Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) requires a well-planned strategy and the right set of books. Here’s a subject-wise booklist for both Prelims and Mains to help you cover the syllabus effectively:

General Studies (Prelims + Mains)

1. History

• Ancient India:
  • India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma (NCERT Class XI).
• Medieval India:
  • History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra (NCERT Class XII).
• Modern India:
  • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra.
  • History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra (NCERT Class XII).
• World History:
  • History of the World by Arjun Dev (NCERT Class X).
  • Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe.

2. Geography

• Physical Geography:
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong.
  • NCERT Class XI: Fundamentals of Physical Geography.
• Indian Geography:
  • NCERT Class XI: India: Physical Environment.
  • NCERT Class XII: India: People and Economy.
• World Geography:
  • NCERT Class XII: Fundamentals of Human Geography.
• Maps:
  • Oxford School Atlas.

3. Polity

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (Bible for UPSC Polity).
• NCERT Class XI: Indian Constitution at Work.
• NCERT Class XII: Politics in India Since Independence.

4. Economy

• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh.
• NCERT Class XI: Indian Economic Development.
• NCERT Class XII: Introductory Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
• Economic Survey (latest edition) and Union Budget.

5. Environment and Ecology

• Environment by Shankar IAS Academy.
• NCERT Class XII: Biology (Chapters on Ecology and Environment).
• India Year Book (Environment section).

6. Science and Technology

• NCERT Class VI to X: Science textbooks.
• Science and Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari.
• Current Affairs: Follow science and tech news in newspapers like The Hindu.

7. Current Affairs

• The Hindu or Indian Express (daily newspaper).
• Yojana and Kurukshetra magazines.
• PIB (Press Information Bureau) releases.
• Vision IAS or Insights IAS current affairs materials.

8. Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude (GS Paper IV)

• Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude by Niraj Kumar.
• Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury.
• NCERT Class XII: Psychology (relevant chapters).

Optional Subjects

The booklist for optional subjects depends on the subject chosen. Here are a few popular optional subjects and their recommended books:

1. Public Administration

• Public Administration by Laxmikanth.
• Administrative Thinkers by Prasad and Prasad.

2. Sociology

• Sociology: Themes and Perspectives by Haralambos and Holborn.
• Indian Society by SCERT (NCERT Class XII).

3. Geography

• Geography of India by Majid Husain.
• Models in Geography by Majid Husain.

4. History

• India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma.
• Modern India by Bipan Chandra.

CSAT (Paper II)

1. Comprehension and English

• High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin.
• Practice comprehension passages from previous years’ papers.

2. Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude

• Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal.
• Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey.

Essay Paper

• Essays for Civil Services by Pulkit Khare.
• Practice writing essays on current topics and previous years’ questions.

Additional Resources

1. NCERT Books: Class VI to XII for foundational knowledge.
2. Government Reports:
   • Economic Survey.
   • India Year Book.
3. Yearly Compilations:
   • Vision IAS or Insights IAS current affairs materials.
4. Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Papers:
   • Solve previous years’ UPSC question papers.
   • Enroll in a good test series for Prelims and Mains.

Preparation Tips

1. Start with NCERTs: Build a strong foundation using NCERT books.
2. Focus on Current Affairs: Regularly read newspapers and magazines.
3. Practice Answer Writing: Especially for Mains, practice writing structured and concise answers.
4. Revise Regularly: Revision is key to retaining information.
5. Join a Test Series: Enroll in a good test series for Prelims and Mains to evaluate your preparation.

Conclusion

The UPSC exam demands a disciplined and strategic approach. By following this booklist and focusing on consistent preparation, you can cover the vast syllabus effectively. Remember, quality study material combined with regular practice and revision is the key to success. Good luck! 🌟