Best Books for UPSC Preparation 2026: Complete Subject-Wise List
Choosing the right books is crucial for UPSC preparation. This comprehensive guide covers all standard books recommended by toppers and experts for each subject.
General Principles for Book Selection
Quality Over Quantity
- One book per subject is enough
- Multiple readings of one book > single reading of many books
- Focus on NCERT first, then standard books
Book Selection Criteria
- Comprehensive coverage of syllabus
- Clear and simple language
- Recommended by toppers and experts
- Updated with recent developments
- Good for revision
NCERT Books (Foundation - Mandatory)
NCERTs form the foundation of UPSC preparation. They are mandatory before moving to standard books.
History
- Class 6: Our Pasts (Part 1, 2, 3)
- Class 7: Our Pasts II
- Class 8: Our Pasts III (Part 1, 2)
- Class 9: India and the Contemporary World I
- Class 10: India and the Contemporary World II
- Class 11: Themes in World History
- Class 12: Themes in Indian History (Part 1, 2, 3)
Time Required: 15-20 days
Importance: Very High (forms base for Ancient, Medieval, Modern History)
Geography
- Class 6: The Earth: Our Habitat
- Class 7: Our Environment
- Class 8: Resources and Development
- Class 9: Contemporary India I
- Class 10: Contemporary India II
- Class 11: Fundamentals of Physical Geography
- Class 11: India - Physical Environment
- Class 12: Fundamentals of Human Geography
- Class 12: India - People and Economy
Time Required: 20-25 days
Importance: Very High (60% of geography comes from NCERT)
Polity
- Class 9: Democratic Politics I
- Class 10: Democratic Politics II
- Class 11: Indian Constitution at Work
- Class 11: Political Theory
Time Required: 10-15 days
Importance: High (basic concepts and functioning of democracy)
Economy
- Class 9: Economics
- Class 10: Understanding Economic Development
- Class 11: Indian Economic Development
- Class 12: Introductory Microeconomics
- Class 12: Introductory Macroeconomics
Time Required: 15-20 days
Importance: High (fundamental concepts and Indian economy basics)
Science
- Class 6-10: Science textbooks
- Focus on Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics
- Understanding of scientific principles
Time Required: 10 days
Importance: Medium (for Science & Technology questions)
Quick Reference: Books at a Glance
| Subject | Standard Book | Author | Pages | Readings Needed |
|---|
| Polity | Indian Polity | M. Laxmikanth | 600+ | 3-4 |
| Economy | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh | 550+ | 2-3 |
| Geography | Certificate Physical Geography | G.C. Leong | 400+ | 2 |
| Modern History | India's Struggle for Independence | Bipan Chandra | 600+ | 2-3 |
| Ancient/Medieval | Tamil Nadu Board Books | Tamil Nadu Govt | 300+ | 2 |
| Environment | Shankar IAS Environment | Shankar IAS | 400+ | 3 |
| Ethics | Lexicon for Ethics | Niraj Kumar | 300+ | 2 |
Subject-Wise Standard Books
1. Indian Polity & Governance
Primary Book
M. Laxmikanth - Indian Polity
- Pages: 600+
- Readings Required: 3-4 times
- Pros: Comprehensive, covers entire syllabus, simple language
- Cons: Lengthy, needs summarization
- Best For: Both Prelims and Mains
- Price: ₹600-800
How to Read:
- First reading: Complete book (30-40 days)
- Second reading: Make notes (20 days)
- Third reading: Revision with notes (10 days)
- Focus on constitutional articles, amendments, and bodies
Supplementary
Indian Constitution by D.D. Basu
- For in-depth understanding
- Reference book only
- Not for cover-to-cover reading
Subhash Kashyap - Our Constitution
- Simple explanation
- Good for beginners
- Alternative to Laxmikanth
2. Indian Economy
Primary Book
Ramesh Singh - Indian Economy
- Pages: 900+
- Readings Required: 3 times
- Pros: Comprehensive, analytical, covers all topics
- Cons: Very lengthy, conceptual
- Best For: Both Prelims and Mains
- Price: ₹700-900
How to Read:
- Focus on Part B (Indian Economy)
- Skip or skim Part A (basic economics) if you've read NCERT Class 11-12
- Make formula/concept sheets
- Practice numerical questions
