Best Books for UPSC Preparation

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Decoding the Best Books for UPSC Preparation A
Comprehensive Guide
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or-upsc-preparation-a-comprehensive-guide
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one
of the toughest and most competitive exams in
the country. It consists of three stages
Prelims, Mains, and Interview. To crack this
exam, candidates need to have a thorough
knowledge of various subjects and a good writing
and communication skill. One of the most
important aspects of UPSC preparation is
selecting the right books for each stage and
subject. There are hundreds of books available in
the market and online platforms, but not all of
them are suitable or relevant for the CSE.
Choosing the wrong books can lead to wastage of
time, money, and effort. In this article, we will
provide you with a comprehensive list of the best
books for UPSC preparation for each stage and
subject. We will also give you some tips on how
to utilize these books effectively and
supplement them with online resources and mock
tests. Best Books for UPSC Prelims The Prelims
stage tests the candidates basic knowledge and
understanding of various subjects such as
history, geography, polity, economy, science,
environment, and current affairs. The questions
are mostly factual or conceptual in nature and
require a good memory and accuracy. Some of the
best books for Prelims are
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History Indias Struggle for Independence by
Bipan Chandra, Indian Art and Culture by Nitin
Singhania, NCERT Class XI (Ancient Medieval),
NCERT Class XII (Modern Indian
History) Geography Certificate Physical And
Human Geography by G C Leong, NCERT Class VI X
(Old Syllabus), NCERT Class XI, XII (New
Syllabus), World Atlas (Orient Black
Swan) Polity Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth,
NCERT Class IX-XII Economy Indian Economy by
Nitin Singhania, Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh,
Indian Economy Key Concepts by Sankarganesh
Karuppiah Science Science and Technology by Ravi
P. Agrahari Environment Environment by Shankar
IAS, Environment by PMF IAS Current Affairs
India 2022 Yearbook by Rajiv Mehrishi, The
Malayala Manorama English Yearbook 2022 by
Mammen Mathew, India 2022 by Publications
Division Best Books for UPSC Mains The Mains
stage tests the candidates advanced knowledge
and understanding of various subjects such as
history, geography, polity, economy, society,
ethics, international relations, optional
subject, and essay writing. The questions are
mostly analytical or opinion-based and require a
good writing skill, critical thinking, and
expression. Some of the best books for Mains
are General Studies Paper 1 Indian Heritage and
Culture by Nitin Singhania, The Wonder That Was
India by A.L. Basham, A Brief History of Modern
India by Rajiv Ahir, World History by Norman
Lowe, Social Problems in India by Ram
Ahuja General Studies Paper 2 Indian Polity by M
Laxmikanth, Governance in India by M Laxmikanth,
Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D.
Basu, Social Justice Indian Perspective by R.P.
Singh, Pax Indica by Shashi Tharoor General
Studies Paper 3 Science and Technology by Ravi
P. Agrahari, Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania,
Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Indian Economy
Key Concepts by Sankarganesh Karuppiah,
Environment by Shankar IAS, Environment by PMF
IAS, Challenges to Internal Security of India by
Ashok Kumar and Vipul, Disaster Management by
NIDM General Studies Paper 4 Ethics, Integrity
and Aptitude by G Subba Rao and P N Roy
Chowdhury, Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and
Aptitude by Niraj Kumar
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Optional Subject Candidates can choose one
optional subject from a list of 26 subjects
given by UPSC. Some of the popular optional
subjects and their best books are Sociology
Sociology Themes and Perspectives by Haralambos
and Holborn, Indian Society by SC Dubey, Social
Change in Modern India by M.N. Srinivas
Geography Certificate Physical And Human
Geography by G C Leong, NCERT Class XI
(Fundamentals of Physical Geography), NCERT Class
XII (India People and Economy), Models in
Geography by Majid Husain, Geographical Thought
by Majid Husain History Indias Struggle for
Independence by Bipan Chandra, Indian Art and
Culture by Nitin Singhania, NCERT Class XI
(Ancient Medieval), NCERT Class XII (Modern
Indian History), Post-Independence India For
Civil Services Examinations by Sonali Bansal and
Snehil Tripathi Public Administration Public
Administration by M Laxmikanth, New Horizons of
Public Administration by Mohit Bhattacharya,
Indian Administration by Ramesh K Arora and Rajni
Goyal Essay Paper Candidates need to write two
essays of 1000-1200 words each on any one topic
from each section. Some of the best books for
essay paper are Fundamentals of Essay and Answer
Writing by Anudeep Durishetty Mastering Essay and
Answer Writing by Awdesh Singh Read How to
Start UPSC Preparation from Scratch in 2023 A
Complete Guide for Beginners Best Books for
UPSC Interview The Interview stage tests the
candidates personality and suitability for a
career in civil services. The interview is
conducted by a board of experts appointed by
UPSC. The interview aims to assess the
candidates mental caliber, personality traits,
leadership skills, social awareness, moral
integrity, etc. Some of the tips on how to
improve ones communication skills, body
language, and knowledge on current affairs
are Communication Skills How to Win Friends and
Influence People by Dale Carnegie, The Art of
Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie Body Language
The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and
Barbara Pease, What Every Body is Saying by Joe
Navarro Knowledge on Current Affairs The Hindu
Newspaper, Yojana Magazine, India Year
Book How to Utilize These Books Effectively
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Reading these books is not enough to prepare well
for the UPSC exam. Candidates need to utilize
these books effectively by following some
strategies such as Reading with a purpose
Candidates should read these books according to
the syllabus, the exam pattern, the previous
year papers, the mock tests, etc. Reading with
understanding Candidates should read these books
with an understanding and comprehension of the
concepts, facts, figures, arguments, etc.
Reading with revision Candidates should read
these books with a regular and systematic
revision of the key points, important terms,
definitions, concepts, theories, models,
formulas, diagrams, graphs, etc. Online
Resources and Mock Tests Reading these books is
not sufficient to prepare well for the UPSC exam.
Candidates need to supplement these books with
online resources and mock tests by following some
benefits such as Online Resources Online
resources are the sources of information that are
available on the internet or digital platforms.
They provide updated and relevant information on
various subjects and topics that are related to
the UPSC syllabus and exam pattern. They also
provide interactive and engaging content that
enhance the learning experience and outcome.
Some of the online resources that candidates can
use are BYJUS Free IAS Prep, ClearIAS, UPSC
Pathshala Mock Tests Mock tests are the
simulated tests that are designed to mimic the
actual UPSC exam in terms of syllabus, pattern,
difficulty level, time limit, etc. They provide
an opportunity to practice and evaluate ones
preparation level, performance, strengths,
weaknesses, etc. They also provide feedback and
analysis on ones answers, scores, ranks, etc.
Some of the benefits of mock tests are They help
in improving ones speed, accuracy, time
management, etc. They help in identifying ones
gaps, errors, mistakes, etc. They help in
enhancing ones confidence, motivation, etc.
They help in developing ones strategy,
technique, etc. Read How to Become DFO in
Forest Department A Complete Guide for Aspiring
Candidates Conclusion In this article, we have
provided you with a comprehensive list of the
best books for UPSC preparation for each stage
and subject. We have also given you some tips on
how to utilize these books effectively and
supplement them with online resources and mock
tests. By following this article, you will be
able to prepare for the UPSC exam in a
systematic and efficient manner. We hope that
this article will help you in your UPSC journey
and wish you all the best for your success.