Explore the best books for UPSC Mains 2025 across all GS papers and optional subjects to build a strong foundation and ace the exam with expert-recommended resources.
theIAShub | 18 Mar, 2025 | 8777 | 0 |
Selecting the right books for UPSC Mains is essential for building a strong conceptual foundation and mastering answer writing. The UPSC Mains Examination is a descriptive test that requires in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and the ability to present well-structured answers. Standard reference books, along with effective UPSC Mains Answer Writing practice, play a crucial role in securing high scores.
Checkout the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern here!
The UPSC Mains exam tests candidates on a wide range of topics through its General Studies (G.S.) Papers and optional subjects. Each paper requires specific books that offer comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. Choosing books written by reputed authors or those recommended by toppers can help students build a solid conceptual foundation and perform well in the exam.
Check out the article UPSC Mains Syllabus.
Here’s a comprehensive list of subject-wise books for UPSC Mains, categorized according to the General Studies (G.S.) papers. These books are highly recommended for aspirants to gain a thorough understanding of the syllabus and excel in the exam.
The G.S. Paper I in UPSC Mains covers a vast array of topics, including History, Geography, and Sociology. To master these subjects, aspirants need a combination of foundational texts and advanced reading materials. The books listed below are highly recommended for understanding ancient, modern, and world history, as well as Indian and world geography.
| Paper | Subject | Recommended Books |
| G.S. Paper I | History and Geography | NCERT – Geography, History, Sociology |
| Wonder That Was India – A.L. Basham | ||
| Modern India – Sumit Sarkar | ||
| World History – L.N. Mukherjee | ||
| Geography of India – Khullar | ||
| Certificate Physical & Human Geography – G.C. Leong | ||
| Human Geography – Majid Hussain |
G.S. Paper II focuses on Polity, Governance, and International Relations. A deep understanding of constitutional provisions, government structures, and global issues is essential. The following books are tailored to help aspirants prepare for both theoretical and current aspects of the syllabus.
| Paper | Subject | Recommended Books |
| G.S. Paper II | Polity and Governance | Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth |
| Our Constitution – Subhash Kashyap | ||
| Our Parliament – Subhash Kashyap | ||
| Constitution of India – D.D. Basu | ||
| Current Affairs | The Hindu, Frontline, Yojana | |
| International Relations | India’s Foreign Policy – V.P. Dutt, World Focus, EPW Magazine |
G.S. Paper III deals with Economy, Internal Security, and Science. It is essential to understand the concepts of Indian economics, technological advancements, and their role in national development. The books mentioned here provide an excellent mix of theoretical knowledge and real-world applications.
| Paper | Subject | Recommended Books |
| G.S. Paper III | Economy and Security | Internal Security in India – Bajpai |
| Envisioning an Empowered Nation – APJ Abdul Kalam | ||
| Indian Economy – Datta Sundaram | ||
| Indian Economy – Mishra & Puri | ||
| Economic Survey of India | ||
| Science | Science Reporter |
G.S. Paper IV emphasizes Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. This paper assesses candidates’ ability to analyze moral dilemmas and ethical issues. The books listed here are invaluable for understanding core concepts and applying them to case studies.
| Paper | Subject | Recommended Books |
| G.S. Paper IV | Ethics and Aptitude | Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude – Sqn. Ldr. Shashikant Shetye (Retd.) (Prithvi Publications) |
| An Introduction to Ethics – William Lillie | ||
| Ethics in Governance – Ramesh Arora | ||
| ARC Report – Government of India |
Checkout the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern here!
The UPSC Mains stage of the examination requires candidates to select an optional subject in addition to the General Studies papers. Choosing the right books for the optional subject is crucial to building a strong foundation and securing good marks. Below is a detailed guide to essential books for some of the most popular UPSC Mains optional subjects.
Public Administration is a popular optional subject for UPSC due to its relevance in governance and policy implementation. Below are the recommended books divided into various aspects of the subject.
