UPSC Booklist 2025 – Best Books for Each Subject

Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination remains one of the most prestigious goals for Indian aspirants. With lakhs of candidates appearing each year, choosing the right UPSC booklist 2025 can significantly shape your preparation journey. While the syllabus is vast, the right study materials streamline your efforts and ensure conceptual clarity.

Whether you’re starting your UPSC journey or attempting another round, this updated subject-wise guide includes must-read books for both Prelims and Mains—recommended by toppers, coaching experts, and civil servants.

General Studies – Paper I (Prelims & Mains)

This is one of the most critical papers, requiring a strong foundation in history, geography, polity, economics, and current affairs.

Recommended Books:

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (6th edition) – Polity bible

• Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong – Ideal for world geography

• NCERT Books (Class 6–12) – Fundamental for History, Geography, Economics

• Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania – Updated for 2025 trends

• Current Affairs Compilation – Vision IAS, ForumIAS, or Drishti Current Affairs monthly magazines

Prelims Focus: Go for concise notes, government schemes, and budget/highlighted Yojana insights.
Mains Focus: Practice analytical writing using examples from current affairs.

History – Ancient, Medieval, Modern & Art & Culture

History plays a vital role across both Prelims and Mains GS Paper I.

Must-Read Books:

• Ancient & Medieval India by R.S. Sharma and Satish Chandra (Old NCERT)

• Modern India by Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir) – Most widely used modern history source

• India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra – Great for Mains

• Nitin Singhania’s Art & Culture – Covers all aspects in a structured way

Tip: Link cultural developments with historical events for Mains-style answers.

Geography

Geography overlaps well with Environment, Economy, and Current Affairs.

Suggested Titles:

• NCERT Geography Books (Class 11 & 12)

• G.C. Leong – For concepts and map practice

• Atlas by Oxford or Orient BlackSwan – Crucial for map-based questions

Use maps regularly to mark important features mentioned in current events.

Indian Economy

For both static and dynamic understanding:

• Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania (new edition with Budget 2025 update)

• NCERT Class 11 & 12 Economics

• Economic Survey 2024–25 (official document)

• Budget Highlights (Press Information Bureau, PIB)

Focus Areas: Inflation, GDP trends, schemes, NITI Aayog reports, and RBI policies.

Environment and Ecology

Environment is a scoring and high-weightage topic.

Recommended Sources:

• Shankar IAS Environment Book (Latest edition)

• India Year Book – Selected chapters on climate and ecology

• Ministry of Environment Reports, PIB news, and monthly magazines

Link current events like COP28, global summits, or disasters to environmental theory.

Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (GS Paper IV – Mains)

This paper tests moral thinking and administrative attitude.

Best Resources:

• Lexicon for Ethics – Most concise

• Subbarao’s Ethics book – Optional for deeper understanding

• Case studies: Practice from Vision IAS, ForumIAS, and previous years’ papers

Practice: Write examples from Indian bureaucracy, landmark judgments, or the life of civil servants.

Optional Subjects – Book Suggestions (Sample)

Choose optional books based on overlap with GS, availability of coaching/test series, and your graduation background.

Current Affairs – The Lifeblood of UPSC

For 2025, current affairs dominate both Prelims and Mains. Stick to:

• The Hindu/The Indian Express (daily reading)

• PIB, PRS Legislative Research for Parliament-related topics

• Monthly compilations: Vision IAS, Insights, or IAS Parliament

• Yojana/Kurukshetra Magazines (only relevant editions)

Make notes digitally or in bullet format categorized by GS Paper topics.

FAQs

What is the most recommended UPSC book for Indian Polity?

Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth is considered the gold standard for both Prelims and Mains.

How many books should I read for UPSC preparation?

While it depends on your comfort level, ideally 2–3 core books per subject with daily newspaper reading is sufficient if revised well.

Can I crack UPSC 2025 using only NCERTs?

NCERTs are a great base, but to clear Mains and secure a good rank, you need advanced sources like Laxmikanth, Spectrum, and Shankar IAS materials.

Is coaching material enough for UPSC?

If you’re self-studying, use coaching test series and notes as add-ons, but don’t ignore standard books and daily current affairs.

Are online PDFs reliable for UPSC prep?

Only refer to PDFs from authentic sources like Vision IAS, PIB, or official government reports. Avoid relying on random Telegram forwards.