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Must Read Books for IAS Preparation/must read for UPSC exam
You can nd plenty of lists lled with plenty of books for IAS, if you search around for material to help you start your preparation for
UPSC. But most of them are bloated lists, meant to scare you into thinking thereis too much to study! Here is a short list ofthe books
to prepare for IAS (http://byjus.com/ias/ias-exam), which you must grab rst, (and sometimes just download for free!) if you are
thinking of making a serious attempt at UPSC preparation. These should be your rst companions. We have listed the books for IAS
and briefly described why we think it is a must-read book for your preparation. Also included is a brief guide on how to make maximum
use of the book. The books are listed in the recommended order in which they should be read once you start your preparation.
Full list of required NCERT books is available here. Why you must read it: They should form the basics of your preparation. No matter
what coaching you go to or what books you refer to, NCERTs are a must read for every aspirant. How to Read NCERTs is a separate
article. Read it for a comprehensive overview on NCERT study Strategy. Point to note: NCERTs should be read in parallel with the other
books we have given here and with the rest of your preparation do not think you will nish NCERTs rst and then read other things.
NCERTs are not enough for your preparation. Make sure your read the relevant NCERTs when reading the other books in the list dont
mix subjects too much in a single day. Give a whole day to polity, for example.
Why you must read it:This is one book that is sure to nd a place in everyones list of books to read for IAS exam. Polity is a tough
subject to get into. Unfortunately, Laxmikanth wont make it easier. However, reading through Laxmikanth is the best way we know
to get students attuned to the subject. Laxmikanth alone wont get you good marks or teach you how to think about the Indian Polity,
but if you allocate 3 weeks to Laxmikanth and just nish the book off, the you can be condent that at least whatever you read in Polity
will make some sense to you. That is why you should read this book very early in your preparation. How you should read it: step-by-
step:
IASplace.
1. First Reading: You should make a complete mess of the book by underlining all over the Preparation - Medieval
Most things Indian
in the book Histor
should be
new to you, so in the rst read do not try to make notes. Just underline or highlight everything you think you are not familiar with or
you might forget. This might take you 2-3 weeks.
2. Second Reading: Wait for a week before you go for second reading. Just go through the parts you highlighted and see if you are
able to recollect things. Go to our practice tests and test your knowledge. Mark in a different color anything that looks like complete
greek to you now! Google things you forgot to see if better explanations are there. Make short notes on those things and stick
them to the relevant pages.
3. Third Reading: Do this immediately after Second Round. This time read from cover to cover again. If possible get a fresh book to
read from. Make chapter summaries of each chapter. (Send them to us and if we publish you can buy your fresh book with the
gift voucher!!) make sure chapter summaries include better explanations you found on web or in the NCERTs.
4. Make skeleton notes with only key terms for each chapter too. Go for a walk and try to see if you remember what everything
means. Now call your mentor or study partner and try to explain each chapter to them, looking only at your skeleton notes! Ask
them to bow to the new Grand Master of Polity!
Why you must read it: Again, not a great book by any shot but it is the most comprehensive in the market. Our tablet students can skip
it altogether if they want, but it is advised that you approach Ramesh Singh in the same manner as Laxmikanth above. SEE ABOVE
This should be the fourth book you read. Aim to nish this too at the earliest so that newspapers will start making good sense. What
you should focus on: One big difference is that here the skeleton notes are already provided for you the Table of Contents of Ramesh
Singh is phenomenal it is comprehensive and covers everything. If you want to look at only the Table of Contents, have a look here
for a downloadable version. It is in a poster format. Download it, print it and stick it up! The ToC is more useful than the book use it
for constant revision once you have read the book at least once. Make sure you get the latest edition. Again, send us chapter
summaries to win gift vouchers you can use to purchase new editions, etc.
Why you must read it: Once you have the basics of modern history, economy and polity in hand, it is time to go a bit deeper. You can do
this by choosing DD Basu. Here things covered in a shallow manner in Laxmikanth is given in more detail. Reading this book will teach
you how to think about some of the important constitutional issues and how the constitution itself took shape. How you should read it:
Do not go for a very exhaustive reading here. Focus should be on understanding well. Hence skip directly to making skeleton notes of
key points and then explaining to mentor/study partner. Get feedback on how much sense your explanation is making. Start writing
mains level questions in our answer practice session. Again, if you want you can make and send us chapter summaries. We will
publish them and reward the best ones.
6.Indias Struggle for Independence byBipan ChandraIAS Preparation - Medieval Indian Histor
Why you must read it: Except for a few books such as the Spectrum books, this is the most structured book on Modern Indian History
you can read. Some blogs will ask you to read Spectrum books, but do not do it unless you have no time at all and just want to know
the events. BC is essential if you want to learn how things turned out the way they did and be able to write informed and well argued
answers to UPSC level questions. That is why this book is always on the list of must read books for UPSC exam preparation.
