"What are the best books for UPSC preparation?" and "Is it possible to have too many books?" are common questions that many Civil Services aspirants have. The process of creating a booklist for the UPSC exam can often lead to buying a large number of books, only to find oneself overwhelmed with too many options and not enough time to read them all.
To alleviate some of these concerns, we have created an extensive list of recommended books for UPSC, as advised by toppers. It is important to stick to a specific list of books to avoid deviating from the core syllabus. It's also worth noting that it is not necessary to read all of these books completely.
Class | Textbooks |
6th |
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7th |
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8th |
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9th |
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10th |
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11th |
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12th |
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We are confident that the extensive NCERT book list for UPSC we have provided in the above table will streamline your preparation time. We believe that your question "Which NCERT books should I read for UPSC?" has been resolved, and you now have a complete NCERT book list to commence your preparation.
All NCERT textbooks can be easily downloaded from the provided link. At EduRev, we have compiled NCERT chapters into PDFs to save you time and effort.
Here’s a complete list for UPSC Prelims exam.
Subject | UPSC Books |
History |
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Geography |
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Indian Polity |
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Economics |
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International Relations |
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CSAT |
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Solved Papers |
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Aspirants who clear the Prelims reach the Mains stage of the UPSC Exam. There are 9 theory papers in UPSC 2023 out of which two papers are on the optional subject. Aspirants should follow the important UPSC general studies Mains books for the best preparation.
Given below are the best general studies books for the UPSC Mains:
Subject | UPSC Books |
History, Indian Heritage & Culture [GS Paper 1] |
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Geography [GS Paper 1] |
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Polity & International Relations [GS Paper 2] |
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Economy [GS Paper 3] |
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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 Books For Optional Subjects | ||
UPSC Books – History Optional | UPSC Books – Political Science Optional | UPSC Books – Public Administration Optional |
UPSC Books – Geography Optional | UPSC Books – Anthropology Optional | UPSC Books – Sociology Optional |
UPSC Books – Hindi Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Economics Optional | UPSC Books – Tamil Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Mathematics Optional | UPSC Books – Philosophy Optional | UPSC Books – Botany Optional |
UPSC Books – Kannada Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Gujarati Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Chemistry Optional |
UPSCBooks – Physics Optional | UPSC Books – English Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Telugu Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Statistics Optional | UPSC Books – Geology Optional | UPSC Books – Commerce Optional |
UPSC Books – Psychology Optional | UPSC Books -Electrical Engineering Optional | UPSC Books – Medical Science Optional |
UPSC Books – Agriculture Optional | UPSC Books – Civil Engineering Optional | UPSC Books – Mechanical Engineering Optional |
UPSC Books – Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Optional | UPSC Books – Law Optional | UPSC Books – Zoology Optional |
UPSC Books – Assamese Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Sindhi Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Kashmiri Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Malayalam Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Nepali Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Bengali Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Bodo Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Konkani Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Manipuri Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Oriya Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Santhali Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Urdu Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Maithili Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Marathi Literature Optional | UPSC Books – Punjabi Literature Optional |
UPSC Books – Sanskrit Literature Optional | – | – |
This booklist for UPSC is recommended by almost all the toppers as well as UPSC experts. Now, that you have an entire list with you, there should be no worrying about what to read!
However, if you’re in a time crunch and still want to put in your best effort, you can check out the UPSC Study Material curated by the expert team at EduRev.. The course material incorporates the complete essence of the above-mentioned books with detailed documents, chapter-wise tests, and videos.
NCERTs along with standard books must be read for UPSC Preparation. Check out the detailed list available at EduRev
Yes, NCERTs are the best books for starting your preparation for the UPSC CSE. They can help you build up a good foundation in the GS portion. After completing the NCERTs you can more to standard textbooks and Current affairs. However, you need to prepare for Ethics and optionals as well.
The number of books needed for UPSC preparation can vary widely depending on the individual's level of understanding and the amount of time available for preparation. However, reading NCERT textbooks, a few standard reference books for each subject, and practicing with previous years' question papers are usually sufficient.
It is not necessary to read all the books recommended for UPSC preparation. Aspirants should prioritize their studies and focus on the books that provide the most value to their individual needs and level of understanding.
Yes, you can use online resources, such as EduRev, in addition to books for UPSC preparation. However, it is important to note that books provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the subject matter, which is crucial for the highly competitive UPSC exam. Moreover, the convenience of carrying a book with you and the ability to annotate and highlight information makes them an indispensable tool in your preparation journey. Hence, while online resources can complement your preparation, they should not completely replace the use of books.
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