UPSC Civil Services Examination Resources & Must-Read Books

Presented by Akshat Saini (AIR 2)

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Key Points to Remember

1. Syllabus and Previous Year Questions

   • Essential for starting your preparation
   • Keep in front of you while studying any topic
   • Helps understand what and how to read

2. Less is More

   • Keep resources relevant and limited
   • Don’t use every available resource

3. Order of Reading

   • NCRTs
   • Advanced books (e.g., Lakshmi for Polity, Spectrum for History)
   • Value Addition Material (e.g., Current Affairs magazines, editorials, government reports)

4. Stick to the Resource List

   • Finalize your resource list and stick to it
   • Avoid changing resources frequently

General Studies (GS) 1: History

• NCRTs (Class 6-12)
  • Brief reading is sufficient
  • Both new and old NCRTs are acceptable
• Must-Read Book: Spectrum for Freedom Struggle
  • Thorough reading
  • Latest version for prelims and mains
• Post-Independence India
  • Nitin Sangwan's notes (summary of Bipin Chandra)
• World History
  • Vision IAS notes

Art and Culture

• Class 11th Fine Arts Book
  • Essential for prelims and mains
• Nitin Singhania's Indian Art and Culture
  • Used as a supplement
• Old NCRTs on Ancient and Medieval India
  • By R.S. Sharma and Satish Chandra
  • Brief reading

Geography

• NCRTs (Class 6-12)
  • Class 11th and 12th are must-read
• Conceptual Clarity Resources
  • Rachita Nihl's geography videos (Mrunal’s website)
  • GC Leong’s book (as supplement)
  • PMF IAS website
• Atlas
  • Any atlas (Oxford recommended)

Indian Society, Women, Population, Urbanization, Globalization

• Current Affairs
  • Vision IAS notes and test series

General Studies (GS) 2: Constitution and Polity

• NCRTs (Class 6-12)
  • Brief reading
• Must-Read Book: Lakshmi Kant
  • Bible for Constitution and Polity
• Current Affairs
  • Editorials, Vision IAS material, PIB, PRS
• Second ARC Reports
  • 6th Report on Local Governance (summary)
• Vision IAS Online Notes
  • For topics like pressure groups, NGOs

Governance

• Second ARC Reports
  • Essential reports: 1st, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
• Current Affairs
  • Editorials, Vision IAS material, PRS, PIB

Social Justice

• Current Affairs
  • Editorials, Vision IAS material, PIB
• NITI Aayog's Three Year Action Agenda
  • Selective reading (health, education, skill development)
• Budget and Economic Survey
  • Summaries sufficient (only the current year)

International Relations

• Current Affairs
  • Editorials, Vision IAS material
• Ministry of External Affairs Website
  • PDFs on India’s relations with other countries

General Studies (GS) 3: Economy

• NCRTs (Class 9-12)
  • Must-read books for economy
• Advanced Book: Sanjeev Verma’s Book
  • Less bulky compared to Ramesh Singh
• Current Affairs
  • Editorials, Vision IAS material, PIB
• Budget and Economic Survey
  • Summaries sufficient
• Online Websites
  • Investopedia, Earthopedia (for conceptual clarity)

Environment

• NCRT Biology (Class 12) Chapters 13-16
  • Builds base in environment
• Shankar IAS Environment Book
  • Brief reading
• Current Affairs
  • Editorials, Vision IAS material, PMF IAS website (for conceptual clarity)

Internal Security

• Book by Ashok Kumar and Vipul
  • Internal Security and Disaster Management
• Current Affairs

Disaster Management

• Second ARC 3rd Report: Crisis Management
  • Summary reading
• NDMA Guidelines
  • Available online, very important
• Current Affairs

Science and Tech

• Vision IAS Current Affairs Material
  • Only important topics (e.g., AI, big data)
• Editorials

Ethics (GS4)

• Second ARC Reports
  • 4th Report: Ethics and Governance
  • 12th Report: Citizen-Centric Administration
• Book on Ethics
  • Chronicle’s book or DK Balaji’s book
• Google Search
  • For any shortage of content, add “UPSC” to searches

Prelims

• Basic Books Remain the Same
• PT365 of Vision IAS
• Compilation on Government Schemes
  • Insights compilation
• Previous Year Papers
  • Very important

CSAT

• Initial Test
  • See if you can clear the cutoff without preparation
  • If not, brush up on certain mental ability topics

Conclusion

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