Wanting to join the civil services is a dream of many youngsters in the country; however, completing the lengthy journey of the UPSC Civil Services Examination is equally challenging. One of the most common difficulties faced by aspirants is finding quality and reliable books to master the vast syllabus. In such cases, studying NCERT books proves to be highly beneficial, as they provide the right insights for in-depth understanding and subject mastery. Choosing the best NCERT books can make a significant difference in an aspirant’s performance as they not only explain concepts clearly but also help build a strong foundation, improve answer writing skills, and develop the analytical insight required to crack the UPSC interview.
For UPSC preparation, focus on Class 11th & 12th NCERTs for core subjects like History (Themes in Indian/World History), Geography (Physical & Human), Political Science (Indian Constitution, Contemporary Politics), and Economics (Indian Economic Development, Micro/Macroeconomics), plus key chapters from lower classes (6th to 10th) for foundational knowledge building, especially in Science & Art/Culture, to build strong basics for both Prelims and Mains. Curating a list of NCERT books for UPSC preparation saves a lot of time and effort by preventing information overload from too many sources. NCERT books are easy to understand, build a strong foundation and are a reliable source of knowledge that can be trusted.
Best NCERT Books for UPSC Prelims
NCERT books are essential for building strong fundamentals for the UPSC prelims exam, as they explain concepts in simple language. For History and Geography, aspirants should go for Class VI-XII NCERTs. For Economy and Polity, they should refer to the NCERTs of class lX-Xll. One should also prefer old NCERTs as they contain important information from an exam point of view. Let’s take a look at some important NCERT books for UPSC Prelims exam:-
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Subjects
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NCERT Books
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History
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- NCERT Class VI: Our Past
- NCERT Class VI: Our Past
- NCERT Class VII: Our Past -I
- NCERT Class VIII: Our Past II and III
- NCERT Class IX: India and the Contemporary World – I
- NCERT Class IX: India and the Contemporary World – II
- NCERT Class X: Themes In World History
- NCERT Class XII: Themes In Indian History – I
- NCERT Class XII: Themes in Indian History – II
- NCERT Class XII: Themes In Indian History – III
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Indian and World Geography
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- NCERT Class VI: The Earth Our Habitat
- NCERT Class VII: Our Environment
- NCERT Class VIII: Resource and Development
- NCERT Class IX: Contemporary India – I
- NCERT Class X: Contemporary India – II
- NCERT Class XI: Fundamentals of Physical Geography
- NCERT Class XI: Physical Environment
- NCERT Class XII: Fundamentals of Human Geography
- NCERT Class XII: People and Economy
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Indian Polity and Governance
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- NCERT Class IX: Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – I
- NCERT Class X: Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – II
- NCERT Class XI: Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
- NCERT Class XI: Political Science: Political Theory
- NCERT Class XII: Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics
- NCERT Class XII: Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence
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Indian Economy and Development
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- NCERT Class IX – Economics
- NCERT Class X – Understanding Economic Development
- NCERT Class XI – Indian Economic Development
- NCERT Class XII – Introductory Microeconomics
- NCERT Class XII – Introductory Macroeconomics
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Environment, Ecology and Biodiversity
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- NCERT Class XI: Biology (Chapter 14 and 15)
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Science and Technology
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- NCERT Class VI: General Science
- NCERT Class VII: General Science
- NCERT Class VIII: General Science
- NCERT Class IX: General Science
- NCERT Class X: General Science
- NCERT Class XI – Chemistry: Unit 14 & Biology: Units 4 & 5
- NCERT Class XII – Chemistry: Unit 16 & Biology: Units 8, 9 & 10
- NCERT Class XII – Biology: last four Chapters (13 to 16)
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CSAT
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- NCERT Class VI to X: Mathematics
- NCERT Class IX: Words and Expressions
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Best NCERT Books for UPSC Mains
NCERT books are crucial for building a strong foundation for the UPSC Mains exam. Success in UPSC Mains requires in-depth subject mastery. Therefore, for UPSC Mains aspirants should focus on Class Xl & Xll NCERTs for GS topics like History, Geography, Polity and Economics. Also, they should read NCERT books from class Vl to X for more nuanced details. Let’s take a look at the best NCERT books for UPSC Mains, including key older NCERTs highly recommended by experts.
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Subject
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NCERT Books
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GS Paper l : History
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- NCERT Class VI: Our Past
- NCERT Class VII: Our Past-I
- NCERT Class VIII: Our Past II and III
- NCERT Class IX: India and the Contemporary World-II
- NCERT Class IX: India and the Contemporary World-II
- NCERT Class X: Themes In World History
- NCERT Class XII: Themes In Indian History-I
- NCERT Class XII: Themes in Indian History-II
- NCERT Class XII: Themes In Indian History-III
- Old NCERT
- Ancient Indian History (Class XI): R.S. Sharma
- Medieval Indian History (Class XI): Satish Chandra
- Modern Indian History (Class XII): Bipin Chandra
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GS Paper l: Geography
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- NCERT Class VI: The Earth Our Habitat
- NCERT Class VII: Our Environment
- NCERT Class VIII: Resource and Development
- NCERT Class IX: Contemporary India-I
- NCERT Class X: Contemporary India-II
- NCERT Class XI: Fundamentals of Physical Geography
- NCERT Class XI: India-Physical Environment
- NCERT Class XII: Fundamentals of Human Geography
- NCERT Class XII: India-People and Economy
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GS Paper l: Indian Heritage, Art and Culture
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- NCERT Class XI: An Introduction to Indian Art
- NCERT Class XI: Living Craft Traditions of India
- NCERT Class XII: Craft Traditions of India
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GS Paper ll: Polity
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- NCERT Class IX: Political Science: Democratic Politics Part-I
- NCERT Class X: Political Science: Democratic Politics Part-II
- NCERT Class XI: Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
- NCERT Class XI: Political Science: Political Theory
- NCERT Class XII: Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics
- NCERT Class XII: Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence
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GS Paper ll: Social Justice, Indian Society and International Relations
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- NCERT Class VI: Social Science: Social & Political Life I
- NCERT Class VII: Social Science: Social & Political Life II
- NCERT Class VIII: Social Science: Social & Political Life III
- NCERT Class XI: Sociology: Understanding Society
- NCERT Class XII: Indian Society
- NCERT Class XII: Social Change and Development in India
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GS Paper lll: Economy
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- NCERT Class IX: Economics
- NCERT Class X: Understanding Economic Development
- NCERT Class XI: Indian Economic Development
- NCERT Class XII: Introductory Microeconomics
- NCERT Class XII: Introductory Macroeconomics
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GS Paper lll: Environment and Ecology
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- NCERT Science: From Class VI to Class X
- NCERT Geography: From Class VI to Class XI
- NCERT Biology: Class XII
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GS Paper lll: Science and Technology
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- NCERT Class VI
- NCERT Class VII
- NCERT Class VIII
- NCERT Class IX
- NCERT Class X
- NCERT Class XI: Chemistry: Unit 14 & Biology: Units 4 & 5
- NCERT Class XII: Chemistry: Unit 16 & Biology: Units 8, 9 & 10
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How to Read NCERT Books for UPSC?
