Are you a beginner preparing for the UPSC exam? Are you trying to find the best books to get you through the test? If that’s the case, you’ve found the right place.
This article will discuss the top 5 books for beginners for UPSC online preparation. But before that, let us understand the UPSC exam and why reading books is essential for practice.
Introduction to the UPSC exam
One of the foremost challenging exams in India is run by the Union Public Service Commission. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for this exam in hopes of getting selected for various civil services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. Preliminaries, Mains, and Interviews are the order in which the exam is administered. The Prelims exam consists of two objective type papers, whereas the Mains exam consists of nine papers, seven of which are descriptive type and two of which are language papers. The Interview, also known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the exam.
Importance of reading books for UPSC preparation
Reading books is an essential part of UPSC preparation. It helps you gain knowledge and improves your comprehension, analytical, and writing skills. Books provide a comprehensive understanding of the subjects and topics covered in the exam. They also help in building a solid foundation for the exam. Reading books is also essential for staying updated with current affairs and events worldwide.
Choosing the right books for UPSC beginners
Choosing the right books is crucial for UPSC beginners. The books should be easy to understand, cover all the essential topics, and provide good practice questions. It is also important to choose books written by experts in the field. As a beginner, it is recommended to start with NCERT books as they provide a basic understanding of the subjects. After that, one can move on to advanced-level books for better performance and practice with the help of upsc online preparation.
Top 5 books for UPSC beginners
Here are the top 5 books for UPSC beginners that will help you in your preparation for the exam:
Book 1: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Indian Polity is a comprehensive guide to the Indian political system and is a must-read for UPSC aspirants. It covers topics like the Constitution, Parliament, Judiciary, and more. The book is divided into several chapters, each covering a specific topic related to Indian Polity. The author explains the concepts in simple and lucid language, making it easy for beginners to understand.
The book covers various topics such as the Indian Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Parliament, President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Judiciary, Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, Attorney General, Advocate General, and more.
Book 2: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
Indian Economy is a comprehensive guide to the Indian Economy and is a must-read for UPSC aspirants. The book covers the Indian Economy in detail and comprehensively explains the subject. The author describes the concepts in simple and lucid language, making it easy for beginners to understand.
The book is divided into several chapters, each covering a specific aspect of the Indian Economy. The topics covered in the book include the nature of the Indian Economy, economic planning in India, economic reforms in India, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, foreign trade, inflation, poverty, and more.
The book also covers the latest developments in the Indian Economy, including the impact of demonetization, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and other recent government policies. It also includes current affairs related to the Economy and has a question bank at the end of each chapter to help aspirants practice and revise the concepts.
Book 3: History of Modern India
History of Modern India is a comprehensive guide to modern Indian history and is a must-read for UPSC aspirants. The book covers the period from the arrival of the Europeans in India to the present day. The author explains the events, movements, and personalities that shaped modern Indian history.
The book is divided into several chapters, each covering a specific period of Indian history. The topics covered in the book include the decline of the Mughal Empire, the arrival of the Europeans, British colonial rule, the Indian freedom struggle, the partition of India, and more.
The book also includes a detailed analysis of the time’s social, political, and economic conditions. It provides insights into people’s lives, customs, traditions, beliefs, and how historical events impacted them.
Book 4: Geography of India by Majid Husain
The Geography of India by Majid Husain is a comprehensive book on the geography of India. It covers all the essential topics related to the geography of India, such as physical geography, climate, resources, etc. The book’s writing is clear and straightforward to read. It also contains practice questions at the end of each chapter for better practice.
Book 5: Environment by Shankar IAS Academy
Environment and Ecology is a comprehensive guide to environmental studies and is a must-read for UPSC aspirants. The book covers the basics of ecology, ecological degradation, and the measures to conserve and protect the environment. The author explains the concepts in simple and lucid language, making it easy for beginners to understand.
The book is divided into several chapters, each covering a specific aspect of the environment and ecology. The book covers the ecosystem, biodiversity, natural resources, pollution, climate change, conservation, and sustainable development.
Conclusion and Next Steps for UPSC Beginners
In conclusion, reading books is an essential part of UPSC preparation. It not only helps in gaining knowledge but also improves your comprehension, analytical, and writing skills. As a beginner, starting with NCERT books and then moving on to advanced-level books is recommended. The top 5 books for UPSC beginners mentioned in this article are Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth, Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra, Geography of India by Majid Husain, and Environment by Shankar IAS Academy. These books are easy to understand, cover all the essential topics, and provide good practice questions. So, start your preparation today and ace the UPSC exam.
FAQs
How a beginner should start preparing for UPSC?
Beginners should ideally get a minimum of 10 – 12 months before the UPSC prelims exam for preparation. You’ll comprehensively cover the syllabus and have enough test practice only then. you ought to start with the common GS papers before moving on to the optional papers.
Is 1 year enough for UPSC beginners?
UPSC Preparation related queries. Is 1 year sufficient for IAS preparation? One year is quite sufficient for IAS preparation. One doesn't got to join coaching for the IAS exam if one prepares well with the proper guidance and UPSC exam strategy.
Can I clear UPSC without coaching?
Many candidates wrongly believe that they can't crack the UPSC IAS exam without coaching. If approached with the proper strategies one can crack this exam within the very first attempt. Firstly, one needs a mixture of both diligence and smart work for cracking this exam.
How many hours are sufficient for IAS preparation?
Candidates should study 12-15 hours daily and specialise in different topics daily. to hide the entire syllabus, practice writing good answers, and provides mock tests after learning and memorizing all the themes.
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