Out of a plethora of study material available both online and offline, it is crucial that the candidates select the best books for UPSC preparation.
IAS toppers recommend that aspirants start their UPSC preparation with NCERT books and then move on to the standard reference books.
The best IAS books can vary from candidate to candidate depending on their previous expertise and knowledge of the subject matter. However, the UPSC booklist recommended by experts are listed in this article subject-wise.
Choosing the right IAS exam books online for different stages of the UPSC exam is quite important. The UPSC Prelims comprises only objective type questions while the IASMainscontains descriptive essay type question papers.
Not only should the candidates be selective about the UPSC preparation books but also divide the reading list into Prelims and Mains preparation.
UPSC Books – Best Books For UPSC Prelims
| Subject | UPSC Books | ||
| History | India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan ChandraIndian Art and Culture by Nitin SinghaniaNCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval)NCERT XII (Modern Indian History) | ||
| Geography | Certificate Physical Geography – G C LeongNCERT VI – X (Old Syllabus)NCERT XI, XII (New Syllabus)World Atlas (Orient Black Swan) | ||
| Indian Polity | Indian Polity – M LaxmikanthNCERT IX-XII | ||
| Economics | Indian Economy by Nitin SinghaniaEconomic Development & Policies in India – Jain & OhriNCERT XI | ||
| International Relations | NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)Current Affairs | ||
| CSAT | Tata McGraw Hill CSAT ManualVerbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal | Solved Papers | IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers – Vishal Publication. |
UPSC BookList – Best Books For UPSC Mains
Candidates who clear the Prelims reach the Mains stage of the IAS Exam. There are 9 theory papers in UPSC out of which two papers are on the optional subject. Candidates should follow the important IAS 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 SinghaniaIndia’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan ChandraIndia after Independence by Bipan ChandraHistory of Medieval India by Satish ChandraAncient India by R.S Sharma |
| Geography[GS Paper 1] | Geography of India by Majid HusainWorld Geography by Majid HusainWorld Atlas (Orient Black Swan)Certificate Physical and Human Geography – G C LeongFundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11 |
| Polity & International Relations[GS Paper 2] | Indian Polity by M. LaxmikanthIntroduction to the Constitution of India by DD BasuInternational Relations: Pushpesh Pant |
| Economy[GS Paper 3] | Indian Economy – Nitin SinghaniaEnvironment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw HillChallenges 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 |