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Old NCERT vs New NCERT: Which Books to Choose for IAS?

vishal pathaniya October 28, 2024 04:24 2392 0

The 'Old NCERT vs New NCERT' is a crucial comparison for UPSC IAS exam preparation. Check Old NCERT vs New NCERT to understand the differences in content, depth, and teaching style.

Old NCERT vs New NCERT: Which Books to Choose for IAS?

Old NCERT vs New NCERT: The discussion around Old NCERT and new NCERT textbooks is important among UPSC aspirants when selecting study materials for their exam preparation. However, Both versions of NCERT books have their own strengths and are useful for different reasons.

Old NCERT books are known for their detailed content and strict teaching style while new NCERT books have updated content with engaging illustrations.

Keep reading to find out which is better—Old NCERT or New NCERT, their significance, and how to read them effectively, including the recommendation from PW ONLYIAS on which to choose.

Why NCERT is Important for UPSC?

Reading National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books is a fundamental part of preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams in India. Here are some reasons why NCERT books are important for any aspirant:

Foundation of Basic Concepts

NCERT books offer a clear and concise explanation of fundamental concepts across various subjects, helping aspirants build a solid foundation essential for the UPSC exam.

Simplified Language and Clarity

The straightforward language and well-organized content in NCERTs make complex topics easier to understand, especially for beginners.

Comprehensive Coverage of the Syllabus

NCERTs cover a wide range of topics that align with the UPSC syllabus, ensuring aspirants get a thorough understanding of each subject.

Reliable and Trusted Source

Authored by experts and reviewed by educational authorities, NCERT books are considered authentic and reliable, minimizing the risk of incorrect information.

Direct Relevance to UPSC Exam

Many questions in both Prelims and Mains are either directly taken from or based on the concepts in NCERT books, making them crucial for success in the exam.

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Old NCERT vs New NCERT

The evolution of NCERT textbooks from their older editions to the newer versions reflects a significant shift in educational philosophy and pedagogy in India. The comparison between old NCERT textbooks and new NCERT textbooks revolves around several key aspects:

Content Updates:

Old NCERT: Older books often have traditional ideas and miss out on recent developments.
New NCERT: Updated books include current knowledge and examples that are more relevant today.

Teaching Approach:

Old NCERT: Often had a formal and rigid style, which might not engage students effectively.
New NCERT: Uses a more engaging and relatable style, incorporating visuals, stories, and real-life examples to make learning enjoyable.

Availability:

Old NCERT: Older versions of NCERTs are less accessible in terms of distribution and availability.
New NCERT: New editions are widely available in schools and online at ‘https://ncert.nic.in/’.

Assessment Methods:

Old NCERT: Focused mainly on traditional exams.
New NCERT: Supports various ways to assess students, like projects and presentations.

Old NCERT vs New NCERT – Which is Better?

Both old and new NCERT textbooks have their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of old NCERT vs new NCERT textbooks:

Advantages of Old NCERTs

  • Concise and Exam-Oriented: The Old NCERTs are known for being to the point, concise, and more focused on factual information, making them better for quick revisions.
  • Detailed Historical Perspective: Books like R.S. Sharma’s Ancient India and Satish Chandra’s Medieval India are revered for their detailed and comprehensive coverage of historical events and figures.
  • Preferred by Veterans: Many successful candidates, who have cleared UPSC in the past, recommend Old NCERTs, particularly for History.

Advantages of New NCERTs

  • Conceptual Clarity: The new NCERTs are written in a more engaging, conceptual manner. They not only provide facts but also explain them, making it easier to understand the underlying principles.
  • Updated Information: New NCERTs incorporate recent developments and have more contemporary content, which is crucial for subjects like Economics and Polity.
  • Illustrative Content: The new NCERTs are more visually engaging, with better diagrams, flowcharts, and maps that aid understanding.

List of NCERT Books for UPSC Exam

While you may not need to read every NCERT book, certain essential ones can provide you with the core knowledge necessary for the UPSC exam.

