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Books for UPSC IAS 2024 - Subject wise prelims & Mains Books
Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Feb 14, 2024 03:00 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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Candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exam are advised to study from the best IAS books for preparation. To increase and enrich their knowledge base and preparation, candidates must study from the UPSC IAS books of different subjects. There is a myriad of study material available for the UPSC IAS exam, so it is important to choose books for preparation carefully.
This Story also Contains
- UPSC IAS 2024 - Highlights
- Best Books for IAS
- Books for IAS - Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains exam
- IAS Books for Prelims
- IAS Books for IAS Mains
- How to Prepare for IAS Exam 2024?
LiveUPSC Prelims Results 2025 LIVE: CSE will soon release the UPSC Prelims results at upsc.gov.in, latest updatesJun 6, 2025 | 8:25 PM ISTRead More
UPSC Central Armed Police Forces 2025 (CAPF) prelims exam will be conducted on August 3, 2025.
Before selecting the best books for IAS preparation, candidates must also know the UPSC IAS syllabus. Candidates appearing for the IAS exam must have started preparing for the exam long before, if not they should immediately do so. Referring to the best books for IAS is not enough to qualify the IAS exam. Candidates must also work hard and practice as many IAS sample papers and previous year IAS question papers as possible to clear the exam.
UPSC IAS 2024 - Highlights
Candidates can check some basic details about UPSC IAS exam here.
Exam Name | Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Exam |
Exam Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
Stages of Exam | Preliminary Mains Personality Test |
Exam Mode | Offline |
Quick Links:
Best Books for IAS
Here is a list of some of the best and most commonly referred books for UPSC IAS exam preparation. Check the table below for the names of the most common UPSC IAS preparation books.]
Best books for UPSC IAS
Sr. No. | IAS syllabus books |
1 | NCERT books (Geography, Polity, History, Economics) |
2 | Indian polity by M Laxmikahth |
3 | Indian art and culture by Nitin Singhania |
4 | Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh |
5 | Environment by Shankar IAS |
Books for IAS - Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains exam
UPSC Civil Services exam is a three-stage exam - prelims, mains and personality test. Candidates preparing for the IAS exam are always looking for good IAS syllabus books to brush up their knowledge base. Check some of the books that they can refer to while preparing the IAS exam in the tables below.
IAS Books for Prelims
UPSC IAS prelims exam is a multiple choice question type having two papers - General studies and CSAT. In paper 1 questions are from subjects like history, geography, economy, polity, general knowledge, general science, etc. Whereas in CSAT candidates' reasoning and aptitude capabilities are tested. So to prepare for UPSC civil services prelims candidates can refer to the IAS syllabus books mentioned in the table below.
Books for UPSC IAS Prelims
Subject | Books for UPSC IAS Prelims |
India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipin Chandra Facets of Indian Culture – Spectrum NCERT 11th (Ancient & Medieval) NCERT 12th (Modern Indian History) | |
Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong NCERT 6th to 10th NCERT 11th and 12th World Atlas | |
Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth NCERT 9th to 12th | |
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri NCERT 11th | |
International Relations | NCERT 12th (Contemporary World Politics) Current Affairs |
CSAT | Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual CSAT – Arihant Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal |
IAS Books for IAS Mains
UPSC IAS mains exam is descriptive in nature. It has a total of 9 papers all written. In IAS mains questions are asked from subjects like geography, history, economy, Hindi language, English language, etc. To know about the best books for UPSC IAS mains preparation check the table below:
UPSC IAS books for mains exam
Subject | Books for IAS mains |
History, Indian Heritage & Culture | An Introduction to Indian Art Part 1: Textbook in Fine Arts for Class 11th India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra India after Independence by Bipin Chandra History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra India’s Ancient Past by R.S Sharma Contemporary World History for class 12th Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe |
Geography | NCERT Class 11 - Physical Geography NCERT Class 12 - Human Geography World Geography by Majid Husain Geography of India by Majid Husain Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G C Leong World Atlas |
Polity | Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu From Government to Governance by Kuldeep Mathur Ethics in Governance, ARC Report Human Development Report World Development Report |
Social Justice | NCERT of 11th on Indian Society 12th class NCERT The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper Human Development Report World Development Report |
International Relations | India’s Foreign Policy Since Independence by V.P. Dutt Or India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper |
Economy | Indian Economic Development NCERT of 11th Introductory Macroeconomics 12th class NCERT Indian Economy by Sanjiv Verma Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh Economic Survey (latest) The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper |
Biodiversity, Environment | 12th NCERT Book on Biology India Year Book The chapter on Climate Change from Economic Survey The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper |
Security and Disaster Management | India’s Security in a Turbulent World by Jasjit Singh, published by National Book Trust of India The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper |
Science & Technology | 8th, 9th and 10th class NCERT books on Biology The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper Monthly Magazine ‘Science Reporter for Science & Technology |
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudhary Ethics in Governance ARC Report Lexicon |
Best Study Material for UPSC Civil Services Exam- Prelims & Mains - Video Guide
How to Prepare for IAS Exam 2024?