What you should focus on: Instead of focusing on dates and names, focus on causes and effects and the various explanations for
various events. You should be able to explain why any particular event took place in a very simple and concise manner. You should be
able to talk about various theories/explanations for the various big events. You should be able to remember and list of the details of
certain bills, provisions, proclamations, etc such as the 1935 act, for example. How you should read it:
1. Go decade by decade. Read the relevantchapters for each decade and then list out all the big events of that decade.
2. Try to draw out connections between all the big events and write them down. Also check for connections from previous decade or
earlier.
3. Summarize the entire decade in a nice story like manner, but including details. Try to teach your study partner/mentor and send to
us for publishing + feedback.
4. After you nish, start writing essays on each big event.
5. Attempt UPSC level questions and get feedback at our Answer Writing Practice section. (http://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/exam-
simulation/answer-writing-practice)
Why you must read it: Best way to get deep into the policy making world. You understand most of the basic concepts now. Time to
start thinking about how to change the country. 2nd ARC had though a lot about it. Go check out what they thought and improve upon
them! What you should focus on: Primarily on the big challenges in each paper. And chapter level recommendations. How you should
read it:
1. Skim each chapter and try to understand what issues are being discussed
2. Try to come up with your own recommendations after you understand the chapters concerns
3. Read the recommendations summarize them. Try to make a single statement or two/three which captures the spirit of the
recommendations.
4. Do this for each chapter in each report
5. Summarize entire report in less than 1000 pages after nishing a report. Do not look at the report look only at your skeleton notes
Why you must read it: More organized than NCERT. Quick Read. How you should read it: Make detailed notes of all concepts. Make
skeleton notes, teach, etc. as above. Practice all important diagrams. We will be giving you a list of important diagrams to practice for
UPSC (http://byjus.com/ias/upsc-syllabus) geography. Practice actual questions. Go through optionals syllabus as well, once. Use
google to ll some of those also into your notes. You can send us chapter summaries to get feedback. You can get feedback on your
answers over at the answer writing practice section.
Why you must read it: It is comprehensive and covers most of the required elds if you read with ARC on same topic. Free marks if you
study it well! Questions do not change in this section much over the years. So good ROI Process: follow similarstudy processes.
Well, that is it. 10 books you should not miss out on once you start your preparation! If you follow the methods given here properly and
understand each book well (without neglecting newspapers, of course!), you would be well on your way to mains, interviews and
beyond! Get reading!
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Recommend 6 Share
Name
ARCHANA
2 years ago
why a tablet student can skip the economy book by Ramesh Singh
1 Reply
How was the tablet program of BYJU's ? Is it money making device for them . I am planning to go for it but donno the quality of the program.
Reply
I Have got the Tablet program of BYJU's.Its good and it helps you to focus on important topics from UPSC point of view.Its suits for
working professionals who dont have a particular schedule of work.Books along with WEBINARS,TABLET should be enough if we go
through more than 3-4 times along with HINDU and INDIAN EXPRESS Daily reading
1 Reply
Find and Ask someone who had taken the course. Do not ask the team. They will denitely use marketing strategies.
Reply
amritha j
a year ago
Shailaja Kovuru
a year ago
The link for NCERT books is missing. Is there a list of NCERT books that we need to study?
Reply
ARCHANA
a year ago
do we need latest edition of laxmikant as I already have 2014 edition.
Reply
siri
2 years ago
I am a graduate pursuing my mba..i wish to crack civils as i am complete starter i need suggestions on how to start and from where to start..is
it possible to understand the exam process and crack it by self preparation?if yes how is that ?
Reply
Study Guy
2 years ago
Balu_chettan
2 years ago
Can u recommend some books for studying environment,ecology and stuff? Trend is like increase in the number of environment questions ryt?
after IFS and civil service prelims got merged?
Reply
Study Guy
2 years ago
Thanks..
Reply
Target UPSC Mains 2017: Essay Paper Analysis UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 16
IAS Preparation - Medieval Indian Histor
1 comment 12 days ago 1 comment 14 days ago
Swati Kumar Nice one, thanks Byju's. vishalbk sir, can you present the cna and pib analysis together.
UPSC 2017: Comprehensive News Analysis Aug 22 UPSC 2017-18: Weekly GK and Current Affairs Quiz Aug 06
2 comments 9 days ago Aug 12
Onkar Tiwari Awesome 8 comments 9 days ago
Onkar Tiwari Doha Development Round is often in news. It relates
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