Compare Old NCERT Vs New NCERT books for UPSC exam, covering key differences in content, structure, and subject relevance. Get a detailed book list to strengthen your foundation.
theIAShub | 30 Mar, 2025 | 78 | 0
NCERT books are the foundation for many competitive exams in India, especially the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Understanding the key differences in content, approach, and presentation in Old NCERT vs New NCERT books helps aspirants make the right choice for their preparation. This article discusses the comparison between Old and New NCERTs and their significance for UPSC preparation.
The primary purpose of reading NCERT books for IAS preparation is to build a strong foundation. These books introduce students to the basics of subjects covered in the UPSC syllabus. A thorough understanding of NCERT books helps in writing analytical answers and performing well in the Mains examination.
Read the article UPSC Study Material for IAS Exam 2025.
Candidates preparing for UPSC should read NCERT books from Class 6 to Class 12. Below is a list of relevant NCERT books for different subjects.
Class 6th – Ancient Indian History by Romila Thapar
Class 7th – Medieval Indian History by Romila Thapar
Class 10th – The Story of Civilization Part-I by Arjun Dev
Class 10th – The Story of Civilization Part-II by Arjun Dev
Class 11th – Ancient Indian History by R.S. Sharma
Class 11th – Ancient Indian History by Makkhan Lal
Class 11th – Medieval Indian History by Satish Chandra
Class 12th – Modern Indian History by Bipan Chandra
Class 6 – Lands and Peoples Part 1 by Savita Sinha
Class 7 – Lands and Peoples Part 2 by Savita Sinha, Mohd Akhtar Hussain
Class 8 – Lands and Peoples Part 3 by D.P. Gupta, S. Sinha
Class 9 – Understanding Environment by Ananta Padmanaban
Class 10 – India Economic Geography by Parakh
Class 10 – Geography of India by Parakh
Class 10 – Economic and Commercial Geography of India
Class 11 – Principles of Geography Part I by K.L. Joshi, S. Sinha, D.P. Gupta
Class 11 – Physical Basis of Geography
Class 11 – Principles of Geography Part-II by M.H. Qureshi
Class 12 – India: A General Geography – 1990
Class 12 – India: Resources and Regional Development – 1993
Check out the UPSC Prelims Booster Series 2025 here.
Here’s a list of new NCERT books for UPSC preparation, along with their respective classes & subjects;
| Subject | Class & Book Title |
| Indian Society (Sociology and Social Studies) | |
| Class VI | Social Science: Social & Political Life I |
| Class VII | Social Science: Social & Political Life II |
| Class VIII | Social Science: Social & Political Life III |
| Class XI | Sociology: Understanding Society |
| Class XII | Indian Society |
| Class XII | Social Change and Development in India |
| Class XI | Sociology Book: Introducing Sociology |
| Class XI | Sociology Book: Understanding Society |
| Class XII | Sociology Book: Indian Society |
| Class XII | Sociology Book: Social Change and Development in India |
| History | |
| Class VI | Our Past – I |
| Class VII | Our Past – II |
| Class VIII | Our Past – III |
| Class IX | India and the Contemporary World – I |
| Class X | India and the Contemporary World – II |
| Class XI | Themes in World History |
| Class XII | Themes in Indian History – I |
| Class XII | Themes in Indian History – II |
| Class XII | Themes in Indian History – III |
| – | Old NCERT History books by RS Sharma, Satish Chandra, Bipan Chandra & Arjun Dev |
| Geography | |
| Class VI | The Earth Our Habitat |
| Class VII | Our Environment |
| Class VIII | Resource and Development |
| Class IX | Contemporary India – I |
| Class X | Contemporary India – II |
| Class XI | Fundamentals of Physical Geography |
| Class XI | India – Physical Environment |
| Class XII | Fundamentals of Human Geography |
| Class XII | India – People and Economy |
| Art and Culture | |
| Class XI | An Introduction to Indian Art |
| Class XI | Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters 9 & 10) |
| Polity (Political Science) | |
| Class IX | Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – I |
| Class X | Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – II |
| Class XI | Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work |
| Class XI | Political Science: Political Theory |
| Class XII | Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics |
| Class XII | Political Science II: Politics in India Since Independence |
| Science & Technology | |
| Class VI | Science |
| Class VII | Science |
| Class VIII | Science |
| Class IX | Science |
| Class X | Science |
| Class XI | Chemistry: Unit 14 |
| Class XI | Biology: Units 4 & 5 |
| Class XII | Chemistry: Part I |
| Class XII | Chemistry: Part II (Unit 16) |
| Class XII | Biology: Units 8, 9 & 10 |
| Economics | |
| Class IX | Economics |
| Class X | Understanding Economic Development |
| Class XI | Indian Economic Development |
| Class XII | Introductory Microeconomics |
| Class XII | Introductory Macroeconomics |
| Environment & Ecology | |
| Class XII | Biology (Chapters 13 to 16) |
| Psychology | |
| Class XI | Psychology |
| Class XII | Psychology |
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has removed several chapters covering topics such as the Mughal era, the Delhi Sultanate, and the opposition by certain Hindu extremist groups towards Mahatma Gandhi.
