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UPSC Books, Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains Preparation

UPSC Books: In the Best Books for UPSC IAS Exam Article, we aim to present a compilation of the best books for the IAS Exam 2023, also known as the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE). UPSC IAS Exam 2023 is administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC CSE Exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and prestigious exams in the nation. In this context, UPSC Aspirants must know the needed UPSC Book list for their UPSC preparation strategy in order to have better chance at clearing the UPSC Exam.

UPSC Booklist, Good IAS Books Importance

The UPSC Prelims for 2023 are slated to take place on May 28th, 2023. In this context, It becomes very important to read only good books for IAS Exam 2023. Given the wide array of UPSC study materials available both online and offline, it is essential for UPSC aspirants to choose the most appropriate books for their UPSC IAS preparation 2023.

  • According to IAS Book list by toppers, it is advisable for candidates to commence their UPSC preparation with NCERT books and subsequently progress to the recommended standard UPSC reference books.
  • Knowledge of right Books for UPSC Beginners is very important, especially when there are tonnes of study material floating in the Old Rajendra Nagar Book Market and UPSC Books online stores.

UPSC Books Selection Method

While the most effective IAS books can vary from one candidate to another, depending on their prior knowledge and expertise in the subject matter, this article presents a list of recommended UPSC books by subject matter experts.

  • It is essential to choose the appropriate IAS exam books online for each stage of the UPSC exam. The Prelims stage is comprised solely of objective-type questions, while the Mains stage contains descriptive essay-type questions.
  • Candidates must not only be discerning in selecting the appropriate UPSC preparation books, but also segregate their reading lists into Prelims and Mains preparation materials.

Aspirants may also download the list of the best UPSC IAS books through the link provided below for quick reference.

UPSC Booklist for UPSC IAS Prelims Exam

The UPSC Booklist for UPSC IAS Prelims Exam

Best Books for IAS Prelims Exam
Subject UPSC Books
History ·       India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra

·       Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania

·       NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval)

·       NCERT XII (Modern Indian History)

·       Modern India (Spectrum)

Geography ·       Physical Geography – G C Leong

·       NCERT VI – X (Old Syllabus)

·       NCERT XI, XII (New Syllabus)

·       World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)

Indian Polity ·       Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth

·       NCERT IX

Economics ·       Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

·       Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri

·       NCERT XI-XII

Environment and Ecology ·       Environment and Ecology by R. Rajgopalan
International Relations ·       NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)

· Current Affairs for Daily Newspaper and Monthly Magazine

CSAT ·       Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual

·       Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal

Solved Papers ·       IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers

·       Solved MCQs for UPSC Exam

General Studies Books Kit for UPSC & other State PCS Exams(English Printed Edition) by Adda247

UPSC IAS Books for UPSC Mains

Best UPSC IAS Booklist for Mains exam- GS Paper wise are given below-

 Best IAS Books for UPSC Mains Exam
UPSC Mains GS Paper Subject Books
GS Paper 1 Modern History -Spectrum

– Plassey to Partition

– India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra

– Modern Indian History by Adda 247

Art and Culture – Nitin Singhania Book

Art and Culture by Adda 247

World History – Norman Lowe
Post-Independence history – India after Independence by Bipin Chandra
Indian Society – Ram Ahuja’s Book on Indian Society
Geography – G.C Leong

– 11th & 12th Geography NCERT Books

Concepts of Geography by Adda 247

– Geography of India

 GS Paper 2 Indian Polity M. Laxmikanth

Indian Polity by Adda247

Governance IGNOU Notes and ADDA 247 Current Affairs Magazine
International Relations I.R by Pavneet Singh and ADDA 247 UPSC Current Affairs Magazine
GS Paper 3 Economics – Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

Indian Economy by Adda 247

Environment and Ecology Environment and Ecology by R. Rajgopalan
Internal Security Book by Ashok Kumar/ Lohit Matani
GS Paper 4 Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude Lexicon publication
Additional UPSC Study Material 2nd ARC-4th and 12th Report

Case studies from current Events

IAS Books for UPSC Beginners

Aspirants starting their UPSC preparation should start with basic NCERT books for UPSC Preparation, specially from 9th to 12th Class books. NCERT books for IAS Exam Preparation include books of geography, history, Indian Polity, Economy, Science and technology, and Environment. Along with these, they should also read daily new papers and follow monthly magazine prepared by the brightest minds of Adda 247.

After comprehensively covering the basic books for IAS Exam, aspirants should go for other standard books mentioned above for different subjects and prepare accordingly for their civil services exams.

