10 inspirational books for IAS aspirants

1.India’s Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947:

This book provides a comprehensive overview of India’s struggle for freedom, which is an essential aspect of the UPSC syllabus.

India’s struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra is your go to book for an in-depth and detailed overview on Indian independence movement . Indian freedom struggle is one of the most important parts of its history. A lot has been written and said about it, but there still remains a gap. Rarely do we get to hear accounts of the independence from the entire country and not just one region at one place. This book fits in perfectly in this gap and also provides a narration on the impact this movement had on the people. Bipin Chandras book is a well-documented history of India’s freedom struggle against the British rule. It is one of the most accurate books which have been painstakingly written after thorough research based on legal and valid verbal and written sources. It maps the first war of independence that started with Mangal Pandeys mutiny and witnessed the gallant effort of Sri Rani Laxmi Bai. Many of the pages of this book are dedicated to Mahatma Gandhis non-cooperation and the civil disobedience movements. It contains detailed description of Subash Chandra Boses weapon heavy tactics and his charisma. This book includes all the independence movements and fights, irrespective of their size and impact, covering India in its entirety. Although these movements varied in means and ideas, but they shared a common goal of independence. This book contains oral and written narratives from different parts of the country, making this book historically rich and diverse. The book captures the evolution of Indian independence struggle in full detail and leaves no chapter of this story untouched. This book is a good read for the students of Indian modern history and especially for students who are preparing for UPSC examination and have taken History as their subject.

2. Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth:

A well-structured book that covers the Indian political system and the constitution, helping aspirants understand the basics of governance in India.

Salient Features of the book:

1. 92 chapters covering the entire political and constitution spectrum of India

2. 12 new chapters including Law Commission, Bar Council, Delimitation Commission, World Constitutions, National Commission for Women, for Child rights, for the minorities, Landmark Judgements etc.

3. Revised chapters as per the latest pattern and syllabus of UPSC-CSE

4. Includes previous years’ questions of Preliminary and Main exam

5. 8 relevant appendices

6. One stop solution for civil service aspirants, law students, students of Political Science and Public Administration

7. Conceptual videos on following key topics available on McGraw Hill Edge:

a. Fundamental Rights

b. Role of Parliament and its Limitations

c. Important Articles

d. National Emergency and its Impact on Political System

e. CAG, AGI, CBI and NIA – Their Autonomy and Limitations

f. Judicial Review and Activism

g. Scheduled and Tribal Areas (Demonstration and discussion through Indian map) and a few more

8. UPSC Questions on Indian Polity (General Studies-Prelims (2010-2012), UPSC Questions on Indian Polity (General Studies-Mains (2010-2012) available on McGraw Hill Edge

9. 10 Additional learning resources on McGraw Hill Edge

a. Oath by the Constitutional and Other Authorities

b. Definitions Under the Constitution

c. Allied Amending Acts at a Glance

d. Allied Amending Acts with Reference to Articles

e. Acts Related to the Salaries under the Second Schedule

f. Constitutional Orders Relating to SCs and STs and their Amendments

g. Representation of the People Act, 1950 at a glance

h. Representation of the People Act, 1951 at a glance

i. Model Code of Conduct Relating to Elections

j. Electoral Statistics

3. Pax Indica by Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor’s insights into India’s foreign policy and global positioning can provide a broader perspective for IAS aspirants.

Shashi Tharoor in his book Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century highlights the requirement and importance to move from the Nehru’s era of “Non alignment” to the 21st century era of “Multi-alignment,” which covers the working of the Ministry of External Affairs, the parliament and the public opinion, since the Independence. It is inspiring and gives a portrait of India being ready to take a global position in the new millennium. This book is another substantial achievement by one of the finest Indian authors. The book was published in 2013, available in paperback.

Key Features

Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st century was written by an award-winning Indian author Shashi Tharoor.
It is a great introduction for those interested in reading India’s foreign policy and its evolution since Independence.

4. India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha

This book offers a detailed account of India’s political and social history post-independence, helping aspirants understand the challenges and developments.