In June of last year, NCERT provided a list of syllabus deletions aimed at helping students recover swiftly from the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the NCERT textbooks released this year now feature a streamlined, “rationalised” syllabus.
The NCERT clarified its reasons for permanently removing certain chapters from the Class 10 textbooks. This explanation followed the deletion of the chapters “Democracy and Diversity,” “Challenges to Democracy,” and “Popular Struggles and Movements” from the Class 10 social science textbook Democratic Politics Book 2, along with the removal of the periodic table from these textbooks.
| Subject / Book Title | Chapter / Unit | Dropped Topics/Chapter |
| Mathematics | Real Numbers | Euclid’s division lemma; Decimal representation of rational numbers as terminating/non-terminating recurring decimals. |
| Mathematics | Polynomials | Application of the division algorithm for polynomials with real coefficients. |
| Mathematics | Pair Of Linear Equations In Two Variables | Problems related to equations reducible to linear forms. |
| Mathematics | Coordinate Geometry | Calculation of the area of a triangle. |
| Mathematics | Triangles | Proof of triangle similarity through a perpendicular from a right angle’s vertex; Ratio of areas of similar triangles to the ratio of their sides squared; Pythagoras’ theorem; Right angle condition when the square of one side equals the sum of squares of the other two sides. |
| Mathematics | Constructions | Entire chapter removed. |
| Mathematics | Trigonometric Identities | Focus on trigonometric ratios for complementary angles. |
| Mathematics | Surface Areas And Volumes | Problems involving metallic solid type conversion and mixed problems (limited to two different solids). |
| Mathematics | Statistics | Emphasis on the step deviation method for mean determination and cumulative frequency graphs. |
| Contemporary India – II | Resources and Development | Types of Resources. |
| Contemporary India – II | Forest and Wildlife | Biodiversity or Biological Diversity; Asiatic Cheetah: Where did they go?; The Himalayan Yew in trouble; Project Tiger. |
| Contemporary India – II | Agriculture | Impact of Globalization on Agriculture. |
| Contemporary India – II | Manufacturing Industries | Industry Market Linkage; Cotton Textiles; Jute Textiles; Sugar Industry; Iron Steel Industry; Cement Industry. |
| Democratic Politics – II | Challenges to Democracy | Full chapter deleted. |
| Democratic Politics – II | Gender, Religion and Caste | Images on pages 46, 48, 49 (from the reprinted edition 2020-2021). |
| Democratic Politics – II | Democracy and Diversity | Full chapter deleted. |
| Democratic Politics – II | Popular Struggles and Movements | Full chapter deleted. |
| Periodic Classification | Periodic Classification | Need for classification; Early attempts at classification (Dobereiner’s Triads, Newland’s Law of Octaves); Mendeleev’s Periodic Table; Modern periodic table; Gradation in properties; Valency; Atomic number; Metallic and non-metallic properties. |
| Heredity and Evolution | Heredity and Evolution | Basic concepts of evolution including evolution, classification, and its distinction from progress. |
| The Human Eye and the Colourful World | The Human Eye and the Colourful World | Application of scattering to explain the color change of the sun at sunrise and sunset. |
| Magnetic Effects of Current | Magnetic Effects of Current | Electric Motor; Electromagnetic induction; Induced potential difference; Induced current; Fleming’s Right Hand Rule; Electric Generator. |
| Sources of Energy | Sources of Energy | Different forms of energy; Conventional and non-conventional sources; Fossil fuels; Solar energy; Biogas; Wind, water, and tidal energy; Nuclear energy; Renewable versus non-renewable sources. |