Candidates preparing for UPSC IAS 2024 should have a preparation strategy on how to prepare for the UPSC IAS 2024 exam. The best way to prepare for the UPSC civil services exam is to have your own unique plan and not anyone else. Here a few tips on how to prepare for the UPSC IAS examination:
Candidates must go through the UPSC IAS syllabus and exam pattern before starting their preparation
Candidates must refer to the standard books for IAS exam
Candidates must develop a habit of reading the newspaper
Candidates should make short notes while studying for faster revision
Candidates must go through the previous year's UPSC IAS question papers to know the type and level of questions and more
UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBookMore Relevant Links - UPSC IAS Result 2024
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which economy IAS books is best for the UPSC civil services exam?
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh is the best book for the UPSC IAS exam.
2. Does UPSC release the IAS cutoff?
Yes, UPSC releases the IAS cutoff after the declaration of the final IAS result.
3. What is the minimum age required to apply for the UPSC IAS exam?
The minimum age required to apply for the IAS exam is 21 years.
4. Are NCERT books enough for IAS exam preparation?
No, NCERT books are good and much needed for IAS 2024 exam preparation. But alone they are not enough to crack the exam. To clear the IAS exam candidates must read other reference books too.
5. How can I choose best books for UPSC IAS?
While buying the books for UPSC 2024, keep in mind that books must be based on latest syllabus and exam pattern.
6. Which is better for preparation - books or online mode?
It completely depends on the students' perspective. There are students who prefer to study in online mode because of the amount of resources available there whereas some prefer books because of authenticity.
7. How can I get UPSC sample papers?
The sample papers of UPSC 2024 is available in the online mode. However, you can buy the books of UPSC IAS which contain the sample practice papers.
8. How can I choose best IAS books?
While choosing the best books for IAS, candidates must keep in mind that the books are based on latest exam pattern and syllabus of UPSC IAS 2024.
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Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?
Hello ,
If you want to give IAS exam then you should complete your graduation first or also if you are in your last year of graduation then you can fill the application form.
To know more, refer this:
https://competition.careers360.com/articles/upsc-ias-application-form
I hope this helps you!
Sakshi Sharma 27 May,2025
If you want to become an IAS or IPS officer after completing your 12th in PCMC , focus on graduation because the UPSC Civil Services exam requires you to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. You can choose any graduation stream, but many students prefer degrees like Political Science, Public Administration, History, or Sociology because these subjects help build a strong foundation for the UPSC syllabus. it’s not mandatory to pick these; you can also pursue Science, Commerce, or Arts as long as you complete your graduation. Along with your degree, start preparing for the UPSC exam early by reading newspapers, improving your general knowledge, and practicing answer writing. So, after 12th, pick a degree you are comfortable with, and plan your UPSC preparation alongside
Brajeshna Snehadarshinee 20 May,2025
Hii,
Yes, even if you have an ECE diploma, you can still become an IAS officer. However, you must graduate from an accredited college in any field in order to apply for the IAS exam (UPSC). A diploma is insufficient on its own.
First, enroll in a degree program such as a B.A., B.Sc., or B.Tech (lateral entry is acceptable). You can then get ready for the IAS exam. Many IAS officers have backgrounds in the arts, sciences, or diploma programs. So don't worry, just finish your graduation first and move on.
Saurabh Yadav 27 May,2025
Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.
Hope this helps!
Kishan Bhakat 24 April,2025
To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):
This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).
Any Bachelor's Degree:
A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.
Beneficial Degrees:
Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.
Optional Subject:
You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.
Hope it helps!!
sadafreen356 22 April,2025
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