Jun 15, 2025
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National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks form the bedrock of UPSC Civil Services exam preparation. Textbooks are a “fundamental written source of knowledge” , and NCERTs in particular provide clear, concise coverage of the entire UPSC syllabus. Leading UPSC toppers and educators emphasise that aspirants “cannot ignore NCERTs” . This blog provides a complete list of NCERT books for UPSC (Class 6–12), explains how each subject maps to the UPSC syllabus, and shows how to use NCERT content for Prelims, Mains and Essay preparation. This blog also links NCERT content to past UPSC questions and current affairs, and includes insights from toppers and educators.
You can utilize this table to find the complete list of NCERT books for UPSC topics that are linked to the subject.
Class | NCERT Book | UPSC Subject | Key Topic(s) for UPSC |
6 | Our Past – I | History | Introduction to early Indian history |
6 | The Earth: Our Habitat | Geography | Basics of environment and physical geography |
6 | Social and Political Life – I | Polity | Democracy, diversity, social justice |
6 | Science Textbook | Sci & Tech | Basic science, environment |
7 | Our Past – II | History | Medieval Indian history |
7 | Our Environment | Geography | Climate, vegetation, resources |
7 | Social and Political Life – II | Polity | Local government, roles of state |
7 | Science Textbook | Sci & Tech | Scientific concepts, human body |
8 | Our Past – III | History | Modern British period, freedom struggle |
8 | Resources and Development | Geography | Types of resources, land, water, mineral |
8 | Social and Political Life – III | Polity | Rule of law, parliament, justice |
8 | Science Textbook | Sci & Tech | Disease, health, light, electricity |
9 | India and the Contemporary World – I | History | French revolution, world wars, colonialism |
9 | Contemporary India – I | Geography | Indian physical geography, resources |
9 | Democratic Politics – I | Polity | Democracy, electoral politics, institutions |
9 | Economics | Economics | Introduction to sectors of the Indian economy |
9 | Science Textbook | Sci & Tech | Atoms, structure of matter, energy |
10 | India and the Contemporary World – II | History | Nationalism in India, freedom struggle |
10 | Contemporary India – II | Geography | Economic resources, industries, agriculture |
10 | Democratic Politics – II | Polity | Federalism, power-sharing, political institutions |
10 | Understanding Economic Development | Economics | Development, sectors, poverty, globalization |
10 | Science Textbook | Sci & Tech | Chemical reactions, human physiology |
11 | Themes in World History | History | Industrial revolution, colonialism, revolutions |
11 | Fundamentals of Physical Geography | Geography | Climatology, landforms, geophysical process |
11 | India – Physical Environment | Geography | Climate, vegetation, soil, resources of India |
11 | Indian Constitution at Work | Polity | Detailed study of constitution, federalism |
11 | Political Theory | Polity | Ideas of justice, liberty, political institutions |
11 | Understanding Society | Sociology | Socialization, institutions, structures |
11 | Psychology | Ethics/Psychology | Cognitive processes, motivation, attitudes |
11 | Biology | Sci & Tech | Ecology, human physiology |
11 | Chemistry, Physics | Sci & Tech | Basic principles, atomic structure |
11 | Introduction to Economic Development | Economics | Planning, sectors of the Indian economy |
11 | An Introduction to Indian Art | Art & Culture | Architectural styles, sculptures |
11 | Living Craft Traditions of India | Art & Culture | Traditional handicrafts, art forms |
12 | Themes in Indian History I, II, III | History | British policy, freedom movement, society |
12 | Fundamentals of Human Geography | Geography | Population, migration, human settlements |
12 | India – People and Economy | Geography | Economic development, resources utilization |
12 | Contemporary World Politics | Polity | Cold war, international organizations |
12 | Politics in India Since Independence | Polity | Success and struggles of democracy post-1947 |
12 | Introductory Microeconomics | Economics | Demand, supply, market structures |
12 | Introductory Macroeconomics | Economics | Inflation, banking, policy mechanisms |
12 | Indian Society | Sociology | Inequality, institutions, unity in diversity |
12 | Social Change and Development in India | Sociology | Modernization, policy, education, health |
12 | Biology | Sci & Tech | Ecology, environment, human physiology |
12 | Chemistry, Physics | Sci & Tech | Applications in technology, energy |
12 | Psychology | Ethics/Psychology | Values, moral development, attitudes |
12 | An Introduction to Indian Art, Living Craft | Art & Culture | Architectural forms, handicrafts, traditions |
Old NCERT History Books
Old NCERT books hold a timeless value in UPSC preparation, offering foundational knowledge on various subjects. Their comprehensive content and clear explanations aid aspirants in building a strong conceptual base.
