If you are a UPSC aspirant, you may already know that being well versed with NCERT books is a requisite. However, the most common question that arises in the learners’ minds is, ‘How to study NCERT books for the UPSC Examination in 2021?’ In this blog, we will delve into how you can make the most of NCERT books to have a better chance at cracking the UPSC examination.
Why are NCERT Books Important for UPSC Preparation?
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)is the apex body that prepares books, textbooks, and other learning materials for all schools in India. The council has been working since 1961 with a mission “to provide quality education through textbooks.” It also provides guidance on curriculum development and syllabus revision.
Furthermore, NCERT textbooks are an integral part of India’s school system. Their syllabus has been updated constantly to keep them relevant and useful for students for more than 40 years.
- NCERT books are an essential part of the UPSC preparation because they provide a clear and concise version of the concepts that will be in the question paper.
- The NCERT books are also useful for their illustrations and examples. The illustrations depicted in these books help you to understand complex concepts better.
- NCERT books also provide a variety of questions to practice with, which can be used in mock exams. They can also come in handy for students preparing for competitive exams like JEE, NEET, etc.
- NCERT books offer a solid foundation for civil services aspirants.
How to Study NCERT Books Efficiently for UPSC Preparation?
The most important thing while preparing for an exam like UPSC is to be thoroughly prepared. You should be aware of all the topics that will appear on the test. The only way to do so is by doing a comprehensive study of NCERT books. This means you should study each topic as many times as possible until you feel comfortable enough to answer questions based on them.
This may sound very tedious, but it is actually quite easy once you get used to it. All you need to do is:
- Pick a subject and go through the books from classes 6 to 12.
- Don’t read the entire book at this stage
- Go through each chapter and try to get a general overview or basic understanding of topics and concepts
- Now begin to read the book from the beginning
- Create handwritten notes. According to research, handwritten notes are better than digital note-taking
- Try to form meaningful associations between concepts through analogy and metaphors
- Create a mind map
- Break down complex topics for clarity and understanding
- Make a list of topics that you feel needs more attention
- Reiterate whatever you have learnt in your language to test your knowledge.
- Not everything in the book is important or relevant so do selective reading
- Solve previous year question papers
- Buy and solve mock papers.
- Organize your study materials and notes for faster revision
- Revise, revise and revise
Must-Have NCERT Books for UPSC Examination
UPSC is deemed to be one of the toughest exams in the country. That is because the UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) is select the brightest and most competent candidates for appointments under various Central Government Services such as Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
For those who do not know, the UPSC conducts the examination in three phases:
- Preliminary Exam: It consists of two objective-type papers called General Studies paper 1 and General Studies Paper 2 (Civil Service Aptitude Test or CSAT)
- Mains Examination: It consists of nine papers where a candidate has to qualify for two papers. Only marks of seven papers are counted.
- Personality Test: This is the final round consisting of a personal interview.
Every year lakhs of aspiring candidates appear for the exam, and the success rate is barely 25%. That means, for every hundred candidates that take the exam, 75 do not get through. If you want to be one of those who make it, these are must-have NCERT books for exam preparation that you should study.
NCERT Books for General Studies Paper I
History
- Our past - Class VI,VII, and VIII
- India and the Contemporary World I & II - Class IX and X
- Themes in World History - NCERT Class X
- Themes in Indian History - NCERT Class XII
Indian Society
- Social Science: Social & Political Life - NCERT Class VI, VII, VIII
- Sociology: Understanding Society - NCERT Class XI
- Indian Society - NCERT Class XII
- Social Change and Development in India: NCERT Class XII
Indian Art & Culture
- An Introduction to Indian Art - NCERT Class XI
- Living Craft Traditions of India - NCERT Class XI
Geography
- The Earth Our Habitat - NCERT Class VI
- Our Environment - NCERT Class VII
- Resource and Development - NCERT Class VIII
- Contemporary India - NCERT Class IX and X
- Fundamentals of Physical Geography - NCERT Class XI
- India – Physical Environment - NCERT Class XI
- Fundamentals of Human Geography - NCERT Class XII
- India - Economy, and People - NCERT Class XII
NCERT Books for General Studies Paper-II
Political Science
- Political Science: Democratic Politics Part I & II - NCERT Class IX and X
- Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work - NCERT Class XI
- Political Science: Political Theory - NCERT Class XI
- Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics - NCERT Class XII
- Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence - NCERT Class XII
UPSC Books from NCERT for General Studies Paper III
Economics
- Economics - NCERT Class IX
- Understanding Economic Development - NCERT Class X
- Indian Economic Development - NCERT Class XI
- Introductory Microeconomics - NCERT Class XII
- Introductory Macroeconomics - NCERT Class XII
Science & Technology
- Science - NCERT Class VI to X
- Chemistry and Biology - Class XI and XII
NCERT Must-Have Books for IAS
The following are the subjects that are a part of the IAS Prelims syllabus. Please refer to the above-mentioned list to know in which class these subjects are covered.
- Environment and Ecology
- India and World Geography
- Economic and Social Development
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- General Science
- Indian Polity and Governance
All the NCERT books can be downloaded without any cost from the official NCERT website.
Conclusion
UPSC examinations are undoubtedly tough to pass, but with dedication and persistent effort, you can make it through UPSC CSE and become a civil servant.
In addition to reading the above-mentioned NCERT books, make sure that you keep yourself updated on current affairs. Reading newspapers like The Indian Express and The Hindu every day will help you improve your vocabulary and keep you up to speed with significant events and relevant news.
It would help if you also referred to relevant reference material and books from publishers other than NCERT for a comprehensive civil services preparation.
Lastly, you may be feeling overwhelmed right now. But don’t worry. You are not alone. Many aspirants feel this way when they are about to take the UPSC exam.
Put your best foot forward and relax. Good Luck!
