Most Important Books for Mains IAS Exam

1. History Of Modern India – Bipan Chandra. (History)
   
2. India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra. (History)
   
3. India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma. (History)
   
4. History Of Medieval India – Satish Chandra. (History)
   
5. The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Bhasham. (Culture)
   
6. Indian Art and Culture – Nitin Singhania. (Culture)
   
7. Geography of India – Majid Husain. (Geography)
   
8. Oxford School Atlas – Oxford. (Geography)
   
9. Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong. (Geography)
   
10. Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth. (Polity)
    
11. Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh. (Economy)
    
12. Economic Survey. (Economy)
    
13. Science and Technology in India – TMH. (Science and Technology)
    
14. Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure – Rajagopalan. (Environment)
    
15. Environment for Civil Services Prelims and Mains – Khuller. (Environment)
    
16. India Year Book (Current Affairs)
    
17. Manorama Yearbook. (Current Affairs)
    
18. CSAT Paper – 2 Manual by TMH or CSAT-II – Arihant (CSAT – Paper 2)
    
19. Analytical Reasoning – M. K. Pandey (CSAT – Paper 2: Analytical Reasoning)
    
20. Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R. S.Aggarwal (CSAT Paper 2: Reasoning)

Additional IAS Books for UPSC Mains (Click on the links to buy online)

1. Essays for Civil Services – Pulkit Khare (Essay Paper)
   
2. India After Gandhi – Ramchandra Guha (History – GS1)
   
3. Norman Lowe OR History of Modern World – Jain and Mathur (World History – GS1)
   
4. Social Problems In India – Ram Ahuja. (Indian Society – GS1)
   
5. IAS Mains General Studies Paper 2 (Arihant Manual – GS2)
   
6. Governance in India for CSE. (Governance – GS2)
   
7. Pax Indica – Shashi Tharoor. (Foreign Policy – GS2)
   
8. India and the World by Surendra Kumar. (Foreign Policy – GS2)
   
9. IAS Mains General Studies – GS3. (Arihant Manual – GS3)
   
10. India’s National Security: A Reader. (Internal Security – GS3)
    
11. Challenges to Internal Security of India. (Internal Security – GS3)
    
12. Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. ( Ethics – GS4)
    
13. IAS Mains General Studies – Ethics. ( Arihant Manual – GS4)

PS: Many books for UPSC Civil Service Main Exam overlap with books recommended for Prelims, except the mentioned additional books for topics like Foreign Relations, Internal Security, Ethics etc.

IAS Books for Optional Subjects and Additional Reference 

Must Read NCERT Books Hindi Medium for IAS Exam

If you are a Hindi medium student, for general studies (Prelims or Mains), aspirants need to start

from the NCERT books Hindi medium on the below subjects –

History, Geography, Economics,

Political Science, Sociology, and Science.

Note: Books mentioned in bold are more important for UPSC/IAS exam.

NCERT – History (Hindi Medium)

• Class-6 Humara Atit 1 Itihas Textbook for Social Studies for Class
• Class-7 Hamara Atit 2 Itihas Textbook Social Science for Class
• Class-8 Hamare Atit -III Bhag – 1 Text Book of History
• Class-8 Humare Atit Pustak – 3 Bhag 2 Text Book of History
• Class-9 Bharat Aur Samkalin Vishwa 1- Textbook for History
• Class-10 Bharat Aur Samkalin Vishwa 2 Textbook of Itihas
• Class-11 Vishva Ithihas ke kuchh Vishay Textbook for World History
• Class-12 Bhartiya Itihas Ke Kuch Vishay- 1; Textbook
• Class-12 Bhartiya Itihas Ke Kuchh Vishay Bhag – 3: Textbook of Itihas

Also read:  Must Read NCERT Books for IAS Exam Preparation - Buy Online

NCERT – Geography (Hindi Medium)

• Prithvi Hamara Aawas – Textbook for Geography Class – 6
• Hamara Paryavaran Bhugol Textbook for Class – 7
• Sansadhan Evam Vikas- Textbook For Geography Class-8
• Samkalin Bharat -1 Textbook of Bhugol for Class – 9
• Samkalin Bharat 2 Textbook of Bhugol for Class – 10
• Bharat Bhautik Parayavaran – Textbook of Bhugol for Class – 11
• Bhugol Me Pragoyatmak Karye Part 1 (Hindi) Class-11
• Bhautik Bhugol Ke Mool Sidhant Geography Textbook for Class – 11
• Manav Bhugol Ke Mool Sidhant – Textbook for Geography for Class – 12
• Bhugol Me Prayogatmak Karya Bhag – 2 Textbook for Class – 12
• Bharat Log Aur Arthvyavastha – Textbook of Geography for Class – 12

NCERT – Economics (Hindi Medium)