| Management of Natural Resources | Management of Natural Resources | Not assessed in the year-end examination (Internal Assessment only); Conservation and judicious use of natural resources; Conservation of forest and wildlife; Conservation of Coal and Petroleum; People’s participation in natural resource conservation; Advantages and limitations of big dams; Alternatives (Water harvesting, Sustainability of natural resources). |
| Regional Language Content | कृतिका, भाग – 2 | एही ठियाँ झुलनी हेरानी हो रामा !; जार्ज पंचम की नाक (both entire texts). |
| Regional Language Content | क्षितिज, भाग – 2 (काव्य खंड) | देव – सवैया, कवित्त; गिरिजाकुमार माथुर – छाया मत छूना; ऋतुराज – कन्यादान (all entire texts). |
| Regional Language Content | गद्य खंड | महावीरप्रसाद द्विवेदी – स्त्री-शिक्षा के विरोधी कुतर्कों का खंडन; सर्वेश्वर दयाल सक्सेना – मानवीय करुणा की दिव्य चमक (both entire texts). |
| First Flight (Class 10 English) | Chapter 5: The Hundred Dresses I | Full chapter deleted. |
| First Flight (Class 10 English) | Chapter 6: The Hundred Dresses II | Full chapter deleted. |
| First Flight (Class 10 English) | Chapter 6: Poem, Animals | Full chapter deleted. |
| Footprints without Feet (Class 10 English) | The Hack Driver | Full chapter deleted. |
| Words and Expressions II (Class 10 English) | Unit 5 | Full unit deleted. |
| Words and Expressions II (Class 10 English) | Unit 6 | Full unit deleted. |
Below is a comprehensive overview of the topics that have been removed from the updated CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2024–25. This guide is designed to help students focus on the essential content for their board exams while saving valuable study time.
| Subject | Deleted Topics/Chapters |
| Physics | • Chapter 3: Current Electricity: Electrical resistance, carbon resistors (and their colour code), series/parallel combinations, metre bridge, potentiometer (principle & applications), measurement of cell internal resistance
• Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism: Cyclotron • Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter: Magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron • Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction: Eddy currents • Chapter 7: Alternating Current: LC oscillations • Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments: Scattering of light (blue sky; reddish sun at sunrise/sunset) • Chapter 10: Wave Optics: Resolving power of microscopes/telescopes, polarisation, Brewster’s law, and uses of plane polarised light • Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter: Davisson–Germer experiment • Chapter 13: Nuclei: Radioactivity (alpha, beta, gamma particles) and radioactive decay law • Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Special purpose p–n junction diodes (LED, photodiode, solar cell, Zener diode as regulator) |
| Maths | • Relations and Functions: Composite functions; inverse function
• Inverse Trigonometric Functions: Elementary properties • Algebra (Matrices & Determinants): Elementary row/column operations; properties of determinants • Calculus: • Continuity & Differentiability: Derivative of composite functions, Mean Value Theorems (without proof & their geometric interpretation) • Applications of Derivatives: Tangents, normals, and approximation techniques • Integrals: Definite integrals as a limit of a sum • Applications of Integrals: Area between curves • Vectors & Three-Dimensional Geometry: • Vectors: Scalar triple product • Three–dimensional Geometry: Coplanarity, plane equations, angles between lines/planes, and distance of a point from a plane • Linear Programming: Various types and mathematical formulation of L.P. problems • Probability: Variance of a random variable |
| Chemistry | • Unit IV: Surface Chemistry: Entire chapter deleted
• Unit V: General Principles & Processes of Isolation of Elements: Entire chapter deleted • Unit VI: p–Block Elements: Entire chapter deleted • Unit XIII: Biomolecules: Entire chapter deleted • Unit XIV: Polymers: Entire chapter deleted • Unit XII: Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen: (Renamed to Amines; topics on cyanides and isocyanides deleted) |
