Best Books for UPSC IAS 2020 (Prelims & Mains) - Subject Wise Recommended Books
Best Books for UPSC IAS 2020 - UPSC aspirants must choose the best books to prepare for UPSC IAS 2020. Qualifying Civil Services Exam requires strong planning backed with best books for UPSC IAS preparation 2020. These best IAS books 2020 cover the complete IAS syllabus 2020. Candidates often get confused with the plethora of best books for UPSC IAS 2020 available online and book stores. Hence, here we provide the list of UPSC IAS best books 2020 for Prelims and Main exam recommended by toppers. It is advisable to stick to the best books to prepare for UPSC IAS that contains most of the knowledge you require to crack UPSC IAS exam and repeatedly revise these books. UPSC IAS 2020 Prelims will be held on October 4, 2020. Read the article to check the IAS books 2020
Latest: UPSC IAS answer key 2020 has been released. Check expected UPSC IAS Cutoff 2020 here.
Best Books for UPSC IAS 2020 for Better Preparation
As a beginner, it is recommended by IAS toppers to start with NCERT books and then move towards standard reference books. Along with this, the candidates must make it a habit to read the newspaper every day and keep making notes of important things they find in it.
IAS Best Books
Main Subject | Subjects | Class |
Social Science | Geography, Polity, History, Economics | Class VI to XII |
Sociology | Class XI and XII | |
Science | Class VI to X (for non-Science students) | |
Biology | Class XII (last 5 chapters) |
What are the Best Books for UPSC IAS 2020 Prelims?
The UPSC Prelims exam is an objective MCQ based exam. It consists of 2 papers:
General Studies Paper - I
General Studies Paper-II /Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
Here is a subject-wise list of best books for UPSC IAS prelims recommended by experts:
Subject | UPSC Books | Remarks |
History |
| For Prelims, the first 4 books should be sufficient. For Mains, you should read India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra, but it is better if one can finish it before Prelims because there isn’t much time left after Prelims to prepare for Mains. |
Indian Art & Culture | Indian Art & Culture - Nitin Singhania | This book can be used for both Prelims and Mains |
Polity |
| For prelims, you don’t need to read any other book on Polity except Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth. Many questions asked in the Prelims paper seem to have come directly from this book. However, for Mains, you should read D D Basu as it helps you to form opinions you may need to answer some difficult questions in the exam |
Geography |
| Read NCERTs thoroughly. |
Economics |
| The Indian Economy –Sanjiv Verma is very good for beginners and for those who find economics distasteful and difficult. It explains concepts in very simple language. The book by Ramesh Singh should be read after the book by Sanjiv Verma. |
Environment |
| Last 5 chapters of the Class XII Biology book are based on Environment. |
International Relations |
| International relations keep changing and you must read the newspaper to keep yourself updated on the latest developments in the world. |
What are the Best Books For IAS 2020 Prelims?
CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test was introduced in 2011 to test the aptitude, analytical skills and reasoning ability of UPSC IAS candidates.
CSAT is officially known as General Studies Paper 2.
The candidates need to score only 33.33% to qualify this paper. There is no need for any special books for Paper-II but you must practice 10th level Maths and English questions on grammar and reading comprehension. This is especially required for beginners like students from Commerce/Arts background.
What are The books recommended by IAS toppers for GS Paper - II - CSAT?
Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
CSAT II – Arihant
Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal
Cracking the CSAT Civil Services Aptitude Test with Solved Papers
The Pearson CSAT Manual
UPSC IAS 2020 Best Books - Other books and study material
Apart from the standard subject-wise books mentioned above, there are some other important books and study material that should be referred for completing your UPSC IAS preparation.
These are:
India Year Book - Publication Division, Govt. of India
Economic Survey (latest)
Budget (latest)
UPSC IAS 2020 Best Books - Current Affairs
Newspaper - Hindu/Indian Express (this should be read every day)
Press Information Bureau
UPSC IAS Best Books - Magazines
Yojana
Kurukshetra
Economic and Political Weekly
Down to Earth
Frontline
The Economist
Best Books for UPSC IAS 2020 - Question Banks
Indian Polity Question Bank – TMH
General Science Question Bank – TMH
Geography (India+World) Question Bank – TMH
Social & Economic Development Question Bank – TMH
1000 Plus Questions on Indian Polity: General Studies for Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Paper – 1)
14000+ MCQs For Paper-I Prelims
What are the Best Books for IAS 2020 Mains?
Candidates who clear the UPSC CSE Prelims are shortlisted for the Mains stage of the UPSC CSE Exam. In UPSC IAS 2020 Mains, there are 9 General Studies (GS) descriptive papers out of which 2 papers are of qualifying nature. These qualifying papers are General English and General Language. There are 4 General Studies papers, 1 Essay Paper and 2 optional subject papers.
