For every UPSC aspirant in India, the right booklist is the foundation of success. With changes in exam trends, increasing analytical focus, and deeper current affairs integration, selecting the right resources is more important than ever. The UPSC Booklist 2025 reflects the most recommended books by toppers, mentors, and successful candidates from the 2024 exam cycle.
Whether you’re just starting out or revising your strategy for another attempt, this detailed booklist will help you prepare smarter for both Prelims and Mains, ensuring complete coverage of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus.
General Studies – Prelims Booklist
The Prelims stage is the most competitive round of the exam, with lakhs of candidates and only a fraction advancing. The following books are considered essential by 2025 toppers:
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Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth (6th Edition)
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History – Spectrum’s Modern History by Rajiv Ahir
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Geography – NCERTs (Class 11 & 12) + GC Leong’s Physical Geography
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Economy – Sanjeev Verma or Nitin Singhania (for theory) + Economic Survey & Budget Summary
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Environment – Shankar IAS Environment Book
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Current Affairs – Vision IAS PT365 + The Hindu / Indian Express editorial notes
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CSAT (Paper II) – CSAT Manual by Tata McGraw Hill + Previous Year Papers
These books form the core static material for Prelims 2025. Along with mock tests, this booklist is sufficient to crack GS Paper I confidently.
General Studies – Mains Booklist (GS I to GS IV)
Mains preparation requires depth and analytical clarity. Here’s what toppers in the UPSC Booklist 2025 are consistently using for each GS paper:
GS Paper I – Indian Heritage, History, and Society
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Tamil Nadu Class 11–12 History Books
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Spectrum Modern History
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Nitin Singhania for Art & Culture
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IGNOU Sociology Notes (for Social Issues)
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Yojana Magazine (monthly essays on culture and society)
GS Paper II – Governance, Constitution, and IR
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Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
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2nd ARC Reports (selective)
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Introduction to Constitution by D.D. Basu (for legal depth)
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Daily editorial notes from The Hindu (for IR and current issues)
GS Paper III – Economy, Environment, Science, and Security
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Ramesh Singh or Nitin Singhania Economics
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Shankar IAS Environment
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Current Affairs PDFs (Vision, Insights, Drishti)
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PIB, PRS India, and Down to Earth magazine (for Science & Tech and Security topics)
GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
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Lexicon for Ethics
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G. Subba Rao (optional reading)
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Case study compilations from GS Score and Vision IAS
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Toppers’ copies for real structure practice
The UPSC Booklist 2025 shows that NCERTs are still relevant, but Mains demands current, multi-dimensional understanding and writing practice with strong value-based content.
Optional Subject Booklist (Popular Choices)
Toppers recommend limiting optional book sources to 2–3 high-quality materials. Here are books for the most popular options in 2025:
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| PSIR | Andrew Heywood, Subhra Ranjan Notes, IGNOU Political Theory |
| Geography | GC Leong, Savindra Singh, Majid Husain Atlas, Vision Value Add |
| Anthropology | Munirathnam Sir Notes, P. Nath, Ember & Ember |
| Sociology | Haralambos & Holborn, IGNOU BA Sociology, Nitin Sangwan |
| History | Bipan Chandra, Satish Chandra, R.S. Sharma, Plassey to Partition |
Toppers emphasize mastering a limited number of books and revising them multiple times rather than jumping across sources.
Essay and Answer Writing Books
Essay paper continues to be a deciding factor for many toppers. For this, the following resources are highly recommended:
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“151 Essays” by Arihant
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“Mastering Essay & Answer Writing” by Lukmaan IAS
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Toppers’ answer booklets and self-practice using PYQs
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Practice writing 2 essays per week, getting feedback from mentors
Many successful aspirants say that reading non-fiction books (like Yuval Noah Harari, Raghuram Rajan, Amartya Sen) adds value to essay writing and general articulation.
Notes, Test Series, and Online Resources in 2025
The UPSC Booklist 2025 is incomplete without the mention of top-performing online platforms:
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Vision IAS & ForumIAS Test Series (for GS and Essay)
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Drishti IAS Notes in Hindi & English
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Insights on India Daily Quiz and Secure Initiative
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Telegram Channels (for PYQs, AIR Spotlight, PIB news in PDF)
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GS Score Value Addition Materials (especially for GS III & GS IV)
In 2025, many toppers have created digital revision folders using Obsidian, Notion, and OneNote for faster retention and personal note structuring.
FAQs
Which is the best UPSC book for Indian Polity?
M. Laxmikanth remains the top choice across all levels of preparation.
Are NCERTs still relevant for UPSC 2025?
Yes. NCERTs form the conceptual base and are especially useful for Prelims and early Mains preparation.
What’s the best way to cover current affairs for UPSC?
Use monthly compilations (Vision/Insights), daily editorials, and PIB news. Limit sources to avoid overload.
Is coaching material better than standard books?
Standard books should be your foundation. Coaching notes are best used for revision and quick updates.
How many revisions are ideal before the Prelims?
At least 3–4 complete revisions of the entire static and current affairs material are needed before attempting Prelims confidently.
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