The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most coveted exams in India, with thousands of aspirants appearing for it every year. The Prelims exam is the first hurdle that aspirants need to clear, and it comprises two papers – General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT).
To help aspirants prepare for the UPSC CSE Prelims Exam 2023, we have compiled a list of some of the best books that can help them ace the exam. In this blog, we will discuss in detail the books that aspirants can refer to for their preparation.
Prelims: General Studies-I and CSAT (General Studies Paper-II) are the two papers that make up the CSE Prelims test. While the CSAT is a qualifying exam, one’s selection for UPSC Mains is determined by their performance on the General Studies Paper. It means that the Prelims cutoff will be based on one’s performance in the General Studies Paper.
UPSC CSE Prelims 2023: Best Books for History
Name of the book | Author/ Publishing House |
NCERT (Ancient & Medieval) for XIth & XIIth | NCERT |
Concise History of Modern India | Sujata Menon |

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UPSC CSE Prelims 2023: Best Books for Geography
Name of the book | Author/ Publishing House |
Geography NCERT (VIth – XIIth) | NCERT |
Geography World Atlas | World Atlas |

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UPSC CSE Prelims 2023: Best Books for Indian Polity (Civics/ Political Science)
Name of the book | Author/ Publishing House |
NCERT (IX to XII) | NCERT |
Constitution of India | P.M. Bakshi |


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UPSC CSE Prelims 2023: Best Books for Economics
Name of the book | Author/ Publishing House |
NCERT (XI) | NCERT |
Indian Economy | Nitin Singhania |

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UPSC CSE Prelims 2023: Best Books for International Relations
Name of the book | Author/ Publishing House |
NCERT (XII) Contemporary World Politics | NCERT |
Current Affairs | (Times of India, The Hindus, etc.) |

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UPSC CSE 2023: Best Books for Prelims (Paper-2) (CSAT)
Name of the book | Author/ Publishing House |
Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual | Tata McGraw Hill |
Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | Dr. R.S. Aggarwal |
CSAT Manual | Pearson |

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Note:- Areas of logical reasoning and Mental Ability have higher difficulty levels.
After qualifying for the Prelims, a total of 9(2 of which are optional and the rest are compulsory). Theory papers are conducted afterward.
The exam is solely theory-based and hence demands rigorous hard work combined with patience and smart work.
- Compulsory Papers
- General Science (GS)
- Essay
- English
- Indian Language
- Optional
- Social Science
- Science
- Language
- Others (engineering & medical)
Candidates are advised to study the complete syllabus thoroughly and focus on the topics that are most important and frequently asked in the exam. Practicing previous years’ question papers and taking mock tests can also help candidates prepare effectively for the SSC CPO exam 2023.
Practice FREE Mock Test For UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Preparation 2023:
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In conclusion, the UPSC CSE Prelims exam is a crucial step in the selection process, and it requires a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and current affairs. Aspirants need to cover a vast syllabus, and referring to the right study materials can significantly impact their preparation.
In this blog, we have discussed some of the best books that aspirants can refer to for their UPSC CSE Prelims Exam 2023 preparation. However, aspirants should note that books alone cannot guarantee success, and they need to put in consistent effort and practice to clear the exam.
We hope this blog helps aspirants in their preparation and wish them all the best for their upcoming exams.
Read more about the UPSC CSE 2023 examination.