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Preparing for the IAS exam requires not just determination but also the right set of resources. Recommended books for IAS by toppers for Prelims include NCERT History books, Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Certificate Physical Geography by G.C. Leong, and Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth. For CSAT, resources like the Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual and Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal are invaluable.
For the Mains exam, aspirants must go deeper into subjects covered in the General Studies (GS) papers. Important books include Ancient India by R.S. Sharma, Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania, Geography of India by Majid Husain, and Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu.
Read this blog to learn more about the books recommended by IAS toppers for both the Prelims and Mains exams, which can guide you toward achieving success in this highly competitive UPSC exam.
Table of Contents
Recommended Books for IAS by Toppers: UPSC Prelims
The IAS Prelims exam is the first stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, consisting of two papers: General Studies (Paper I) and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (Paper II). Paper I assesses general knowledge across subjects like Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs, while Paper II tests candidates’ aptitude, including reasoning, quantitative skills, and comprehension. Though Paper II is qualifying, Paper I plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for the Mains exam. With its vast syllabus, Prelims preparation requires focused study, regular practice through mock tests, and staying updated with current affairs. Efficient time management and strategic revision are essential to succeed in this competitive exam.
Here are the best-recommended books for IAS by toppers for UPSC Prelims:
| Prelims Subject | UPSC Books List | Author Name |
| Indian Polity books for IAS | Indian Polity | M Laxmikanth |
| NCERT Political Science | Class IX-XII – NCERT | |
| Economic Development & Policies in India | Jain & Ohri | |
| Geography books for IAS | Certificate Physical Geography | G C Leong |
| NCERT XI, XII New Syllabus | NCERT | |
| NCERT VI-X Old Syllabus | NCERT | |
| World Atlas | Orient Black Swan | |
| History books for IAS | India’s Struggle for Independence | Bipan Chandra |
| Indian Art & Culture | Nitin Singhania | |
| Ancient and Medieval | NCERT 11th | |
| Modern Indian History | NCERT 12th | |
| International Relations books for IAS | Contemporary World Politics | NCERT XII |
| Current Affairs on Global News and World Politics | By Vinay Kumar Malhotra | |
| Economics books for IAS | Indian Economy | By Nitin Singhania |
| Solved Papers for IAS | IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers | By Vishal Publications |
| CSAT books for IAS | Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | By R S Aggarwal |
| Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual | By Tata McGraw Hill |
Also Read: UPSC Prelims Exam Centres
Recommended Books for IAS by Toppers: UPSC Mains
Candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 and 2025 can benefit from following the detailed book recommendations for General Studies, which are essential for the Mains stage of the exam. Below is a curated list of the best General Studies books that will help candidates build a strong foundation across all key subjects:
| Mains Subject | UPSC Mains Books | Author Name |
| GS Paper 1- GeographyBooks for IAS Mains Exam | NCERT- Fundamentals of Physical Geography Class 11 | NCERT |
| World Atlas | Orient Black Swan | |
| Majid Hussain’s Geography of India | Majid Hussain | |
| Majid Hussain’s World Geography | Majid Hussain | |
| GC Leong’s Certificate in Physical and Human Geography | GC Leong’s | |
| GS Paper 1- History, Indian Heritage & Culture Books for IAS Mains Exam | Bipin Chandra’s India’s Struggle for Independence by | Bipin Chandra |
| Bipin Chandra’s India After Independence | Bipin Chandra | |
| RS Sharma’s Ancient India | RS Sharma | |
| Nitin Singhania’s Indian Art and Culture | Nitin Singhania | |
| Satish Chandra’s History of Medieval India | Satish Chandra | |
