UPSC Books: Top 10 Best Books For IAS Preparation

Recommended Books for IAS by toppers for UPSC Prelims Preparation

Note: Books for UPSC beginners are NCRT's Class 6th to Class 12th after that you can read books given in this article.

1. Indian Polity - For Civil Services and Other State Examinations

The book "Indian Polity", 6th edition is a must-read for the aspirants appearing for the Civil Services Examinations as well as the other state Services Examinations. It is conceived to cater to the requirements of not just students appearing for competitive examinations but also postgraduates, research scholars, academics, and general readers who are interested in the country's political, civil, and constitutional issues. The extant chapters have been thoroughly revised and updated as per the recent developments.

Salient features:

• 80 chapters and 16 appendices covering the entire Indian political and constitutional spectrum

• Chapters rearranged as per the latest pattern of the examination

• Coverage on the recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, constitutional interpretation, judicial review, and judicial activism

• Updated previous years’ questions and revised practice questions for both Preliminary and Mains Examinations

• A one-stop reference for the Civil Services aspirants, students of law, political science and public Administration

6 New chapters:

• Goods and Services Tax Council

• National Commission for backward classes

• National investigation agency

• National Disaster Management

• Role of regional parties

• Coalition government

2. Important Judgments that Transformed India: For UPSC Civil Services Examination

The book “Important Judgments that Transformed India” presents an easy understanding of the landmark Court cases that everyone needs to know about. The way democracy now functions in India, owe a lot to many of these Supreme Court judgments. It is quite interesting to learn how the Supreme Court judgments protected the essence of the Indian Constitution, strengthened democracy, and transformed the lives of ordinary citizens of India.
This book effectively caters to the requirements of many competitive examinations, particularly the UPSC Civil Services Examination (Prelims, Mains, and Interview). It is equally valuable to all academics, legal students, and general readers who are interested in Indian Polity and Constitution.

Salient features:

• Designed specifically to cater to the needs of Civil Services – Prelims and Mains and other state examinations.

• Analysis of the importance of 30 landmark Supreme Court judgments.

• Compilation of 90+ Supreme Court judgments with respect to the main area of conflict.

• Each Chapter divided into- introduction, background, arguments, judgments, importance, and impact.

• The complicated legal context behind Supreme Court cases made simple and easy to understand.

• The book can prove to be an asset not only for the aspirants of Union and State Civil Services but also for academicians, researchers, lawyers, authors, and all readers with an abiding passion for the domain in general.

3. Indian Art and Culture for Civil Services and other Competitive Examination

McGraw-Hill is proud to present third edition of their bestseller “Indian art and Culture” by Nitin Singhania, third edition. This book offers comprehensive and latest information covering the broad field of knowledge on Indian art, paintings, music and architecture for the aspirants of Civil Services Preliminary and Main Examinations.

Apart from two new chapters and one appendix, the chapters have been enriched with details to make it more focused and comprehensive. There are questions at the end of each chapter which will help students prepare for the examinations.

Salient features:

• All new four-color edition

• Comprehensive 4 sections: Visual arts, Performing arts, Culture of India and Appendices 

• New chapters on Buddhism and Jainism & India through the eyes of foreign travelers 

• New appendix on Current affairs related to Indian Art and Culture

• Videos related to the chapters available through QR codes 

• Keywords in every chapter highlighted in color

• Updated Previous Year Questions and Answers of UPSC Preliminary and Main Examination

4. Challenges to Internal Security of India

A thoroughly revised and updated edition of 'Challenges to Internal Security of India' aims to provide broad perspectives on the issues and challenges regarding the topic 'internal security and disaster management'. It is written in a comprehensive and lucid manner meant for complete coverage of the Third General Studies Paper of the UPSC examination. Each topic under the syllabus has been covered in its twelve chapters to serve as a complete theoretical guide. This new edition comes with three annexures for a thorough understanding of government policies regarding internal security and challenges.

