History Books for UPSC IAS Exam

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Author at PW

March 20, 2025

The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 is one of the most challenging and prestigious exams in India. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select candidates for top administrative positions like IAS, IPS, and IFS. For the 2025 exam, the official notification was released on January 22nd, with the Prelims scheduled for May 25th and the Mains on August 22nd. Every year, thousands of aspirants compete in this exam, which tests their knowledge, analytical skills, and decision-making abilities.

Among all subjects, History plays a crucial role in the exam. It covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History, along with World History, helping candidates understand the evolution of society, governance, and global events. Since the subject is vast, choosing the right History Books for UPSC IAS Exam is essential for effective preparation. Check out the below article for quality History Books for UPSC IAS Exam.

History Books for UPSC Syllabus 2025

Candidates willing to take part in UPSC IAS exam should consult the history books for UPSC after getting a thorough knowledge of the UPSC history syllabus. It would help them arrange the history books for UPSC to make their study preparation the most effective. The UPSC history syllabus consists of the following parts:

Ancient History
Medieval History
Modern History
World History

Check Out - UPSC books for 2025 Preparation

History Books for UPSC Ancient History

Candidates studying History Books for UPSC should consult some good ancient history books for UPSC which are significant resources for studying the history section of the UPSC IAS exam. Questions related to ancient Indian history appear in the UPSC prelims and main exams.

Some of the important chapters covered in ancient history UPSC books are Indus Valley Civilization, Megalithic Culture, Aryans and Vedic Period, Mauryan Empire, and Issues in Early Indian Cultural History, etc.

History Books for UPSC Medieval History

Candidates looking for History books for UPSC must include books of medieval history in their list of history books for UPSC exam. The history of medieval India covers the major dynasties that reigned India between 13th to 18th century including the Cholas, the Rajputs, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire. There are detailed discussions on various aspects of Indian culture and society,

History Books for UPSC Modern History

Modern history is an important part of history books for UPSC as different types of questions come in the UPSC exam from this section. Modern history describes the history of the world after the middle ages. It gives a comprehensive idea of Indian history covering the period from the mid-19th century to 1947. It mainly covers topics that help develop the concepts of political history and knowledge of cultural and social scenarios in India as well as in the world.

Check Out - UPSC Question Banks

History Books for UPSC Prelims

Candidates appearing for UPSC prelims must study history books for UPSC prelims. The history syllabus for UPSC prelims covers modern history, ancient history, and medieval history.

History Books for UPSC Mains

When it comes to the History books for UPSC Mains Syllabus, aspirants need to read some advanced UPSC history books. Questions in the Mains are a bit tough and require an in-depth understanding of the history topics.

History Books for UPSC Previous Year’s Solved Question Papers

History books for UPSC are significant resources for preparation for UPSC IAS Exam. Aspiring candidates should go through these books to get a thorough knowledge of the different aspects of Indian history as required for the UPSC exam.

Apart from that, there is a collection of solved questions from the UPSC IAS exam's previous year’s question papers. The answers are written by our faculty and previous toppers of UPSC exam.

This is a very important resource for candidates preparing for the UPSC IAS exam because it will guide them to get a better understanding of the question pattern and types of answers to be written to score good marks.

UPSC Previous Year Questions Book	Link
UPSC Mains Wallah Previous 11 Years' (2013-2023) General Studies Solved Papers 1 to 4 Combo Set of 4 Books For Civil Services Mains Exams	Link
PW UPSC Mains Wallah Previous 11 Years' (2013-2023) General Studies Solved Papers 1 to 4 Combo Set of 4 Books For Civil Services Mains Exams l Hindi Edition	Link

History Books for UPSC Study Tips

The study of history books for UPSC requires some systematic approach to make the learning most effective. A subject like history requires a deep understanding of topics so candidates should read widely, practice writing, and remain updated with current events. The following tips will help candidates read history books to get effective results.

Start with NCERT books for a basic understanding of the history topics.
After that, you can consult other reference books and make notes.
Avoid consulting multiple books at a time on a single topic.
Sole UPSC previous years’ question papers on history topics.

PW Study Materials for History UPSC Exam

UPSC aspirants need to cover various parts of history starting from ancient to modern and refer to different study materials pertaining to the subjects. Candidates look for reliable resources to conveniently access the study materials. PW provides candidates with study references on history for UPSC to help them prepare for the exam.

Preparing for the UPSC IAS examination to score good marks in the history section requires a broader knowledge base and awareness of Indian and world history. The recommended books can help develop an excellent foundation on history topics relevant to the UPSC exam.

History books for UPSC Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should be the highlights of studying history for the UPSC exam?

Ans. Memorizing the dates, names, events, and other details along with practice and making notes are important aspects of studying history for the UPSC exam.

2. Are NCERT History books sufficient for the UPSC exam?

Ans.Our faculty and toppers recommend NCERT History textbooks preparation as a good resource for UPSC prelims and mains.

3. What time period is covered in medieval history for the UPSC exam?

Ans. The period from the 13th to the 18th century is covered under the medieval history of India.