Old NCERT History Books

Here’s a list of the Old NCERT History books for UPSC preparation, along with their respective authors:

  • Class 6th – Ancient Indian History by Romila Thapar
  • Class 7th – Medieval Indian History by Romila Thapar
  • Class 10th – The Story of Civilization Part-I by Arjun Dev
  • Class 10th – The Story of Civilization Part-II by Arjun Dev
  • Class 11th – Ancient Indian History by R.S. Sharma
  • Class 11th – Ancient Indian History by Makkhan Lal
  • Class 11th – Medieval Indian History by Satish Chandra
  • Class 12th – Modern Indian History by Bipan Chandra

OLD NCERT Geography Books

Here’s a list of Old NCERT Geography books for UPSC preparation, along with their respective classes and authors:

  • Class 6 – Lands and Peoples Part 1 by Savita Sinha
  • Class 7 – Lands and Peoples Part 2 by Savita Sinha, Mohd Akhtar Hussain
  • Class 8 – Lands and Peoples Part 3 by D.P. Gupta, S. Sinha
  • Class 9 – Understanding Environment by Ananta Padmanaban
  • Class 10 – India Economic Geography by Parakh
  • Class 10 – Geography of India by Parakh
  • Class 10 – Economic and Commercial Geography of India
  • Class 11 – Principles of Geography Part I by K.L. Joshi, S. Sinha, D.P. Gupta
  • Class 11 – Physical Basis of Geography
  • Class 11 – Principles of Geography Part-II by M.H. Qureshi
  • Class 12 – India: A General Geography – 1990
  • Class 12 – India: Resources and Regional Development – 1993

New NCERT Books

Here’s a list of new NCERT books for UPSC preparation, along with their respective classes & subjects;

Indian Society (Sociology and Social Studies)

  • Class VI – Social Science: Social & Political Life I
  • Class VII – Social Science: Social & Political Life II
  • Class VIII – Social Science: Social & Political Life III
  • Class XI – Sociology: Understanding Society
  • Class XII – Indian Society
  • Class XII – Social Change and Development in India
  • Class XI – Sociology Book: Introducing Sociology
  • Class XI – Sociology Book: Understanding Society
  • Class XII – Sociology Book: Indian Society
  • Class XII – Sociology Book: Social Change and Development in India

History

  • Class VI – Our Past – I
  • Class VII – Our Past – II
  • Class VIII – Our Past III
  • Class IX – India and the Contemporary World – I
  • Class X – India and the Contemporary World – II
  • Class XI – Themes in World History
  • Class XII – Themes in Indian History – I
  • Class XII – Themes in Indian History – II
  • Class XII – Themes in Indian History – III
  • Old NCERT History books by RS Sharma, Satish Chandra, Bipan Chandra & Arjun Dev

Geography

  • Class VI – The Earth Our Habitat
  • Class VII – Our Environment
  • Class VIII – Resource and Development
  • Class IX – Contemporary India – I
  • Class X – Contemporary India – II
  • Class XI – Fundamentals of Physical Geography
  • Class XI – India – Physical Environment
  • Class XII – Fundamentals of Human Geography
  • Class XII – India – People and Economy

Art and Culture

  • Class XI – An Introduction to Indian Art
  • Class XI – Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters 9 & 10)

Polity (Political Science)

  • Class IX – Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – I
  • Class X – Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – II
  • Class XI – Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
  • Class XI – Political Science: Political Theory
  • Class XII – Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics
  • Class XII – Political Science II: Politics in India Since Independence

Science & Technology

  • Class VI – Science
  • Class VII – Science
  • Class VIII – Science
  • Class IX – Science
  • Class X – Science
  • Class XI – Chemistry: Unit 14
  • Class XI – Biology: Units 4 & 5
  • Class XII – Chemistry: Part I
  • Class XII – Chemistry: Part II (Unit 16)
  • Class XII – Biology: Units 8, 9 & 10

Economics

  • Class IX – Economics
  • Class X – Understanding Economic Development
  • Class XI – Indian Economic Development
  • Class XII – Introductory Microeconomics
  • Class XII – Introductory Macroeconomics

Environment & Ecology

  • Class XII – Biology (Chapters 13 to 16)

Psychology

  • Class XI – Psychology
  • Class XII – Psychology

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How To Read NCERT for UPSC Exam?

