Books and Reference Materials

We are flooded with queries on the "best" books available for UPSC General Studies and Optionals. Thus, we find it pertinent to discuss the issue and recommend a set of books & materials for UPSC Civils. 

However, before we proceed, we would like to re-iterate that the following set is always contemplated alongwith the deliberations in the classes being held at our institute and the notes pertaining to those. 

1 Modern Indian History : 

1a. For preliminary, yet solid reading, refer to S N Sen [Class XII] OR NCERT.  For further analytical understanding, India's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee & others OR IGNOU BA History booklets. [the latter is for candidates with History Optionals]

1b. For post 1947 period, "India After Independence" by Bipan Chandra. 

2. World History : Again, for preliminary, yet rich reading, refer to S N Sen [Class XII] or NCERT. For further critical view, "Mastering Modern World History" by Norman Lowe & IGNOU BA History booklets. 

May see website of History Today for additional reference material.

3. Indian Polity : Subhash Kashyap's "Our Parliament" & "Our Constitution" would be good enough. To supplement, D D Basu's "Introduction to the Constitution of India" may be referred to. 

4. Indian Economy : Basic Micro & Macro Economics from NCERT Class XI. Yojana, economist.com, investopedia.com. 

Website of Reserve Bank of India. 

Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, TMH

5. Ecology : Survey of the Environment by The Hindu, NCERT, Majid Hussain's Environment & Ecology & 
Down to Earth publications

6. Ethics & Integrity Paper : Recommendations of the 2nd ARC on Ethics in Governance, DopT website & IGNOU materials of MPA course. 

"Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude" by Rao & Chowdhury. 

Case Studies have been discussed in our Classroom interaction.

Decision Making Problems have also been discussed.

7. Security Studies : Latest annual Report of the Ministry of Home Affairs [Chap on Internal Security]. 

Articles/papers at "geopolitics", CLAWS, IPCS, IDSA, International Crisis Group [ICG] & Council on Foreign Relations [CFR]. 

8. India & the World : "India's Foreign Policy since Independence" by VP Dutt [NBT], papers published in CFR, ICG, IPCS, IDSA & CLAWS. 

And Ministry of External Affairs website. 

9. Disaster Management : IGNOU Materials of MPA Course

10. Art & Culture : IGNOU BA History Booklets on Ancient & Medieval India [selected portions]

11. India Year Book : Pls read the original GoI publication alongwith a commentary. 

12. Geography : 

12a. Physical Geog. by Goh Cheng Leong

12b. Geography by Rita Rajen from Class VI to X

12c. An Atlas

12d. TMH / Pearson material on Geog Prelims


1 - 2 practice paper(s) on GS II to be solved every week in a time-bound fashion. 

Preparation of GS I & II towards Prelims to be carried out simultaneously. 


The Hindu / Indian Express as the newspaper

Chronicle/Wizard/PratiyogitaDarpanD/CivilServicesTimes as the monthly magazine