| GS Paper 2- Polity & International Relations Books for IAS Mains Exam | Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity | M Laxmikanth |
| DD Basu’s Introduction to the Constitution of India | DD Basu | |
| Rupesh Pant’s International Relations | Rupesh Pant | |
| GS Paper 3- EconomyBooks for IAS Mains Exam | Environment and Disaster Management by Tata McGraw Hill | Tata McGraw Hill |
| Ashok Kumar’s Challenges to Internal Security of India | Ashok Kumar | |
| Nitin Singhania’s Indian Economy | Nitin Singhania | |
| GS Paper 4- EthicsBooks for IAS Mains Exam | PN Roy Chaudhary and Subba Rao’s Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination | PN Roy Chaudhary and Subba Rao |
| Solved Papers for IAS Mains Exam | IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers by Vishal Publications | Vishal Publications |
Recommended Books for IAS by Toppers: UPSC Optional Subjects
Here is a list of highly recommended books for popular optional subjects, based on suggestions by toppers:
| Subjects | Book List | Author Name/Publication |
| Agriculture books for UPSC Optional | DK Das’s Soil Science | DK Das |
| Yellamananda Reddy’s Agronomy | Yellamananda Reddy | |
| BD Singh’s Genetics | BD Singh | |
| Vasanth Raj’s and David’s Entomology | Vasanth Raj and David | |
| Special Issue of Agriculture by The Hindu | The Hindu | |
| Anthropology books for UPSC Optional | N. Hasnain’s Tribal India | N. Hasnain |
| Surender Nath’s Forensic Anthropology | Surender Nath | |
| Herskovits’s Cultural Anthropology | Herskovits | |
| Stein & Rowe’s An Introduction to Physical Anthropology | Stein & Rowe | |
| Botany books for UPSC Optional | Nair and Datta’s Taxonomy | Nair and Datta |
| Kochar’s Economic Botany | Kochar | |
| Salisbury and Ross or Fritz and Noggle’s Physiology and Biochemistry | Salisbury and Ross or Fritz and Noggle | |
| Bhojwani and Bhatnagar’s Embryology | Bhojwani and Bhatnagar | |
| Chemistry books for UPSC Optional | G.S. Manku’s Theoretical Principles of Inorganic Chemistry | G.S. Manku |
| Gurdeep Raj’s Advanced Physical Chemistry | Gurdeep Raj | |
| Puri, Sharma, Jauhar’s Extraction of metals, Principle of Inorganic Chemistry | Puri, Sharma, Jauhar | |
| Peter Sykes’s A Guide to Mechanism in Organic Chemistry | Peter Sykes | |
| Economics books for UPSC Optional | Bo Soderston’s International Economics | Bo Soderston |
| Bo Soderston’s International Trade | Bo Soderston | |
| Bakerman’s National Income Accounting | Bakerman | |
| SB Gupta’s Banking | SB Gupta | |
| History books for UPSC Optional | Bipin Chandra’s or Shekhar Bandopadhyaya’s History of Modern India | Bipin Chandra or Shekhar Bandopadhyaya |
| AL Basham’s The Wonder That Was India | AL Basham | |
| RS Sharma’s India’s Ancient Past | RS Sharma | |
| Bipan Chandra’s India’s Struggle For Independence | Bipan Chandra | |
| Romila Thapar’s Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas | Romila Thapar Ashoka | |
| Management books for UPSC Optional | For Finance topics: Khan/Chandra/Pandey & Jain/Bearley | Khan/Chandra/Pandey & Jain/Bearley |
| For Economy topics | Any | |
| For Operations: Taha or Adams | Taha or Adams | |
| For Organisational Design: Madhukar Shukla or Khandwala | Madhukar Shukla or Khandwala | |
| Mathematics books for UPSC Optional | NP Bali’s Ordinary Differential EQs | NP Bali |
| Shanti Narayan, Royden’s Real Analysis | Shanti Narayan, Royden | |
| SD Sharma’s Linear Programming | SD Sharma | |
| Kazmioo’s Solid Mechanism | Kazmioo | |
| Electrical Engineering books for UPSC Optional | Arora & Kundwar’s Heat Conversion | Arora & Kundwar |
| Ogata’s Modern Central Engineering | Ogata | |
| T P Kanetakar’s Surveying and Levelling | T P Kanetakar | |
| RN Singh’s Electromagnetic Waives and Field | RN Singh | |
| Urdu books for UPSC Optional | Suenbul Nigar’s Urdu Shairi ka Tauqidi Mutala | Suenbul Nigar |
| Noorul Hasan Naqvi’s Urdu Adab Ki Tarikh | Noorul Hasan Naqvi | |
| Psychology books for UPSC Optional | Shaw’s The Psychology of Small Groups | Shaw |
| Baron and Byrne’s Social Psychology | Baron and Byrne | |
| A Baron’s Psychology Robert | A Baron |
Also Read: UPSC Mains Cut Off Last 5 Years
Significance of Quality IAS Exam Study Materials
