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Indian History Books for UPSC CSE Exam

Indian history books for UPSC are key resources to crack this exam. Check out the list of popular Indian history books for UPSC preparation.
authorImageDeeksha Dixit29 May, 2024
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Indian History Books For UPSC

Indian History Books for UPSC: The UPSC Civil Services Exam incorporates Indian history as an essential component of its syllabus, encompassing Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and Post-Independence periods. To effectively prepare Indian history for the Prelims and Mains stages, candidates must select reliable books.

Indian history books for UPSC are useful to dive deeper into the glorious past of the country. Opting for UPSC history books that are meticulously curated by experts provides insights into the political and socioeconomic fabric of India. Read on to get the list of Indian history books for UPSC IAS.

Best Indian History Books for UPSC

Before selecting the Indian history books for UPSC, candidates must go through the syllabus in detail. This subject requires factual knowledge along with analytical thinking. To develop this, aspirants are required to complete the syllabus of Indian history from standard textbooks and practice via test series. To ease the struggle to find the best books, PW experts have launched a combo set of history books that cover a comprehensive range of topics from ancient to modern periods. These books compile text from standard resources like NCERTs, incorporate PYQs, and enhance understanding of the syllabus with maps, flowcharts, infographics, and timelines. Think no more, get your copy of the best Indian history books for UPSC by clicking on the below link:
Best Indian History Books for UPSC
Subject Book Title
Complete History Books PW ONLYIAS UPSC Wallah History Combo Set

Indian History Books for UPSC Prelims

The UPSC Prelims syllabus for history covers ‘History of India and Indian National Movement’. Usually, toppers recommend NCERT books as basic resources to prepare the IAS Prelims history syllabus. Indian history books for UPSC prelims offer a solid foundation, providing clear explanations for mastering the diverse topics outlined in the syllabus. Here is the list of history books for the UPSC Prelims exam:
Indian History Books for UPSC Prelims
Subject Indian History Books NCERT
Art and Culture
  1. NCERT Class XI An Introduction to Indian Art
  2. Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) Art and Culture Notes .
Ancient History
  1. Old NCERT Class XI Ancient India (Old NCERT)
  2. NCERT Class XII Theme in Indian History- I
  3. NCERT Class VI Our Past-I
Medieval History
  1. History of Medieval India - Satish Chandra (Old NCERT)
  2. NCERT Class XII Theme in Indian History- II
  3. NCERT Class VII Our Past-II
Modern History
  1. NCERT Class XI Modern India by Bipan Chandra (Old NCERT)
  2. NCERT Class XII Theme in Indian History- III
  3. NCERT Class VIII Our Past-III

Also Read: UPSC Study Material

Indian History Books for UPSC Mains

The UPSC Mains includes history as a part of the GS 1 paper. The IAS Main History Syllabus covers Indian culture, modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present, the freedom struggle, and post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. Additionally, it encompasses the history of the world since the 18th century, for which aspirants typically choose resources such as "World History" by Norman Lowe or "World History NCERT" by Arjun Dev. However, the list of Indian history books for UPSC Mains is comparably vast:
Indian History Books for UPSC Mains
Subject Book Title
Indian Culture & Ancient History Books for UPSC
  1. Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
  2. India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma
Medieval History Books for UPSC
  1. History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
Modern History Books for UPSC
  1. A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir
  2. From Plassey to Partition
Post Independence History Books for UPSC
  1. India After Gandhi by Ramchandra Guha
  2. India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra

History Books for UPSC Optional

The UPSC history optional syllabus is quite extensive since it is divided into two papers and ranges from the pre-historical era to events of contemporary history such as the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the rise of the Unipolar World. To secure maximum marks out of 500 in history optional, candidates can pick these history books suggested by UPSC toppers:
History Books for UPSC Optional
Subject Book Title
Ancient History
  • The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham
  • India’s Ancient Past by Ram Sharan Sharma
Medieval History
  • The Agrarian System of Mughal India 1556-1707 by Irfan Habib
  • A History of South India by K.A. Nilkantha Sastri
Modern History
  • A New Look at Modern Indian History From 1707 to the Modern Times by Alka Mehta and B L Grover S
  • India’s Struggle For Independence by Bipan Chandra
Post Independence History
  • India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
World History
  • Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe
  • Contemporary World History (NCERT) by Arjun Dev
Ace the UPSC exam with PW courses which are designed to guide you through every aspect of the syllabus. Enroll now to unlock quality study material, interactive lectures, and more!
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Indian History Books for UPSC FAQs

Which book to read for the UPSC history syllabus?

For comprehensive coverage of the UPSC history syllabus candidates can refer to PW OnlyIAS UPSC Wallah History Combo Set of books.

Which is the best book for UPSC modern Indian history?

Candidates can choose A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir which is often considered one of the best books for UPSC modern Indian history.

How to read Indian history for UPSC CSE?

To read Indian history for the UPSC CSE exam, start with NCERT books for foundational knowledge and then move on to specialized books recommended above.

Is NCERT sufficient for the UPSC history syllabus?

NCERT books offer a solid foundation for the UPSC history syllabus, but supplementing with additional resources like standard history textbooks and reference materials is advisable for holistic preparation.

How to prepare history for UPSC IAS?

To prepare history for UPSC IAS, focus on understanding key concepts, events, and their implications from books. Practice solving previous years' question papers and engage in regular revisions.
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