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NCERT Books For UPSC Preparation: NCERT Book List For IAS Prelims & Mains

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Last Updated on June 14, 2025

NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation is an ultimate resource for aspirants to set the groundwork for their UPSC Exam Prep. One of the best foundational resources for aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, NCERT textbooks from Class 9th to 12th cover subjects such as History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, and Sociology, etc. and is one of the best preparation resources for candidates to build a strong conceptual base. This is effective for attempting both objective-type and descriptive papers of UPSC Civil Services Exam. Moreover, many questions in the UPSC exams are directly or indirectly based on the information provided in NCERT books, making them indispensable for thorough preparation. 

Aspirants are advised to systematically study NCERT books from classes 6 to 12, as they align well with the UPSC Syllabus; the right usage will enhance your ability to analyze, interpret and present information persuasively. Another key factor why aspirants refer to these books is their validity, as the information is provided by Government institutions. So, NCERT Books for UPSC should be referred by the IAS Aspirants. NCERT Books are considered as the 1st step in the journey of IAS Preparation. If you are searching for the Best NCERT Books for IAS, you have come to the right place. In this article, get the list of NCERT books for UPSC Prelims and Mains exams. 

 

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NCERT Books For UPSC Prelims 2025

The Prelims is the 1st stage of the selection process of the UPSC Civil Services Exam, which is conducted in two papers – GS Paper 1 and the CSAT. The Prelims is conducted to screen candidates for the Mains exam. The UPSC Prelims is conducted for a total of 400 marks, equally divided between Paper I & Paper II. The following is an expert-curated NCERT Booklist for UPSC Prelims –

Top UPSC NCERT Book List For UPSC Prelims Preparation

Subject

Class

Book

History

Class VI

Our Past I 

Class VII

Our Past II 

Class VIII

Our Past III – Part 1 

Class IX

India and the Contemporary World I 

Class X

India and Contemporary World II 

Class XI

Themes in World History

Class XII

Themes in Indian History – Part I 

Themes in Indian History – Part II 

Themes in Indian History – Part III

Indian Polity

Class IX

Politics Part – I

Class X

Politics Part – II

Class XI

Indian Constitution at work

Political Theory

Class XII

Contemporary World Politics

Politics in India Since Independence

Geography

Class VII

The Earth Our Habitat

Our Environment

Class VIII

Resources and Development

Class IX

Contemporary India - I

Class X

Contemporary India - II

Class XI

Fundamental of Physical Geography

Physical Environment

Class XII

Fundamental of Human Geography

People and Economy

Economics

Class IX

Economics

Class X

Understanding Economic Development

Class XI

Indian Economic Development

Class XII

Introductory Microeconomics

Introductory Macroeconomics

Indian Society

Class VI

Social and Political Life - I

Class VII

Social and Political Life - II

Class VIII

Social and Political Life - III

Class XI

Understanding Society

Class XII

Indian Society

Social Change and Development In India

Art and Culture

Class XI

An Introduction to Indian Art - Part I

Class XII

Living Craft Traditions of India

Science 

Class VI

Science - Textbook for Class VI

Class VII

Science - Textbook for Class VII

Class VIII

Science - Textbook for Class VIII

Class IX

Science - Textbook for Class IX

Class X

Science - Textbook for Class X

Class XI

Chemistry -Part II - Unit 14

Biology - Unit 4 and Unit 5

Class XII

Chemistry - Part II - Unit 16

Biology - Unit 8, Unit 9, and Unit 10

Also check – Old NCERT Books For UPSC

NCERT Books for UPSC Mains 2025 

Candidates who qualify the Prelims will be appearing for the UPSC IAS Mains. The Mains exam will have a weightage of 1750 marks in total. In this exam, there will be both descriptive and objective-type papers. Therefore, you have to cover the vast UPSC Mains Syllabus to cover these papers. Below is the paper-wise UPSC NCERT Book List for the Mains exam that will help you to clear the cut-off in this exam – 

NCERT Books for GS Paper I: Indian Heritage, Culture, History & Geography

The GS Paper 1 of UPSC Mains is “Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.” Candidates can refer to the following NCERT Books for UPSC Mains to prepare for this paper –

Subject

Class

NCERT Book Title

History

VI

Our Past – I

VII

Our Past – II

VIII

Our Past – III

IX

India and the Contemporary World – I

X

India and the Contemporary World – II

XI

Themes in World History

XII

Themes in Indian History – I, II, III

Geography

VI

The Earth Our Habitat

VII

Our Environment

VIII

Resource and Development

IX

Contemporary India – I

X

Contemporary India – II

XI

Fundamentals of Physical Geography

XI

India – Physical Environment

XII

Fundamentals of Human Geography

XII

India – People and Economy

Indian Society

VI

Social and Political Life – I

VII

Social and Political Life – II

VIII

Social and Political Life – III

XI

Understanding Society

XII

Indian Society

XII

Social Change and Development in India

Art & Culture

XI

An Introduction to Indian Art

XII

Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters 9 & 10)

Also check – NCERT History Books for UPSC

NCERT Books for GS Paper II: Polity, Governance & International Relations

UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 is “Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.” Candidates must be proficient with the NCERT Political Science Books to prepare for this paper –

