Booklists & resources
NCERT Book List for UPSC: Class 6–12, Subject-wise
NCERTs are the foundation of UPSC preparation. Here is exactly which books to read, in what order, and which ones you can safely skip.
Pragnya IAS Academy, Hyderabad · Updated 7 October 2026 · 8 min read
Subject-wise NCERT list
| Subject | Books | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| History | Class 6 Our Pasts I; Class 7 Our Pasts II; Class 8 Our Pasts III; Class 11 Themes in World History; Class 12 Themes in Indian History I–III; Old NCERT: R.S. Sharma (Ancient), Satish Chandra (Medieval), Bipan Chandra (Modern) | High |
| Geography | Class 6–8 The Earth Our Habitat, Resources and Development; Class 9 Contemporary India I; Class 10 Contemporary India II; Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, India Physical Environment; Class 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography, India People and Economy | Very high |
| Polity | Class 6–8 Social and Political Life; Class 9 Democratic Politics I; Class 10 Democratic Politics II; Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Political Theory; Class 12 Politics in India since Independence, Contemporary World Politics | High |
| Economy | Class 9 Economics; Class 10 Understanding Economic Development; Class 11 Indian Economic Development; Class 12 Introductory Macroeconomics, Introductory Microeconomics | High |
| Science | Class 6–10 Science; Class 11–12 Biology (ecology chapters) and Chemistry (environmental chemistry) | Medium |
| Art & Culture | Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art (Fine Arts); Class 12 Themes in Indian History chapters on culture | Medium |
| Sociology | Class 11 Introducing Sociology; Class 12 Indian Society | Useful for GS 1 |
In what order should I read NCERTs?
- Geography and Polity first — they are the most concept-heavy and directly tested.
- Then History (Class 6–8, then 11–12), then Economy.
- Science and Art & Culture last, alongside current affairs.
- Read each book twice: once to understand, once to underline and make short notes.
How to read NCERTs for UPSC
- Keep a syllabus printout beside you and tag each chapter to a GS topic.
- Make notes only from Class 11–12 books; Class 6–10 need just underlining.
- Solve the relevant previous-year Prelims questions after each subject.
- Do not read NCERTs for a year — target 2–3 months for the full set.
Our free Study Library follows the same syllabus structure, so after an NCERT chapter you can read the matching UPSC-level notes on Pragnya's site.
Frequently asked questions
Are NCERTs enough for UPSC?
No, but they are the essential foundation. Standard reference books and current affairs are added on top.
Should I read old or new NCERTs?
Read new NCERTs for all subjects; old NCERTs by R.S. Sharma, Satish Chandra and Bipan Chandra are still valued for History.
How long does it take to finish NCERTs?
With 6–7 hours a day, the full set takes about 2–3 months.
Can I read NCERTs in Telugu?
Yes. Telugu translations are available from the Telangana and AP textbook bodies and are suitable for Telugu-medium aspirants.