The significance of quality IAS exam study materials cannot be overstated in the preparation journey for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). With its vast and intricate syllabus, the UPSC exam demands not only hard work but also the right guidance and resources to effectively cover the required topics. Here are a few reasons why quality study materials are essential for success:
- Comprehensive Coverage:
Quality study materials ensure that all aspects of the syllabus are covered in a systematic and structured manner. Given the expansive nature of the UPSC syllabus, relying on well-researched and concise resources helps prevent confusion and ensures no important topic is missed. - Conceptual Clarity:
Books and materials recommended by IAS toppers and experts are designed to offer clear explanations and deeper insights into complex concepts. This conceptual clarity is crucial for building a strong foundation, which is necessary for both the Prelims and Mains exams. - Time Efficiency:
With limited time to prepare for such a demanding exam, using high-quality study materials helps streamline your preparation. Rather than wasting time sifting through irrelevant or overly detailed resources, effective study materials focus on the key topics that matter the most. - Better Understanding of Subjects:
The quality of study materials directly impacts how well you understand the subjects. Whether it’s Indian Polity, Geography, or Ethics, using the best materials enables you to grasp both the theoretical and practical aspects of the topics, which is crucial for answering conceptual and analytical questions in the exam. - Structured Approach to Revision:
Quality materials often come with summaries, key points, and practice questions that aid in revision. Regular practice with mock tests, previous years’ papers, and structured revision schedules ensures the retention of information and helps you track your progress. - Updated and Relevant Information:
The UPSC exam tests candidates’ awareness of current affairs, government policies, and new developments in various fields. Quality study materials are often updated to reflect the latest trends, news, and changes in government schemes, which are critical for scoring well in the General Studies papers. - Confidence Boost:
Using trusted, well-curated study materials gives candidates confidence in their preparation. Knowing that you are following the right resources, as recommended by toppers and experts, helps reduce stress and boosts motivation throughout the preparation process.
FAQs
NCERT textbooks for classes 6th to 12th are foundational for subjects like History, Geography, Polity, and Economics. For deeper understanding, M. Laxmikanth’s “Indian Polity,” Ramesh Singh’s “Indian Economy,” and Bipan Chandra’s books on Indian history are highly recommended. G.C. Leong’s “Certificate Physical and Human Geography” and Shankar IAS Academy’s “Environment and Ecology” are essential for specific subjects. Consistent study and practice are crucial for success in the IAS exam.
Aditya Srivastava secured the All India Rank 1, followed by Animesh Pradhan at Rank 2 and Donuru Ananya Reddy at Rank 3 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023.
No, NCERT textbooks are the foundation for UPSC preparation. They provide a comprehensive and clear understanding of basic concepts. Skipping them can hinder your overall performance.
UPSC toppers recommend NCERT books (Class 6–12) for history, geography, and economics, Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity, Spectrum for Modern History, Economic Survey, and standard current affairs magazines like Yojana or Vision IAS notes.
For prelims, good books include NCERTs (6th–12th), Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History, Environment by Shankar IAS, CSAT by Tata McGraw Hill, and current affairs resources like PIB and newspapers (The Hindu).
Srushti Deshmukh followed NCERTs for basics, Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History, Shankar IAS for Environment, GC Leong for Geography, and current affairs from Vision IAS notes and newspapers like The Hindu.
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This was all about the “Recommended Books For IAS by Toppers”. For more such informative blogs, check out our UPSC Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.