History Optional Books for UPSC IAS Preparation
History Optional Books for UPSC Mains can be divided into multiple periods. Here is the list of History Optional Books for UPSC preparation.
Deeksha Dixit24 Jul, 2024
Share
History Optional Books for UPSC: In the UPSC CSE exam , history is one of the most popular subjects due to its relevance in prelims and mains. However, unlike the GS paper, which requires a generalistic understanding of historical events, the History optional paper demands a deeper understanding of past events and themes.
Candidates need to study a variety of topics from bachelors level History Optional Books for UPSC. Therefore, consulting toppers and experts can be highly useful while selecting the History Optional Books for UPSC Mains preparation .History Optional Books for UPSC
The History optional subject necessitates a thorough exploration of various historical periods, including ancient, medieval, and modern history, across different regions and civilizations. To excel in the history optional paper, candidates should delve deeply into specific periods and analyze the implications of major historical events. History Optional Books for UPSC , which are curated by esteemed historians, are an excellent resource for covering dynamic topics from Paper 1 and Paper 2. These expertly recommended history optional books for UPSC will help candidates construct relevant arguments, interpret complex historical phenomena, and articulate their thoughts while writing answers.Best History Optional Books for UPSC
While selecting the best history optional books for UPSC, candidates must ensure that they have gone through the syllabus. The History Optional Syllabus can be categorized into four main sections: Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and World History. Each period encompasses a diverse range of topics, events, and themes that candidates need to cover comprehensively.Ancient History Books
Ancient history deals with the origin, characteristics, significance, art, and architecture of periods from prehistoric times to the Mauryan Empire and the Gupta Empire. The list of History Optional Book PDFs for the Ancient History Period is given here.| Ancient History Books for UPSC | |
| Book | Author |
| Ancient India (NCERT) | Prof. R.S. Sharma |
| History of Ancient and Early Medieval India | Upinder Singh |
| The Penguin History of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300 | Romila Thapar |
| Ancient Indian Social History-Some Interpretations | Romila Thapar |
| The Wonder That Was India | A.L. Basham |
Medieval History Books
The medieval history books should comprehensively cover periods like the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, the Maratha Empire, and the Vijayanagar Empire. The table below lists medieval history optional books for UPSC:| Medieval History Books for UPSC | |
| Book | Author |
| Medieval India (NCERT) | Satish Chandra |
| A History of South India | K.A. Nilkantha Sastri |
| The Agrarian System of Mughal India 1556-1707 | Irfan Habib |
| The Mughal Empire | J.F. Richards |
| Indian Feudalism | R.S. Sharma |
| Medieval India (Macmillan) | Satish Chandra |
| Urban Dynamics | H.C. Verma |
Modern History Books
Modern History is one of the most important sections in the UPSC history optional papers. Candidates need to have an in-depth understanding of events from early European settlements to the post-independence period.| Modern History Books for UPSC | |
| Book | Author |
| NCERT Class XI Modern India | Bipan Chandra |
| Anatomy of the Raj (PPH) | Suhash Chakravarty |
| Peasant Movements in India | D.N. Dhanagare |
| Constitutional & Administrative History | Pravin Kumar |
| The Raj Syndrome | Suhash Chakravarty |
| India After Gandhi | Ramachandra Guha |
| Modern Indian History | Sonali Bansal |
| Modern India | Sumit Sarkar |
| From Plassey to Partition | Sekhar Bandyopadhyay |
World History Books
While studying World History, candidates should focus on major events and trends from the European state system, the impact of colonialism, and the development of modern nation-states.| World History Books for UPSC | |
| Book | Author |
| Contemporary World History (NCERT) | Arjun Dev |
| Age of Capital | E.J. Hobsbawm |
| Age of Empires | E.J. Hobsbawm |
| Age of Revolution | E.J. Hobsbawm |
| Mastering Modern World History | Norman Lowe |
| Europe Since 1815 | W.C. Craig |
| Europe Since 1870 | James Joll |
| Europe Since Napoleon | David Thompson |
Tips to Cover History Optional Booklist for UPSC
History is one of the trickiest optional subjects since candidates need to study this subject from the perspective of prelims, mains, and optional papers, each having separate requirements. Therefore, candidates can take the following systematic approach while studying history optional books for UPSC:- Familiarize yourself with the syllabus for History Optional and note down topics to be covered.
- Start with NCERT books for understanding the basics of history and later move to standard books to gain in-depth insights on specific topics.
- Dive deep into each book, paying close attention to significant events, their socioeconomic and cultural impacts, and their aftermath.
- Have a history map book with you to easily understand the evolution of political boundaries and major civilizations.
- Interconnect historical developments for a comprehensive understanding of each period.
- Go through the previous year's UPSC question papers to get familiar with the types of questions asked.
- Make separate notes from History books for UPSC prelims, Mains, and Optional papers.
- Regularly practice answering questions from previous years' papers and mock tests.
| Best UPSC History Optional Course | |
| UPSC Optional History (Hinglish) 2024/2025 | Click Here |
| UPSC Related Articles | ||
| UPSC Prelims Questions | UPSC Prelims Marking Scheme | UPSC Mains Admit Card |
| UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 | UPSC IFoS Syllabus 2024 | UPSC Result 2024 |
History Optional Books for UPSC FAQs
Which is book best for history optional?
There's no single best book; key recommendations include Ancient India by R.S. Sharma, Medieval India by Satish Chandra, and India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha.
Is NCERT enough for UPSC history optional?
No. NCERT books are a good starting point, but additional standard reference books are necessary for in-depth understanding.
What is the standard book for UPSC history optional?
Standard books for UPSC history optional include Ancient India by R.S. Sharma, The Mughal Empire by J.F. Richards, and Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe.
Can I cover history optional in 2 months from books?
No. Covering the syllabus in 2 months is very challenging; it’s better to devote 5 to 6 months to UPSC history optional.
Which books are recommended for world history?
Recommended books for world history include Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe and Age of Revolution by E.J. Hobsbawm.
Check out these Related Articles
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Live & recorded classes available at easeDashboard for progress trackingMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Free Learning Resources
PW Books
Notes (Class 10-12)
PW Study Materials
Notes (Class 6-9)
Ncert Solutions
Govt Exams
Class 6th to 12th Online Courses
Govt Job Exams Courses
UPSC Coaching
Defence Exam Coaching
Gate Exam Coaching
Other Exams
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others
Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.