Old NCERT Ancient India – RS Sharma
Old NCERT Medieval India – Satish Chandra
Modern India – Bipan Chandra
The Story of Civilization – Arjun Dev
Download the complete list NCERT books for UPSC Exam from this link : NCERT Official Website – https://ncert.nic.in/
Table of content
The above list of NCERT books can be directly mapped onto the UPSC syllabus across General Studies papers:
GS Paper I (History, Culture, Society, Geography)
NCERT History (Class 6–12) — Covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India, matching all segments of the UPSC syllabus from Harappan Civilization to India’s freedom struggle.
NCERT Art & Culture (Class XI) — Provides a quick and comprehensive view of India's heritage, art, architecture, and culture — useful for questions of IAS related to culture in GS Paper I.
NCERT Social Studies and Sociology (Class 6–12) — Introduce social structure and change in India, aligning directly with the “Indian Society” portion of GS Paper I questions of IAS.
NCERT Geography (Class 6–12) — Covers physical geography (mountains, climate, resources) and Indian Geography in depth, which is crucial for both World and Indian Geography segments of the UPSC syllabus. All maps and fundamental geographic concepts are directly sourced from these NCERTs.
GS Paper II (Polity, Governance, International Relations)
NCERT Political Science (Class 9–12) — Covers the basics of Indian Polity, the Indian Constitution, Panchayati Raj, Rights, and Political Theory.
These books directly relate to GS Paper II sections on the Indian Constitution and Governance — making them key in your list of NCERT books for UPSC preparation.
International Relations (IR) — NCERT has little content on this, therefore it's recommended to rely on current affairs for this part.
Governance/Schemes — NCERT Economics and Social Science books (Class 6–10) provide background on rural development and social justice schemes, which form a base for understanding governance initiatives in the UPSC syllabus.
GS Paper III (Economics, Science & Tech, Environment, Security)
NCERT Economics (Class 9–12) — Explains economic fundamentals: sectors of the economy, development, national income, reforms. These directly map to GS Paper III topics like the Indian economy, planning, poverty, and economic reforms. Essential in any list of NCERT books for UPSC.
NCERT Science (Class 6–10) — Provides a solid base in General Science: basic biology, chemistry, physics concepts, including topics like genetics, fuels, nanotechnology — all of which frequently appear in UPSC prelims and mains. Core to NCERT books for UPSC preparation.
NCERT Subject Books (Class 11–12) — Deeper science concepts (biology, chemistry, physics) that strengthen your grasp of Science & Technology in GS3. These NCERT 6 to 12 for UPSC books help clarify technical terms UPSC asks about.
NCERT Biology (esp. Class 12 ecology chapters) + Class 8 Science (natural resources) — Crucial for Environment and Ecology. Many Prelims environment and biodiversity questions are directly based on these NCERT chapters.
GS Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
NCERT Psychology (Class 11–12) — Although Psychology NCERT isn’t explicitly in the syllabus, it helps to understand human behavior, ethics, and moral questions, which form the core of GS Paper IV (Ethics).
It’s often recommended for aspirants who want greater depth on values, ethics, and human psychology — adding to their list of NCERT books for UPSC.
The NCERT 6 to 12 for UPSC psychology texts can aid in framing answers with a strong understanding of human perspectives — useful for NCERT books for UPSC preparation.
Why is reading NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation important?
Reading NCERT books for UPSC preparation is highly recommended by toppers and experts. If you're starting out, begin with the NCERT 6 to 12 for UPSC to build a solid foundation. Here's why:
NCERT books for UPSC preparation build strong conceptual clarity in subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economics, and Science.
They provide simple, clear explanations-ideal for beginners.
NCERT 6 to 12 for UPSC covers a significant part of the UPSC Prelims and Mains syllabus.
These books introduce core ideas in history, culture, polity, and socio-economic issues..
NCERTs are affordable, reliable, and easily available in print and online.
A strong base in NCERT books for UPSC boosts understanding of advanced reference materials.
The content aligns well with UPSC exam requirements and question patterns.
Reading NCERT books in a smart way is as important as reading them at all. Here are some key strategies recommended by experts and toppers:
Read Subject-wise, Not Class-wise: Instead of flipping through classes, cover one subject entirely across classes. For example, do all History NCERTs (Class VI to XII) together, then Geography, etc. This builds continuity and connections between topics . Top UPSC educators advise “to form connectivity between books, read them subject-wise” .
