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Best Books Recommended by Toppers for UPSC CSE 2025 PDF Download

"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. 

Importance of UPSC CSE Books 


UPSC books are critical for effective preparation for the Civil Services Examination as they provide comprehensive information on the syllabus and aid in developing a deeper understanding of the subjects.

  • Comprehensive Coverage of Syllabus: Good UPSC books cover the entire syllabus in detail and provide in-depth explanations of all the topics. This helps aspirants to get a complete understanding of the syllabus and prepare thoroughly for the exam.
  • Exam-Oriented Approach: The best UPSC books are written with the examination in mind. They provide a structured and exam-oriented approach to the subjects, helping aspirants to focus on what is important for the exam and to prepare accordingly.
  • Practice Questions and Explanations: Good UPSC books include practice questions and answers along with detailed explanations. This helps aspirants to test their understanding of the subjects and to identify their areas of strength and weakness.
  • Up-to-Date Information: Good UPSC books are updated regularly to ensure that they include the most current information and developments in each subject. This helps aspirants to stay informed and to prepare accordingly.

Important NCERT Books for UPSC CSE 2023


Reading NCERT textbooks is crucial for your UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam preparation and if you're wondering which NCERT books to focus on, here is a relevant list of NCERT books for UPSC. It is recommended to cover all NCERT books related to UPSC from classes 6 to 12, however, some topics are more important than others. Hence, here is a comprehensive list of essential NCERT books for UPSC and their corresponding crucial topics for the Civil Services Examination.

Class

Textbooks

6th

  • History: Our Past
  • Geography: The Earth Our Habitat
  • Social Science: Social & Political Life I
  • Science: Science: Class VI

7th

  • History: Our Past – II
  • Geography: Our Environment
  • Social Science: Social & Political Life II
  • Science: Science – Class VII

8th

  • History: Our Past III – Part I & II
  • Geography: Resource and Development
  • Social Science: Social & Political Life III
  • Science: Science – Class VIII

9th

  • History: India and the Contemporary World-I
  • Geography: Contemporary India – I
  • Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – I
  • Science: Class IX
  • Economics: Economics

10th

  • History: India and the Contemporary World – II
  • Geography: Contemporary India – II
  • Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – II
  • Science: Class X
  • Economics: Understanding Economic Development

11th

  • History: Themes in World History
  • Geography:
    • Fundamentals Of Physical Geography
    • India- Physical Environment
  • Science:
    • Chemistry: Unit 14
    • Biology: Unit 4 & 5
  • Economics: Indian Economic Development
  • Sociology: Understanding Society
  • Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
  • Indian Culture:
    • An Introduction to Indian Art
    • Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters 9 & 10)

12th

  • History: Themes in Indian History
  • Geography:
    • Fundamentals Of Human Geography
    • India – People & Economy
  • Science:
    • Chemistry: Unit 16
    • Biology: Unit 8, 9 & 10
  • Economics: Introductory Macroeconomics
  • Sociology:
    • Indian Society
    • Social Change and Development in India
  • Political Science: Contemporary World Politics

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.

Best Books For UPSC Prelims


Although the booklist for UPSC may vary in accordance with your previous knowledge and expertise, here is an exhaustive booklist that both fresh aspirants and experienced ones can refer to for their UPSC Preparation needs. Some of the books may be relevant for both Prelims and Mains. Before checking it out, it is important that you know the syllabus and exam pattern well. Check out the articles to know about UPSC CSE Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Here’s a complete list for UPSC Prelims exam.

Subject

UPSC Books

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


Best Books For UPSC Mains

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]

  • Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
  • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
  • India after Independence by Bipan Chandra
  • History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
  • Ancient India by R.S Sharma

Geography

[GS Paper 1]

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

Polity & International Relations

[GS Paper 2]

  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
  • International Relations: Pushpesh Pant

Economy

[GS Paper 3]

  • Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania
  • Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill
  • Challenges to Internal Security of India – 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

Best Books for UPSC Optionals 


In the UPSC Mains Exam, aspirants must also choose an optional subject which contributes to 500 marks of the total score. Hence, it is crucial to select the appropriate books for the optional subjects. The following table provides links to lists of the best UPSC books for the respective optional subjects.
The linked articles for UPSC books for Optional subjects are given in the table below:

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. 

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Which book should I read for UPSC?

NCERTs along with standard books must be read for UPSC Preparation. Check out the detailed list available at EduRev

Are NCERTs enough for cracking UPSC CSE?

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.

How many books are needed for UPSC preparation?

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.

Should I read all the books recommended for UPSC preparation?

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.

Can I use online resources instead of books for UPSC preparation?

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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