Supplementary
Sriram IAS Economy (Notes)
- Concise and focused
- Good for quick revision
- Supplement to Ramesh Singh
Economic Survey (Government Publication)
- Mandatory: Latest year's survey
- Focus on: Key highlights, sectoral analysis, government schemes
- Read summary chapters
- Time Required: 3-4 days
Union Budget Documents
- Budget speech (mandatory)
- Budget at a glance
- Key highlights and allocations
3. History
Ancient & Medieval History
NCERT Class 6-12 (Primary Source)
- Cover 90% of Ancient & Medieval history
- Make timeline charts
- Focus on art, culture, architecture
R.S. Sharma - India's Ancient Past (Optional)
- For deeper understanding
- Not necessary if NCERT is done well
Satish Chandra - History of Medieval India (Optional)
- Comprehensive but lengthy
- Better to stick with NCERT
Modern History
Spectrum - A Brief History of Modern India
- Pages: 400
- Readings Required: 3 times
- Pros: Covers entire syllabus, concise, easy language
- Cons: Lacks depth for mains
- Best For: Prelims (excellent), Mains (needs supplement)
- Price: ₹400-500
How to Read:
- Focus on 1857 Revolt onwards
- Remember personalities and their contributions
- Link with art, culture, and current polity
Bipin Chandra - India's Struggle for Independence
- Detailed and analytical
- Good for Mains
- Too detailed for Prelims
Art & Culture
NCERT Class 11 - An Introduction to Indian Art (Fine Arts)
- Comprehensive coverage
- Focus on architecture, paintings, sculpture
Nitin Singhania - Indian Art & Culture
- Covers entire syllabus
- Good for both Prelims and Mains
- Easy to understand
CCRT Website
- For recent cultural events
- Folk arts, dances, music
4. Geography
Physical Geography
G.C. Leong - Certificate Physical and Human Geography
- Pages: 500
- Readings Required: 2-3 times
- Pros: Comprehensive, diagrams, conceptual clarity
- Cons: Some portions not relevant for UPSC
- Best For: Understanding concepts (Prelims & Mains)
- Price: ₹500-600
How to Read:
- Focus on relevant chapters only
- Make diagrams and flowcharts
- Understand cause-effect relationships
Indian Geography
NCERT Class 11-12 (Primary and Sufficient)
- Cover 80% of Indian Geography
- Focus on maps, resources, agriculture
- Drainage system, climate, monsoons
Orient Blackswan - Geography of India
- Comprehensive and detailed
- Good reference book
- Not for cover-to-cover reading
World Geography
NCERT Class 11-12 (Sufficient)
- Focus on continents, countries, important geographical features
- Climate zones and their characteristics
Atlas
Oxford Student Atlas
- Mandatory for map practice
- Practice 15 minutes daily
- Mark important locations
5. Environment & Ecology
Shankar IAS Environment
- Pages: 300
- Readings Required: 2-3 times
- Pros: Covers entire syllabus, current, concise
- Cons: Needs updating with current issues
- Best For: Both Prelims and Mains
- Price: ₹400-500
How to Read:
- Cover ecology basics thoroughly
- Focus on biodiversity, conservation
- International conventions (very important)
- Link with current affairs
NIOS Study Material on Environment
- Available free online
- Good supplement to Shankar IAS
- More detailed explanations
6. Science & Technology
No specific book required
Sources:
- NCERT Class 6-10: For basic science concepts
- The Hindu Science & Technology section
- PIB (Press Information Bureau): For government S&T initiatives
- ISRO, DRDO websites: For space and defense technology
- Vigyan Prasar website: For scientific developments
Focus Areas:
- Recent space missions (Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, Aditya-L1)
- Defense technology (indigenous projects)
- Biotechnology developments
- IT and emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, quantum computing)
7. Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (GS Paper 4)
Lexicon for Ethics by Niraj Kumar
- Covers entire syllabus
- Case studies included
- Good for both theory and practice
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude by G. Subba Rao & P.N. Roy Chowdhury
- Comprehensive coverage
- Thinkers and their philosophies
