UPSC POrtal

1. History:
XIth and XIIth NCERT(Ancient,Medieval and Modem)
India's struggle for Freedom by Bipin Chanda
Geography- VIth to XIIth NCERT
Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
Polity
XIth and XIIth NCERT
Indian Polity by Laxmi Kant.
Bare Act (Govt. of India)
Economy
XIth NCERT (India's Economic Development)
XIIth NCERT (Macro Economics)
Evolution of Indian Economy - I.C. Dhingra.
Indian Economy - Mishra & Puri
General Science
VIII to X NCERT
General Mental Ability
R.S. Aggarwal. (General Aptitude)
Current Affairs
The Hindu Newspaper
All India Radio Station News
Magazines (Yojana & Civil Services Chronicle)

IASKRACKER
Which NCERT Textbooks to Refer for IAS Exam

NCERT textbooks are a very good source and introduction to topics in IAS prelims. Little
wonder then, many coaching classes and aspirants recommend NCERT textbooks to fresh
aspirants who are just starting their preparation. But the question I receive quite often is should
you refer All NCERT textbooks and for All subjects? The answer to both is No. You have to read
some NCERT text books for some subjects. For some NCERT text books are not required. So
you should read which NCERT text books for which topics, lets find out.
Note: This post focusses only on NCERT text books. For complete list of recommended books
for prelims, refer this post.
Indian Polity NCERT Textbooks:
No NCERT text book is required as Our Constitution by Subhash Kashyap is very good source
for polity. Easy to read and understand. But if you still prefer going through NCERTs first, read
NCERT textbooks on political science for classes XI and XII.
Indian History NCERT Textbooks:
For Indian History, please obtain the following old syllabus NCERT history text books,
published in 1990, if you can get them somehow. They are currently out of print but are highly
recommended.
Ancient India (class XI) authored by RS Sharma. This covers the ancient Indian history syllabus
completely.
Medieval India (class IX) for covering medieval India syllabus authored by Satish Chandra.
Modern India (class X) text book of old syllabus authored by Bipin Chandra.
Also combine Bipin Chandras Indias Struggle for Independence to cover the modern Indian
history syllabus completely.
UPDATE: If you cannot find old syllabus History NCERTs, click here to view their alternatives
by the same authors.
Geography NCERT Textbooks:
Four NCERT text books for classes XI and XII. Read them all.
Class XI: Fundamentals of Physical Geography and India Physical Environment
Class XII: Fundamentals of Human Geography and India People and Economy.
Indian Economy NCERT Textbooks:
Class XI: Indian Economic Development
Class XII: Introductory Microeconomics and Introductory Macroeconomics
Science NCERT Textbooks
Again I recommend TMH GS Manual as its Science section is quite extensive and covers the
syllabus adequately. But if you still prefer NCERTs, read textbooks for classes IX and X.

Civil Service India

1. Indian History - India Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra; NCERT Books ( XI & XII )
2. Geography - Spectrum
3. Indian Polity - Constitution of India by Bakshi
4. Indian Economy - Plus One, Plus Two Books, Pratiyogita Darpan
5. General Science - Tata Mc Graw Hill Guide
6. Mental Ability - Quantitative Apitude by R.S. Aggarwal
7. Current Affairs - Some magazines and Newspapers
i. The Hindu/The Times of India
ii. Frontline
iii. Civil Service Chronicle
iv. Chanakya
v. Competition WIZARD
vi. Civil Services Today
8. Guides
1. Tata Mc Graw Hill
2. Spectrum
3. Unique
Topic Wise Reference On General Studies
Books on Indian History & Culture:
NCERT (+ 2 level) Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India.
Publication Division : Gazetteer of India (Vol 2 : History & Culture)
Gandhi Nehru Tagore & Ambedkar Gopal Krishna
Bipin Chandra - Modern India
A.C.Banerjee - History of Modern India Raghavan Aiyer Mahatma Gandhi

