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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.
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.
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:
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.]
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 |
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.
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.
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 |
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:
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
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
More Relevant Links - UPSC IAS Result 2024
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh is the best book for the UPSC IAS exam.
Yes, UPSC releases the IAS cutoff after the declaration of the final IAS result.
The minimum age required to apply for the IAS exam is 21 years.
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.
While buying the books for UPSC 2024, keep in mind that books must be based on latest syllabus and exam pattern.
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.
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.
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.
Others:28 January,2025 - 30 April,2025
Others:31 January,2025 - 30 April,2025
Application Date:28 March,2025 - 29 April,2025
Application Date:07 April,2025 - 03 May,2025
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.
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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