Want To Get into Civil Services? Here is the Book You Should Read

Civil services are a dream for a huge part of youth in India. Working for the world’s biggest bureaucracy is a matter of pride. Every year, around 8 lakh students appear in the exam, and only 1000 are selected. It shows that civil services are indeed one of the toughest exams. Needless to mention that it requires firm strategy, complete dedication, and targeted study to clear the exam.

The books you choose for preparation for the UPSC examination play a crucial role. Going through books like the Indian Economy for civil services and other competitive examinations ensures you crack the civil services on the first try.

The most important subjects for comprehensive preparation for the UPSC examination are history, economics, politics, geography, art, and culture. Some of the most important books that create a solid foundation for learning to start are NCERT books.

Start with NCERT

IAS toppers have been recommending NCERT as a good starting point for aspirants and then moving on to the standard reference books. NCERT books from Class 6 to Class 12 are the best place for all IAS aspirants to begin. They serve as the foundation of your preparation strategy. NCERTs are a requirement for every applicant, regardless of the coaching you receive or the books you consult.

Standard Books to Read

Though there is no fixed set of books that can ensure your preparation. An aspirant has to think beyond the conventional study process to outstand. Civil service aspirants should follow up the NCERT books with a list of standard books required to cover the study material comprehensively and complete the General Studies syllabus for both the Prelims and Mains exams. Some of the most important books you cannot overlook are

● Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

● Indian Economy for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations by Ramesh Singh

● Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu

● Geography Of India by Majid Husain

● India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

● India After Gandhi by Ramchandra Guha

All IAS aspirants should study these books thoroughly to prepare for the upcoming UPSC examinations.

Focus on the Indian Economy

A major facet of the civil services preliminary test is the Indian Economy. This topic is significant from the current affairs perspective, particularly regarding discussions on government programs and policies. There are two ways to learn it well.

1. Standard economics books

Read books like the Indian Economy for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations by Ramesh Singh to understand and memorize the ins and outs of the Indian Economy, the government and its policies, and so on.

The Indian Economy for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations is a popular book by which civil services aspirants swear yearly.

2. Newspapers

Reading newspapers daily should be a habit you develop from the first day of preparation. It is important to be up to date with the country’s current affairs, the latest developments of major events, and more. Once you go through the economics books, you will understand the newspaper and its content better.

Check out these books Online at Get My Books

If you want to order all the study material online, you can choose the online bookstores like Get My Books. The store has a huge collection of books for civil services. It allows you to:

● Have the option of accessing and browsing the reviews of the books.

● It saves a lot of time purchasing the book online that you would have lost travelling from one store to another.

● It gives you multiple options to choose from.

Study Tips for Civil Services

Here are some tips and tricks to ensure comprehensive preparation for the UPSC exams.

Go Through the Exam Pattern

The first step is understanding the civil services exam pattern. Go through the previous exam papers and UPSC exam notifications to familiarise yourself with the exam curriculum, exam pattern, exam schedule, and eligibility requirements.

Once you do that, get the previous year’s papers and quickly scan them to get a sense of the questions that will be asked during the exam.

Build a Strong Foundation

NCERTs will help you with this step. Thoroughly go through the entire NCERT collection and make notes for quick revision during the final stages of the preparation.

Advanced Studies with Standard Books

The next step after going through the NCERTs is reviewing the books written by experts to advance your knowledge. This way, you can understand the history, the current events and the latest policies undertaken in the country. Books like Indian Economy for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations will help you with this.

Write Timed Answers

Time management plays a crucial role in any examination. Once you have completely gone through all the study material, you can start practising writing answers and ensure to time them well.

Conclusion

The above tips, coupled with consistent learning periods and the correct study material, will help you ensure that you crack the civil services exam.