Subject

Class

NCERT Book Title

Polity

IX

Democratic Politics – I

X

Democratic Politics – II

XI

Indian Constitution at Work

XI

Political Theory

XII

Politics in India Since Independence

XII

Contemporary World Politics

NCERT Books for UPSC GS Paper III: Economy, Science & Technology, Environment

NCERT Books for UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 “Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management” covers important subjects such as Economy, Science & Technology and Environment. Referring to the following NCERT Books is recommended for candidates for effective Mains Preparation –

Subject

Class

NCERT Book Title

Economy

IX

Economics

X

Understanding Economic Development

XI

Indian Economic Development

XII

Introductory Microeconomics

XII

Introductory Macroeconomics

Science & Tech

VI

Science

VII

Science

VIII

Science

IX

Science

X

Science

XI

Biology (Units 4 & 5)

XI

Chemistry (Unit 14)

XII

Biology (Units 8, 9 & 10)

XII

Chemistry (Unit 16)

Environment

XII

Biology (Chapters 13–16)

NCERT Books for GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

UPSC Mains GS Paper 4 is the paper on “Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.” Considered one of the most challenging papers of IAS Mains, GS Paper 4 has case studies based questions for which foundational knowledge is indispensable. Refer to the following NCERT textbooks for Mains GS-4 to strengthen your exam preparation –

Subject

Class

NCERT Book Title

Ethics & Psychology

XI

Psychology

XII

Psychology

These NCERT books are highly recommended for building a strong conceptual understanding essential for the UPSC examination.

Also read – How to Read NCERT for UPSC?

Must Read UPSC NCERT Books – Class Wise List of NCERTs

Given the vast number of NCERT Books from Class 6th to 12th, aspirants who are just starting out their preparation might feel overwhelmed with the large amounts of study material at hand. For your easy reference, the following table mentions the most important NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation class wise for systematic study and effective revision –

Class

Subject

Book Name

VI

History

Our Past

Geography

The Earth Our Habitat

Social Science

Social & Political Life I

Science

Science – Class VI

VII

History

Our Past – II

Geography

Our Environment

Social Science

Social & Political Life II

Science

Science – Class VII

VIII

History

Our Past III – Part I & II

Geography

Resource and Development

Social Science

Social & Political Life III

Science

Science – Class VIII

IX

History

India and the Contemporary World – I

Geography

Contemporary India – I

Political Science

Democratic Politics Part – I

Economics

Economics

Science

Science – Class IX

X

History

India and the Contemporary World – II

Geography

Contemporary India – II

Political Science

Democratic Politics Part – II

Economics

Understanding Economic Development

Science

Science – Class X

XI

History

Themes in World History

Geography

Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Geography

India – Physical Environment

Political Science

Indian Constitution at Work

Political Science

Political Theory

Economics

Indian Economic Development

Sociology

Understanding Society

Art & Culture

An Introduction to Indian Art

Art & Culture

Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters 9 & 10)

Science

Chemistry – Unit 14

Science

Biology – Units 4 & 5

XII

History

Themes in Indian History – I

History

Themes in Indian History – II

History

Themes in Indian History – III

Geography

Fundamentals of Human Geography

Geography

India – People and Economy

Political Science

Politics in India Since Independence

Political Science

Contemporary World Politics

Economics

Introductory Microeconomics

Economics

Introductory Macroeconomics

Sociology

Indian Society

Sociology

Social Change and Development in India

Science

Chemistry – Unit 16

Science

Biology – Units 8, 9 & 10

Environment

Biology – Chapters 13 to 16 (Environment & Ecology)

XII

Psychology

Psychology – Class XII

Candidates who will be appearing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam in Hindi can check the UPSC NCERT Book List in Hindi to kickstart their preparation for the upcoming Mains. 

We hope this NCERT Book List for UPSC 2025 will help you prepare for the IAS Prelims and Mains Exam. You can also read our NCERT Notes for UPSC on the linked article. You can also join our NCERT Foundation Course to access mock tests, and live classes or install the Testbook App for the latest updates.

यदि आप यूपीएससी सिविल सर्विसेज परीक्षा की तैयारी हिंदी माध्यम में कर रहे हैं, तो नीचे स्क्रॉल करें और यूपीएससी परीक्षा से सम्बंधित लेखों को हिंदी में पढ़ें।

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Latest UPSC Civil Services Updates

Last updated: June 14, 2025

-> Candidates can check out the Daily Headlines for 13th June UPSC Current Affairs.

-> The UPSC CSE and IFS result has been released @upsc.gov.in on 11 June, 2025. Check UPSC Prelims Result 2025, UPSC IFS Result 2025 

-> UPSC Launches New Online Portal upsconline.nic.in. Check OTR Registration Process.

-> Check UPSC Prelims 2025 Exam Analysis and UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper for GS Paper 1 & CSAT.

-> UPSC 2024 Prelims Answer Key released on 21st May 2025 at upsc.gov.in for Paper 1, 2.

-> UPSC Exam Calendar 2026. UPSC CSE 2026 Notification will be released on 14 January, 2026. 

-> The UPSC Civil Services Notification 2025 was out on 22nd January, 2025 and the UPSC 2025 Prelims exam date is 25th May, 2025. Now, the UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted from 22 August, 2025 onwards!

-> Calculate your Prelims score using the UPSC Marks Calculator.

-> Go through the UPSC Previous Year Papers and UPSC Civil Services Test Series to enhance your preparation.

-> Check Axiom-4 mission: Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's AX-4 mission Launch Date & Time

-> PM Kisan 20th Installment Date 2025: Beneficiary Status & List, Check eKYC Process

-> 8th Pay Commission Salary Hike

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