UPSC Booklist for Self Preparation by Adarsh Kant Shukla

This UPSC booklist for self preparation without coaching is by Adarsh Kant Shukla. He is the youngest IPS Officer in UPSC Civil services Exam. He qualified at the age of 22 years only in hist 1st attempt without coaching. Adarsh prepared by himself staying with his family in Barabanki. Below are the booklists for UPSC Civil Service exam that Adarsh followed:

UPSC Prelims Booklist

• Polity: Indian Polity by Laxmikant
• Modern History: Spectrum Modern History
• Art and Culture – Nitin Singhania (selectively)
• Ancient and Medieval History– Mainly through test series, didn’t prepare from any separate source
• Environment – Current Affairs and Shankar IAS (very selectively)
• Economy – Macroeconomics NCERT 12th Class, Sriram IAS notes (only for topics not covered in NCERT)
• Geography – PMF IAS notes, 11 & 12th Geography NCERT, Atlas

UPSC Mains Book List

This is the booklist for UPSC Mains followed by Adarsh Shukla. The booklist is mentioned as per the General Studies and Optional papers in UPSC Mains.

General Studies Paper I Booklist

• Modern History (Spectrum)Geography (PMF IAS / 11,12th NCERT), Nitin Singhania (selectively),
• Any coaching value added material(I preferred VisionIAS) as fodder material for small topics in syllabus,
• Vision World History and Post-Independence History compilation,
• GC Leong last section for climate types,
• Mrunal for resource location factors topic, monthly CA booklet

General Studies Paper II Booklist

• Laxmikant for Polity
• Monthly current affairs/mains 365 for governance, social issues and international affairs
• NITI Aayog @75 report
• Internet surfing/any coaching for fodder material for mini topics in syllabus

General Studies Paper III Booklist

Economy and Environment core (Prelims source eg. 12th class macroeconomics). Budget and survey.
Monthly Current Affairs booklets/mains365, NITI Aayog @75 report for topics like agriculture

General Studies Paper IV Booklist

Lexicon Ethics for definition, Internet surfing for value addition

Sociology Optional Booklist

• Essential Sociology by Nitin Sangwan
• Triumph IAS Sociology Notes
• Harlambos and Holborn for Paper 1 (very selectively)
• Tusharanshu notes for Paper 2 (selectively)

It is clear from the UPSC Booklist for Civil Services above that Adarsh Kant Shukla, who is the youngest IPS officer, had kept his book sources minimal. This was a smart strategy by him to utilise minimum books and revise them maximum number of times. He also used internet sources for many topics to get clarity. You may follow this booklist of Civil Services exam to crack UPSC CSE.