UPSC Preliminary GS Paper 1
The UPSC exam is a tough row to hoe. There are a plethora of sources available both online and offline. The question pops up in the mind of most of the aspirants, “Which books are best for the UPSC preliminary GS paper 1?”. It is quite important to know about the books for UPSC preparation. There are four general studies papers in UPSC prelims in totality, and GS-1 is one of them. The main subjects of GS paper 1 are history, geography, and Indian society. Let us have an overview.
Subject Areas that Require More Attention for GS Paper 1
- Indian Culture: This area requires expertise in art, literature, Indian heritage, and many more. It demands in-depth knowledge of both ancient and modern Indian society. This part of the paper blankets all the major aspects of different art forms, literature, architecture, Indian heritage and many more.
- Modern History of India: It covers all the significant events from 1750 to recent times. One should not only focus on the topics like the freedom struggle and independence, but also the different movements, freedom fighters, and their valuable contributions to the nation. For this part, count on NCERT books and keep an eagle eye on all the current affairs and facts. One should jot down the important movements and their dates in sequential order.
- Impact on India After Independence and Political Ideologies: This topic demands a thorough knowledge of the freedom struggle. It also focuses on significant contributions, topics like communism, socialism, etc.
- World History- This topic covers 18th-century events like the American, French and Industrial revolutions, world wars, and many more. To have a grip on this topic, put more emphasis on current affairs. We recommend newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express.
- Indian Society- It is all about the notable features of Indian society. One should focus on all the trending matters of concern, such as women empowerment, poverty, and other national issues.
- Geography- It is the most generic area of study. Questions from any geographical aspect of the country or the world are crucial. One should stress more on topics like natural calamities, water bodies, mountain ranges, natural resources, and many more.
UPSC GS Books to Refer For the Preliminary GS Paper 1
An aspirant who has a fair knowledge of referring resources always has the upper hand over others. To ace this part of the paper, make NCERT books your holy grail. NCERT books from class VI to XII should be referred. After covering NCERTS of every topic, move further to reference books. Here is a topic-wise list of some books that could ease your preparation.
Art and Culture of India
- India’s Ancient past – RS Sharma.
- Facets of Indian culture by Spectrum Publications.
Modern History
- India’s struggle for Indian Independence by Bipin Chandra.
- A brief History of modern India – Rajiv Ahir.
India after Independence
- India since independence – Bipin Chandra.
World History
- History of the world by Arjun Dev.
- Mastering world history by Norman Lowe.
Indian Society
- Newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express.
- Case studies and reports of NGOs.
- Magazines.
Which GS Book is Best for UPSC?
UPSC exam is divided into three parts namely prelims, mains and the interview round. Out of nine papers, four papers constitute general studies. Amongst all the supplementary books, NCERT is the best GS book for UPSC. After NCERT, one can proceed to books like General Knowledge 2020 by Arihant, General Knowledge Manual by Pearson.
Significance of General Studies Papers in UPSC Exam.
This topic is of utmost importance for your IAS dream. The preliminary examination comprises two objective type questions, which makes a total weightage of 200 marks. Paper 1 has a weightage of 100 marks, whereas GS paper 2 is 80 marks. A candidate having a minimum of 33% in the prelims examination is eligible for the mains. Further mains examination has GS Paper 3 and GS paper 4. Roughly 1100-1400 marks depend on your general knowledge base.
Conclusion
“Dreams don’t come true unless you take action”. Clearing the UPSC exam is the dream of thousands of candidates across the country. A candidate has to go through all blood, sweat, and tears to pass this exam. Nowadays, there are plenty of resources available that boosts the preparation. Refer to the recommended books by experts and narrow down your research. It would save the time of researching books. UPSC pathshala is a one-stop destination for all your UPSC exam related queries. Visit our website to know more.
Happy studying!
