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NCERT for UPSC Preparation: Complete Booklist and Smart Study Strategy for Beginners

5/25/2026

NCERT for UPSC Preparation: Complete Booklist and Smart Study Strategy for Beginners

NCERT for UPSC Preparation: Complete Booklist and Smart Study Strategy for BeginnersNCERT for UPSC Preparation: Complete Booklist and Smart Study Strategy for Beginners

NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation: Complete Strategy, Booklist and Smart Study Plan for Beginners

Introduction

Every UPSC aspirant hears one piece of advice repeatedly—"Start with NCERT books.” But many students still remain confused about the following:

  • Which NCERTs are important?

  • How many NCERT books should be covered?

  • Are old NCERTs better than new ones?

  • How should beginners study NCERTs for UPSC?

NCERT books form the foundation of UPSC Civil Services Examination preparation because they explain concepts in a simple, structured, and authentic manner. Whether it is:

  • History

  • Geography

  • Polity

  • Economy

  • Environment

  • Science

NCERTs help aspirants build conceptual clarity before moving to advanced reference books.

For beginners, NCERTs are not just books—they are the base of UPSC preparation. Even toppers consistently recommend revising NCERTs multiple times.

This blog explains:

  • Best NCERT books for UPSC

  • Subject-wise NCERT strategy

  • How to read NCERT effectively

  • Common mistakes students make

  • Smart preparation strategy for Prelims and Mains      



     

Why are NCERT Books Important for the UPSC?

NCERT books are considered essential because they:

  • Build strong fundamentals

  • Explain concepts in simple language

  • Help beginners understand basic concepts

  • Improve analytical understanding

  • Provide authentic information

  • Help in answer writing

UPSC frequently asks conceptual and factual questions directly or indirectly based on NCERT content.

Especially for:

  • History

  • Geography

  • Environment

  • Science

  • Society

NCERTs are extremely important.

Best NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation

1. History NCERTs

Ancient History

  • Class 6 — Our Past I

  • Class 11 — Ancient India

Medieval History

  • Class 7 — Our Past II

  • Class 11 — Medieval India

Modern History

  • Class 8 — Our Past III

  • Class 12 — Modern Indian History

Art & Culture

  • Class 11 — Introduction to Indian Art

History NCERTs help in:

  • Understanding chronology

  • Building historical perspective

  • Preparing for culture questions

2. Geography NCERTs

Important Geography Books

  • Class 6 to 10 Geography

  • Class 11 — Physical Geography

  • Class 12 — Human Geography

  • Class 12 — India: People and Economy

Geography NCERTs are highly important for the following:

  • Maps

  • Physical geography

  • Indian geography

  • Climate

  • Agriculture

  • Disaster management

3. Polity NCERTs

Important Books

  • Class 9 — Democratic Politics

  • Class 10 — Democratic Politics II

  • Class 11 — Indian Constitution at Work

These books help beginners understand:

  • Constitution

  • Democracy

  • Rights

  • Parliament

  • Judiciary

  • Federalism

4. Economy NCERTs

Important Books

  • Class 9 Economics

  • Class 10 Economics

  • Class 11 Indian Economic Development

  • Class 12 Macroeconomics

Economy NCERTs simplify:

  • GDP

  • Inflation

  • Banking

  • Economic growth

  • Government schemes

5. Environment & Ecology

Important Sources

  • Class 12 Biology Chapters

  • Geography NCERTs

  • Science NCERTs

Environment has become increasingly important in UPSC Prelims.

Topics include:

  • Ecosystems

  • Biodiversity

  • Climate change

  • Conservation

6. Science NCERTs

Important Books

  • Class 6 to 10 Science

  • Selective reading of Class 11 & 12 Biology

Science NCERTs are useful for:

  • Basic science concepts

  • Biotechnology

  • Health

  • Space

  • Technology

Old NCERT vs New NCERT: Which is Better?

Many aspirants remain confused between old and new NCERTs.

Old NCERTs

Useful for:

  • Ancient History

  • Medieval History

  • Geography

New NCERTs

Useful for:

  • Simpler language

  • Updated content

  • Better presentation

Most toppers recommend combining both wherever necessary.

How to Read NCERT for the UPSC?

1. Read Slowly for Understanding

Do not rush.

Focus on:

  • Concept clarity

  • Understanding themes

  • Interlinking topics

2. Make Short Notes

Prepare concise notes for:

  • Revision

  • Prelims facts

  • Mains answer writing

3. Revise Multiple Times

Revision is more important than reading many books.

Most toppers revise NCERTs.

  • 3–5 times

4. Solve PYQs

Previous Year Questions help identify the following:

  • Important themes

  • UPSC trends

  • Repeated concepts

5. Link Current Affairs with NCERTs

Try connecting:

  • Climate news with Geography

  • Parliamentary news with Polity

  • Economic issues with Economy NCERTs

This improves analytical understanding.

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Ignoring NCERTs

Many students directly jump to advanced books.

This creates weak fundamentals.

2. Reading Without Notes

Without revision notes, retention becomes difficult.

3. Too Many Sources

Students often collect excessive material instead of revising basics.

4. Not Revising

Reading once is never enough for UPSC.

Ideal NCERT Strategy for Beginners

Phase 1: Foundation Building

Start with:

  • Class 6–10 NCERTs

Phase 2: Advanced Understanding

Move to:

  • Class 11–12 NCERTs

Phase 3: Standard Books

After NCERTs:

  • Laxmikanth

  • Spectrum

  • GC Leong

  • Economy books

become easier to understand.

How NCERT Helps in UPSC Prelims

NCERTs are important for:

  • Static GK

  • Conceptual MCQs

  • Environment questions

  • Geography mapping

  • Science & Tech basics

Many UPSC Prelims questions are directly inspired from NCERT concepts.

How NCERT Helps in UPSC Mains

NCERTs improve:

  • Conceptual clarity

  • Analytical thinking

  • Structured answer writing

  • Interdisciplinary understanding

They also help in:

  • Essay

  • Ethics

  • Society

  • Governance

topics.

Are NCERTs Enough for UPSC?

NCERTs alone are NOT enough to clear UPSC.

But they are:

  • The starting point

  • The foundation

  • The most important beginner resource

After completing NCERTs, aspirants must move to:

  • Standard reference books

  • Current affairs

  • Answer writing practice

  • Mock tests

Conclusion

NCERT books are the backbone of UPSC preparation. They help aspirants build conceptual clarity, strengthen fundamentals, and prepare a solid base for advanced study.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced aspirant, revising NCERTs regularly can significantly improve both Prelims and Mains preparation.

In UPSC preparation, success does not come from reading too many books — it comes from:

  • Strong basics

  • Smart revision

  • Consistency

  • Conceptual understanding

And NCERTs remain the best starting point for achieving all of these.

FAQs

1. Which NCERT books are most important for UPSC?

History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Science NCERTs from Classes 6–12 are highly important.

2. Are NCERT books enough for UPSC preparation?

No, but they provide the foundation for advanced preparation.

3. Should I read old NCERTs or new NCERTs?

Both are useful. Old NCERTs are especially important for History and Geography.

4. How many times should NCERTs be revised?

Most toppers recommend revising NCERTs at least 3–5 times.

5. Can beginners start UPSC preparation with NCERTs?

Yes, NCERTs are considered the best starting point for beginners because they explain concepts in simple language.