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Indian Administration | Indian Public Administration – Arora and Goyal |
| Public Administration in India (1st Edition) – Maheshwari | |
| Public Administration in India – B.L. Fadia (Optional) | |
| General Reference | Public Administration – M. Laxmikanth |
| Thinkers and Theories | Administrative Thinkers – Prasad and Prasad |
| Advanced Concepts | New Horizons of Public Administration – Mohit Bhattacharya |
| Comparative Public Administration | Public Administration and Public Affairs (12th Edition) – Nicholas Henry |
| Organizational Behavior | Essentials of Organizational Behaviour (10th Edition) – Robbins, Sanghi, and Judge |
History is an important part of the General Studies syllabus, focusing on ancient, medieval, and modern periods, along with world history. The following books cover all critical aspects.
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Modern History | History of Modern India – Shekhar Bandopadhyaya/Bipan Chandra |
| India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra and Others | |
| Ancient History | India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma |
| The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Basham | |
| Ashoka and Mauryas | Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas – Romila Thapar |
| Medieval History | Medieval India: From Sultanat to Mughals (Vol 1 & 2) – Satish Chandra |
| World History | Mastering Modern World History – Norman Lowe |
| History of the World – Arjun Dev |
Economics is vital for understanding the country’s financial and developmental framework. Below is a detailed list for both Paper-I and Paper-II.
| Economics: Paper-I | |
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Microeconomics | Microeconomics – Ahuja and Koutsyansis |
| Macroeconomics | Macroeconomics – Ahuja and Mankiw |
| International Trade | International Economics – Salvatore and M.C. Vaish |
| Public Finance | Public Finance – Lekhi, Balton, and Bhatia |
| Banking | Money and Banking – Gupta and Ahuja |
| Growth & Development | Development Economics – Debraj Ray, Mishra and Puri |
Also check out the UPSC Mains Cutoff article for the 2025 Exam.
| Economics: Paper-II | |
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Indian Economy | Indian Economy – Mishra and Puri, Dutt and Sundaram |
| Economic Survey, EPW, RBI Reports | |
| Current Affairs | Any Business Newspaper (ET, The Economist) |
Political Science is crucial for understanding political theories, governance, and international relations. The following books are highly recommended.
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Political Theory | A History Of Political Thought: Plato To Marx – Mukherjee and Susheela Ramaswamy |
| Introduction to Political Theory – O.P. Gauba | |
| Political Theory – Rajeev Bhargava | |
| Indian Constitution | Introduction to the Constitution of India – D.D. Basu |
| International Relations | Does The Elephant Dance? Contemporary India Foreign Policy – Malone |
| World Politics | Politics – Heywood |
| Foundations of Indian Thought | Foundations of Indian Political Thought – V.R. Mehta |
Also Read: UPSC Mains Marks Booster
Geography is an integral part of the UPSC syllabus, focusing on physical, human, and economic aspects. The following books are essential for building a strong foundation in geography for both Paper-I and Paper-II.
| Geography: Paper-I | |
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Physical Geography | Physical Geography – Majid Hussain/Savindra Singh |
| Modern Physical Geography – Strahler and Strahler (Optional) | |
| Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong | |
| Physical Geography Made Simple – Rupa Publication | |
| Dictionary of Physical Geography – Penguin | |
| Human Geography | Evolution of Geographical Thought – Majid Hussain |
| Economic and Social Geography Made Simple – Rupa Publication | |
| Models in Geography – Majid Hussain | |
| Atlas | Oxford Student Atlas |
| Geography: Paper-II | |
| Category | Recommended Books |
| Indian Geography | India: A Comprehensive Geography – Khullar |
| Regional Planning | Regional Planning in India – Mahesh Chand |
| Current Affairs | India Year Book – Publication Division |
| Periodicals | Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazines |
M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity is an excellent book for understanding the Constitution and governance. However, aspirants should supplement it with current affairs magazines like Yojana and newspapers like The Hindu for a comprehensive approach.
Srushti Deshmukh, a topper of the UPSC exam, referred to standard books like NCERTs for foundational knowledge, M. Laxmikanth for Polity, and the Economic Survey for Indian Economy.
Many toppers have scored above 400 in optional papers by choosing the right subject, following a strategic approach, and using recommended resources.
Ansar Shaikh is one of the youngest IAS officers in India, clearing the UPSC exam at the age of 21.
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