Essential Booklist
Essential Books For Civil Services Examinations (Preliminary) General Studies Paper I
Dear Students, Reading the relevant study material is the most important factor for success in civil service examination. There is a lot of study material available in the market, most of which is misleading and misguiding. Best way is to rely upon NCERT books and other basic books.
Team jIgyASa has made a list of Must Read Books in consultation with experts UPSC toppers. You must have the complete set of must read books before you start your preparation.
Must Read NCERT & Other Books
History
Geography
Polity
Economy
Art & Culture
General Science, Science and Technology
Environment
International Institution, Organisation Reports, Indices
Government Schemes
Current Affairs
Subjects | Must Read Books | Books for Extra Reading | |
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1. HISTORY | |||
1.1 Ancient India History | NCERT | 1. Ancient India: A HistoryTextbook of Class XI by R.S Sharma (OLD) | 1. Themes of Indian History Part-I, Textbook in History for Class XI 2.Social Science Our Past I, Text book in History For Class VII |
Other Books | 1. India Ancient Past by R.S Sharma (Either You Can go through NCERT that is A History Text Book Of Class XI (OLD) OR, India Ancient Past by R.S Sharma but prefer NCERT ) | ||
1.2 Medieval India History | NCERT | 1. Medieval India: A History Textbook of Class XI by Satish Chandra (OLD) | 1. Social Science Our Past II, Textbook in History For Class VII 2. Themes of Indian History Part-II, Textbook in History for Class XI |
Other Books | 1. India Ancient Past by R.S Sharma (Either You Can go through NCERT that is A History Text Book Of Class XI (OLD) OR, India Ancient Past by R.S Sharma but prefer NCERT ) | ||
1.3 Modern India History | NCERT | 1. Modern India: A History Textbook of Class XII by Bipin Chandra (OLD) | 1. Themes of Indian History Part III, Textbook in History for Class XII 2.Social Science Our Past III, Textbook in History For Class VIII |
Other Books | 1. History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra (Either you needs to go through A History text Book of Class XII by Bipin Chandra (OLD) or History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra here, NCERT is preferable) 2. A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir– Spectrum |
3. India's struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra | |
2. GEOGRAPHY | |||
2.1 For Beginners | NCERT | 1. Land and People (Part I) A Geography Textbook for Class VI 2. Land and People (Part II) A Geography Textbook for Class VII 3. Land and People (Part III) A Geography Textbook for Class VIII |
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Other Books | |||
2.2 Physical Geography | NCERT | Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Textbook for Class XI | |
Other Books | Goh Cheng Leong: Certificate Physical and Human Geography | ||
2.3 For Indian Geography | NCERT | 1. India: Physical Environment-Textbook In Geography For Class XI 2. India People and Economy Class XII, Textbook in Geography Class XII 3. Fundamentals of Human Geography Textbook for Class XII |
1. Social Science Contemporary India-I Textbook in Geography for Class IX 2. Social Science Contemporary India-II Textbook in Geography for Class X 3. Social Science Resource and Development , Textbook in Geography for Class VIII |
Map Reading | Atlas (Oxford School Atlas is Preferable) | ||
3. ECONOMY | |||
NCERT | 1. Understanding Economic Development, Textbook in Economics for Class X 2. Indian Economic Development, Textbook in Economics for Class XI |
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Other Books | 1. India Economic Development by I.C. Dhingra (Either you go through Indian Economic Development, Textbook in Economics for Class XI Or India Economic Development by I.C. Dhingra) | 1. Indian Economy – Misra and Puri/ 2. Indian Economy – Datt and Sundaram/ 3. Indian Economy for Civil Services Examination -Ramesh Singh 4. Indian Economic Performance & Policies by Uma Kapila |
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Government Documents | 1. Economic Survey 2. Budget |
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4. ART & CULTURE | |||
NCERT | 1. An Introduction to Indian Art Part I, Textbook in Fine Arts for Class XI 2. Living Craft Traditions of India ,Textbook in Heritage Crafts for Class XIth |
1. Craft Traditions Of India Past, Present and Future Textbook in Heritage Crafts for Class XIIth. 2. Exploring the Craft Traditions of India XI and XII Class |
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Other Books | 1. Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania/ 2. Facets of Indian Culture – Spectrum/ 3. CCRT 4. The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Basham. |
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5. POLITY | |||
NCERT | 1. Indian Constitution At Work, Text Book In Political Science Class XI 2. Politics in India Since Independence, Text Book In Political Science Class XII |
1. Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – I, Textbook in Political Science for Class IX 2. Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – II, Textbook in Political Science for Class X 3. Democracy in India: Issues and challenges , A Textbook in Political Science for Class XII |
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Other Books | 1. Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth 2.Bare Act Of Indian Constitution(P.M Bakshi is Preferable)-for Reference |
1. Introduction to the Constitution of India – Durga Das Basu/ 2. Our Constitution by Subhash Kashyap 3. Our Parliament by Subhash Kashyap |
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6. GENERAL SCIENCE / SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | |||
NCERT | 1. Science, Textbook in Science Class VI 2. .Science, Textbook in Science Class VII 3. .Science, Textbook in Science Class VIII 4. Science Textbook in Science Class IX 5. Science Textbook in Science Class X 6. Chemistry,Textbook of Chemistry Class XI (Unit 14 only) 7. Biology, Textbook of Biology Class, XI(Unit 4 and 5 only) 8. Chemistry, Textbook in Chemistry Class XIIth (Unit 16 only) 9. Biology, Textbook in Biology Class XII(Unit 8,9 and 10 Only) |
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1Current Affairs-These days most of the questions on science and technology comes either from NCERT or from current development so, if you go through The Hindu (A Daily Newspaper) and other current developments in news he/she are able to cover questions on science technology. | |||
7. ENVIRONMENT | |||
NCERT | 1.Biology A textbook for Class XIIth {Last four Chapters (13 to 16)} | 1.The Earth Our Habitat, Textbook in Geography Class VI 2.Our Environment,Textbook in Geography Class VI |
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Other Books | 1.Environment by Shankar IAS Academy | 1.ICSE Board- Environmental studies- Class 9th,10th/ 2.Environment:IGNOU (Part I and Part II)/ 3.Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses – Erach Bharucha |
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8. International Institution, Organisation Reports, Indices | |||
There is no Standard Books available for International Institutions, You can cover it from Newspapers and by going through such institutional websites-This is the most authentic and trustful method to know about institution. | |||
9. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES | |||
Schemes can be read from PIB , Economic Survey and Budget | 1.India Year Book | ||
10. CURRENT AFFAIRS | |||
The Hindu Newspaper, Press Information Bureau Website, All India Radio News, Yojana magazine | The Indian Express Newspaper Articles. Rajya Sabha TV, India Year Book |