Salient features:

• Updates on issues regarding recent terrorist attacks.
• Revised edition with comprehensive details on disaster Management.
• Detailed Analysis of the Kashmir problem.
• Completely updated with the latest issues and developments faced by Indian security agencies and the armed forces.
• Detailed Analysis of the rise of the Islamic state.
• Examines the roles of 'external state' And 'non-state' Actors in aiding and abetting terrorism.
• Comprehensive text on the rise and spread of Naxalism.
• Inclusion of more practice questions at the end of each Chapter.
• Includes flowcharts and maps.

5. Environment By Shankar 7th Revised Edition 2019-2020 Session

To help students in acquiring the essentials of the topic 'environment’ during preparation for the Civil Services Examination, Shankar IAS Academy has brought the book, 'environment’.

This book follows the paper pattern and syllabus given by Union Public Service Commission which conducts these examinations.

The language of the book is simple and the content is engaging which ensures students face no trouble during studying. Plus the distinctive designing makes it easy to navigate and read.

This bestseller book has sold over 30, 000 copies and is widely read by students.

A team of highly experienced writers from Shankar IAS Academy has written this book and hence it is accurate and reliable.

The updated syllabus of UPSC focuses a lot on the environment. The geography Paper of the Civil Service Examination includes topics on the environment and hence it is important for students to have a thorough understanding of this topic. This book is completely dedicated to the environment and covers all concepts and points. It focuses on topics like environmental ecology, biodiversity, and Climate change. Some of the topics discussed in the book include ecological pyramid and nutrient cycling, ecosystem rainforest, deciduous monsoon forest, Biome, breadbasket region, food chain, primary consumer, food web, ecological pyramid, ecological explosion, ecotone, chemosynthesis, biogeochemical cycle, Miss semple, possibilism, br>stratosphere, biosphere, species types, nutritional eutrophication, acid rain, marble cancer, soil types, biogeographical realm, xerophytic, Nitrogen cycle, greenhouse gas, biodiversity hotspots, Ozone depletion, the club of Rome, planktonic, biological magnification, young lakes, good Ozone, and biodiversity loss.

Along with clear explanations the book gives adequate practice for students so that they can test their knowledge and check their understandings.

Shankar IAS Academy began its journey in the year 2004.

6. Indian Society For Civil Services Main Examination GS Paper 1 Second Edition

Any candidate aspiring for Civil Services should essentially have a good understanding of diverse social issues the Indian society is currently facing. It has been observed that multiple questions pertaining to the Indian Society and its related issues are regularly asked in Main’s - General Studies (GS) Paper-I and in the Essay paper too. Besides, candidates are also required to be well-versed with these issues in the personality test (interview) as well. The second edition has been completely revamped to provide a comprehensive and concise understanding of Indian society. The updated chapters provide in-depth insight into the various social issues, the reasons for their existence, their impact on different segments of society, and actions are taken or planned to eliminate the social constraints at the larger level and achieve the vision of social equity and social justice in India. The book aims to not only equip an aspirant with all the relevant information required for scoring high marks in the exam but also help the future policy-makers to have a better understanding of what Indian society needs.

Features:

• Provides complete coverage of all the enlisted topics as per the syllabus

• Includes most discussed topics in an exam like – Role of women and social empowerment, poverty, population, and allied issues

• Presents latest Government plans and policies as appendices

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: Salient Features of Indian Society
Chapter 2: Role of Women and Women’s Organization
Chapter 3: Population and Associated Issues
Chapter 4: Poverty and Developmental Issues
Chapter 5: Urbanization, Their Problems, and Their Remedies
Chapter 6: Effects of Globalization on Indian Society
Chapter 7: Communalism
Chapter 8: Regionalism
Chapter 9: Secularism
Chapter 10: Social Empowerment

7. International Relations for General Studies Preliminary and Main Examination

International Relations for General Studies Preliminary and Main Examination is a thought-provoking textbook that comprehensively covers every aspect of India's foreign policy in an analytical manner. The book interrogates the simplistic yet powerful geopolitical narratives on India's foreign relations with the entire world. Written by a leading instructor of International Relations, it is engaging, stimulating, and forward-looking, and covers all the aspects that the students require to qualify the Civil Services examination. Based on extensive field interviews of serving diplomats and serving intelligence officials, this book is the first of its kind.