Books on Geography:
NCERT : Physical Geography of India for X - XII Std
A Good School Atlas
Sharma & Cotinho : Economic and Commercial Geography of India.
Khullar : India- A Comprehnsive Geography
Charles Farro : General Principles of World Geography
Charles Farro : Monsoon Asia Reports published by Centre for Science and Enviornment And Tata
Energy Research Institute
National journal - Kurukshetra, Yojana etc.
Down to earth

Books on Indian Economy:
NCERT (+1 level)Evolution of Indian Economy(I C Dhingra).
Mishra & Puri or Dutt & Sundaram - Indian Economy
Economic Survey
The Economic Times,Business Standard
Yojana

Books on Social and National Issues :
Social Problem - Ram Ahuja
Social Welfare Magazine - Published by ministry of social welfare
Yojana/Kurukshetra
IIPa Journal

Books on Indian Polity:
NCERT (+1 level)Indian Political System
N.L. Madan : Bhartiya Rajya Vyavastha
D.D. BasuIndian Constitution
KashyapConstitution of India
Publication DivisionSubhash C. Kashyap : Our Parliament
P.M. BakshiIndian Constitution
Our Constitution : Subhash C. kashyap
Perspective on Constitution : S.C. Kashyap
Frontline Magazine
IIPa Journal

Books on Science & Technology:
NCERT : (10 level) : Science, (+2 level) : Biology.
Popular Science Series (CSIR)
Reports Of the Ministry of Science and Technology Yojana
Science Reporter
Science and Technology in India - Spectrum
Books on Statistics:
(NCERT +1 level) Elementary Statistics
S.C.Gupta : Statistical Methods


UPSC Guide

Paper I - General Studies
1. History (Indian History and Indian National Movement)
Essential:
NCERT books IX, X, XI, XII
Modern India by Bipin Chandra
Additional:
History of Modern India by A.C Banerjee
2. Geography (Indian and World Geography)
Essential:
NCERT books IX, X, XI, XII
General Principals of World Geography by Charles Farro
School Atlas
Additional:
Certificate Course in Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
3. Economics (Indian Economics and Economic Theory)
Essential:
An Evolution of Indian Economy by I.C. Dhingra
Economic Survey of India by Govt. of India
Economic Dictionary by Penguin
Additional:
Indian Economy by Dutta and Sundara
Indian Economy by Mishra and Puri
Economic Dictionary by Collins
4. Polity (Indian Constitution)
Essential:
An Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
Additional:
Our Constitution by Dr. Subhash Kashyap
5. General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Essential
NCERT books IX, X
Additional:
Anatomy & Physiology by Evelyn Pearce
6. Environment (Ecology, Bio-diversity, Climate Change)
Essential:
Biology and Geography NCERT Books plus current events on Environmental Issues
7. Current Affairs
Essential:
Hindu and Economic Times Newspapers
Frontline, Political & Economic Weeks Periodicals
Additional:
India Year book

Paper II Aptitude

1. Numeracy
Essential:
NCERT Mathematics VII, IX, X
2. Data Interpretation
Essential:
Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Tyra and Kundan
3. English Comprehension and Communication
Essential:
Objective General English by R.S. Agarwal
4. Logical Reasoning
Essential:
A Modern Approach to Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal


SOME CIVIL SERVICE EXAM BLOG
Best Books for Civil services examinations are:::

1. Indian History - India Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra; NCERT Books ( XI &
XII )

2. Geography - Spectrum

3. Indian Polity - Constitution of India by Bakshi

4. Indian Economy - Plus One, Plus Two Books, Pratiyogita Darpan

5. General Science - Tata Mc Graw Hill Guide

6. Mental Ability - Quantitative Apitude by R.S. Aggarwal

7. Current Affairs - Some magazines and Newspapers
i. The Hindu/The Times of India
ii. Frontline
iii. Civil Service Chronicle
iv. Chanakya
v. Competition WIZARD
vi. Civil Services Today

8. Guides
1. Tata Mc Graw Hill
2. Spectrum
3. Unique