Books for UPSC Civil Services, Forest Service, CAPF and EPFO
Start with the NCERT textbooks for Classes 6 to 12, then these standard references. Aspirants who finish and revise a short list do better than those who collect many books.
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Indian Polity
M. Laxmikanth (McGraw Hill)
The one polity book almost every serious aspirant uses. Dense; plan on several readings.
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A Brief History of Modern India
Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum)
Concise modern history in a factual, revision-friendly format.
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India's Struggle for Independence
Bipan Chandra
The narrative behind the freedom movement. Longer than Spectrum; read it for understanding and for Mains.
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Indian Economy
Ramesh Singh (McGraw Hill)
Explains concepts behind the economy syllabus. Read selectively and add the Economic Survey and Budget for current data.
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Certificate Physical and Human Geography
G.C. Leong (Oxford)
Clear physical geography with diagrams. Old-fashioned in style but still the usual choice.
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Oxford Student Atlas for India
Oxford University Press
Map questions appear every year. Keep an atlas open while reading geography and news.
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Indian Art and Culture
Nitin Singhania (McGraw Hill)
Collects a scattered syllabus into one place. Heavy on facts; revise from your own notes.
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Environment
Shankar IAS Academy
Covers ecology, biodiversity and environmental conventions for Prelims and the Forest Service.
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