UPSC Book List – Best Books for Prelims, Mains & Optionals by Vision IAS

Are you an aspiring civil servant preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam? Selecting the right UPSC books and resources is critical for an effective preparation plan. The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of India’s toughest exams, comprising Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages.

With a vast UPSC syllabus covering subjects like Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs, choosing the best books for UPSC is essential for success. At Vision IAS, we’ve curated a definitive UPSC book list to guide you through Prelims, Mains, and Optionals, complemented by our exclusive resources.

Understanding the UPSC Syllabus: Your Roadmap to Success

Before exploring the UPSC book list, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the UPSC syllabus.

• The Prelims include General Studies Paper I (GS-I) and CSAT (GS-II), testing knowledge in areas like Polity, History, and Current Affairs.
• The Mains consist of nine papers, including four General Studies papers, two Optional subject papers, an Essay paper, and language papers.

The detailed syllabus could be accessed at the Vision IAS website.

Best UPSC Prelims Books: Building a Strong Foundation

The Prelims stage is objective, requiring factual knowledge and analytical skills. Therefore for this stage, our UPSC Prelims books list combines standard texts with Vision IAS’s specialized resources for comprehensive coverage.

• General Studies Paper I:
  • History: NCERT Class 6-12,
    • Ancient History: India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma.
    • Medieval History: History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
    • Modern History: History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra and Modern Indian History by Vision IAS
  • Geography: NCERT Class 6-12, Certificate Physical and Human Geography by GC Leong.
  • Polity: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikant.
  • Economy: NCERT Class 11 Indian Economic Development, NCERT Class 12 Introduction to Macroeconomics and Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh.
  • Environment and Ecology: Environment by DR Khullar.
  • Science and Technology: NCERT Class 6-10, Current Affairs section from Vision IAS.
  • Current Affairs: The Hindu/Indian Express newspapers, Vision IAS monthly current affairs booklet. PT 365 is our flagship resource, to be used as yearly compilation, trusted by thousands of aspirants to secure top marks in Prelims exam.
    • Vision IAS provides a new age, AI integrated Digital Current Affairs solution that can help you navigate the course of Current affairs.
    • The flagship “Vision Intelligence” can help you keep a track of the enormous task of handling current affairs in your preparation.
• CSAT (GS-II):
  • Quantitative Aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal, Vision IAS CSAT Modules for practice questions.
  • Logical Reasoning: Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey, Vision IAS CSAT Test Series for reasoning drills.
  • Comprehension: Previous years’ papers, Vision IAS CSAT Study Material for reading practice.
  • Vision IAS CSAT Suite can be used to study CSAT as well.

Pro Tip: Leverage Vision IAS Prelims Test Series alongside these UPSC Prelims books to simulate exam conditions and master time management.

Top UPSC Mains Books: Mastering Depth and Articulation

The Mains stage is descriptive, demanding in-depth knowledge and answer-writing skills. Our UPSC Mains books list, paired with Vision IAS resources, ensures you excel in content and presentation.

• General Studies Paper I (Indian Heritage, History, Geography, Society):
  • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, World History by Norman Lowe, and Modern Indian History by Vision IAS. Certificate Physical and Human Geography by GC Leong. Society in India by Ram Ahuja.
• General Studies Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations):
  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikant, Vision IAS Governance & Polity Notes.
• General Studies Paper III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security, Disaster Management):
  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Vision IAS Budget and Economic Survey Notes for policy insights. For Environment and science the resources used in Pre can be used. Challenges to Internal Security by Ashok Kumar.
• General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude):
  • Vision IAS study material for conceptual understanding and Ethics Case Studies for practical application.
• Essay Paper:
  • Vision IAS Essay Value-Added Material for thematic essays.

Pro Tip: Enroll in Vision IAS Mains Test Series to refine answer-writing skills and receive expert feedback. Vision IAS high quality value added materials, our flagship yearly compilation for Mains under Mains 365 and other resources can be found in the UPSC Mains Corner.

UPSC Optional Books: Tailored with Vision IAS Expertise

Optional subjects carry 500 marks in Mains, so choose wisely based on interest and background. Some important and key Optionals of UPSC Mains with reference books are listed below.

• History: A History of Ancient and Medieval India by Upinder Singh, History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra,  From Plassey to Partition and After by Sekhar Bandhopadhyay, A History of Modern World by Ranjan Chakrabarti. For Maps, refer Vision IAS History Optional Map Document.
• Geography: Physical Geography by Savindra Singh, Introducing Physical Geography Book by Alan H. Strahler and Arthur Newell Strahler, Indian geography Majid Hussain.
• Anthropology: Physical Anthropology by P. Nath, Tribal India by Nadeem Hasnain, and Anthropology by Ember and Ember.
• Political Science & International Relations: An Introduction to Political Theory by OP Gauba, Indian Political Thought by VR Mehta, Political Theory: An Introduction by Andrew Heywood and Clayton Chin, Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu,Global Politics by Andrew Heywood.
• Sociology: Introduction to Sociology by Anthony Giddens, A Dictionary of Sociology by John Scott, Social Change in Modern India by M N Srinivas, Social Background of Indian Nationalism by A R Desai

Explore Vision IAS Optional Test Series for targeted practice and mentorship.

Vision IAS Resources for UPSC CSE 2026

• Enroll in Vision IAS GS Foundation course for holistic preparation of all stages of the UPSC exam
• Find all UPSC Mains related high quality, updated and toppers trusted notes and key documents by Vision IAS at our UPSC Mains Corner.
• Explore topper’s trusted and recommended most important answer-writing tool for UPSC CSE Examination, the VisionIAS Mains Test Series, to effectively practice answer writing for Mains 2026.
• If you want to pursue a mentored approach for UPSC Mains 2026 check our Lakshya Mentoring Services. Lakshya has been a trusted mentoring service used by many toppers.
• Vision IAS provides a new age, AI integrated Digital Current Affairs solution that can help you navigate the course of Current affairs. The flagship “Vision Intelligence” can help you keep a track of the enormous task of handling current affairs in your preparation. These resources can be found at our dedicated Current Affairs page.
• We at VisionIAS also prioritise mental health of all students. At Student Wellness Cell, you can reach out to us for counseling if you feel overwhelmed with the exam. We strive to assist the students and help you with effective stress and time management under the guidance of best counselors.

Final Thoughts

The UPSC exam is a marathon, and the right UPSC preparation books, combined with Vision IAS’s resources, form your ultimate toolkit. This UPSC book list – best books for Prelims, Mains & Optionals is tailored to align with the UPSC syllabus and boost your confidence. Start with NCERTs, progress to advanced texts, and rely on Vision IAS PT365, Mains365, and test series for dynamic preparation.

Join the Vision IAS community to access mentorship, mock tests, and personalized guidance. Ready to conquer UPSC? Visit Vision IAS to explore our resources and kickstart your journey!