- Model answers
2nd ARC Reports (Selected Chapters)
- Ethics in Governance
- Focus on Probity and Public Service Values
8. Internal Security
No single book covers entire syllabus
Sources:
- Newspapers: Daily reading mandatory
- Ashok Kumar - Internal Security
- Focus on: Terrorism, Naxalism, Border management, Cyber security
- Link with current affairs
9. International Relations
No single comprehensive book
Sources:
- Newspapers: Editorials and international news
- Puja Mondal - International Relations (Online)
- India Year Book: Chapter on International Relations
- Focus on: India's bilateral relations, international organizations, treaties
Books for Prelims CSAT (Paper 2)
NCERT Class 8-10 Mathematics
- For basic concepts
- Sufficient for most questions
Arun Sharma - Quantitative Aptitude
- For speed and accuracy
- Practice question sets
M.K. Pandey - Analytical Reasoning
- For logical reasoning questions
- Practice is key
Previous Year CSAT Papers
- Most important resource
- Identify patterns and types
Books for Mains (GS Papers)
Most standard books serve both Prelims and Mains. Additional requirements:
Value Addition
- Yojana Magazine (Government publication)
- Kurukshetra Magazine (for rural issues)
- Economic & Political Weekly (selected articles)
- Vision IAS/Insights Mains 365 (for current affairs integration)
Books for Optional Subjects
Popular Optionals
Public Administration
- Prasad & Prasad
- Mohit Bhattacharya
- Rumki Basu
Sociology
- IGNOU Study Material (BA Sociology)
- Haralambos & Holborn - Sociology: Themes and Perspectives
Geography (Optional)
- G.C. Leong (Physical Geography)
- Majid Husain (Indian Geography)
- Savindra Singh (Physical Geography)
Psychology
- Baron - Social Psychology
- Ciccarelli - Psychology
Political Science & International Relations (PSIR)
- Andrew Heywood - Politics
- Political Theory by O.P. Gauba
- International Relations by Pushpesh Pant
Reading Schedule
Month 1: NCERTs
- 15 days for History NCERTs
- 20 days for Geography NCERTs
- 10 days for Polity NCERTs
- 15 days for Economy NCERTs
Month 2-3: Standard Books (First Reading)
- Laxmikanth (30 days)
- Ramesh Singh (30 days, parallel with newspapers)
- Spectrum (20 days)
- Geography books (20 days)
Month 4: Environment, Science, Supplementary
- Shankar Environment (10 days)
- Art & Culture (15 days)
- Science & Tech notes compilation
Month 5-6: Revision + Practice
- Second reading of all books
- PYQ practice
- Test series
Important Guidelines
Don't Make These Mistakes
- Reading too many books - Stick to standard books
- Not revising - Each book needs 3+ revisions
- Ignoring NCERTs - They are the foundation
- Buying all books at once - Buy as you need them
- Only reading, not practicing - Solve PYQs parallelly
Smart Reading Tips
- Make notes while reading first time
- Use sticky notes for important pages
- Highlight sparingly - only key points
- Summarize each chapter in your own words
- Link with current affairs while reading
Book Budget
Essential Books (₹5,000-7,000)
- NCERTs (can be read online free)
- Laxmikanth - ₹800
- Ramesh Singh - ₹900
- Spectrum - ₹500
- G.C. Leong - ₹600
- Shankar Environment - ₹500
- Art & Culture - ₹600
- Atlas - ₹400
- Newspapers (1 year) - ₹2,500
Optional Books (₹2,000-3,000)
- Economy supplementary - ₹800
- History supplementary - ₹1,000
- Current affairs magazines - ₹1,200
Digital Resources
Free Resources
- NCERTs (NCERT website)
- Previous Year Papers (UPSC website)
- Economic Survey PDF (Government website)
- Union Budget documents
- India Year Book (PDF)
- Our platform offers complete notes and current affairs
- Test series platforms (Vision IAS, Insights, Forum IAS)
- Current affairs apps
Conclusion
Remember:
- Books are tools, not goals
- One book read 5 times > 5 books read once
- NCERTs are non-negotiable
- Standard books + Newspapers + Test Series = Success Formula
Start your preparation with the right books and our comprehensive study materials!
Download our complete UPSC Books PDF Guide for quick reference.
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