
o Also, UPSC has a tendency to repeat a few questions. For example, UPSC has repeatedly asked questions about the difference
between Indian and Western Secularism, similarly, questions on issues related to Urban Flooding have been asked repeatedly.
Learning PYQs will help in addressing such answers.

Previous Years’ Question (PYQs) in Notes 2.0:

 Mindmaps and Timelines: High-yield information has been compressed in the form of tables, flowcharts, bullet points and
timelines, these things will help one memorise and recall the information in an easier way. This will be particularly useful for
revision. Rather than revising entire chapter, learners can revise a page.
Timelines

Min
 dmaps
 Comprehensive coverage of each and every topic:
o Contemporary issues are comprehensively covered in Notes – For example, the Taliban takeover over Afghanistan, Supreme
Court on Internet Suspension, Quota within SC Quota for deprived Scheduled Castes, and debates around Indian secularism are
covered.
o Critical opinion topics are covered in Notes – The majority of questions asked in the UPSC Mains examination are opinion-
based, we have tried to inculcate the same in Notes 2.0. For example, topics like – Why did Congress accept the partition of
India? Could the partition of India be avoided? has been covered in Notes 2.0.
 Supreme Court on Internet Suspension

 Wisdom Nuggets: Notes 2.0 is also embedded with wisdom nuggets. For example, Did the British give India Political Unity?
 Other Features:
1. Thin and crispy books so that working professionals can easily finish small topics like Disaster Management, Post-Independence
and World history. Books are easy to read and revise
2. As contemporary issues, theory, critical opinion-based issues and PYQs are covered in Notes 2.0, it saves learners time and
money to buy individual books
3. Good quality paper quality and binding, even if a learner highlights using pen or highlighter it wouldn’t spoil the pages.

Unacademy, India’s leading learning platform, also offers study material online to help candidates boost
their UPSC exam preparation. Check out the website to access our world-class study material for UPSC curated
by the Top Educators of Unacademy.

Also read –
 UPSC Notes
 How to Prepare for UPSC
 Significance of Quality IAS Study Materials
The importance of good IAS books in civil services exam preparation can’t be overstated. Here are five key
points highlighting their significance:

1. Comprehensive Coverage: Good IAS books offer comprehensive coverage of the vast syllabus, ensuring that
aspirants are well-prepared for all the topics and subjects included in the examination.
2. Concept Clarity: They help in building a strong foundation by explaining complex concepts in a clear and
concise manner, making it easier for candidates to grasp and retain information.
3. Relevance to Exam: The right IAS books are tailored to the specific requirements of the UPSC exam, providing
content that is directly relevant to the questions and topics that appear in the test.
4. Practice and Revision: Many IAS books include practice questions, previous years’ papers, and revision notes,
enabling candidates to test their knowledge and revise effectively.
5. Time Efficiency: Using recommended IAS books can save aspirants time by guiding them towards the most
important and pertinent study materials, preventing them from getting lost in the sea of information.

UPSC Notes - Download Free Sample

Related Pages

UPSC Notifications UPSC Syllabus

UPSC Eligibility UPSC Cut-off

UPSC Marking Scheme UPSC Results

UPSC Calendar UPSC Exam Pattern

UPSC Books UPSC Study Materials

UPSC Prelims PYQs

Important Links

How to Start UPSC Preparation From Zero Level UPSC Previous Year Paper in Hindi

How to Prepare for UPSC Without Coaching UPSC Question Paper 2019

How to Prepare for UPSC Interview UPSC Question Paper in Hindi

UPSC Previous Year Paper Book UPSC Syllabus PDF in Hindi

Discover Unacademy UPSC Offline Centres in the following locations

 UPSC Coaching in Delhi Mukherjee Nagar

 UPSC Coaching in Karol Bagh
 IAS Coaching in Prayagraj
 UPSC Preparation Books - FAQs
Get the details about the best books for UPSC prelims and mains preparation.

Which optional syllabus is very most miniature for the UPSC?

Which one is best Geography or Sociology?

How many subjects are there in the UPSC optional subject list?

What are UPSC preparation books, and why are they crucial for UPSC aspirants?

Is NCERT Sufficient for IAS Preparation?

Which is the best Economy Book for UPSC?

Which is the best book for Indian Polity?

Get started with your UPSC preparation today

Over 8L learners preparing with Unacademy

 Fully organized study planner

 Exceptional educators to learn from
 Ask Mock tests, live quizzes & practice
View subscription plans

Notifications
Get all the important information related to the UPSC Civil Services Exam including the process of application,
important calendar dates, eligibility criteria, exam centers etc.
2024 Calendar

Previous Year Question Papers for Optional Subjects

UPSC 2022 Prelims Results

UPSC CSE GS Main Test Series 23

UPSC Cut Off Analysis

UPSC Dedicated Doubt Solving Sessions

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024

UPSC Exam Pattern 2023 – Check Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern

UPSC Free Doubt Solving Sessions – Doubt Darbaar

UPSC Marking Scheme

UPSC Prelims 2022 Results are Out!

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2022

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper

UPSC Preparation Books – Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains
 UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF – IAS Prelims and Mains Syllabus

UPSC Toppers

See all
Related articles
Learn more topics related to UPSC CSE Notifications

UPSC Toppers

UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF – IAS Prelims and Mains Syllabus

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2022

See all

Start you preparation with Unacademy

Access more than 469+ courses for UPSC - optional
Get subscription
PYQ Ethics case studies Booklet
Related links

 UPSC Syllabus

 UPSC PDF Notes

 UPSC Printed Notes

 UPSC Exam Pattern

 UPSC Eligibility Criteria

 UPSC Cut Off Analysis

 UPSC Mains Exam

 UPSC Prelims Exam

 UPSC Marking Scheme

 UPSC Toppers

 UPSC Notes

 UPSC Question Paper

UPSC Preparation

 UPSC Preparation Books

 Tips for UPSC Preparation

 How to Prepare for UPSC without Coaching

 UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper

 UPSC Question Paper 2022

 UPSC Question Paper 2020

 UPSC Question Paper 2019

 UPSC Toppers Notes

 Latest UPSC Notifications

 UPSC Mains Paper Analysis

 UPSC Mains Result 2022

 UPSC 2023

 UPSC Study Material

Latest Current Affairs

Unacademy is India’s largest online learning platform. Download our apps to start learning

Starting your preparation?

Call us and we will answer all your questions about learning on Unacademy

Call +91 8585858585

Company

About usShikshodayaCareers
we're hiring
BlogsPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions

Help & support

User GuidelinesSite MapRefund PolicyTakedown PolicyGrievance Redressal

Products

Learner app Educator app Parent app

Popular goals

IIT JEEUPSCSSCCSIR UGC NETNEET UG

Trending exams

GATECATCANTA UGC NETBank Exams

Study material

UPSC Study MaterialNEET UG Study MaterialCA Foundation Study MaterialJEE Study MaterialSSC Study Material

© 2024 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd