Books for UPSC Civil Service Main Exam Preparation

Books for UPSC Civil Service Main Exam Preparation

Books for UPSC Civil Service Main Exam overlap with many books recommended for Prelims. But Mains stage demands certain additional books as there are new topics like Foreign Relations, Internal Security, Ethics etc. We suggest a mix of NCERT Books, Government websites, newspapers along with traditional text books in mains preparation. Don’t forget to read our online study materials for mains too.

Also, don’t miss the links of comprehensive IAS Manuals, Previous Year Question Papers, Free Online Resources for Prelims and Mains, Books for other exams like IBPS and PSC etc. The mentioned books are based on the feedback from many aspirants/toppers who found them useful for the exam. We keep updating this page, when new books worth the time and money of candidate appear in market. So come back to check this page again! 

Books for UPSC Civil Service Main Exam Preparation (Click to Buy Online)

1. History Of Modern India – Bipan Chandra. (History)
2. India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra. (History)
3. The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Bhasham. (Culture)
4. Facets of Indian Culture – Spectrum. (Culture)
5. Geography of India – Majid Husain. (Geography)
6. Oxford School Atlas – Oxford. (Geography)
7. Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong. (Geography)
8. Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth. (Polity)
9. Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh. (Economy)
10. Economic Survey. (Economy)
11. Science and Technology in India – TMH. (Science and Technology)
12. Environmental Studies from Crisis to Cure 2nd Edition – R.Rajagoplan. (Environment)
13. Efforts Towards Green India – Environment and Ecology – Arihant Experts. (Environment)
14. India Year Book (Current Affairs)
15. Manorama Yearbook. (Current Affairs)
16. Contemporay Essays by Ramesh Singh OR 151 ESSAYS For UPSC Mains(Essay Paper)
17. India After Gandhi – Ramchandra Guha (History – GS1)
18. Norman Lowe OR History of Modern World – Jain and Mathur (World History – GS1)
19. Social Problems In India – Ram Ahuja. (Indian Society – GS1)
20. IAS Mains General Studies Paper 2 (Arihant Manual – GS2)
21. Governance in India for CSE. (Governance – GS2)
22. Pax Indica – Shashi Tharoor. (Foreign Policy – GS2)
23. India and the World by Surendra Kumar. (Foreign Policy – GS2)
24. IAS Mains General Studies – GS3. (Arihant Manual – GS3)
25. India’s National Security: A Reader. (Internal Security – GS3)
26. Challenges to Internal Security of India. (Internal Security – GS3)
27. Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Mains. ( Ethics – GS4)
28. IAS Mains General Studies – Ethics. ( Arihant Manual – GS4)

Civil Services Optional Subject Books (Paper 6 and Paper 7)

Popular Optional Papers for IAS Mains:

1. History – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
2. Geography – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
3. Economics – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
4. Sociology – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
5. Public Administration – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
6. Philosophy – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
7. Psychology – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.
8. Agriculture – Civil Services Books – Mains Exam.

Useful IAS Books and Magazines For Free Download and Reference

Click to buy “Challenge and Strategy – Foreign Policy”

• NCERT Books Download.
• Yojana Magazine Download.
• Kurukshetra Magazine.
• Pratiyogita Darpan Magazine.
• IGNOU Books.
• IAS Books Mains General Studies – For more reference in GS1, GS2, G3 and G4.
• Free IAS Study Materials for UPSC Prelims and Mains.

Books for Other Exams (Click to Buy Online)

1. Banking Exam Books
2. MBA Exam Books
3. Engineering Books

UPSC Books at Online Stores!

• Recommended list of UPSC books available in Flipkart.
• Full list of UPSC books available in Flipkart.
• Full list of UPSC books available in Amazon.
• IAS Books in Hindi: List of Useful Books For Hindi Medium Aspirants.
• Latest IAS Books: Click To Buy New Releases For UPSC Preparation.