UPSC Books The UPSC Prelims, being an entirely objective type of paper would need a separate set of book lists and the UPSC Mains, being entirely subjective in its nature would need its own. Therefore, in this section of the blog, I have mentioned the names of all the important books for UPSC according to the different phases and subjects of the UPSC CSEs. I have started with the NCERT books for UPSC. Here’s the list: Best NCERT books for UPSC Listed below are the best NCERT books for UPSC according to the various subjects of the UPSC exam (of both Prelims and Mains Phases) NCERT Books for UPSC- General Studies Paper I 1. NCERT books for UPSC for History: History: NCERT Class 6: Our Past History: NCERT Class 7: Our Past – 1 History: NCERT Class 8: Our Past 2 and 3 History: NCERT Class 9: India and the Contemporary World – I History: NCERT Class 9: India and the Contemporary World – II History: NCERT Class 10: World History History: NCERT Class 12: Indian History – 1 History: NCERT Class 12: Indian History – 2 History: NCERT Class 12: Indian History – 3 2. NCERT Books for UPSC about Indian Society: Indian Society: NCERT Class 6: Social Science: Social & Political Life I Indian Society: NCERT Class 7: Social Science: Social & Political Life II Indian Society: NCERT Class 8: Social Science: Social & Political Life III Indian Society: NCERT Class 11: Sociology: Understanding Society Indian Society: NCERT Class 12: Indian Society You can also refer to class 12th Sociology book. 3. NCERT Books for UPSC for Art and Culture: Art & Culture: NCERT Class 11: An Introduction to Indian Art Art & Culture: NCERT Class 11: Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters IX & X) 4. NCERT Books for UPSC for Geography: NCERT Class 6: The Earth Our Habitat NCERT Class 7: Our Environment NCERT Class 8: Resource and Development NCERT Class 9: Contemporary India – I NCERT Class 10: Contemporary India – II NCERT Class 11: Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11: India Physical Environment NCERT Class 12: Fundamentals of Human Geography NCERT Class 12: India People and Economy NCERT Books for UPSC- General Studies Paper II 1. NCERT IAS books for Polity Polity: NCERT Class 9: Political Science – Democratic Politics Part – 1 Polity: NCERT Class 10: Political Science – Democratic Politics Part – 2 Polity: NCERT Class 11: Political Science – Indian Constitution at Work Polity: NCERT Class 11: Political Science – Political Theory Polity: NCERT Class 12: Political Science 1 – Contemporary World Politics Polity: NCERT Class 12: Political Science 2 – Politics in India since Independence NCERT Polity: you should read the Class 9 to class 12 polity IAS books in detail, with a special focus on the ones of the 11th and 12th class. (out of which cover the topic of World Politics, if time permits). NCERT UPSC Books – General Studies Paper III 1. NCERT UPSC Books on Economy Economy: NCERT Class 9 Economics Economy: NCERT Class 10: Understanding Economic Development Economy: NCERT Class 11: Indian Economic Development Economy: NCERT Class 12: Introductory Microeconomics Economy: NCERT Class 12: Introductory Macroeconomics 2. NCERT UPSC Books for Science & Technology Science: NCERT Class 6 Science: NCERT Class 7 Science: NCERT Class 8 Science: NCERT Class 9 Science: NCERT Class 10 Science: NCERT Class 11: Chemistry: Unit 14 and Biology: Units 4 & 5 Science: NCERT Class 12: Chemistry: Unit 16 and Biology: Units 8, 9 & 10 3. UPSC Books of NCERT for Environment & Ecology Science: Class 12: Biology: last four Chapters (13 – 16) For the subject of Economics, you can refer to the NCERT books of class 9 to 12. However, if you are familiar with the basics of the subject already, reading from the economics books of class 11 and class 12 (macro & micro both) would be sufficient. For the subject of science, you should refer to the textbooks of class 9 and 10. That should be good enough for your IAS exam preparation. NCERT UPSC Books – General Studies Paper IV 1. Subject of Ethics: NCERT Class 12: Psychology: This is not too significant from the exam perspective; however, you can go through this IAS book for the basics. However, remember to read selectively. Best UPSC Books for IAS Prelims In the IAS prelims round there are 2 papers and both are objective type in nature. That means both have multiple-type questions with negative markings for each wrong answer. Best UPSC Books for IAS Mains If you are able to clear the Prelims stage of the IAS exam, then you’d have to appear for the Mains. In the IAS Mains, there are 9 subjective type papers out of which 2 are subjects that you can choose from. These are all the list of books that I have for you as far as the Prelims and the Mains rounds of the UPSC are concerned. However, there are 2 optional subject papers in the Mains exam that would require you to read from the books pertaining to the particular subjects of your choice. Let’s now look at the other essential study material from which you’d have to read apart from all the books that I have already mentioned above: 1. 2nd ARC Report 2. Economic Survey (Latest) 3. Budget (Latest) 4. Finance Commission Report (Latest) 5. Annual reports by central ministries 6. Current Affairs The Hindu Newspaper Yojana Magazine Press Information Bureau Releases 7. Niti Aayog Action Agenda