1. Indian Polity for Civil Services by M Laxmikanth (Polity) Also known as the ‘Bible of Polity’, the book is a bestseller for UPSC preparations. It gives a comprehensive idea of the subject and is written by a political science graduate with years of experience in training UPSC aspirants. Buy here.

2. Indian Art and Culture for Civil Services by Nitin Singhania (Culture) Written by a CA turned civil servant, the book is an immersive guide on the subject covering topics, such as Indian art, paintings, music and architecture, for both prelims and mains examinations.

3. International Relations: Pushpesh Pant (International Relations) This book covers a vast range of topics from the emergence of sovereign states to the present global issues. The author is a Padma Shri recipient and a retired professor in International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

4. Indian Economy for Civil Services by Nitin Singhania (Economy) The book has various flowcharts, tables, graphs and examples incorporated in it to better explain topics such as economic diplomacy, energy security, interactions between diplomacy etc. The author is a post-graduate in economics and a civil servant. Buy here.

5. Economic Development and Policy in India by Jain, Majhi & Ohri (Economy) As part of the syllabus for the Bachelor of Art and Commerce, the book gives a basic idea of the major economic policies formulated in the country post-Independence. Jain, Majhi and Ohri are economists who have worked on several books over the years. Buy here.

6. Oxford School Atlas by Oxford Publishers (Geography) An atlas is the best friend of any UPSC aspirant. With a good-quality print, and accurate and in-depth analysis of topics related to geography, this atlas is great for students who choose geography as an optional subject. Buy here.

7. Environmental Ecology, Bio-Diversity, Climate Change & Disaster Management by Ravi P Agrahari (Environment) The book gives an in-depth analysis of the major environmental issues and equips the readers with answers to disaster management-related questions which are significant in CSE. Buy here.

8. India after Independence by Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee & Aditya Mukherjee (History) The book gives an in-depth view of the five decades after independence which includes the political and economic agenda as well as the foreign policy during the Nehru government. Buy here.

9. A History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra (History) The book narrates the history of the Indian subcontinent between the 8th and the 18th centuries, including all the invasions and social and economic changes that occurred because of them. The author of the book is a popular historian and retired professor of JNU. Buy here.

10. India’s Ancient Past by R S Sharma (History) The book covers topics from Neolithic and Chalcolithic times to Harappan civilisation, Vedic times, and the rise of the Mauryas and Guptas. It is authored by R S Sharma who specialised in ancient history.

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