• Arthasasthra – Textbook of Economics for Class – 9
• Arthik Vikas Ki Samajh – Textbook of Economics for Class – 10
• Bhartiya Arthvyavastha Ka Vikas – Textbook of Economics for Class – 11
• Vyashthi Arthshastra – Textbook of Economics for Class – 12
• Samashty Arthshastra Ek Parichay – Textbook for Class – 12

NCERT – Polity (Hindi Medium)

• Samajik Aur Rajnitik Jeevan – Textbook for Social Studies for Class – 6
• Samajik Aur Rajnitik Jeevan – 2 Textbook Social Science for Class – 7
• Samajik Aur Rajnitik Jeevan – Textbook Social Science for Class – 8
• Loktantrik Rajniti Textbook Social Science for Class – 9
• Loktantrik Rajniti 2 Textbook of Samajik Vigyan for Class – 10
• Raajnieeti Sidhant – Textbook Political Science for Class – 11
• Bharat Ka Samvidhan Sidhant Aur Vyavahar Political Science for Class – 11
• Samkalin Vishwa Rajniti – Textbook In Political Science for Class – 12
• Swatantra Bharat Mein Rajniti – Textbook for Class – 12

Also read:  How To Prepare Economy for Civil Services Exam?

NCERT – Sociology (Hindi Medium)

• Samaj Ka Bodh – Textbook of Sociology for Class – 11
• Samajshastra Parichaya – Textbook Sociology for Class – 11
• Bhartiya Samaj: Textbook of Sociology for Class:12
• Bharat Main Samajik Parivartan Aur Vikas Textbook of Sociology for class- 12

NCERT – Science and Technology (Hindi Medium)

• Vigyan Textbook Science for Class – 6
• Vigyan Textbook Science for Class – 8
• Vigyan Textbook Science for Class – 9
• Vigyan Textbook Science for Class – 10
• Jeev Vigyan Textbook for Class – 11
• Jeev Vigyan Textbook of Biology for Class – 12

What next, after finishing NCERT books Hindi medium?

Once done with the basic study of NCERT books, aspirants should go deep by referring books from authors like M Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh, Bipan Chandra, D.D. Basu, etc. To make matters easy, we have prepared a separate list of best-selling IAS books for Hindi medium.

Summary: NCERT Books are available at NCERRT Website , Amazon, Flipkart, Schoolcart and also available at download section of This blog

NCERT texts from Class 6 till Class 12 provides this fundamental education in the most simple and cost-effective manner. UPSC aspirants can now buy NCERT books online as online shopping players have started adding NCERT books into their shelves.

Daily Current Affairs 30/8/2017

Mumbai Flood

• Mumbai has recorded 297mm of rain in 24 hours.
• It is the highest ever 24 hour rainfall for the August month recorded in Mumbai since 1997.
• The highest ever 24 hour rainfall in Mumbai was recorded on 26 July 2005, with 944.2 mm rainfall.
• The situation was compounded by the high tide that prevented natural drainage into the sea.
• This has created a ground for spreading of Leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection in rodents and other wild and domesticated species.

• It is a zoonotic disease (i.e) spread from animals to humans caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.
• It is transmitted to humans by exposure through water contaminated by urine from infected animals.
• The infection in man is contracted through skin abrasions and the mucosa of the nose, mouth and eyes. Human-to-human transmission is rare.
• In most of the cases, leptospirosis only causes mild flu-like symptoms, such as headache, chills and muscle pain.
• However, in some cases the infection is more severe and can cause life-threatening problems, including organ failure and internal bleeding.
• Severe form of leptospirosis is known as Weil's disease.

Yuva

• YUVA is a skill development programme and an initiative by Delhi Police under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• It aims to connect with the youth by upgrading their skill as per their competencies and help them to get a gainful employment under PMKVY.
• Delhi Police has tied up with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for providing mass job linked skill training for the selected youth.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

• It is the India's largest outcome based skill certification scheme implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
• The objective is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
• Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• The scheme is implemented by Ministry of Skill Development.
• Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government.

Appointment of Deputy CM

• A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking issue of a writ of “Quo Warranto” to the office of Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu.
• Quo Warranto is a prerogative writ requiring the person to whom it is directed to show what authority they have for exercising some right or power they claim to hold.
• Aritlce 164(1A) of the Constitution states that the total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State should not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly.
• A proviso to the Article makes it clear that the number of Ministers, including the CM, in a State should not be less than 12.

Indian Space Industry

• ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bengaluru, is the lead centre for building satellites and developing associated satellite technologies.
• ISAC have decided to open up the opportunity of satellite making to industries.
• It would sign a 3-year contract with the finalists, train, and handhold and supervise the teams in making the range of satellites at its facility.
• It is seen as a first step towards the making of an Indian Space Industry.
• First satellites from this effort are targeted to be out in 2018.
• Currently, ISRO makes 4 categories of Spacecraft such as communication, remote sensing, navigation and scientific missions and in 3 sizes of 1000 kg to 4000 kg.
• Industries will be trained in all the current types of Indian Satellites.