To read NCERT books for UPSC, begin with adopting a subject-wise reading approach, starting from Class 6th to 12th for more clarity, focusing on concept building in the first read, then making targeted notes after cross-referencing with the UPSC syllabus and Previous Year Questions (PYQs) in the second/third read, always connecting to current affairs and practicing questions to build a strong foundation for the exam. Consistent reading and revision of NCERTs provide a solid foundation for both Prelims and Mains.
- Start with Classes 6-8 to understand basic concepts, then move to Classes 9-12.
- Read line by line and focus on understanding, not memorization.
- Highlight important facts, definitions, and examples.
- Make short notes after each chapter for quick revision.
- Revise multiple times and link NCERT concepts with current affairs.
Importance of NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation
NCERT books are the foundation of the UPSC syllabus. Aspirants should always start their preparation with the basics and gradually move on to more advanced topics. NCERT books help build a strong understanding of all relevant subjects for UPSC. They are easy to understand, easily available and are a reliable source of information. Let’s take a look at the importance of NCERT books for upsc preparation:-
1. Basic Concepts
The NCERT books for IAS preparation help aspirants build a strong foundation by explaining basic concepts in an easy-to-understand language. These concepts are very important because UPSC questions often test conceptual clarity. Also, when the basics are strong, it becomes easier to understand advanced reference books later. NCERTs help cover most of the relevant subjects without causing information overload.
2. Easy to Understand
The language used in NCERT books is simple and straightforward, making them easy for aspirants from all walks of life. Concepts are explained without unnecessary technical terms and complex vocabulary, which helps beginners with no prior exposure. The best NCERT books for IAS also include well-explained diagrams, examples and summaries to make learning more effective. This clarity saves time and reduces confusion during IAS preparation.
3. Easily Available
The NCERT books PDFs are easily available both online and offline. Aspirants can download free PDFs from the official NCERT website anytime. This makes them accessible regardless of location barriers and budget. Their wide availability ensures that no aspirant misses out on quality study materials.
4. Source of Questions
Many UPSC questions are directly or indirectly based on information in the old NCERT books. Topics, facts and concepts from these books often appear in both prelims and mains exams. Reading the NCERTs carefully enhances marks and chances of success. It also helps aspirants eliminate wrong options in objective exam such as Prelims.
5. Reliable Source
NCERT books are written and reviewed by subject experts, making them completely trustworthy. The information provided in these books is accurate and free from irrelevant opinions. UPSC expects aspirants to frame answers based on authentic and balanced sources like NCERTs. Therefore, one should treat these books as reliable sources.
Conclusion
Selecting books for UPSC preparation can be very confusing; however, studying NCERT books is the safest option. NCERT books help build a strong foundation; they are easy to understand, easily available and completely trustworthy because they are written and reviewed by subject experts. It is wise to start the UPSC preparation with reading the NCERT books first and then move to more complex topics and reference books. For Prelims and Mains, aspirants should read NCERT books from class Vl to Xll in sequence and try to finish one book before jumping to the next. Many questions are based on the information in these books, so mastering the NCERTs helps aspirants enhance their chances of success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
For UPSC preparation, read NCERT textbooks from Classes 6th to 12th covering History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science, and Sociology. Priority should be given to Classes 9-12 for a deeper understanding. These books help build strong fundamentals for both Prelims and Mains.
For the UPSC exam, read NCERTs from Class 6th to 12th, focusing on History, Geography, Polity, Science, Economics, and Sociology. NCERT books build foundational concepts for Prelims & Mains; however, prioritize Class 11 & 12 for core subjects like Economy, Polity, and Science, while Classes 6th to 10th cover basics, and selectively read for Environment & Art/Culture.
For UPSC Prelims, read NCERT books from Classes 6-12 for History, Geography, Polity, Economics, and Science. Focus more on Classes 9-12. Read them thoroughly to build strong conceptual clarity and revise multiple times.
Making effective notes from NCERT books for the UPSC exam involves a strategic approach focused on comprehension, key analysis, and perfect revision. The process can be broken down into three main stages: preparation, reading and note-taking, and review.
For UPSC preparation, aspirants should read NCERT books for history, science, geography, Indian polity, economics, environment, and sociology subjects. These subjects form the foundation for both UPSC prelims and mains preparation.