Preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC full form) Civil Services Exam requires a strategic selection of books for both the Prelims and Mains. Here are some of the most important books recommended by successful candidates and experts:

For Prelims

General Studies Paper 1

1. History:

• Ancient History: "Ancient India" by R.S. Sharma (NCERT)
• Medieval History: "Medieval India" by Satish Chandra (NCERT)
• Modern History: "A Brief History of Modern India" by Spectrum, "India's Struggle for Independence" by Bipan Chandra

1. Geography:

• "Geography of India" by Majid Husain
• "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong
• NCERT Class 6-12 Geography textbooks

1. Polity:

• "Indian Polity" by M. Laxmikanth
• "Introduction to the Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu

1. Economics:

• "Indian Economy" by Ramesh Singh
• "Economic Development & Policies in India" by Jain & Ohri (NCERT Class 11 and 12)

1. Environment and Ecology:

• "Environment" by Shankar IAS Academy
• NCERT Biology Class 12 (Last 4 chapters)

1. Science and Technology:

• NCERT Science textbooks (Class 6-10)
• Current affairs for updates on recent scientific developments

1. Current Affairs:

• Newspapers like "The Hindu" or "The Indian Express"
• Monthly magazines like "Yojana", "Kurukshetra"
• Government publications such as the "Economic Survey" and "India Year Book"

General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT)

• "CSAT Paper 2 Manual" by Tata McGraw Hill
• "General Studies Paper 2" by Arihant
• Practice reasoning and aptitude tests from various sources

For Mains

General Studies Paper 1

1. History:

• Same books as Prelims with additional focus on cultural aspects and world history
• "History of the World" by Arjun Dev

1. Geography:

• "Geography of India" by Majid Husain
• "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong

1. Indian Society:

• "Social Problems in India" by Ram Ahuja

1. Art and Culture:

• "Indian Art and Culture" by Nitin Singhania

General Studies Paper 2

1. Polity:

• Same books as Prelims
• "Introduction to the Constitution of India" by D.D. Basu

1. Governance:

• "Governance in India" by M. Laxmikanth

1. International Relations:

• "India's Foreign Policy" by Rajiv Sikri
• Articles from "The Hindu" and "Indian Express"

General Studies Paper 3

1. Economy:

• Same books as Prelims
• "Economic Survey" by Government of India
• "India Year Book"

1. Environment and Ecology:

• Same books as Prelims

1. Science and Technology:

• Current Affairs
• "Science and Technology in India" by TMH

1. Security Issues:

• "Challenges to Internal Security of India" by Ashok Kumar

General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

1. Ethics:

• "Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude" by Chronicle
• "Ethics in Governance" (ARC Report)
• "Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude" by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury

Optional Subjects

The choice of optional subjects varies widely among candidates. Some popular choices include:

1. Public Administration:

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

1. Geography:

• "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" by Goh Cheng Leong
• "Geography of India" by Majid Husain

1. Anthropology:

• "Physical Anthropology" by P. Nath
• "Anthropology Simplified" by Vivek Bhasme

Conclusion

Selecting the right books is crucial for effective UPSC preparation. These recommendations cover the core areas of the syllabus and help build a solid foundation for both the Prelims and Mains stages of the exam. Consistent reading, regular revisions, and practicing answer writing will significantly enhance your chances of success.