NCERT Books for UPSC

Union Public Service Commission is considered one of the toughest exams in India. The syllabus of UPSC is designed to check the candidate’s knowledge of various subjects. Therefore, the candidates need to choose the right source for preparation and for cracking the examination. Books play a crucial role in UPSC preparation, providing comprehensive coverage of the syllabus and aiding in conceptual clarity. They offer structured content, detailed explanations, and diverse perspectives on various subjects. Standard textbooks, such as those by renowned authors and NCERT books for UPSC, are invaluable for building a strong foundation in History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Environment, and Science. Students must read daily current affairs and editorials to be updated about what’s going on in the world.  

The selection of the right books is considered to be the first step towards preparation for the exam. When it comes to picking which book to read for UPSC preparation the students need to start from scratch. NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation is an excellent resource for any UPSC aspirant. The reason for this is that these IAS NCERT Books teach the fundamental topics in simple language. 

Another important reason hopefuls refer to these books is their authenticity, as the information is offered by government entities. So, IAS aspirants should consult NCERT Books for UPSC. The first step in preparing for the IAS test is to read NCERT books. If you are looking for the best NCERT books for IAS, you have come to the right site. In this article, our UPSC CSE Coaching team has compiled a list of NCERT books for UPSC Prelims and Mains exams.

NCERT Books for UPSC Prelims

In the IAS preliminary round, there are two papers: GS Paper 1 and CSAT. Both publications are objective. This exam is used to screen applicants for the main examination. This exam will have a total weightage of 400 points, divided equally across papers I and II. If you wish to qualify for the IAS Mains exam, you should start preparing right now.

Booklist

Top NCERT Book List For UPSC Prelims Preparation
Subject	Class	Book
History	Class VI	Our Past I
	Class VII	Our Past II
	Class VIII	Our Past III – Part 1
	Class IX	India and the Contemporary World I
	Class X	India and Contemporary World II
	Class XI	Themes in World History
	Class XII	Themes in Indian History – Part I
		Themes in Indian History – Part II
		Themes in Indian History – Part III
Indian Polity	Class IX	Politics Part – I
	Class X	Politics Part – II
	Class XI	Indian Constitution at work
		Political Theory
	Class XII	Contemporary World Politics
		Politics in India Since Independence
Geography	Class VII	The Earth Our Habitat
		Our Environment
	Class VIII	Resources and Development
	Class IX	Contemporary India – I
	Class X	Contemporary India – II
	Class XI	Fundamental of Physical Geography
		Physical Environment
	Class XII	Fundamental of Human Geography
		People and Economy
Economics	Class IX	Economics
	Class X	Understanding Economic Development
	Class XI	Indian Economic Development
	Class XII	Introductory Microeconomics
		Introductory Macroeconomics
Indian Society	Class VI	Social and Political Life – I
	Class VII	Social and Political Life – II
	Class VIII	Social and Political Life – III
	Class XI	Understanding Society
	Class XII	Indian Society
		Social Change and Development In India
Art and Culture	Class XI	An Introduction to Indian Art – Part I
	Class XII	Living Craft Traditions of India
Science	Class VI	Science – Textbook for Class VI
	Class VII	Science – Textbook for Class VII
	Class VIII	Science – Textbook for Class VIII
	Class IX	Science – Textbook for Class IX
	Class X	Science – Textbook for Class X
	Class XI	Chemistry -Part II – Unit 14
		Biology – Unit 4 and Unit 5
	Class XII	Chemistry – Part II – Unit 16
		Biology – Unit 8, Unit 9, and Unit 10

NCERT Books for UPSC Mains Exam

Candidates who pass the preliminary exam must appear for the UPSC IAS mains. This exam will carry a total weight of 1750 marks. This test will include both descriptive and objective-type papers. To cover these papers, you must study a large curriculum. Here is the UPSC NCERT Book List for the Mains Exam, which will help you pass the exam. 

General Studies Paper 1

• History: “India’s Struggle for Independence” by Bipan Chandra
• Geography: “Certificate Physical and Human Geography” by G.C. Leong
• Society: “Indian Society” by Ram Ahuja

General Studies Paper 2

• Polity: “Indian Polity” by M. Laxmikanth
• Governance: “Governance in India” by M. Laxmikanth
• International Relations: “India’s Foreign Policy” by Rajiv Sikri

General Studies Paper 3

• Economics: “Indian Economy” by Ramesh Singh
• Environment: “Environment” by Shankar IAS
• Science and Technology: “Science and Technology” by Ravi P. Agrahari

General Studies Paper 4

• Ethics: “Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude” by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury
• Case Studies: “Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude” by Niraj Kumar

Essay

“151 Essays” by S.C. Gupta

Optional Subjects

• Public Administration: “Public Administration” by M. Laxmikanth
• Administrative Thinkers: “Administrative Thinkers” by Prasad and Prasad.

All NCERT Books for UPSC-Classwise List

Class	Subject	Book Title
Class 6	History	Our Pasts – I
	Geography	The Earth: Our Habitat
	Social and Political Life	Social and Political Life – I
Class 7	History	Our Pasts – II
	Geography	Our Environment
	Social and Political Life	Social and Political Life – II
Class 8	History	Our Pasts – III
	Geography	Resource and Development
	Social and Political Life	Social and Political Life – III
Class 9	History	India and the Contemporary World – I
	Geography	Contemporary India – I
	Political Science	Democratic Politics – I
	Economics	Economics
Class 10	History	India and the Contemporary World – II
	Geography	Contemporary India – II
	Political Science	Democratic Politics – II
	Economics	Understanding Economic Development
Class 11	History	Themes in World History
	Geography	Fundamentals of Physical Geography
	Geography	India: Physical Environment
	Political Science	Indian Constitution at Work
	Political Science	Political Theory
	Economics	Indian Economic Development
	Economics	Statistics for Economics
	Sociology	Introducing Sociology
	Sociology	Understanding Society
Class 12	History	Themes in Indian History – I, II, III
	Geography	Fundamentals of Human Geography
	Geography	India: People and Economy
	Political Science	Contemporary World Politics
	Political Science	Politics in India Since Independence
	Economics	Macroeconomics
	Sociology	Indian Society
	Sociology	Social Change and Development in India

Conclusion

The NCERT books are essential for UPSC preparation. They form the foundation for understanding basic concepts across subjects. These books have a clear structure and are easy to grasp. They provide clear and concise information on important topics. The books cover a wide range of subjects, including History, Geography, and Political Science. The inclusion of Economics and Sociology makes them comprehensive. By studying NCERT books from Class 6 to 12, aspirants can build a strong knowledge base. This foundation is crucial for tackling both the prelims and mains of the UPSC exam.