Salient Features:

• Entire syllabus coverage for General Studies UPSC and State Services (both Prelims and Mains)
• Analytical insights on India’s foreign policy
• The book follows a three-step methodology for cognition building:
• Each region’s relationship with India begins with a study of India’s historical foreign relations with the region.
• The episteme is now used to explore the study of India's bilateral diplomatic relations with states in the regions.
• The enlightenment is concluded with an analysis of dominant current macro issues confronting the region.
• Includes 400+ diagrams and 100+ case studies to enhance the overall learning
• Every chapter begins with an analytical survey of the diplomatic background and covers diplomatic relations up to present times.
• Only textbook for UPSC preparation dealing with answer forming methodology by means of directive words.
• Prelims Capsule at the end of the book to enable the readers to quickly revise before the exams.
• One of the only textbooks for UPSC preparation that offers the readers an opportunity to get their answers evaluated by the author for analytical feedback.

8. Indian Economy for Civil Services, Universities, and Other Examinations 11th edition

Indian Economy, 11th edition is a comprehensive and contemporary book written by Ramesh Singh on the subject with detailed coverage of all topics prescribed by the UPSC. This book has proved to be of immense importance to the aspirants of UPSC and various State Civil Service Examinations, students at universities, academics, and those with an abiding passion for the subject.

Salient Features:

• Revised and Revamped with India 2019, Interim Union Budget 2019-20, documents and reports of Niti Aayog and India Development report 2017

• Burning Socio-Economic Issues have been revised with contemporary inputs

• Financial sector fully revamped as per the recent official changes

• Many sections have been revised with updates and recent changes in Taxation and Budgeting, Climate & Sustainability, Human Development, Agriculture, Industry and Services

• MCQs (Preliminary exam) and Model Answers (Main exam) have been revised and updated

• Glossary part has been fully revised and updated

9. Ancient and Medieval India

Ancient and Medieval India shall be meant for candidates from the state of Union Civil Services as well as various state public service examinations. The book covers the complete syllabus of ancient and medieval history for the Main exam union civil service and has material that is immensely helpful for the Prelims as well.

The Ebook of Ancient and Medieval India is designed to be a useful resource for the UPSC and State PSC aspirants. This ebook can be accessed in the student’s mobile phone, tab, or other portable devices whether Android or Windows. The book has been made to have four color versions of the images in the book to give a more attractive and authentic historic feel to the reader. The ebook also highlights ‘learning objectives’ for the reader to make it easier for the learner to notice and memorize important facts and figures. Its easily navigable TOC and reference footnotes make it handy and more efficient for readers.

10. History of Modern India

History of Modern India is one of the famous books of Bipin Chandra. This book was published by Orient Blackswan in 2009. This book is a journey mapping the path of colonial India from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century. It traces the timeline of British rule which majorly coincides with modern Indian history. However, this is not a political narrative of the British rule, the freedom struggle, and Independence. Rather, this book is a social understanding of the factors that allowed British rulers to rule over India for such a long span of time. It tries to understand what the social effects of the rule were. How the small villages and corners of India were affected by a power that was controlled from Europe. What did this rule bring for the Indians to make their lives better? How did the colonized people perceived, behaved, and reacted to the foreign rule? These are some of the questions famous Historian and Former JNU faculty, Late Bipin Chandra has tried to answer through his own understanding of the matter combined with oral and written references.

This book is a product of Chandra's own research on nationalism and colonialism in India. So here you will not only find all that had happened politically, but also socio-economic aspects like what did the general people understood and did about this rule? He uses an innovative chronology; he deals with causes as well as the effects of this reign over India. While you read the book, the nationalist movement certainly becomes the main storyline, but the anecdotes and parallel stories of what was going through the lives that just wanted to get by each day without any trouble are interesting. You can easily understand what and how the social hidden narratives went during that time. This is not the only accurate description of Modern Indian history, but this is much closer to the everyday reality of those who lived between 1700s-1947 in India. This book is a recommended read for the students who are preparing for civil services with "history" as an optional paper. It is also recommended for other History enthusiasts and academies.

All above UPSC books in Hindi available !!!