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
Upcoming Event
UPSC CSE  Exam Date : 22 Aug' 2025 - 22 Aug' 2025

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.

Articles

Certifications By Top Providers

Online Course of Indian Constitution
Via NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
Access to Justice
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Criminal Justice Administration
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Human Rights
Via National Law School of India University, Bangalore
BA
Via Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta
Swayam
 220 courses
Edx
 201 courses
LawSikho
 127 courses
NPTEL
 92 courses
Futurelearn
 89 courses
Coursera
 76 courses

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

University of Essex, Colchester
 Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
University College London, London
 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
 Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, Post Code EH8 9YL
University of Bristol, Bristol
 Beacon House, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QU
University of Nottingham, Nottingham
 University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD

Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

A candidate who has undergone heart surgery can be eligible for the IAS post if they are medically fit and can perform the required duties without any serious health problems The UPSC allows candidates to appear for the exam if they meet the general physical and mental fitness criteria After clearing the main examination and interview all selected candidates must undergo a detailed medical examination by a government medical board If the candidate has recovered well from heart surgery and there are no complications they can be declared fit for service However if the surgery has caused any permanent disability and if it is certified under the benchmark disability rules then the candidate may be eligible for reservation under the persons with disabilities category Final eligibility depends on the report given by the medical board during the selection process

If a person has undergone heart surgery for ASD which means Atrial Septal Defect and is now medically fit then they can apply for the IAS exam There is no restriction for such candidates if their physical and mental condition is stable and they can perform the duties required in civil services However selection to IAS also depends on passing the medical test conducted after clearing the main exam and interview If the person has any lasting disability due to the heart condition and it is certified by a government medical board then they may be considered under the benchmark disability category as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act In such cases the candidate may come under reservation for persons with disabilities in the specific category mentioned by the medical authority It is always advised to check the official UPSC notification and consult with a government hospital for proper disability certification before applying

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!

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

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.

View All
Back to top