It is crucial that every UPSC CSE aspirant understands the importance of NCERT textbooks for clearing the IAS Exam. This article is going to give all the information about the NCERT textbooks that are relevant to the UPSC exam.
You will find a detailed Subject-wise list of NCERT textbooks that you need to be thorough to get through all the levels of the IAS Exam. You will also find where you can find the soft copies ad hard copies of these books. Let us go on.
What is NCERT
NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) is an autonomous organization that the government of India had set up in 1961. The purpose of this organization is to assist and advise the government at both central and state levels to set up policies and strategize programs to improve the quality of school education.
The major objectives of the NCERT organization are to publish textbooks and supplementary materials, develop innovative educational techniques and educational kits.
NCERT Books
Regarding all the subjects for the exam, aspirants are advised to study NCERT textbooks from 6th to 12th standards. Many questions asked in the IAS Exam are taken directly or indirectly from these textbooks.
Since the NCERT textbooks are meant to be for children, the concepts in those books are put in simple words yet concise and sufficient in information. This makes it very easy for adults preparing for the UPSC exam to grasp information from these books, clearly understanding all the fundamental concepts. These books give an insight into every subject.
Let us look at all the subjects we are supposed to look out for in the NCERT textbooks.
- Indian History and The Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Economic and Social Development
- Environment and Ecology
- General Science
For the above subjects, we are going to look at the NCERT textbooks that aspirants need to be thorough with for every Paper of the IAS Exam. Please continue to read the article for NCERT textbooks required for UPSC GS Paper I.
General Studies Paper I: This paper requires books on Indian History, Indian Society, Indian Art and Culture, and Geography.
NCERT textbooks on Indian History:
- NCERT Class VI textbook for Social Studies: Our Past
- NCERT Class VII textbook for Social Science: Our Past I
- NCERT Class VIII textbook for Social Science: Our Past II and III
- NCERT Class IX textbook for Social Science India and the Contemporary World – I
- NCERT Class X textbook for Social Science: India and the Contemporary World – II
- NCERT Class XI textbook for History: Themes in World History
- NCERT Class XII textbook for History: Themes in Indian History – I
- NCERT Class XII textbook for History: Themes in Indian History – II
- NCERT Class XII textbook for History: Themes in Indian History – III
NCERT textbooks on Indian Society:
- NCERT Class VI textbook for Social Studies: Social and Political Life I
- NCERT Class VII textbook for Social Science: Social and Political Life II
- NCERT Class VIII textbook for Social Science: Social and Political Life III
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Sociology: Introducing Sociology
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Sociology: Understanding Society
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Sociology: Indian Society
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Sociology: Social Change and Development in India
- Aspirants can also refer to the Class XII book of Sociology
NCERT textbooks on Indian Art and Culture:
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Fine Art: An Introduction to Indian Art
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Fine Art: Living Craft Traditions of India (Chapters 9&10)
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Fine Art: An Introduction to India Art – II
NCERT textbooks on Geography:
- NCERT Class VI textbook for Social Studies: The Earth Our Habitat
- NCERT Class VII textbook for Social Science: Our Environment
- NCERT Class VIII textbook for Social Science: Resource and Development
- NCERT Class IX textbook for Social Science: Contemporary India – I
- NCERT Class X textbook for Social Science: Contemporary India – II
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Geography: Fundamentals of Physical Geography
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Geography: Indian Physical Environment
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Geography: Fundamentals of Human Geography
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Geography: India – People and Economy
Please continue reading for more information on NCERT textbooks required for UPSC GS Paper-II.
General Studies Paper-II: This paper requires books on Polity/Political Science.
NCERT textbooks on Polity:
- NCERT Class IX textbook for Social Science: Democratic Politics Part I
- NCERT Class X textbook for Social Science: Democratic Politics Part II
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Political Science: Political Theory
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Political Science: Contemporary World Politics
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Political Science: Politics in India since Independence
Keep reading for information on NCERT textbooks required for UPSC GS Paper III.
General Studies Paper III: This paper requires books on Economy, Science, and Technology, Environment and Ecology.
NCERT textbooks on Economy:
- NCERT Class IX textbook for Social Science: Economics
- NCERT Class X textbook for Social Science: Understanding Economic Development
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Economics: Indian Economic Development
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Economics Introductory Microeconomics
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Economics Introductory Macroeconomics
NCERT textbooks on Science and Technology:
- NCERT Class VI textbook for Science
- NCERT Class VII textbook for Science
- NCERT Class VIII textbook for Science
- NCERT Class IX textbook for Science
- NCERT Class X textbook for Science
- NCERT Class XI textbook for Chemistry: Unit 14 & Biology Units 4 & 5
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Chemistry: Unit 16 & Biology Units 8, 9 & 10
NCERT textbooks on Environment and Ecology:
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Biology Units 13 – 16 (Last four chapters)
Lastly, let us know the NCERT textbooks required for UPSC GS Paper IV:
General Studies Paper IV: This paper requires NCERT books on Ethics and Psychology.
NCERT textbooks on Psychology:
- NCERT Class XII textbook for Psychology
Where can I find these books from?
There are free soft copies available online as well as PDFs of the textbooks to download from the internet. Or one can always buy physical books, which can be bought directly from the store or from Amazon or Flipkart.
You can click on the below link and have access to the free soft copies of all the NCERT textbooks.
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php
Or you can buy the whole bundle of 37 NCERT books on Amazon from the following link.
If you are looking to buy only a few specific books, probably those you couldn’t find online, you can always search for that specific book and buy it.
What to read after finishing the NCERT textbooks?
NCERT textbooks alone are not enough for IAS Exam preparation. Aspirants also need to refer to subject-specific books like:
- Indian History: India’s Struggle for Independence and History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra
- Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- A decent Atlas for Geography, preferably by Oxford or Orient
- Geography of India by Majid Hussain
That was all about the most important NCERT textbooks that are essential for the UPSC Exam. Aspirants need to refer to a lot of additional material in order to clear the Exam. For more information and Tips for the IAS Exam, please refer to our blog posts and subscribe for regular updates from our website.
