NCERT Books for UPSC: Class-wise List and Subject-wise Reading Strategy

Quick answer: NCERT textbooks of Class 6 to 12 are the base of UPSC preparation. They explain concepts in simple language and cover a large part of History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Society asked in the Prelims and the Mains. A beginner should read the NCERT books of the selected subjects first, make short notes, and only then move to advanced books. This guide gives a class-wise and subject-wise list, a reading order and a clear plan so that you do not waste time on unnecessary books.

Why NCERT Books Are Important for UPSC

• Clear concepts: The language is simple, and the facts are checked, which is useful for a beginner.
• Base for standard books: Once you understand the basics, books like Laxmikanth or Spectrum become easier.
• Frequent questions: Many Prelims questions on geography, polity, economy and science come directly from the ideas in the NCERT books.
• Low cost: The books are cheap and the PDFs are available on the official NCERT website for free.

Our guide on the best books for UPSC shows how NCERTs fit in the overall booklist.

Important Note on New and Old NCERT Books

NCERT has been releasing revised textbooks for several classes under the new curriculum framework, and the titles and the chapter order of some books have changed. A safe way is to read the latest edition available on the official site, and use the older edition only for a topic that is missing in the new book. The titles in this guide are the widely used ones. If a title has changed, search the same subject and class on the NCERT website.

History NCERT Books

For art and culture, read An Introduction to Indian Art of Class 11. Many aspirants also use the old NCERT books Ancient India by R. S. Sharma and Medieval India by Satish Chandra as extra reading. Pair them with our notes on modern Indian history.

Geography NCERT Books

Geography is a favourite of the UPSC. Start from the Class 11 physical geography book for climate, landforms and oceans, and use maps with every chapter. The Indian geography notes on this website help you to revise.

Polity, Economy, Science and Society

• Polity: Democratic Politics I and II (Class 9, 10), Indian Constitution at Work (Class 11), Political Theory (Class 11) and Politics in India since Independence (Class 12). Then read a standard polity book. See the polity notes.
• Economy: Economics (Class 9), Understanding Economic Development (Class 10), Indian Economic Development (Class 11) and Introductory Macroeconomics (Class 12).
• Science: Science of Classes 6 to 10, with a special focus on biology and basic physics and chemistry; the last chapters of Class 12 Biology on ecology and environment are very useful.
• Society: Understanding Society (Class 11), Indian Society and Social Change and Development in India (Class 12) for the GS Paper 1 topics.
• International relations: Contemporary World Politics (Class 12) for a basic idea of world affairs.

Which Books Should a Beginner Read First?

If you have little time, do not try to read every class. A practical order is: Class 6 to 10 books of History, Geography and Science for the basic ideas (quickly, in about 10 days per subject), then the books of Class 11 and 12 of Geography, Polity, Economy and Society, and then the Class 11 and 12 History books. If you have a strong school background in a subject, you can skip the lower classes. Students from science backgrounds may need more time for History and Polity, and students from arts backgrounds may need extra time for Science and Economy.

How to Read an NCERT Book: A Four-Step Method

1. Skim the chapter: Look at the headings, maps, boxes and the summary in 10 minutes.
2. Read slowly: Underline only the key terms, dates, names and cause-effect points.
3. Make short notes: Write 1 page for 1 chapter, in your own words, with a table or a flowchart.
4. Test yourself: Solve 10 to 15 MCQs from the topic and review the previous year questions.

Use a note-making method that suits you; our previous year paper guide shows how to check which parts of NCERT are repeatedly asked.

Sample 60-Day NCERT Plan

Prelims vs Mains: How to Use the Same Book Twice

For the Prelims, read NCERT for facts, definitions, maps and the relationships between concepts; most questions are statement-based, and wrong options are created by changing one word. For the Mains, read the same chapter again for the causes, effects, examples and different viewpoints, and add a line or a diagram that you can use in an answer. A good habit is to write two or three "answer-ready" points at the end of every chapter note, such as the reasons for the 1857 revolt or the factors affecting the monsoon. This saves a lot of time later, because you then have a base for your answers when you start practising with the answer writing method.

