www.gradeup.co 
        
        
                             
                           1 
        
                    www.gradeup.co 
                     
                     
                                Important Books Sources for UPSC CSE 
                                                                   Preparation 
                    Let’s have a look at the important books and resources to be used during the UPSC 
                    CSE preparation. The guidance given here is on one mantra, ‘The Concise the 
                    better!’  Only  the  minimum essential for building a strong foundation are 
                    enlisted.  
                    Disclaimer: The booklist includes NCERTs, Standard books, advance books (very 
                    selective) and some standard Govt periodicals (again selective)! 
                                   UPSC IAS Book List for Prelims Stage 
                    History of Indian Subcontinent 
                    In the Prelim Examination, questions are not asked from World History. Therefore, 
                    broadly the History of Indian subcontinent is categorised as: 
                         •    Ancient India 
                         •    Medieval India 
                         •    Modern India 
                         •    Art and Culture 
                    However,  for  the  Main  examination,  World  History  is  included  as  an  additional 
                    component. 
                    History: Ancient India 
                         •    Old NCERT Class XI- Ancient India by RS Sharma 
                         •    Class XI book of Tamil Nadu Board – This book covers ancient alongside the 
                              medieval in a very lucid manner. 
                    History: Medieval India 
                         •    Old NCERT Class XI- Medieval India by Satish Chandra 
                         •    Class XII book of Tamil Nadu Board – This book covers Freedom Struggle and 
                              World History (one can skip world history for Prelim) in a very lucid manner. 
                    History: Art and Culture 
                    Cost-benefit associated with this subject is low, so it is advisable to be thorough with 
                    those topics that have been asked in the previous years.  
                         •    NCERT Class XI – An Introduction to Indian Art (for basic understanding) 
                         •    Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania (can be referred for in-depth and 
                              additional source, but be watchful for selective reading) 
                                                                                 2 
                     
                    www.gradeup.co 
                     
                     
                         •    CCRT  website  –Centre  for  Cultural  Resources  and  Training  can  also  be 
                              referred for better understanding 
                    Note: It is advisable to read ‘Art and Culture’ after reading the two NCERTs of 
                    Ancient and Medieval India (for better understanding). 
                    Cover key topics in a thematic manner such as ‘Buddhism, Jainism’, Architecture, 
                    Cave, etc., Work on themes, such as ‘Painting, Literature etc.’ 
                    History: Modern India 
                         •    Spectrum Publications ‘A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir’ (Buy 
                              the latest edition as it contains some additional material). 
                         •    New NCERTs Classes VI-XIII 
                         •    Post-Independence India – Nitin Sangwan Notes 
                    Indian Polity and Governance 
                         •    Class XI- Indian Constitution at Work (for basic understanding, the evolution 
                              of Constitution, etc.) 
                         •    Laxmikant Book, do it thoroughly and that shall suffice! 
                         •    Integrate with Current Event with conceptual understanding. Keep a tab on 
                              the  Bills,  laws  and  amendments  to  the  Indian  Constitution  done  in 
                              Parliaments while preparing. 
                         •    Current Affairs: Editorials, PIB and PRS 
                         •    2nd ARC Sixth Report – Local Governance (For Main Exam) 
                    Economic and Social Development 
                         •    NCERTs Class IX-XII 
                         •    Indian Economy by Sanjeev Verma 
                         •    Current affairs- Editorials, PIBs, etc. 
                         •    The budget on Economic Survey (summaries) 
                         •    Online resources such as Arthapedia 
                    Geography: India and the World 
                         •    NCERT Class XI – Fundamentals of Physical Geography  
                         •    NCERT Class XI – India – Physical Environment  
                         •    NCERT Class XII – Fundamentals of Human Geography 
                         •    NCERT Class XII – India – People and Economy 
                         •    Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong 
                     Note: If anyone finds them little difficult to comprehend, then NCERTs concerning 
                    Geography can be covered from Class VI onwards. 
                                                                                 3 
                     
                    www.gradeup.co 
                     
                     
                         •    Keep a tab on the current events and do extensive mapwork (World as well as 
                              India specific). 
                         •    Qs that are given after each chapter in the exercise can be attempted for better 
                              understanding and clarity of key concepts. Cover detailed solutions of them. 
                     
                    Ecology and Environment 
                         •    Ecology, to a certain extent, is a scientific subject and can be covered well from 
                              Science book – Class XII Biology. The last four Chapters (13 to 16) nicely 
                              covers the concepts and basic terminologies of Ecology as a subject and the 
                              impact of the environment on flora and fauna. 
                    General Science and Science and Technology 
                    General Science 
                         •    NCERTs from Class VI-X can be covered diligently for concepts. 
                         •    For this section, read the science NCERT summary available in the market by 
                              various famous coaching institutes. 
                    Science and Technology 
                         •    Requires  knowledge  that  is  applied,  and  hence,  Qs  are  also  asked  in  an 
                              application format. 
                         •    Sources: Current affairs, RSTV Science Monitor, etc. 
                    Current events of National and International 
                    Importance 
                         •    Reading  newspaper  religiously  is  crucial  for  wholesome  coverage  of  the 
                              current events. Follow either The Hindu or Indian Express. 
                         •    Apart  from  newspapers,  go  through  current  events  compilation  (Prelims 
                              specific) of various coaching institutes to further supplement the newspaper 
                              reading. 
                                   o    Gradeup Weekly Current Affairs 
                                   o    Gradeup Monthly Current Affairs 
                    Government Periodicals 
                         •    India  Yearbook  –  Either  read  directly  from  the  text  or  refer  to  yearbook 
                              summary  available  in  the  market.  Yearbook  summary  by  New  Vishal 
                              Publication is famous among students. 
                         •    Yojana and Kurukshetra 
                         •    Economic Survey 
                         •    Union Budget document 
                                                                                 4