Focus on Conceptual Clarity: Don’t skimp. Read the relevant chapters thoroughly, underline key facts, and understand diagrams/maps. NCERTs are meant to build fundamentals. If a topic (e.g. medieval architecture or mountain formation) is very important in the syllabus, read those NCERT sections multiple times.
Make Notes and Highlight: While reading NCERTs, jot down short notes or highlight pivotal points. This saves time during revision and helps retention . As one tip suggests, “give a good read and start jotting down pivotal points or highlighting… to avoid unnecessary reading during revision” . Your notes can be bullet points, mind-maps, or flashcards covering definitions, dates, and diagrams from NCERT pages.
Revise Multiple Times: Reading NCERT once is usually not enough. Plan to revisit your NCERT notes and highlighted sections at least 2–3 times before exams. Each revision will reinforce memory. Toppers often underlined text in their NCERTs and re-read them during revisions, instead of constantly making new notes .
Use NCERT Features: Leverage the pictures, tables and maps in NCERTs. These can quickly jog memory and are often the simplest explanation of a concept. For example, NCERT history has timelines and maps which are great for visual recall. NCERT geography’s maps (like vegetation or rainfall maps) can directly answer Prelims map questions.
Combine with Current Affairs: As you study NCERT topics, simultaneously note any related current events. For instance, while reading NCERT on forests and wildlife, connect it with recent news on forestry projects or the Environment Ministry’s initiatives. (See: Current Affairs and NCERT for how to integrate.)
UPSC toppers unanimously stress NCERT as the starting point. Besides Shruti Sharma and Ira Singhal, many other rankers have shared similar insights:
Shruti Sharma (CSE 2021, AIR 1) said in her NDTV interview: “I didn’t rely much on coaching… made my own notes… and relied on NCERT books” . She emphasised that NCERTs were sufficient for building concepts, and advised new aspirants to not skip them. Her strategy was to use NCERTs as the foundation and then expand knowledge via current affairs and teacher lectures.
Syed Althaf (CSE 2019, AIR 3), in interviews, has also mentioned using NCERT Sociology and History extensively during his preparation, before moving to standard texts.
Q1: Which NCERT books should I cover for UPSC?
A: Cover Class 6–12 NCERTs for History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Sociology, Science, Environment, Art & Culture, and Psychology as per UPSC syllabus. Prioritize relevant chapters and subjects.
Q2: Are NCERTs enough for UPSC?
A: NCERTs build a strong base but are not enough alone. Supplement them with standard books (e.g., Laxmikanth, Spectrum) and current affairs for complete preparation.
Q3: How should I read NCERTs for UPSC?
A: Read subject-wise, make notes, understand concepts, and revise often. Highlight key points and practice using NCERT facts in answers. Read each book at least twice.
Q4: Old vs. new NCERTs – which to choose?
A: Use the latest editions for accuracy. Refer to old History NCERTs (e.g., R.S. Sharma) for detailed content, if time permits.
Q5: How do NCERTs link to current affairs?
A: NCERTs provide background on current issues. Use their concepts and facts to understand and strengthen answers on polity, economy, society, and environment topics.
Internal Linking Suggestions
How to Begin Your UPSC Preparation : The Ultimate Guide For Beginners
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF - Prelims & Mains (2014-2024)
Top UPSC Online Apps That Toppers Swear By in 2025
External Linking suggestion :
UPSC Official Website – Syllabus & Notification: https://upsc.gov.in/
Press Information Bureau – Government Announcements: https://pib.gov.in/
NCERT Official Website – Standard Books for UPSC: https://ncert.nic.in/
In UPSC CSE preparation, NCERT textbooks (Classes 6–12) are irreplaceable foundations. This complete guide has outlined why they matter and provided a detailed list of NCERT books for UPSC in each subject . We have mapped these books to the official syllabus topics across GS Papers 1–4, and shown how NCERT content links to actual UPSC questions . Key strategies – reading subject-wise, making notes, revising often – help optimise NCERT study . Incorporate these books into your study plan before turning to advanced references or test series.
Lastly, keep revisiting these basics right up to the exam. Many aspirants find that reviewing NCERT notes just before Prelims and Mains gives them confidence and helps accurately answer many questions. NCERTs are not a shortcut, but they are a “sure foundation” on which your UPSC preparation should stand.