Finally, here is a history of democratic India that is every bit as sweeping as the country itself . . . [A] magisterial work’ Financial Times ‘Guha has given democratic India the rich, well-paced history it deserves’ Washington Post ‘An insightful, spirited and elegantly crafted account of India since 1947’ Times Literary Supplement ‘A magnificently told history of the world’s largest democracy’ India Today Ramachandra Guha’s India After Gandhi is a magisterial account of the pains, struggles, humiliations and glories of the world’s largest and least likely democracy. A riveting chronicle of the often brutal conflicts that have rocked a giant nation, and of the extraordinary individuals and institutions who held it together, it established itself as a classic when it was first published in 2007. In the years since the publication of the book’s tenth anniversary edition, India has witnessed, among other things, demonetization and a devastating pandemic; Narendra Modi’s re-election as Prime Minister; more violence against women, Dalits, and religious minorities; a wave of prosperity for some but the persistence of poverty for others; the abrogation of Kashmir’s autonomous status; large-scale citizens’ protests and unprecedented state crackdown on dissent. This third edition, revised and expanded, brings the narrative up to the present. Published to coincide with the seventy-fifth anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination, this definitive history of modern India is the work of one of the world’s finest scholars at the height of his powers.

5. Economic Survey of India

Reading the Economic Survey is crucial for understanding the economic aspects of the country, which is a significant part of the UPSC syllabus.

Economic Survey. Economic Survey 2020-2021. Economic Survey 2020-21 Volume 1 and Volume 2 English Edition as provided by Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

The economic Survey is the budget document of the Government of India, which is presented in Parliament every year. It presents the state of affairs of the Indian economy. Economic Survey 2020-21 consists of two volumes, which analyse the performance of the Indian economy for the financial year 2020-21.

This book is printed in colour, the graphs and images are in full colour, so that readers can visualize the same in detail. This is the exact same version of economic survey released by Government.

6. Geography of India by Majid Husain:

An essential book for covering the geography portion of the UPSC syllabus, providing a comprehensive understanding of India’s physical and human geography.

Salient features:

1) One of the best books for theoretical concepts in Geography

2) Comprehensively chapter wise revised edition with updated data, statistics, facts, diagrams, maps, and relevant content especially Indian Political Aspects and Contemporary Issues

3) Well Organized systematic alignment of chapters as well as table of contents as per the examination along

4) Easy to understand, simple language to difficult concepts

5) Content laid into tables, bullets, and various infographics wherever suitable

7. Manorama Yearbook:

A yearly updated book that covers a wide range of topics, including current affairs, general knowledge, and information about various fields.

8. Environment and Ecology by Shankar IAS Academy:

As environmental issues gain prominence, this book can help aspirants prepare for the ecology and environment-related questions in the exam.

Environment – 9/edition, 2022 -23- To help students in acquiring the essentials of the topic ‘environment’ during preparation for Civil Services Examination, Shankar IAS Academy has brought the book, ‘environment’. This book follows the paper pattern and syllabus given by Union Public Service Commission which conducts these examinations. The language of the book is simple and the content is engaging which ensures students face no trouble during studying. Plus the distinctive designing makes it easy to navigate and read. This bestseller book has sold over 30, 000 copies and is widely read by students. A team of highly experienced writers from Shankar IAS Academy have written this book and hence it is accurate and reliable. The updated syllabus of UPSC focuses a lot on environment. The geography Paper of the Civil Service Examination includes topics on environment and hence it is important for students to have thorough understanding of this topic. This book is completely dedicated on environment and covers all concepts and points. It focuses on topics like environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate change. Some of the topics discussed in the book include ecological pyramid and nutrient cycling, ecosystem rainforest, deciduous monsoon forest, Biome, bread basket region, food chain, primary consumer, food web, ecological pyramid, ecological explosion, ecotone, chemosynthesis, biogeochemical cycle, Miss semple, possibilism, stratosphere, biosphere, species types, nutritional eutrophication, acid rain, marble cancer, soil types, biogeographical realm, xerophytic, Nitrogen cycle, greenhouse gas, biodiversity hotspots, Ozone depletion, club of Rome, planktonic, biological magnification, young lakes, good Ozone and bio-diversity loss. Along with clear explanations the book gives adequate practice for students so that they can their knowledge and check their understandings. Shankar IAS Academy began its journey in the year 2004.

9. IAS Planner by InsightsIAS:

This is a compilation of articles and insights on the UPSC exam preparation strategy, current affairs, and general studies.

10. Minds of the Mighty by Yasmin Khan:

This book offers biographical sketches of some of the most influential personalities in the world, providing inspiration and insights for aspirants.

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