List of Best Books for IAS Main
Subject | UPSC Books |
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Other reference books -
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Polity |
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International Relations |
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Biodiversity, Environment |
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Security and Disaster Management |
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Science & Technology |
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In the UPSC CSE Mains exam, besides 4 General Studies papers, there are 2 Optional papers. Candidate has to choose one optional subject for this Optional Paper. The optional papers account for 500 marks in total and it plays an important role in deciding candidates’ ranking in UPSC CSE examination. Therefore, it is important that the right books are referred for it. The list of best books for UPSC IAS Mains for the optional subjects are given below:
Best Books for the UPSC IAS Mains - Geography
Geography is one of the popular optional subjects among UPSC IAS candidates. It has a high success rate and roughly 3000 to 4000 out of 16000 aspirants opt for Geography, thus, there is a high level of competition also. Geography is a scientific subject based on an understanding of concepts and involves minimum rote-learning. Geography has exhaustive but a definite syllabus. Some topics overlap with GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 3. Here is the list of books for Geography:
IAS Best Books 2020 for Geography
Paper - I | Paper-II |
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Other Books that can be referred:
Evolution of Geographical Thought by Majid Husain
Economic and Social Geography Made Simple by R. Knowles, J. Wareing
Models in Geography by Majid Husain
Oxford Student Atlas for India
Best Books for the UPSC IAS 2020 Main for Public Administration
Public administration is one of the most popular optional subjects opted for by students in UPSC IAS main examination. It is considered a scoring subject. Its significance lies in its interlinkage with the administration and governance of the country. There is some overlap with the General Studies papers topics and hence students find it easier to study this subject. Here is the list of books for Public administration.
Public Administration Books for UPSC Mains:
- Indian Public Administration: Institutions and Issues by Arora and Goyal
- Public Administration in India by B L Fadia
- Public Administration in India 1st Edition by Maheshwari
Administrative Thinkers by Prasad and Prasad
Other Books that can be referred:
- Public Administration by Laxmikant
- Public Administration by Prasad & Prasad
- Public Administration by Mohit Bhattacharya
Public Administration and Public Affairs 12th Edition – Nicholas Henry
Best Books for the UPSC IAS 2020 Mains (Sociology)
Sociology is one of the easiest optional subjects. It is easy to understand and considered highly scoring. The syllabus deals with the day-to-day life of society and a lot of questions can easily be attempted. Paper I of Sociology deals with the fundamentals of Sociology where Paper-II of Sociology optional deals with the Indian society, its structure, and change. Here is the list of books for Sociology.
IAS Best Books for sociology Optional UPSC
Recommended books for UPSC Paper - I | UPSC IAS books Paper-II |
|
|
Best Books for the UPSC IAS 2020 Main (History)
Many candidates opt for History as it is an easy subject telling the story about the past of India and the world around us. It requires the least amount of coaching. History is a general study friendly subject. Here is the list of books for History.
IAS Best Books 2020 for History
| Topics | Recommended books for UPSC |
List of Ancient Indian History Books For UPSC |
|
List of Medieval Indian History Books For UPSC |
|
List Of Modern Indian History Books For UPSC |
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List Of World history books For UPSC |
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Best Books for the UPSC IAS 2020 Main (Economics)
Economics is also a popular optional paper generally opted by candidates who have a good understanding of concepts of economics. Also, there is a large overlap of the syllabus of General Studies for Prelims and Mains. The syllabus focuses on the candidates’ understanding of the basic concepts in economics and application of this knowledge to developmental challenges of the country. Here is the list of books for Economics.
IAS Best Books 2020 for Economics
UPSC IAS books Paper I | UPSC IAS books Paper II |
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Other References:
Economic Survey, EPW, RBI
Anyone Business Newspaper – Economic Times or Financial Express or The Economist
Best Books for the UPSC IAS 2020 Main - Political Science
About 50-60% of the syllabus of Political Science coordinates with the General Studies Paper topics of UPSC Mains. Considering the changes and revision in syllabus and nature of the topics dealt in the subject, it is considered a very dynamic and constantly evolving subject. Here is the list of books for Political Science. The Paper-I of UPSC Mains Political Science deals with the Political Theory and Indian Politics. Paper-II of UPSC Mains Political Science deals with Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics.