Study Material for UPSC Exam

Candidates preparing for UPSC Exam should also keep in touch with some evergreen documents and new documents released by various bodies/institutions/commissions. This should be done in addition of reading current affairs comprehensively. These important texts are-

  • 2nd ARC Reports (selective reports relevant for IAS Exam)
  • Latest NITI Aayog Documents like India @75 etc.
  • Latest Union Budget and Economic Survey Documents (Aspirants can refer to the Gist prepared by Adda team)
  • Latest Finance Commission Report on various aspects of governance and administration
  • The Hindu/Indian Express News Paper, Yojana/Kurukshetra Magazine and PIB Releases
  • Watch important programs on Sansad TV like Budget discussions, In depth, Perspective, etc.

UPSC Book list pdf

These days the availability of UPSC Books online, especially in Pdf format has made accessibility of many Important UPSC Books very easy for aspirants. However, there is also concerns regarding sea of UPSC materials available online in pdf format, making very difficult for aspirants to choose only the rights UPSC books online. In this context, we also provide UPSC Book list pdf of various subjects. You can click on the link given below to download the IAS Books PDF list of various UPSC Subjects.

Download UPSC Books Pdf Online by Clicking here

UPSC Books, Best books for IAS FAQs

Q. What is UPSC?

Ans. UPSC stands for the Union Public Service Commission. It is a central agency in India responsible for conducting various examinations to recruit candidates for civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and others.

Q. What are some of the important books for UPSC preparation?

Ans. There are numerous books available for UPSC preparation. Some of the important ones are:

  • History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra
  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
  • Geography of India by Majid Husain
  • Environment by Shankar IAS
  • Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Subbarao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury
  • Current Affairs by The Hindu, Indian Express, and Yojana Magazine
  • NCERT Books for Class 6 to 12

Q. Are NCERT books enough for UPSC preparation?

Ans. NCERT books are a good starting point for UPSC preparation, as they cover the basics of various subjects in a simple and easy-to-understand language. However, for a deeper understanding and better preparation, aspirants should refer to other reference books, study materials, and current affairs magazines.

Q. What are some good current affairs magazines for UPSC preparation?

Ans. Some good current affairs magazines for UPSC preparation are:

  • The Hindu
  • Indian Express
  • Yojana Magazine
  • Kurukshetra Magazine
  • Frontline Magazine
  • Economic and Political Weekly (EPW)

Q. How can I improve my writing skills for the UPSC mains examination?

Ans. To improve your writing skills for the UPSC mains examination, you can practice writing essays, answer writing, and mock tests. You should also read and analyze sample answers written by successful candidates in previous years. Additionally, you can join a writing workshop or enroll in an online course that focuses on improving writing skills.

UPSC 2023 Important Links
UPSC Cut off Marks 2023 
UPSC Syllabus 2023 UPSC Answer Key 2022 
UPSC Application Form 2023 UPSC Admit Card 2023, Steps to Download
UPSC Exam Calendar 2023  UPSC Selection Process 2023 
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers PDF  UPSC Salary Structure 2023
How to Prepare for UPSC Exam 2023  UPSC Cut-Off

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FAQs

What is UPSC?

UPSC stands for the Union Public Service Commission. It is a central agency in India responsible for conducting various examinations to recruit candidates for civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and others.

What are some of the important books for UPSC preparation?

There are numerous books available for UPSC preparation. Some of the important ones are:
• History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra
• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
• Geography of India by Majid Husain
• Environment by Shankar IAS
• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Subbarao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury
• Current Affairs by The Hindu, Indian Express, and Yojana Magazine
• NCERT Books for Class 6 to 12

Are NCERT books enough for UPSC preparation?

NCERT books are a good starting point for UPSC preparation, as they cover the basics of various subjects in a simple and easy-to-understand language. However, for a deeper understanding and better preparation, aspirants should refer to other reference books, study materials, and current affairs magazines.

What are some good current affairs magazines for UPSC preparation?

Some good current affairs magazines for UPSC preparation are:
• The Hindu
• Indian Express
• Yojana Magazine
• Kurukshetra Magazine
• Frontline Magazine
• Economic and Political Weekly (EPW)

How can I improve my writing skills for the UPSC mains examination?

To improve your writing skills for the UPSC mains examination, you can practice writing essays, answer writing, and mock tests. You should also read and analyze sample answers written by successful candidates in previous years. Additionally, you can join a writing workshop or enroll in an online course that focuses on improving writing skills.

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