Note: My book, Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is available now. It’s a comprehensive guide that helps you write better Essays and Answers in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here.
In this article, we will go through my booklist for Civil Services Exam (Prelims). I’ve written this post keeping in mind an absolute beginner aspirant who is starting from level zero.
As you start your Prelims preparation and read these books, please keep the following points in mind:
- Along with these books, get a printout of the syllabus and read it carefully.
- And when you start, I recommend that you begin with NCERT books. Read and revise them methodically to gain absolute conceptual clarity. They form the foundation of your knowledge which will help you immensely through all stages of the exam.
- Do not be scared at the long list of books. For a beginner, one year is more than enough to cover the complete syllabus of GS (prelims and mains) and optional.
- In the book list, wherever I had mentioned selective reading, it means there’s no need to read the book cover to cover. Go through the past five years’ question papers to understand the kind of questions UPSC usually asks. It’ll give you a good perspective of what’s important and what’s not.
- For the same topic, do not refer to more than one material. For example, take India’s freedom struggle (1857-1947). If you read that portion from the Spectrum publications, there’s no need to do the same again from Bipan Chandra’s book. Read the latter to cover those parts not covered in the former.
- Use internet extensively. Let me give a few examples. Youtube’s PMFIAS channel is an excellent resource for understanding complex Geography topics. Similarly, for Art & Culture, I used to watch videos of classical dances, folk dances, puppetry shows on Youtube so that I could memorise their features better. In Science & Tech, if you come across a term, say, Blockchain Technology, go to Youtube and see explainer videos. Even for Environment, suppose you read about endangered species such as the Red Panda and Malabar Hornbill, Google them and see how they look. Visuals stick in your mind far longer. Your target must be to gain knowledge, be it through books or through internet.
- If you are taking coaching, by all means read their notes. But please keep in mind that you cannot just read those coaching notes and neglect these standard books. For example, take Polity topic. A coaching institute’s notes will never cover the complete subject, only Laxmikanth does. So even if you refer to your coaching notes, you still have to read Laxmikanth and know it like the back of your hand. This principle applies for all subjects.
- For all subjects, you have to superimpose current affairs over it. To illustrate, in Polity topic, apart from reading the static theory portion, you need to keep an eye on current happenings. For example, if the Govt brings in Constitutional amendment for GST, you must read both about the major provisions of the amendment and the Constitutional amendment procedure itself. Do this for all subjects.
- To perform well in Prelims, revision is crucial. Without it, you will not be able to recollect whatever you may have read. So please dedicate adequate time for revision before the actual exam.
- Just because I am AIR-1, it does not mean that this book list is the last word. If you have been studying some other material, that’s fine, too. To succeed in this exam, the source of material is not important. What’s important is you to understand the concepts, memorise the facts well and have a firm grip over the entire syllabus.
The Complete Booklist for UPSC Civil Services – Prelims Exam (Paper I)
Polity
- Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
Economy
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- Mrunal.org articles
- Macroeconomics – NCERT Class XII
- Indian Economic Development – NCERT Class XI
- Economic Survey (Selective reading from Prelims perspective)
- The Hindu
- Internet for understanding concepts (Arthapedia, Google, Youtube)
Ancient History of India
- Old NCERT by RS Sharma
Medieval History of India
- Old NCERT by Satish Chandra (Selective Reading)
Modern History
- A Brief history of Modern India- Spectrum Publications
- India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra (Selective Reading)
- NCERT by Bipan Chandra (For the period 1700s to 1857)
Indian Art and Culture
- An Introduction to Indian Art – Class XI NCERT
- Chapters related to culture in Ancient and Medieval India NCERTs
- Centre for Cultural Resource and Training (CCRT) material
- Heritage Crafts: Living Craft Traditions of India -NCERT
Environment and Biodiversity
- Shankar IAS book
General Science
- General Science books – IX and X standard
- The Hindu (Note down and read about the latest scientific terms, discoveries and inventions frequently mentioned in news)
- Google and YouTube
Geography
- Fundamentals of Physical Geography XI NCERT
- India: Physical Environment XI NCERT
- Fundamentals of Human Geography XII NCERT
- India: People and Economy XII NCERT
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography: GC Leong
- PMFIAS (Excellent resource for understanding complex topics)
- Google and YouTube
Govt Schemes
- Govt schemes compilation by the website Civils Daily
General Trivia (Eg: Global groupings, Reports, Institutions, Rankings etc)
- Any coaching material
Current Affairs
- The Hindu
- Civils Daily
- ForumIAS
Mindset to tackle the UPSC Prelims Exam
Ten days before the Prelims is usually the time when your mind is rather restless and clouded in self-doubt. Even though you must have prepared thoroughly for the exam, covering all the sources, Some of you are worried that you haven’t yet finished a particular topic, some others are stressed whether they will make the final cut for Mains. Remember that it’s okay to be a little nervous at this point and that it happens to everyone. I was no different, too.