Themes From NCERT That Are Asked Again and Again

• Geography: climate and monsoon, ocean currents, landforms, rivers, soils, agriculture and population.
• Polity: Preamble, fundamental rights, directive principles, Parliament, judiciary, federalism and elections.
• History: the Indus Valley civilisation, the Mauryan and Gupta empires, the Delhi Sultanate and Mughals, the 1857 revolt and the freedom movement.
• Economy: national income, inflation, banking, poverty, planning and the five-year plans.
• Science: human body, diseases, basic physics and chemistry, and ecology.

You can check these themes against the topic list in our free notes library, which covers 22 subjects of the exam.

A Simple Daily Routine for NCERT Reading

A balanced day for a full-time student can be 3 hours of fresh NCERT reading in the morning, 1 hour of note-making in the afternoon, 1 hour of MCQ practice in the evening and 30 minutes of revision at night. A working student can follow a half-time version: 90 minutes of reading and 30 minutes of notes on weekdays, and a longer revision on Sunday. Do not change your books and your timetable every week. Consistency is more powerful than speed, and keeping a weekly checklist of finished chapters helps you to stay on track. In two months you will have finished the full base of the syllabus.

Common Mistakes with NCERT Books

Students often read NCERT like a story and do not revise. Some try to memorise each line, which is not required. Others think that NCERT is enough for the exam, which is not true: the UPSC also asks current affairs, advanced topics and analysis in Mains. Another mistake is to collect too many PDFs and not finish even one subject. Finish one subject, take a test, and then move to the next. Also avoid using the books of different classes without a plan, because this creates confusion and repeats the same chapters.

What to Do After NCERT

When you finish the NCERTs, move to one standard book for each major subject, add current affairs from newspapers, and start answer writing for Mains. Our current affairs guide explains how to do it daily, and the 12-month roadmap shows when to start each part. For revision, use short notes, charts and the topic-wise notes on this website. If you follow this order, NCERT will make the rest of your preparation faster, lighter and more accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are NCERT books enough for UPSC?

No. NCERTs build the base, but you also need standard books, current affairs and answer writing practice for the Prelims and the Mains.

Which NCERT books should I read first for UPSC?

Start with the Geography, Polity, Economy and History books of Classes 6 to 12 selected for your weak subjects, and finish one subject at a time.

Should I read NCERT books of Class 6 to 12 or only 11 and 12?

Beginners can read Classes 6 to 10 quickly for the basics and then focus on Classes 11 and 12. Those with a strong school base can start from Class 11.

How long does it take to complete the NCERTs for UPSC?

Most students complete the selected NCERTs in about 45 to 60 days with 4 to 6 hours of daily study.

Where can I get NCERT books for UPSC?

The books can be read or downloaded for free from the official NCERT website, and printed copies are available in bookstores.

Should I use old or new NCERT books?

Read the latest edition first, and use the older edition only for topics that are missing or shortened in the new books.

Which NCERT book is best for UPSC Geography?

The Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography and India: Physical Environment, together with the Class 12 human geography books, are the most useful.

Which NCERT books are important for UPSC Polity?

Indian Constitution at Work (Class 11) and Politics in India since Independence (Class 12) are the most useful, followed by a standard polity book.

Do I need NCERT for the UPSC Mains?

Yes. NCERTs give the concepts and examples that you can use in answers, particularly in History, Geography, Society and Economy.

How should I make notes from NCERT?

Make one-page notes for each chapter in your own words with key terms, tables and flowcharts, and revise them every week.

Can I skip NCERT books if I have a strong background?

You can skip the subjects in which you are already strong, but check the books quickly to see if any important topic is missing.

What is the best way to revise NCERT books?

Use your short notes, solve topic-wise MCQs and previous year questions, and revise each subject at least three times before the Prelims.