(Getting Started) UPSC IAS (Pre) Exam Books List - Suggested Reading

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is a Multiple Choice Based exam held every year by the Union Public Service Commission to filter through the lakhs of aspirants who apply for the coveted Civil Services job posts. Out of the 5/6 lakhs that appear, only around 10 thousand qualify to sit for the upsc mains examination. Although the preparation for prelims and mains leverages the same sources, there are certain distinctions.

In this article, we cover the comprehensive list of books and study materials that aspirants need to cover exclusively for prelims along with the Amazon links you can use to buy those books.

1.History

Ancient India

Old NCERT – Class 11th ‘Ancient India’ R.S. Sharma	Click Here To Buy
New NCERT – Class 12th ‘Themes In Indian History- Part I’ – Chapters 1 To 6	Click Here To Buy
Tamil Nadu Edition – Class 11th	Click Here To Buy

Medieval India

Book	Link
New NCERT – Class 7th–‘Our Pasts –II’	Click Here To Buy
Old NCERT – Class 11th ‘Medieval India’–Satish Chandra(Selective Reading)	Click Here To Buy
Tamil NaduEdition–Class 11th	Click Here To Buy

Modern India

Book	Link
A Brief History Of Modern India- Spectrum Publications	Click Here To Buy
India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra (Selective Reading)	Click Here To Buy
Old NCERT By Bipan Chandra (Selective Reading For The Period 1700s To 1857)	Click Here To Buy

2.Science

Book	Link
NCERT Class 9 Science	Click Here To Buy
NCERT Class 10 Science	Click Here To Buy

3.Geography

Book	Link
Fundamentals Of Physical Geography XI NCERT	Click Here To Buy
India: Physical Environment XI NCERT	Click Here To Buy
Fundamentals Of Human Geography XII NCERT	Click HereTo Buy
India: People And Economy XII NCERT	Click Here To Buy
Certificate Physical And Human Geography By GC Leong(Selective Chapters)	Click Here To Buy

Business women signature at document Free Photo

4.Polity

Book	Link
Indian Polity By M Laxmikanth	Click Here To Buy

5.Economics

Book	Link
Indian Economic Development – NCERT XI	Click Here To Buy
Macroeconomics – NCERT XII	Click Here To Buy
Indian Economy By Ramesh Singh	Click Here To Buy

6.Environment

Book	Link
Environment By Shankar	Click Here To Buy

7.Current Affairs

For current affairs, newspapers play an important role.
Given the dynamic nature of the subject, no one book can help you.

SOURCES

One Newspaper such as the Hindu, India Express, etc.

monthly magazine from IAS Exam Portal, etc.

Internet spaces such as PIB, Youtube videos on news, etc.

Although the list is specifically made with the pre exam in mind, these are extremely useful sources for building up your knowledge for your mains. The list is comprehensive, but not exhaustive. When it comes to Civil Services, there is hardly an end to learning. However, if to crack the prelims is your goal today, this list should have you fairly covered and ready to fulfill your IAS dreams.

BEST OF LUCK.