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Uncategories Best Books for UPSC & BPSC Preparation – Subject-Wise Guide

Best Books for UPSC & BPSC Preparation – Subject-Wise Guide

Monday, July 07, 2025


Preparing for competitive exams like UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) and BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) demands more than just dedication—it requires the right resources. Choosing the best books for UPSC and BPSC preparation can be the decisive factor in cracking these prestigious exams. This guide covers the most recommended books subject-wise, including both Prelims and Mains, updated and aligned with the latest exam patterns.

Best Books for UPSC & BPSC – General Studies Prelims

1. Indian Polity

  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth – A must-have for both UPSC and BPSC aspirants. The explanations are lucid and updated regularly.

  • Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu – Ideal for deeper understanding and conceptual clarity.

  • NCERT Class XI & XII Political Science Books – For basic to moderate level understanding.

2. Indian History and Culture

  • Ancient and Medieval India by R.S. Sharma and Satish Chandra (Old NCERTs) – Essential for Prelims and GS Paper I of Mains.

  • Modern India by Bipan Chandra (NCERT) – The most authentic and complete source for Modern Indian history.

  • A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum – Concise, crisp, and perfect for Prelims revision.

3. Indian Economy

  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh – Highly comprehensive and beginner-friendly.

  • NCERT Class XI & XII Economics Books – Good for basics and foundational understanding.

  • Economic Survey & Budget Summary – Crucial for both exams, especially current economic developments.

4. Geography

  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong – For conceptual clarity in Physical Geography.

  • NCERT Class VI to XII Geography Books – Building blocks for understanding Indian and World Geography.

  • Oxford School Atlas by Oxford University Press – Must-have for practicing map-based questions.

5. Environment and Ecology

  • Environment by Shankar IAS Academy – The most trusted resource covering all essential environmental concepts.

  • NCERT Biology Class XII (Chapters related to Ecology) – Helpful for basics and factual information.

6. Science and Technology

  • NCERT Science Books (Class VI to X) – Sufficient for conceptual clarity and Prelims-level science.

  • Current Affairs magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, and Science Reporter – For updates on recent developments.

7. Current Affairs

  • The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper (Daily Reading) – Crucial for daily updates and editorials.

  • Vision IAS Monthly Magazine / Drishti Current Affairs – Systematic revision for both Prelims and Mains.

  • PIB (Press Information Bureau) – For government schemes and authentic data.

Best Books for UPSC & BPSC – Mains General Studies

1. GS Paper I – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography

  • Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania – Detailed notes on dance, music, architecture, and more.

  • Modern India by Bipan Chandra – Still remains the gold standard for the history portion.

  • World History by Norman Lowe – Best for covering UPSC GS Mains world history syllabus.

  • Geography of India by Majid Husain – In-depth book tailored for Mains writing.

2. GS Paper II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice

  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth – Same as Prelims, but with focus on analytical aspects.

  • Governance in India by M. Laxmikanth – Must for understanding administration and e-governance.

  • Reports by ARC, NITI Aayog, and Second Administrative Reforms Commission – For high-quality content and data points.

3. GS Paper III – Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security

  • Indian Economy by Sanjeev Verma – Tailored for analytical understanding in Mains.

  • Environment by Shankar IAS Academy – Also useful for Mains GS III.

  • Science & Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari (McGraw Hill) – A compact source for Mains-level technical topics.

  • Security and Disaster Management by Ashok Kumar IPS – Best for internal security topics.

4. GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

  • Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude – Ideal for both conceptual and case study-based approach.

  • Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury – Detailed and structured format.

  • Previous Year Case Studies – Practice is key; use past years’ papers for reference.

Best Optional Subject Books (For UPSC & BPSC Mains)

History Optional

  • Ancient India by R.S. Sharma

  • Medieval India by Satish Chandra

  • Modern India by Bipan Chandra

  • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

  • World History by Norman Lowe

Geography Optional

  • Physical Geography by Savindra Singh

  • Human Geography by Majid Husain

  • Models and Theories by Majid Husain

  • GC Leong and NCERT Geography – Also relevant for optional.

Sociology Optional

  • Sociology – Themes and Perspectives by Haralambos and Holborn

  • Sociological Thinkers by George Ritzer

  • Sociology by Anthony Giddens

For BPSC, focus more on Bihar-specific books like:

  • Bihar Samagra by Drishti

  • Bihar General Knowledge by Crown / Lucent / Arihant

  • Bihar Economic Survey and Budget – Updated annually.

Answer Writing and Essay Practice

  • Essays for Civil Services by Pulkit Khare / G. Subba Rao – Topic-wise essays with structure.

  • Vision IAS Mains Test Series or Drishti Practice Papers – For answer writing skill development.

  • UPSC Mains Official Compilations (Past 10 Years) – Understand answer pattern and expectations.

CSAT (General Studies Paper II – Prelims)

  • CSAT Manual by TMH (Tata McGraw Hill) – All-inclusive for reasoning, comprehension, and data interpretation.

  • Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal – Strengthen basic math and reasoning skills.

  • Previous Year UPSC CSAT Papers – Solving these is critical for understanding the exam pattern.

Best Books for BPSC – Bihar-Specific Focus

Bihar Specific Books

  • Bihar Samanya Gyan by Dr. Binay Karna (Lucent) – Covers history, geography, polity, economy of Bihar.

  • BPSC Solved Papers (Arihant / Kiran Prakashan) – Practice and revise past papers.

  • Drishti Bihar GK Book (in Hindi) – Structured and up-to-date.

BPSC Mains Paper Specific

  • Paper I (General Hindi) – Lucent Hindi Grammar, Previous Year Papers.

  • Paper II (General Studies I) – Spectrum, NCERTs, Bihar History.

  • Paper III (General Studies II) – Indian Polity, Bihar Governance & Current Affairs.

Conclusion

Selecting the right books for UPSC and BPSC preparation is not just about collecting material but choosing quality over quantity. Aspirants must combine these books with consistent revision, mock tests, and answer writing practice to ensure comprehensive preparation. Tailor your reading list as per your strengths and weaknesses and focus more on concept clarity and integration with current affairs.

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🧠 Polity One-Liner Facts

  • 📌 India has a Parliamentary form of Government.
  • 📌 Preamble defines India as Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.
  • 📌 Indian Constitution came into force on 26th January 1950.
  • 📌 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
  • 📌 Originally, the Constitution had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.
  • 📌 At present, the Constitution has 12 Schedules.
  • 📌 Article 14 guarantees Equality before Law.
  • 📌 Fundamental Rights are in Articles 12 to 35.
  • 📌 Directive Principles are non-justiciable in nature.
  • 📌 Prime Minister is the real executive authority in India.