Political Science Books for UPSC Mains:
- A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx by Mukherjee and Ramaswamy
- Introduction to Political Theory by O P Gauba
- Political Theory by Rajeev Bhargava
- Politics by Andrew Heywood
- Global Politics by Heywood
- International Relations by V N Khanna
- Foundations of Indian Political Thought: An Interpretation - from Manu to the Present Day by V. R. Mehta
- Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
- India's Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947 by Bipan Chandra
Indian Government and Politics by BL Fadia
Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy by David M. Malone
Best books for the UPSC IAS 2020 - Other References:
Apart from the standard books mentioned above, the essential UPSC Study material includes certain important newspapers, magazines and reports:
Yojana
Kurukshetra
Geography and You
NITI Aayog reports (especially related to Agriculture, Infrastructure, Regional Development, Rural development etc)
Niti Aayog Action Agenda
Some UN documents on Population, Development & Environment (eg UNDP)
2nd ARC Report
Economic Survey (latest)
Budget (latest)
Finance Commission Report (latest)
Annual reports by central ministries
Current Affairs
The Hindu
Yojana Magazine
Press Information Bureau
Preparing for IAS does not mean reading every book available. A lot of good books are available that are more valuable for academics and research scholars, but not necessarily for the UPSC exam. IAS toppers would tell you that you need to remember everything you read. And it is not humanly possible to remember everything you read unless you keep revising it. And you can revise only a set number of books and notes. So, you need UPSC IAS best books that will help in your preparation and help you clear the IAS exam with good marks.
UPSC IAS 2020 Best Books - Highlights
Read the newspaper every day
Revise your notes and best books for UPSC IAS repeatedly to memorize everything you study
While most standard books are used for the preparation of both Prelims and Mains exam, some UPSC IAS best books can be divided into those required mainly for Prelims exam and those for Mains exam.
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Questions related to UPSC Civil Services Exam
kya IAS exam me physics chemistry maths bhi hota hai...?
Hii,
IAS exam are conducted in three phase i. e prelims, mains and personal interview
In prelims, there are 2 parts -General studies and CSAT and each carry 200 marks in which topics are mostly on logical reasoning, analytical skill, histroy of India, Indian and world geography, political system, governance Constitution, social justice and IR, and current affairs.
In mains exam there are 7papers including 2 optional subject in which you can choose subject of your choice... In physics, Botony, Agriculture, philosophy, sociology, statistics, zoology and many more.. You can choose any 2 option from this subjects
Hope this information will help you
Answer laterwhat study in 10th class to become an ias
Hi.
In order to understand how to become an IAS, you need to understand about the UPSC Civil Services Examination. UPSC on Union Public Service Commission is the body responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination.
For UPSC Civil Services, candidates must be an Indian Citizen who has completed his or her graduation (any course) from a recognized university in the country and is between the age group of 21 to 32 years. The age is calculated as on 31 August of the year of notification. Also, upper age limit is relaxed as per the government rules for reserved categories.
Good Luck
what to study in 10th class to become an ias
Hello,
To become an IAS officer, you need to qualify the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Exam (CSE). The exam itself is conducted as a means to recruit civil servants to one of the 25 services that comprise of the All India Services, Central Services and Group B services.
For being eligible to sit in this examination, you must hold a Bachelor's Degree from any of the recognized universities.
You can start preparing for this examination if you want to right from this time. You can work on yoyr general knowledge and vocabulary.
Hope it helps.
Good Luck!
Which is the best school in india for 11th & 12th and in that school we prepare for ias exam
There is no school in India that will help you in preparation for civil services (IAS). In order to become an IAS, one has to appear for UPSC CSE examination and for that you first need to complete graduation. Currently you should focus on completing your class 11th and 12th from a recognized board in any good college your city.
After completing 12th, you can take up will have to do graduation in any stream of your interest and then you can appear for UPSC.
You can also prepare for it during your graduation too so take any subject that you are interested in as that will help you in choosing as optional subject because if you will study it in graduation then it will surely help you. As of now, just be focused on your class 11th and 12th.
One thing you can do right now that will help you later during preparation is reading newspaper. Develop a habit of reading English newspaper (either The Hindu or The Indian Express).
I hope this helps.
Hello Folks,I am in 6th sem.My birt date is 13/08/2000. Am i eligible for 2021 exam???
Dear Aspirant
A candidate must be between 21 to 32 years of age as on August 1, 2021. UPSC also provides age relaxations to candidates belonging to reserved category. From the following table, candidates can check the relaxation policy as per the category.
IAS Age Relaxation 2021
|
Categories |
Age relaxation |
|
General/UR |
No age relaxation |
|
OBC |
3 years |
|
SC, ST |
5 years |
|
Defense Services Personnel, who got disabled during operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence |
3 years |
|
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers (CO) and ECOs/SSCOs who will render at least five years Military Service as on August 1, 2021, and have been released |
5 years |
|
ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st August 2021 |
5 years |
|
In the following cases:
|
10 years |
|
Candidates ordinarily domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir from January 1, 1981, to December 31, 1989. |
5 years
|
For more information use the link
UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2021 - Check Age Limit, Attempts, Qualification (careers360.com)
All the best
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