UPSC Mains Books by TheIASHub

UPSC Mains examination requires a deep understanding of multiple subjects. Selecting the right set of books can make a significant difference in your preparation. Here’s a detailed list of books provided by TheIASHub that can help you with General Studies (GS) paper and other subjects in the UPSC Mains.

About the Book:

• Prepared exclusively by MK Yadav sir and the team that prepares quality enrichment programs(QEP).
• Includes important points from 5 Newspapers to ease your preparation efforts.
• Full coverage of important static topics with comprehensive coverage.

About the Author:

• MK Yadav sir is a founder of theIAShub who has mentored Aditya Shrivastava AIR 1, Medha Anand - AIR 13, Ayan Jain AIR 16.
• He has helped 1200+ students crack the civil service exam in the last 6 years.
• He has been featured in many media houses like Josh talks, The Hindu, Indian Express etc.

UPSC Mains Booklet

TheIASHub UPSC Mains booklet  covers a list of subject-wise books for UPSC Mains, covering all 9 papers. These books are recommended for aspirants to build a strong understanding of the syllabus and excel in the exam.

1. UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 1 Books

Indian Heritage & Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

Indian Heritage and Culture:

• NCERT History (Class 6–12) – Essential for building a solid foundation in history.
• Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania – Comprehensive coverage of the cultural and heritage aspects.
• Cultural History of India by R. C. Majumdar – For a detailed understanding of India’s cultural heritage.

Modern Indian History:

• India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra – Detailed analysis of India’s freedom struggle.
• A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir – A quick but effective read for key events.

World History:

• Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe – A thorough book on world history with emphasis on significant events.
• Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud – To understand the socio-political dynamics in world history.

Geography of India and the World:

• Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong – A popular choice for geography basics.
• Geography of India by Majid Hussain – For in-depth coverage of Indian geography.
• Physical Geography by Savindra Singh – Detailed for the physical geography of India and the world.

2. UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 Books

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations

Indian Polity:

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth – An essential and comprehensive book for understanding Indian polity and governance.
• Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu – An excellent resource for understanding the constitutional framework.

Governance and Social Justice:

• Governance in India by M. Laxmikanth – A detailed approach to understanding Indian governance systems.
• Social Justice and Governance by K.K. Aziz – A focused book for social justice-related topics.

International Relations:

• International Relations by Pavneet Singh – One of the top books for understanding global relations.
• India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri – To study the evolution of India’s foreign policy.

Polity and Governance (Additional References):

• The Indian Constitution at Work by D. D. Basu – A critical book for understanding the practical application of the Constitution.

3. UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 3 Books

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

Economics:

• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh – An indispensable book for understanding economic concepts in India.
• Economic Survey (Latest Year) – To get updates on India’s economic situation.
• Budget (Latest Year) – Critical for questions related to economic development.

Environment and Biodiversity:

• Environment by Shankar IAS – A popular book covering environment-related topics.
• Biology by N.C.ERT (Class 11 and 12) – For in-depth understanding of biodiversity and ecology.

Security and Disaster Management:

• Security Issues in India by Chandra & Kumar – Essential reading for understanding the national security aspects.
• Disaster Management by K. K. Aziz – Focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of disaster management.

Science and Technology:

• Science and Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari – For a deeper understanding of the key technological developments.

4. UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 4 Books

Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

• Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude by Subba Rao & P.N. Roy Chowdhury – The go-to book for understanding the ethical dilemmas and case studies asked in this paper.
• Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude by Niraj Kumar – A concise guide for understanding key concepts in ethics.
• Civil Services Ethics by K.K. Aziz – For practical case studies and examples.

UPSC Mains General Studies Books:

5. UPSC Mains Optional Subject Books

Choosing the right books for your optional subject is equally important. Below are some commonly chosen options:

Political Science and International Relations:

• Political Science by M. Laxmikanth – A solid book for both political theory and Indian polity.
• Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu – A must-read for constitutional studies.
• International Relations by Pavneet Singh – Covers key global issues and India’s foreign policy.

Public Administration:

• Public Administration by M. P. Sharma & B. L. Sabine – A classic for the basic understanding of public administration.
• Public Administration by Mohit Bhattacharya – An in-depth book for various aspects of public administration.

History:

• History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra – Essential for modern Indian history.
• Ancient India by R.S. Sharma – A thorough book for ancient Indian history.
• Medieval India by Satish Chandra – Detailed focus on medieval Indian history.

Economics:

• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh – A comprehensive book for understanding the economic concepts and policies of India.
• Economic Survey (Latest Year) – An essential reference for current economic developments in India.
• Principles of Economics by Mankiw – Great for understanding micro and macroeconomic principles.
• Public Finance by H.L. Bhatia – Important for topics related to government finance and taxation.

Geography:

• Geography by Majid Hussain – A complete book for both physical and human geography.
• Advanced Physical Geography by Savindra Singh – Detailed coverage of advanced topics.

Sociology:

• Sociology by Giddens – A critical resource for sociological theory.
• Sociology by Haralambos – Detailed for both theory and practical aspects.

6. UPSC Mains Essay Books

For UPSC Mains Essay, the following books are recommended:

1. The Art of Essay Writing by M.K. Pandit
2. Mastering the Essay by Anirudh Soni
3. Essays for Civil Services by K.K. Aziz

7. UPSC Mains Language Books

For the English Language Paper, the following book is often recommended:

1. High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
2. English for General Competitions by S.P. Bakshi

UPSC Mains NCERT Books

NCERT books are essential for building a solid foundation in UPSC preparation, particularly for General Studies. They offer clear and concise content, making them vital for strengthening your understanding across various subjects. Candidates should make it a habit to read and revise these books consistently.

Here is a list of NCERT books:

TheIASHub Free Mains Marks Booster Series for UPSC CSE Exam