Books are an important source to prepare for any examination. It plays a crucial role in the preparation. There are various books for UPSC available in the market. By selecting the right books, candidates can take their preparation to the next level. Now, the question is How can a candidate shortlist the right book for him/her?
To prepare for this exam, it is recommended to study NCERT of Class 11 and Class 12. If any candidate wants to go for the basic knowledge of History, Geography, and other subjects then they can refer to the NCERT books of Class 6 to 10. However, there are standard books also that are available in the market. Some of them are very popular amongst the students who are preparing for the civil services examination.
Books are used for preparing notes which can be revised easily in a short time. Following are the recommended books for UPSC:
| Subject | Book List |
| History | NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval) NCERT XII (Modern Indian History) India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra Ancient India by R.S Sharma India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma India After Independence (1947 – 2000) by Bipin Chandra |
| Art & Culture | Indian Art & Culture By Nitin Singhania NCERT Class 11: An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I, Living Crafts Traditions of India NCERT Class 12: Craft Traditions of India |
| Geography | NCERT VI – X (Old) NCERT XI, XII (New) World Atlas (Orient Black Swan) Geography of India by Majid Husain Indian Geography by D. R. Khullar |
| Polity | NCERT Class XI – Political Science NCERT Class XII – Political Science I NCERT Class XII – Political Science II Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth |
| Environment | Class 12 NCERT Book on Biology (Chapters pertaining to Ecology) India Year Book (Chapters on Environment) |
| Economics | Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri NCERT XI |
Role of Daily Current Affairs in UPSC
The weightage of daily current affairs has been increased in the UPSC exams. It means most of the questions from the subjects like Economics, Geography, Polity, History, etc. are based on the latest events. So candidates must prepare it in a good manner as it will play a major role in the selection of the candidates. To attempt those questions, candidates are required to follow current affairs in order to ace the exam.
For current affairs preparation, candidates can follow various online platforms or refer to monthly magazines published by reputed institutes every month. To keep things in mind for a long time, it is necessary to revise the study material. They can make notes or take a printout of it as it will help them to revise at regular intervals. Studying current affairs on a daily basis will also increase the knowledge of various subjects of the candidate. It will benefit the candidates in the examination and they will be able to attempt maximum questions.