| Biology | • Reproduction: Chapter 1 “Reproduction in Organisms” – entire chapter deleted
• Food Production: Chapter 9 “Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production” – entire chapter deleted • Organisms and Populations: In Chapter 13, deletions on organism–environment interactions, major abiotic factors, responses to abiotic factors, and adaptations • Ecosystem: In Chapter 14, deletions on ecological succession and nutrient cycles |
| English | • English Core:
• Flamingo: Chapter 2 “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum” – full chapter deleted • Vistas: Chapters “Should Wizard Hit Mommy” and “Evans Tries an O–Level” – full chapters deleted • English Elective (Kaleidoscope): Full chapters deleted in the Short Story (“Tomorrow, One cm”), Poetry (“Blood”), Non–Fiction (“Science Fiction”, “Argumentative Indian”), and Drama (“Broken Images”) |
| History | • Themes in Indian History Part–II: Chapter 9 “The Mughal Court: Reconstructing Histories through Chronicles” – entire chapter deleted
• Themes in Indian History Part–III: • Chapter 12 “Colonialism and Indian Towns: Town Plans and Municipal Reports” – entire chapter deleted • Chapter 14 “Partition through Oral Sources” – entire chapter deleted • (Additional deletions exist in content related to Colonialism and Rural Society) |
| Political Science | • Although not detailed here, certain chapters on Contemporary World Politics (e.g. The Cold War Era, US Hegemony) and Politics in India since Independence have notable deletions |
| Accountancy | • Accounting for Not-for-Profit Organizations: Entire chapter deleted
• Database Management System for Accounting: Entire chapter deleted • In Company Accounts and Analysis: Deletions in Computerized Accounting (DBMS concepts, features, and payroll generation) and the unit on Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations |
| Economics | • From “Government Budget and the Economy”: Deletions on revenue deficit, fiscal deficit, and primary deficit definitions
• From “Balance of Payments”: Deletions on merits/demerits of flexible versus fixed exchange rates • From “Current Challenges in Indian Economy”: Deletions on poverty (absolute and relative), major poverty alleviation programmes, and infrastructure (energy and health) issues |
| Psychology | • Psychology and Life: Entire chapter deleted
• Developing Psychological Skills: Entire chapter deleted • Therapeutic Approaches: Deletions include Psychodynamic and Biomedical therapies • Attitude and Social Cognition: Deletions on topics covering social cognition, schemas & stereotypes, impression formation (and related attributions), and factors affecting pro–social behaviour • Social Influence and Group Processes: Deletions on conformity, compliance, obedience, cooperation, competition, social identity, intergroup conflict, and conflict resolution strategies |
NCERT books are the primary source of fundamental knowledge for UPSC aspirants. A strategic approach to reading these books can significantly enhance conceptual clarity and retention.
Also, Check the UPSC Books for Prelims and Mains Exam
Aspirants must approach the NCERT books with a structured plan to maximize their effectiveness. These books provide the foundational knowledge necessary to tackle both Prelims and Mains with confidence.
Not all NCERT books need to be covered in detail. Here’s a list of essential NCERT books for UPSC preparation:
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Old NCERT books have a simple black-and-white format with a detailed approach. New NCERT books have colorful images and revised explanations.
New NCERTs are recommended for NEET as they contain updated scientific concepts.
Yes, new NCERTs are sufficient, but referring to old NCERTs for History and Geography can be beneficial.
Start with basic NCERT books from Class 6 and read them systematically. Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing facts.
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