Essential Books and Resources for Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Exam

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most difficult and revered competitive examinations in India. It is no surprise that hundreds of thousands, or rather lakhs, of people try to secure a single position within the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and many other civil services. Achieving success in this examination requires a meticulous preparation strategy complemented by the Best UPSC books and resources.

This blog by Vajirao and Reddy IAS Institute aims to consolidate all the essential resources and the guiding literature for UPSC Prelims and Mains examinations.

1. Understanding the UPSC Exam Structure

Before we discuss the specific resources, it is crucial to understand the three stages of the UPSC CSE.

• Preliminary Examination: Consists of two papers, General Studies Paper I and CSAT (General Studies Paper II), both multiple-choice questions.

• Mains: Descriptive examination consisting of nine papers: Essay, General Studies (I-IV), two Optional papers, and two Qualifying papers (English and a regional language).

• Interview: The interview is a personality test based on alertness, critical reasoning, and general understanding.

Each of these stages needs a different approach and set of study materials.

2. Study materials for Prelims and Mains (General Studies)

a) History

Ancient & Medieval History:

• NCERT Class XI- Ancient India by R.S. Sharma

• NCERT Class XI- Medieval India by Satish Chandra

Modern Indian History:

• A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir)

• NCERT Class XII- Modern India

Post-Independence India:

• India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra

World History (Mains only):

• History of the World by Arjun Dev (NCERT)

• Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe

b) Geography

Physical and Human Geography:

• NCERTs Class VI to XII

• Certificate in Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong

  Indian Geography:

• India: A Comprehensive Geography by D.R. Khullar (for deeper understanding)

• Atlas: Oxford School Atlas

c) Polity

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

• NCERT Class IX to XII Political Science

  The book is dubbed the Bible of polity because of how well it encompasses everything. It is thorough and revision is a necessity, not an option. All the coaching institutes in Delhi highly recommend M. Laxmikant for polity.

d) Economy

• NCERT Class XI and XII (Economics)

• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

• Economic Survey

• Budget Highlights

• Indian Economy Key Concepts by Shankar Ganesh (optional for clarity)

e) Environment and Ecology

• NCERT Biology (Class XII)

• PIB, MOEFCC Reports, and Current Affairs

f) Science and Technology

• NCERTs (Class VI to X)

• Current Affairs from newspapers and online platforms like Science Reporter

  Skipping the more intricate aspects of a subject is not a problem; try to grasp the concepts through a practical lens instead.

3. CSAT (Prelims Paper II)

While qualifying in nature (33% minimum), neglecting CSAT can be risky. Below are some Prelims study materials for CSAT:

• CSAT Paper II Manual by TMH

• Previous Years’ Question Papers

• Practice comprehension, reasoning, and basic numeracy regularly

4. Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude (GS Paper IV)

• Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by G. Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury

• Practising Case Studies is paramount for Ethics

  5. Essay Paper

You can read novels, but there are no fixed resources. Candidates can read 151 Essays by Arihant. Additionally, checking a topper’s written essay along with writing practice on a regular basis can improve one’s writing skills. Focus on coherence, integrity in arguments, and all-encompassing viewpoints for your essay paper.

6. Optional Subject

Optional Subjects change according to your preferences. Some of the most popular optional subjects and their important textbooks are as follows:

• Geography: Majid Husain (Physical Geography), G.C. Leong, Savindra Singh

• Sociology: Haralambos and Holborn, IGNOU material, Upendra Sir notes

• Public Administration: M. Laxmikanth (Public Admin), Prasad and Prasad (Administrative Thinkers)

  Pick an optional subject based on your interests, prior knowledge, and access to materials.

7. Current Affairs

Current affairs are an integral part of the UPSC exam and play a critical role in all three stages.

• Newspapers: The Hindu or The Indian Express

• Magazines: Yojana, Kurukshetra, EPW (Economic and Political Weekly), Vajirao, and Reddy IAS Insights

• Government Sources: PIB, PRS India, Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV)

  Regular Revision on a regular basis and preparing notes are essential.

8. Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs) and Test Series

Working through the previous 10 years of the UPSC Prelims and Mains question papers will help in understanding trends and determining the level of difficulty and important areas of focus. Enroll in a good test series for both Prelims and Mains.

Conclusion

To crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination, one needs to read intricately and garner a conceptual understanding of a few essential topics rather than skimming through a hundred books. The approach must include consistency, discipline, and strategic planning. Start with NCERT textbooks, read through standard textbooks, keep track of current affairs, and put emphasis on answer writing along with mock tests. Having UPSC preparation books combined with unrelenting willpower makes success in UPSC easily attainable.