From my experience, I have distilled a few suggestions to help you perform well in the exam.
- In the final days preceding the exam, if you start reading entirely new material which you haven’t read before, you’ll only stress yourself out. Just refer to whatever you had already read. Revision is the absolute key. How effectively you perform in the actual exam depends on the quality of revision you do in these 10 days.
- Stay calm. While revising, do not get bogged down in one subject. Your target should be to revise all the topics methodically before the final day.
- Questions are going to be balanced and will be asked from across the syllabus. So if you are poor in one topic, that’s alright. You can offset it through performing well in your stronger areas. For example, if you are worried about Indian Art and Culture, do not freak out. You might lose out on some questions, but you will still have many others to solve.
- Just the day before the exam, ensure that you get 7-8 hours of quality sleep. A good night’s rest will rejuvenate your senses and ensures that your brain is alert and memory is on point.
- Many aspirants (especially engineering grads) tend to be careless about CSAT Paper 2. I’ve seen people who solve only 60 questions and think that’s enough to qualify them. Some are even more impulsive— they leave the hall 30 minutes before time. Don’t be that reckless brat. Your qualification for Mains will be based on your marks, not your audacity. Remember that just because the paper is qualifying, UPSC is not going to hand it you on a platter. This is why they have been constantly pushing up the difficulty level over the past few years. So solve CSAT with all the seriousness and intensity of Paper-1.
- While solving the paper, in the first iteration, go through all 100 questions sequentially and do three things: mark those answers you are confident about, round those questions that you are unsure or vaguely aware of (for guesswork later), and cross those questions which you have absolutely no idea about. In the second iteration, you come back again and try to answer those questions you are vaguely aware of through educated guesswork or elimination method.
- Don’t get mired in one question and waste your time. If you are unable to recall, make a side mark on the question paper and move on. Once you come back after solving remaining questions, chances are you’ll recollect.
- If we assume a moderately difficult paper, then you will confidently know answers to around 50-60 questions. But you must aim to attempt around 85-90 questions. That’s why educated guesswork is necessary and important.
- As you enter the exam hall, it doesn’t matter what books you may have read, or how many times you may have revised. What matters are those 100 questions. Put your emotions aside and solve those 100 questions with a laser like focus. Erase your fears, doubts and insecurities and stay positive and confident.
- Always believe and keep telling yourself that you have worked hard and prepared well so far and that you’ll do well. On the final day, summon your best self and you will absolutely ace the test.
For further reading,
A. You can check out my article on UPSC GS Mains Preparation
B. Article on how to make educated guess work in UPSC Prelims
So that was my Booklist for UPSC Prelims. Hope it’ll be useful to you.
– Anudeep
Note: My book, Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is an Amazon bestseller. Since its release, the book helped countless candidates master the art of crafting exceptional essays and answers and elevate their performance in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here.
As a beginner, if I Start Preparations as per syllabus of Mains, should it cover prelims syllabus ?
Thank you sir for the given information.
Sir you have given the 7 sources for economy, 3 for modern history and 4 for Indian art and culture etc when there are more than one source, is everything mandatory or only one among them?
Thanks a lot sir……….completly book knowledge….
Thank you sir for your the given information.I have a doubt ,regarding UPSC CSE preperation strategy for student doing engineering.