Source: Hindu, PIB

Daily Current Affairs 29/8/2017

 29-Aug-2017

Kamov Ka-226T

• Russia plans to deliver 10 Kamov Ka-226T military helicopters to India in a first tranche as part of a $1-billion deal, signed in Indo-Russia Summit in Moscow, 2015.
• The Kamov 226T is a light weight, twin-engine multi-role chopper offers services for both military and civilian purposes.
• It will replace India's ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak.
• The military version is capable of working in extreme and difficult weather conditions such as hot climate, marine areas and high mountains.
• The helicopter has a maximum speed of 250 km/hour and maximum takeoff weight is 3,600 kg.

Renewable Energy Pact

• India and Germany signed an agreement on technical cooperation under the Indo-German Energy Programme – Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC).
• The main objective of this programme is to improve the conditions for grid integration of renewable energy.
• This programme component supports the implementation of the Renewable Energy Management Centre (REMCs), Green Energy Corridors (GEC) scheme which is a prerequisite for large scale grid integration of renewable energy.
• Thus the programme contributes to achieve the 175 GW target for renewable energy generation capacity by 2022.

REMC and GEC

• Green Energy Corridor is grid connected network for the transmission of renewable energy produced from various renewable energy projects.
• It helps in synchronising the electricity produced from solar, wind and other renewable energy resources.
• This dedicated transmission network has been divided into two parts. Intra state network is being implemented by State Transmission Utilities and Inter-state network by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.
• Germany has agreed to provide Euro 1 billion soft loan to this project in 2013.
• Renewable Energy Management Centre (REMC) will monitor renewable energy generation on a real-time basis and also make forecasts for hassle-free integration of solar and wind energies with the grid.

Enterprise Survey by NITI Aayog

• Recently, Niti Aayog and Mumbai-based IDFC Institute have conducted an enterprise survey on ease of doing business.
• The findings of the survey are at sharp variance with the World Bank’s ease of doing business report.
• The WB’s report showed that it took just 26 days to set up a business in India in 2016 whereas NITI Aayog’s report says that it takes 118 days on an average to set up a business.
• The WB report covered only Delhi and Mumbai, while the NITI surveyed pan-India, except Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep.
• The Niti Aayog report is focused on organised manufacturing, while the World Bank report covers both manufacturing and services.
• The survey also highlighted that Tamil Nadu is the best-performing state. An enterprise can setup a business in 63 days in Tamil Nadu.

Production of Bio-Ethanol

Scientists from CSIR have produced ethanol from discarded cotton-stalks by using a combination of chemical and biological techniques.

• The cotton stalks were first treated with an acid, alkali and enzymes to convert it to glucose.
• Then the fermentation using a novel yeast strain was carried out to convert the glucose into ethanol.
• The final alcohol obtained can be made to fuel grade Bio-ethanol, after distillation and dehydration using molecular sieves.
• Bio-ethanol has a number of advantages over conventional fuels as it comes from a renewable resource.
• It is mandatory to blend 10% ethanol with petrol.
• Presently it is obtained by fermentation of sugar cane molasses which is a by product of sugar production, and has food value.
• Converting the agro-residues (Cotton Stalks) to ethanol reduces the food and fuel competition.

Geological Stresses in Indian Ocean

• A Geological stresses is building along the Indo-Australian tectonic plate boundary in the Southern Indian Ocean.
• It has the potential to cause a powerful earthquake, triggering a tsunami across much of South India.
• This development is mainly due to the presence of diffuse deformation zone between Indian and Australian tectonic plates.
• Diffuse zones of deformation are in general characterized by complex morphological expressions and scattered seismicity of up to several 100Km width.
• The zones are capable of generating undersea earthquakes up to a magnitude of 8.
• Studies have to be conducted to understand how the event will unfold.
• The largest strike-slip earthquake on record had happened along the Indo-Australian boundary in 2012.
• Strike-slip earthquake occurrs when tectonic plates slips horizontally along a fault line, unlike most large earthquakes which are caused when two plates collided at their boundaries and one plate slid beneath the other.

Daily Current affair 28-08-2017

 28-Aug-2017

Peer to Peer (P2P) Lending

• It is a form of crowd-sourcing, where individuals or businesses can borrow money via online platforms (i.e) without the use of an official financial institution as an intermediary.
• P2P lending platforms are largely technology companies registered under the Companies Act that act as aggregators for lenders and borrowers.
• The interest rate may be set by the platform or by mutual agreement between the borrower and the lender.
• The platform provides the service of collecting loan repayments and doing preliminary assessment on the borrower’s creditworthiness. It makes a profit from arrangement fees.
• Now, the RBI is looking at allowing players in the sector to have an offline presence besides an online one.
• If it is allowed to have offline presence, it will be just like chit funds.
• Further, to attract more players into the P2P space, entities (such as societies) other than those registered under the Companies Act may be allowed entry.

