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Prelims Books to Refer

Note: Reference books are not absolutely necessary to read from exam point of view. But, if you
are seeking more understanding and knowledge, and have the required time and energy, they are
worth reading.

1. CURRENT AFFAIRS:
Important Sources (Follow any one newspaper for news items (preferably The Hindu); one for
editorial (best Indian Express); and one Business newspaper only editorials (best is Livemint).

The Hindu
The Indian Express
Press Information Bureau (keep checking the Features section for imp articles and our weekly PIB Gist)
PRS (only for recent Bills and articles related to them)
IDSA: Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis (keep checking every 2-3 days for in-depth IR articles)
Yojana and Kurukshetra (no need to read all articles read selectively)
LokSabha and RajyaSabha Debates
OR

Babas Monthly Magazine; Yojana, RSTV and PIB Gist (If you refer to this alone, you will
only need to read a daily newspaper)

2. HISTORY

Modern India
NCERT Class 8 th (New) Our Pasts III
NCERT-Class 12 th Modern India (OLD)
Tamil Nadu Edition- Class 12th
OR

Spectrum Modern India Rajiv Ahir

Reference Book: Indias Struggle for Independence Bipan Chandra; Plassey to Partition by
Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

Medieval India
NCERT Class 7 th (New) Our Pasts II
NCERT Class 12 th Medieval India (OLD)
Tamil Nadu Edition-Class 11th

Ancient India
NCERT- Class 12 th Ancient India (OLD)
NCERT- Class 12 th Themes in Indian History- Part I (NEW)- Chapters 1 to 6
Tamil Nadu Edition Class 11 th

NOTE: Most part of Culture section overlaps with Ancient and Medieval History. Apart from the
above mentioned books, you can refer the below link for more information on Culture.

You need to study CCRT Website http://www.ccrtindia.gov.in/visualarts.php ;

http://www.ccrtindia.gov.in/performingart.php and http://www.ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.php

3. GEOGRAPHY
NCERT Social Science, Class 6 th (New) The Earth Our Habitat
NCERT Social Science, Class 7 th (New) Our Environment
NCERT Social Science, Class 8 th (New) Resource and Development
NCERT Social Science, Class 9 th (New) Contemporary India

NCERT Class 11 th (New)

Fundamentals of Physical Geography
India physical environment
NCERT Class 12 th (New)
Fundamentals of Human Geography
India People and Economy
Atlas: Orient BlackSwan School Atlas (or) Oxford School Atlas

Reference Book: Certificate Physical and Indian Geography Goh Cheng Leong; OLD NCERT
Geography Class 11th and 12th (if you can find them

4. POLITY
NCERT 6 th to 8 th (for basic understanding)
NCERT- Class 9 th to 12 th (for understanding more on democracy and federalism)
Indian Polity M Laxmikanth

Reference Book: Introduction to Indian Constitution D.D.Basu

5. ECONOMICS

Macroeconomics- Class 12th , NCERT

NCERT 11th Indian Economic Development
NCERT- Class 9 thand 10th (for basics)
Indian Economy Ramesh Singh-Selective (Chapters on)

Introduction (GDP, GNP, growth etc.)

Evolution of the Indian economy

Banking

Inflation & Business Cycle

Agriculture

India and the Global Economy (include chapters relating to it)

Human development

Technology and environment

For understanding concepts refer to either of these:

Mrunal.org Economy Section
Khan Academy Macroeconomics videos
Investopedia University (also read basics of Microeconomics from here)
Srirams IAS Economics Notes

6. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Hindu-Thursday Edition (not technical news, only application based science & Tech)
NCERT- Class 6 th to 10 th
NCERT Biology 11 th (Unit IV & V only read basic concepts not technical details)
NCERT Biology 12 th (Chapters 4,5 and rest from 7 to 16 all important read line by line except
technical details)
NCERT Biology 12 th (OLD) Chapter 9 onwards
NCERT Physics 11 th (Chap 1,5 & 8) and 12th (Chap 15 only)
NCERT Chemistry 11 th (Chap 1 & 14 only) and 12 th (Chap 14 & 16 only)
Science reporter- Selectively

7. ENVIRONMENT
ICSE Board- Environmental studies- Class 10 th and 11th

NCERT- Geography Books (in 6 th to 12 th there are lot of chapters on Environment)

Science NCERT books mentioned above
Shankar IAS Notes
Current affairs
downtoearth.org.in

Reference material : Shankar IAS notes on Environment

8. SOCIAL ISSUES & NEW POLICIES/SCHEMES

vikaspedia.in (lists all schemes Ministry and sector wise with details)
India yearbook
NCERT books mentioned above
Current affairs (also keep checking our weekly PIB Gists very important)

Ending notes:
We will never make you restrict your choices. But the above is essential for a solid
preparation.

There are people who qualify without even reading NCERTs or any most followed
resources. The key to their success is smart study. They spend more time in chalking out
what not to study than what to study.

If they follow one source, they keep on revising from the same along with complementing it
with dynamic updates.

If you trust your resource, please stick to it. Never rush to fascinating books or suggested
resources that are never ending. You are bound to fall. Because you are running behind
them.

While NCERT books may sound deceptively simple, trust us, they are not!

All the best! Please leave your doubts and comments here.

Thank you