I am Mahith Bhima from Andhra Pradesh, studying CSE integrated MTech at iiit Banglore. I will graduate in 2020.I have been watching your videos since 27th April.I watched all the telugu , english interviews of yours on youtube.You are inspiring me a lot.
While preparing for the exam, people might have felt that they should have been following this for years(I meant ,something which they would be following if they had known earlier.They didn’t because of lack of guidance at that time). As a UPSC CSE aspirant who would probably start writing CSE in the year 2021, I would like to know the things that I should start doing from now and the things that I have to avoid. For Example, Something like start preparing for these particular topics and don’t start these particular topics(like optional subjects).
I would like to know what your suggestions would be to college students.
Thanks.
Develop hobby of reading newspapers and non fiction books that deal with society, history and politics.
Sir please suggest some non fiction books
After NCRTs which Books will go through
Sit thanks for it but,
may you please talk to me by messenger is wtsap I am an IASaspirant and want to take some more suggestions from you and I shall be very thankful to you for this act of kindness
Congrats Bro. Wish you all the very best for all your future endeavors. May all your dreams come true.
Thank you! You are doing great work, brother. Your clarity of concepts in Geography is impeccable!
May you enlighten many, many aspirants. I wish you the very best!
తోటి తెలుగువాడిగా నేను చాల గర్వంగా ఫీల్ అవుతున్న. కీప్ రీచింగ్ న్యూ హైట్స్.
Thank you sir for making this booklist. I had a question, Is it necessary to read all the ncert books from class 6 – 12th or the books you mentioned in the booklist will suffice? I’ve heard that people say it’s important to read all the ncert books, what’s your view on this?
Depends on your current level of knowledge about topics relevant to CSE. If you have absolutely no clue, start with 6th Standard NCERT.
Sir I completed NCERT’S twice but I did not prepare notes but Iam going to give prelims in 2019 …….Though enough time there I should cover optional …… So please I want your NCERT’S notes if for ur okay only
What is your result pass or fail
Sir! From Which Month Newspaper Reading Has To be Started For opting exam for the year 2019?
Anudeep Anna,
Can you provide the book list for mains as well..
Anudeep anna, please provide the book list for mains as well..
Will upload soon.
Sir please upload mains book list soon. As we already started for mains its too confusing where to begin with. Also pls upload detailed strategy paper wise as u did for essay.
Anna iam a Tamil medium student. And my ambition IAS ,now how do you start my preparation, and I write English with gramatical mistakes, please give any solution
Your answer was OK but I don’t like corbon copy.this is related to asking the NCERT notes
Hearty Congratulations, Sir!
I have seen your interviews and cant admire you more- for your modesty and inclination to speak in Telugu.
Would you kindly share your strategy for compulsory regional language paper-Telugu.
Thanks!
Thanks a lot for your kind words.
I am good in Telugu (speaking and writing) so didn’t have to study much. But you can start reading Telugu newspapers and go through previous years question papers to get an idea of what you need to prepare.
Focus on essay, precis and comprehension. If you do these three well, you’ll easily quality language paper.
Thank you, Sir
Sir,at first congratulations….. and thank s a lot for guiding us,the aspirants of upsc.If you say something about writing essays and all…it will help me a lot. Thank you sir.
Sir plzz share ur optional strategy anthropology
Hi Sir congrats that u have cracked upsc in number 1 position and that seeing fails for more than 3 times once again congrats……..
Sir I am zero knowledge person about upsc but I set it as my aim from this year by seeing the interviews of qualified upsc persons but can you please tell me how can I download previous year upsc question papers and u mentioned in general science that to refer google and YouTube can you please mention website or the channel that which we have to go through
Thank q
Sir , Which pen did you used in mains 2017 answer writing ? Thank you.
Pilot Hi-Tecpoint V5 Pen, Blue.
Blue?? I read (somewhere), it should be black!!?
Lol;-0
Thank you Sir
Sir I would like to know
1. how one should prepare for dynamic portion of upsc exam.