Long Range Surface to Air Missile

• LRSAM is the ship launch version of Barak-8 missile, jointly developed by India and Israel.
• LR-SAM is capable to penetrate in deep water/land to intercept all types of aerial targets like Subsonic & Supersonic Missiles, Fighter Aircraft, Maritime Patrolling Aircraft (MPA), Helicopter and Sea Skimming Missiles.
• It was recently handed to Indian Navy.
• Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) is the land version of Barak-8 Missile.

ASTRA

• The ASTRA weapon system is an indigenously developed air-to-air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile developed by the DRDO.
• It comprises a launcher and a missile and it is designed as a BVR missile with a long range of 110 km and short range of 20 km.
• BVR missiles are the latest in air-to-air combat.
• It will be inducted into IAF later this year and this would be the IAF’s first indigenous air-to-air BVR missile.
• It was recently test fired from Russian-origin Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

Serious Fraud Investigation Office

• SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organisation having experts for prosecution of financially motivated non-violent crimes done by business and government professionals (white-collar crimes).
• Experts from financial sector, capital market, accountancy, forensic audit, taxation, law, information technology, company law, customs and investigation are part of the office.
• It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Corporate affairs.
• The organisation was set up based on the recommendation of Naresh Chandra Committee in 2002.
• It is the coordinating agency with the income tax and CBI.
• The government has recently notified that SFIO will have powers to arrest people for violations of Companies law.
• The notification comes at a time when the government is cracking down all suspected shell companies being used for illegal activities, including money laundering and tax evasion.

RIMES

• Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) is an intergovernmental institution for the generation and application of early warning information.
• It was established in 2009, evolved from the efforts of countries in Africa and Asia, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
• It works with a multi-hazard framework for the generation and communication of early warning information and capacity building for preparedness and response to trans-boundary hazards.
• It operates from its regional early warning center in Thailand.
• Recently, at the 3rd ministerial meeting of RIMES, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) inaugurated the Ocean Forecasting System for Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
• The meeting was held at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Haemophiliacs

Haemophilia is a genetic and life-threatening bleeding disorder that affects the blood’s ability to clot due to the absence of clotting proteins called factors.

• It is one of the few new diseases included under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
• The erstwhile Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 considered only seven categories, namely blindness, low vision, locomotive disability, hearing impairment, mental retardation, mental illness and leprosy, but not haemophilia.
• According to a study conducted by the World Federation of Haemophilia in 2016, almost half of the world’s haemophilia population lives in India.
• The country lags severely in providing the facility of free “clotting factor concentrates”, which helps in stopping the bleeding and is the first step in treatment of patients with severe haemophilia.

Daily Current Affair 27/8/2017

New Earthworm Species

• Scientists have discovered two new species of earthworms of the primitive Drawida genus from the southern Western Ghats.
• One of the new species, Drawida polydiverticulata, has more than two lobes in its reproductive organs, distinguishing it clearly from other species of earthworms.
• This species is widespread in the shola grasslands of Idukki district, including the Eravikulam National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park, and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Drawida earthworms are distributed across Indo-China, Southeast Asia and northern Japan.
• Of the 73 species of Drawida earthworms found in India, 43 are found in the Western Ghats.

International Vaccine Institute

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed a MoU with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) for collaborating on vaccine research and development.
• IVI, an International Organisation is headquartered at Seoul, South Korea and established based on the initiatives of UNDP.
• It is devoted to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines to protect the people against infectious diseases.
• India is a long-term collaborator and stakeholder of IVI since 2007. With the change in governance structure in 2012, India becomes a full member of its governing council with the cabinet approval.
• One of the most successful collaborations of IVI with India was on the development of Shanchol, the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine.
• The vaccine was licensed in India in 2009 and WHO-prequalified in 2011.

Section 144 & curfew

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) prohibits any assembly of five or more people in an area where it has been imposed.

• Every member of such "unlawful assembly" can be booked for "engaging in rioting", maximum punishment for which is three years.
• Further, obstructing police from breaking up an unlawful assembly is a punishable offence as well.
• A curfew by law orders people to stay indoors for a specific period of time. It can be a public order to gain control of violent situations, or can be directed to a specific group.
• Curfew prohibits any person to step outdoors without prior police approval.
• Establishments such as markets, schools, colleges, etc. are ordered to remain shut, and only essential services are allowed to run.

Project Brainwave

It is launched by Microsoft, a deep learning platform for real-time artificial intelligence (AI) and capable of processing requests as fast as it receives it.