Best Books for UPSC Prelims and Mains

Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam becomes far easier when you follow a clear, reliable, and simple booklist. With thousands of resources online, many aspirants get confused about what to read.
This blog provides a trusted and time-tested list of the best books for UPSC Prelims and Mains, recommended by toppers and experienced mentors.

Why the Right UPSC Booklist Matters

UPSC is not about reading everything—it is about reading the right books, revising them multiple times, and practising consistently. A good booklist:

• Saves time
   
• Builds strong fundamentals
   
• Improves Prelims accuracy
   
• Strengthens Mains answer-writing
   
• Helps avoid unnecessary study material
   

If you stick to the list below, you will stay ahead of most aspirants.

Best Books for UPSC Prelims 2025

1. Polity

• Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth
  (Primary source for both Prelims + Mains)
   

2. History

Ancient & Medieval

• RS Sharma (Old NCERT – Ancient)
   
• Satish Chandra (Old NCERT – Medieval)
   

Modern India

• Spectrum – Rajiv Ahir
   

3. Geography

• NCERT Geography (Class 6–12)
   
• GC Leong – Certificate Physical Geography
   

4. Economy

• Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh
   
• NCERT Class 11 & 12 (Macro & Micro)
   
• Economic Survey (latest)
   
• Budget document summaries (PIB)
   

5. Environment & Ecology

• Shankar IAS Environment Book
   
• NCERT Class 12 Biology (Ecology Units)
   

6. Science & Technology

• NCERT Class 6–10 Science
   
• ISRO website updates (www.isro.gov.in)
   
• DST updates (dst.gov.in)
   

7. Current Affairs

• The Hindu / Indian Express
   
• PIB (https://pib.gov.in)
   
• Yojana & Kurukshetra
   
• Monthly current affairs magazine (any one)
   

Best Books for UPSC Mains

GS Paper 1

• Spectrum (Modern History)
   
• Nitin Singhania (Culture)
   
• NCERT Sociology (Class 11–12)
   
• NCERT Geography (Class 6–12)
   

GS Paper 2

• Laxmikanth (Polity)
   
• ARC Reports (summaries)
   
• Ministry Websites – Government Schemes
   

GS Paper 3

• Ramesh Singh (Economy)
   
• Shankar IAS Environment Book
   
• Science & Tech (PIB + ISRO updates)
   

GS Paper 4 – Ethics

• Lexicon for Ethics
   
• Subba Rao Ethics Book
   
• Case studies from newspapers
   

Essay Paper

No dedicated book is needed.
Focus on:

• GS knowledge
   
• Current affairs
   
• Reports (NITI Aayog)
   
• Good examples and quotes
   

NCERT Books Every UPSC Aspirant Must Read

NCERTs build core fundamentals.
Read:

• Class 6–10: Science & Social Science
   
• Class 11–12: History, Geography, Sociology, Economics, Biology
   

Download NCERT PDFs free:
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php

Helpful Official Links for Preparation

• UPSC Syllabus: https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/syllabus
• PIB News: https://pib.gov.i
• NITI Aayog Reports: https://niti.gov.in
   

Conclusion

Choosing the best books for UPSC Prelims and Mains is the first step toward smart preparation.
If you follow this simple booklist and revise consistently, your preparation will become structured, confident, and effective.

Remember:
Read less. Revise more. Stay disciplined.