2. What are the sources for this part other than newspapers
3. How to selectively read India year book and Economic survey
1. Dynamic portion from newspapers and one website/coaching material.
2. Youtube (RSTV videos), All India Radio, etc
3. India year book is not useful for this exam. You can go through ES gist compiled by any coaching institute. If you are reading the book, use highlighter and pen to note important concepts and statistics.
U r my roll model Anna .and u r very humble person, I admire u. And ur photo is my wallpaper Anna
Sir….please share something about writing…. how can i improve my writing…….nd which books i should follow for main…..
Sir I just completed my inter ..bipc stream with 92%…n I want to prepare for civil ..but I heard that a degree is essential for it … could u pls guide me what to do sir….n is it okay that I’m from bipc stream …
Thank you so much sir for your effort to help us.. Sir, am currently pursuing my Post Graduation in Economics and am interested to write UPSC CSexam . So sir how far its ideal to go hand in hand with both the things simultaneously.
You can definitely prepare simultaneously. Manage your weekends well and you will be able to finish the syllabus.
Best wishes.
Ty Sir..
Sir i am 25 years old bcoz of some issues i cant complete my graduation….and from 2019 i again want to start my graduation but along with i want to prep. Myself for cse …plzzz guide me sir is this possible within 3 yrs time period or not…
With regards
Shubham Agrawal
YES YOU CAN SHUBHAM
GOOD LUCK
Thank you sir ☺️
So helpful..thanks a lot !
Really proud of you. Good luck❤
Sir 1st ly congratulation????s…Sir I just completed my inter with 92% n I want to crack civils sir…but I heard that graduation is necessary for it…Im not able to decide what to do.. could pls Guide me ….Pls sir
For now, please focus on your academics. You have time yet to prepare for Civil Services Exam.
Thank you sir for giving information about books. I am a IAS aspirant with zero level knowledge about that. I have a doubt about books list that in economy list there are seven options of books. My question is that I have to buy seven books in that list or one of the book in that list ?
Please clarify my doubt sir.
Yes all books I’ve listed in my post are necessary.
Thank you sir for your valuable guidance.. I will be touched regularly for your new post about competitive exams.
But I have a ques..
I am beginner in UPSC exams..
I am very weak in english… What should I do for this? I am from Burdwan(Bardhaman), West bengal. I can’t understand topic reading standard books of Tata McGraw hill books.
And I can’t write essay type ans in English so I can’t crack mains for this reason…Please help me…I will wait for your valuable guidance.Thank you Sir!
You can improve your English proficiency by reading newspaper like Hindu. Also keeping a dictionary will improve your vocabulary.
Hii sir i can understand i can write but i can’t speak English because in my area ( town) no one speak English
Basically I am telgu but i live in Maharashtra that’s why my telgu and Marathi both weak .I am poor in these languages and then after my inter i take science.after taking this i knew one think more that I weak in English also so what should I do ( my English is weak so ignore my grammatic mistake) ans my question ( if you understand what I ask) answer my question sir
can not we write essay in hindi ??????
Sir please provide book list and material for mains aswell it will be helpful sir.It is a humble request.
Thank you sir
Will be uploaded soon.
Please upload mains booklist as soon as possible. Its a genuine request.
Hi sir,
I m an employee at Tcs where i m interested to prepare civils.Can please assist me how to start with level zero. Sorry to say im getting the point
The book list mentioned here are absolute basic. Buy these and start reading them over weekends. Once you get a start, it gets easier to figure things out.
Hello Anudeep, I would like to congratulate you on your success!
I am a Commerce graduate and I’m preparing for Bank exams for the last 2 years but now i am going to give UPSC exam this very year. As i have no experience in this exam, Could you please give me some tips regarding this exam.
Thank you sir for your guidance. It will surely help .
Its a humble request to you to guide us also in reading newspaper and essay writing.
Essay write up will be uploaded after Prelims test gets over.
Sir… please may you give me your contact number… I have lot of doubts….. about CSE
Thank you sir for your valuable guidance. sir i completed m.sc applied mathematics , i want to ias exam please guid me..
Please stay updated with my blog.
Sure sir