Many aspirants make the mistake of reading NCERT books as they would any regular textbook. However, UPSC demands a more strategic approach. Here’s how you can make the most of NCERT books:

1. Start with Basic Books

Begin by reading the NCERT books from Class 6 to 10. These books cover the fundamental aspects of subjects like History, Geography, Polity, and Science in a simpler manner, which helps to build a strong conceptual base.

2. Move to Advanced Books

Once you’ve covered the basic books, move on to the Class 11 and 12 NCERTs, as these contain more detailed information. This transition allows you to delve deeper into each subject.

3. Highlight Important Points

While reading, always have a highlighter handy. Mark important dates, events, definitions, and diagrams, as these will be useful for revision later.

4. Make Short Notes

Summarize the key points in your own words. This will not only help in better retention but also be useful for quick revisions closer to the exam.

5. Correlate with Current Affairs

As you go through NCERTs, try to link the information with current events. For example, when reading Geography, pay attention to environmental issues or disasters in the news.

6. Regular Revision

Make sure to revise these books frequently. UPSC exam preparation is a long process, and periodic revision is essential to retain information.

7. Solve Previous Year’s Papers

After reading the NCERTs, try solving questions from previous year UPSC papers. This will give you an idea of how the concepts from NCERTs are framed in questions.

Why We Recommend the PWONLYIAS NCERT Book-Set Over Both Old and New NCERTs?

Choosing the right study materials is a critical decision for UPSC IAS aspirants. While both Old and New NCERT books have their distinct advantages, the PWONLYIAS NCERT Book-Set emerges as a superior choice by effectively combining the strengths of both editions and adding unique features tailored specifically for UPSC preparation.

Here’s an in-depth look at why the PWONLYIAS NCERT Book Set is the recommended option:

  • Comprehensive Summaries: Covers content from 50+ NCERT books (6th to 12th Standard) with concise summaries, focusing on History NCERT books.
  • Thought-Provoking Questions: Includes “Points to Ponder” to stimulate critical thinking and deeper analysis.
  • Visual Aids: Extensive use of maps, diagrams, and flowcharts for better understanding of complex events.
  • Practice Questions: Chapter-wise Prelims and Mains questions are provided to enhance exam preparation and analytical skills.
  • Perfect Alignment: The workbook aligns closely with NCERT textbooks, offering a thorough and well-organized study experience.

Conclusion

The Old NCERT vs New NCERT – Which Should be Your Choice in UPSC IAS Exam Preparation? debate is valid, but ultimately, a balanced approach works best. By incorporating both into your preparation strategy, you can ensure that you have the best of both worlds—solid factual knowledge and a clear conceptual understanding.

Sign up for the PWOnlyIAS Online Course by Physics Wallah and start your journey to IAS success today!

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FAQs On Old NCERT vs New NCERT

NCERT books are crucial for UPSC preparation as they provide a strong foundation of basic concepts, cover a wide range of topics aligned with the syllabus, and are trusted sources of authentic information, helping aspirants understand key subjects clearly.

Old NCERT books are concise, exam-oriented, and focus more on factual information, making them ideal for quick revisions. They are particularly valued for their detailed coverage of historical events and are preferred by many successful UPSC candidates.

New NCERT books offer better conceptual clarity, updated information, and more illustrative content with diagrams and maps, making complex topics easier to understand and more engaging for aspirants.

For History preparation, Old NCERT books like R.S. Sharma’s Ancient India and Satish Chandra’s Medieval India are highly recommended due to their detailed and comprehensive coverage of historical events.

The PWONLYIAS NCERT Book-Set is recommended as it combines the strengths of both Old and New NCERTs, offering comprehensive summaries, visual aids, thought-provoking questions, and chapter-wise practice questions, making it an ideal resource for UPSC preparation.
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