Books for UPSC IAS 2024 - Subject wise prelims & Mains Books

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
  1. UPSC IAS 2024 - Highlights
  2. Best Books for IAS
  3. Books for IAS - Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains exam
  4. IAS Books for Prelims
  5. IAS Books for IAS Mains
  6. How to Prepare for IAS Exam 2024?
Books for UPSC IAS 2024 - Subject wise prelims & Mains Books
Books for UPSC IAS 2024 - Subject wise prelims & Mains Books

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

History

India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipin Chandra

Facets of Indian Culture – Spectrum

NCERT 11th (Ancient & Medieval)

NCERT 12th (Modern Indian History)

Geography

Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong

NCERT 6th to 10th

NCERT 11th and 12th

World Atlas

Indian Polity

Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth

NCERT 9th to 12th

Economics

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 EBook

More 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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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:

BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.

KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.

After 10th for IAS

Hello aspirant,

For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.

To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

All the best!!

Hello Rishika,

You can take any stream for becoming IAS. As per the eligibility criteria of UPSC IAS , student have to graduate from any stream from any recognised university or college. So it's doesn't matter from which stream you choose. But if you really want to become IAS, then humanities , arts related subject helps you alot.

To know more, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

Good luck!

Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query

To start your prep for IAS exams without any coaching and free of cost here are some pointers you can follow :-

1.Understand the exam- To get started with IAS prep, first grab the official UPSC syllabus for both the first exam (Prelims) and the main exam (Mains) from their website. Understand what you need to study and how important each topic is.

Next, learn how the exam is set up. There are three parts: a multiple-choice test (Prelims), a written exam with long answers (Mains), and an interview. Know how many papers are in each, how you get marks, and how much time you get.

Finally, look at old exam papers from the last 5 to 10 years. This will give you an idea of how tough the exam is, what kinds of questions they ask, and which topics you should really focus on.

2.Build a strong foundation-Begin your IAS study with NCERT books from classes 6 to 12 for subjects like History, Geography, Civics, Economics, and Science. These will give you a basic understanding. Once you know the basics well, switch to standard books for each subject. You can find lists of recommended books online from people who've cleared the exam. Some popular ones are mentioned for Polity, Economy, Modern History, and Geography.

3.Stay updated with current affairs- To stay updated for IAS, read a good national newspaper every day (like The Hindu or Indian Express) and jot down important news from India and the world. Also, read magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra to understand social and economic topics deeply. Check websites like PIB and those of research groups for info on government plans and reports.

4.Utilize free online resources-For IAS prep help, check out websites like BYJU'S, ClearIAS, and Mrunal. They have free study stuff. Also, watch YouTube channels by teachers and ex-IAS officers for tips and lessons. Join online groups to ask questions and learn from others preparing for the exam.

5.Mock tests and self assessment-Take free practice tests online for both Prelims and Mains to see how ready you are and what you need to work on. After each test, check what you did wrong and focus on fixing those things. Remember to study regularly, believe in yourself, and take breaks so you don't get too tired. Consistency is more important than studying for many hours at once.

I hope this helps . Financial problems can never stop one from dreaming and achieving things in their life. Stay motivated!!!

Hello Chetan,

IAS (Indian Administrative Service) is one of the top civil services in India. IAS officers work in various government departments, implementing policies, managing administration, and advising ministers. They hold key positions like District Collector, Secretary, or Commissioner and play a vital role in governance and public service. To become an IAS officer, one must clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE).


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, then feel free to share your questions with us, we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.

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