UPSC Books List 2025 PDF

UPSC Books List 2025 in PDF download free from the direct link below.

UPSC Books List 2025 - Summary

When it comes to UPSC preparation, choosing the right books is essential for success. Many students spend considerable time searching for IAS preparation books at bookstores, book fairs, and online platforms. After passing the Prelims, candidates move forward to the Mains stage of the IAS Exam, which consists of 9 theory papers, including two papers dedicated to an optional subject.

Importance of Selecting the Right UPSC Books

To assist IAS aspirants in their studies, we have compiled a comprehensive IAS book list on a single page that includes links to all the necessary UPSC preparation books. During the UPSC Mains exam, each candidate also needs to select an optional subject. The best IAS books can differ from one candidate to another based on their individual knowledge and background in the subject. However, we offer a recommended UPSC booklist arranged by subject, as advised by experts.

Latest UPSC Books List – IAS Prelims

SubjectUPSC Books
History
  1. India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra
  2. Facets of Indian Culture – Spectrum
  3. NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval)
  4. NCERT XII (Modern Indian History)
Geography
  1. Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong
  2. NCERT VI – X (Old Syllabus)
  3. NCERT XI, XII (New Syllabus)
  4. World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
Indian Polity
  1. Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
  2. NCERT IX-XII
Economics
  1. Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania
  2. Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri
  3. NCERT XI
International Relations
  1. NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)
  2. Current Affairs
CSAT
  1. Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
  2. CSAT II – Arihant
  3. Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal

New UPSC Books List – IAS Mains

SubjectUPSC Books
History, Indian Heritage & Culture [GS Paper 1]
  1. Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
  2. India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
  3. India after Independence by Bipan Chandra
  4. History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
  5. Ancient India by R.S Sharma
Geography [GS Paper 1]
  1. Geography of India by Majid Husain
  2. World Geography by Majid Husain
  3. World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
  4. Certificate Physical and Human Geography – G C Leong
  5. Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11
Polity & International Relations [GS Paper 2]
  1. Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
  2. Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
  3. International Relations: Pushpesh Pant
Economy [GS Paper 3]
  1. Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania
  2. Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill
  3. Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar
Ethics [GS Paper 4]
  1. Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudary
Solved Papers
  1. IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers – Vishal Publications

UPSC Books List for Optional Subject

UPSC Books – History OptionalIAS Books – Political Science OptionalUPSC Books – Public Administration Optional
IAS Books – Geography OptionalUPSC Books – Anthropology OptionalIAS Books – Sociology Optional
UPSC Books – Hindi Literature OptionalIAS Books – Economics OptionalUPSC Books – Tamil Literature Optional
IAS Books – Mathematics OptionalUPSC Books – Philosophy OptionalIAS Books – Botany Optional
UPSC Books – Kannada Literature OptionalIAS Books – Gujarati Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Chemistry Optional
IAS Books – Physics OptionalUPSC Books – English Literature OptionalIAS Books – Telugu Literature Optional
UPSC Books – Statistics OptionalIAS Books – Geology OptionalUPSC Books – Commerce Optional
IAS Books – Psychology OptionalUPSC Books -Electrical Engineering OptionalIAS Books – Medical Science Optional
UPSC Books – Agriculture OptionalIAS Books – Civil Engineering OptionalUPSC Books – Mechanical Engineering Optional
IAS Books – Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences OptionalUPSC Books – Law OptionalIAS Books – Zoology Optional
UPSC Books – Assamese Literature OptionalIAS Books – Sindhi Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Kashmiri Literature Optional
IAS Books – Malayalam Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Nepali Literature OptionalIAS Books – Bengali Literature Optional
UPSC Books – Bodo Literature OptionalIAS Books – Konkani Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Manipuri Literature Optional
IAS Books – Oriya Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Santhali Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Urdu Literature Optional
UPSC Books – Maithili Literature OptionalIAS Books – Marathi Literature OptionalUPSC Books – Punjabi Literature Optional
IAS Books – Sanskrit Literature Optional

Tips for Choosing the Best UPSC Preparation Books

When selecting books, consider your strengths and areas that need improvement. Make sure to choose books that are well-reviewed and cover the syllabus thoroughly. By having the right UPSC books, you can streamline your study process and increase your chances of passing the exam with flying colours. Each book listed in our UPSC preparation guide can be downloaded as a PDF for easy access, ensuring that you have everything you need at your fingertips.

So, take a look at our specially curated UPSC books list and download the PDF today to kickstart your preparation journey!

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