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NCERT Books for UPSC Exam form the foundation of Civil Services preparation. Covering History, Polity, and more, NCERT Books for UPSC Exam ensure syllabus-aligned learning.
PWOnlyIAS
June 21, 2025
NCERT Books for UPSC Exam List serve as the backbone of UPSC Civil Services Examination preparation, especially for aspirants at the initial stage of their journey. These books are widely regarded for their conceptual clarity, concise presentation, and syllabus alignment with the UPSC Prelims and Mains exams. For any serious candidate targeting the UPSC CSE 2025, building a firm foundation with the NCERT Books for UPSC Exam List is not just recommended—it is essential.
The NCERT Books for UPSC Exam List is a foundational resource that every Civil Services aspirant must refer to while beginning their UPSC preparation journey. These books are known for their conceptual clarity, structured content, and direct relevance to the UPSC Prelims and Mains syllabi. Covering subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Environment, NCERT books help build a solid base before moving to advanced reference materials. Below is the complete NCERT Books for UPSC Exam List, categorised subject-wise for your convenience:
| NCERT Books for UPSC Exam List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Class | Book Title |
| History | VI | Our Past – I |
| VII | Our Past – II | |
| VIII | Our Past – III | |
| IX | India and the Contemporary World – I | |
| X | India and the Contemporary World – II | |
| XI | Themes in World History | |
| XII | Themes in Indian History – I | |
| XII | Themes in Indian History – II | |
| XII | Themes in Indian History – III | |
| Geography | VI | The Earth: Our Habitat |
| VII | Our Environment | |
| VIII | Resources and Development | |
| IX | Contemporary India – I | |
| X | Contemporary India – II | |
| XI | Fundamentals of Physical Geography | |
| XI | India – Physical Environment | |
| XII | Fundamentals of Human Geography | |
| XII | India – People and Economy | |
| Polity | IX | Democratic Politics – Part I |
| X | Democratic Politics – Part II | |
| XI | Indian Constitution at Work | |
| XI | Political Theory | |
| XII | Contemporary World Politics | |
| XII | Politics in India Since Independence | |
| Economy | IX | Economics |
| X | Understanding Economic Development | |
| XI | Indian Economic Development | |
| XII | Introductory Microeconomics | |
| XII | Introductory Macroeconomics | |
| Science | VI – X | General Science (All textbooks) |
| XI | Chemistry – Unit 14 (Environmental Chemistry) | |
| XI | Biology – Units 4 & 5 | |
| XII | Chemistry – Unit 16 (Chemistry in Everyday Life) | |
| XII | Biology – Units 8, 9 & 10 | |
| Environment | XII | Biology – Chapters 13 to 16 |
| Sociology & Society | VI – VIII | Social & Political Life – I, II, III |
| XI | Understanding Society | |
| XII | Indian Society | |
| XII | Social Change and Development in India | |
| Art & Culture | XI | An Introduction to Indian Art |
| XII | Living Craft Traditions of India – Chapters 9 & 10 | |
| Psychology | XI | Psychology |
| XII | Psychology | |
| Old NCERT Books | — | Ancient India – R.S. Sharma |
| — | Medieval India – Satish Chandra | |
| — | Modern India – Bipan Chandra | |
| — | The Story of Civilisation – Part 1 & 2 – Arjun Dev | |
NCERT books are available from early primary classes up to the 12th standard. But for UPSC preparation, you don’t have to read them all. Just start with the books from 6th grade. They introduce you to basic ideas that will help you understand more advanced topics in later books. It’s like laying a strong foundation before building a tall building.
Apart from these standard NCERT textbooks, the List of NCERT Books for UPSC pdf can also include additional resources such as:
These additional NCERT PDF materials will provide candidates with a competitive edge while covering specific topics comprehensively.
For the General Studies papers, a combination of these NCERT books can be highly beneficial. Here is a brief overview of how they align with each paper:
A vital component of UPSC preparation is reading NCERT books. Candidates must begin with the absolute basics and move on to more complex topics as they progress. The importance of NCERT books for UPSC is as follows:
The complete list of NCERT subject-wise books for UPSC preparation is given below. Candidates preparing for the UPSC Exam for Mains must include these books in their study plan to prepare well for the exam in order to score high.
List of NCERT Books for UPSC Mains
Subject
NCERT Book Name
1. Polity
2. History
3. Geography
4. Economy
5. Art and Culture
6. Environment and Ecology
7. Science and Technology
8. Indian Society
NCERT Books are the essential resources that are considered, ‘the backbone of UPSC preparation’ because NCERT’s are simple to learn and understand and contain structured content. Here’s how you can effectively incorporate them into your study plan:
UPSC exams are like a journey through various subjects like polity, geography, history, and economy. For many candidates, these subjects might seem unfamiliar at first, like exploring new territories. This is where NCERT books come to the rescue.
NCERT books are like friendly guides created by the government itself. They’re crafted in a way that makes even complex topics easy to grasp. You can rely on the information inside because it’s thoroughly researched and trustworthy.
Many aspirants rely on NCERT books to build a solid foundation in these core subjects. Think of them as the foundation of a building. They lay the groundwork for further learning as you progress in your preparation journey.
So, if you’re just starting or need to strengthen your basics, NCERT books are your best companions. They simplify concepts and set you on the right path towards UPSC success.
NCERT books for UPSC may be vital for basic understanding. However, there is a certain way of reading books and effectively using them for exams. Candidates preparing for the first time will find these tips useful for their preparation:
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NCERT books are not just a component of UPSC preparation; they are a necessity. Without reading these books, a candidate’s UPSC preparation is incomplete. They provide the necessary foundation and understanding of core subjects, making them indispensable tools for effective preparation. A candidate’s preparation should not be limited to merely reading NCERT books, but should also involve analyzing the topics and developing a deeper understanding of them. Therefore, we recommend that you keep your NCERT books handy before you plan on beginning UPSC preparation.
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| UPSC Exam 2025 Related Articles | |
| UPSC Prelims 2025 Exam | UPSC Notification 2025 |
| UPSC Preparation 2025 | UPSC Eligibility 2025 |
| UPSC Exam Pattern | UPSC Syllabus |
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