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Book list- General Studies for Prelims and Mains

Here is a list of books I referred to during my CSE preparation in 2014

Hi! Here is a list of the books I referred to for CSP 2014 and CSM 2014 for the General Studies papers. Please note that you should assess your own level of understanding and then decide on whether or not this list works for you too.

NEWSPAPER: THE HINDU

MAGAZINES/JOURNALS: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY (ONLY FOR MAINS)

WEBSITES: prsindia.org, mea.gov.in, mrunal.org, Wikipedia.org

BOOK LIST FOR PRELIMS:

GENERAL STUDIES-I

SERIAL NO.TOPICBOOKS/NOTES/WEBSITES
1Indian PolityLaxmikanth, Ravindran sir’s notes, newspaper, prsindia.org
2Indian EconomyVajiram class notes, Shriram IAS notes, Economic Survey
3Ancient Indian HistoryOld 11th standard NCERT by R.S. Sharma
4Medieval Indian HistoryOld 7th standard NCERT by Romila Thapar
5Modern Indian HistoryOld 12th standard NCERT by Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra (Penguin), Spectrum-Modern India
6Indian CultureA.L. Basham, Spectrum, 11th standard NCERT for Fine Arts
7World an Indian GeographyVajiram notes (class notes and printed handouts), Vajriam Yellow Book, 11thand 12th standard NCERTs on physical geography and some units from Human geography, GC Leong, Indian and World Geography by Majid Hussain, Orient Black Swan Atlas.
8Ecology and Environment12th standard NCERT, Vajiram class notes and Green Book, KBC-NANO publications book on Environment and Ecology
9General Science9th and 10th NCERTs, 11th and 12thBiology NCERT, Vajiram Yellow Book for Physics
10Science and TechnologyNewspaper
11Current AffairsNewspaper, MEA annual report
   
   

GENERAL STUDIES-II (CSAT) Refer to 6th-10th NCERTS, and study only relevant topics like Ratio-Proportion, Mixtures, Profit-Loss-Discount, etc. Refer to Tata McGrawhill’s book for CSAT. Study the entire book. Career Launcher worksheets for practice. BOOK LIST FOR MAINS: GENERAL STUDIES-I Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

SERIAL NO.TOPICBOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE
1Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern timessame as prelims
2Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issuesOld 12th standard NCERT by Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra (Penguin), Spectrum-Modern India, Spectrum-Personalities, Vision IAS notes
3The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.Old 12th standard NCERT by Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra (Penguin), Spectrum-Modern India
4Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the countryIndia After Gandhi by Ram Chandra Guha
5History of the world will include events from 18thcentury such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the societyWorld History book by Arihant publications (this is not a very good book, look for alternative), World History book by Arjun Dev (Orient Blackswan Publication), Mastering World History by Norman Lowe (Macmillian), Vision IAS notes
6Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.Sociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes
7Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remediesSociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes
8Effects of globalization on Indian societySociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes
9Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularismSociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes
10Salient features of world's physical geographySame as prelims, Vision IAS notes
11Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)Same as prelims, Vision IAS notes
12Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changesSame as prelims, Vision IAS notes

  GENERAL STUDIES-II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

SERIAL NO.TOPICBOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE
1Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, Political Science notes
2Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, Political Science notes, Our Political System by Subhash Kashyap
3Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, Political Science notes, Vision IAS notes
4Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countriesVision IAS notes
5Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of theseLaxmikanth-Indian Polity
6Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, laxmikanth-Governance
7Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.ROP Act, Vision IAS notes
8Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional BodiesLaxmikanth-Indian Polity, laxmikanth-Governance
9Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodiesLaxmikanth-Indian Polity, laxmikanth-Governance
10Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.India Year Book
11Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholdersVision IAS notes
12Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sectionsIndia Year Book, prsindia.org, Laxmikanth-Governance, newspaper, Vision IAS notes
13Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human ResourcesVision IAS notes
14Issues relating to poverty and hunger.Vision IAS notes
15Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.2nd ARC Report on e-Governance, Ethics, Vision IAS notes
16Role of civil services in a democracy.Vision IAS notes
17India and its neighborhood- relationsNewspaper, MEA annual report
18Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interestsNewspaper, MEA annual report
19Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.Newspaper, MEA annual report, Vision IAS notes
20Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.International Relations by Peu Ghosh, Vision IAS notes

  GENERAL STUDIES-III Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

SERIAL NO.TOPICBOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE
1Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employmentOxford Companion to Indian Economy, Vision IAS notes
2Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.Vision IAS notes
3Government BudgetingVision IAS notes
4Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmersState of Indian Agriculture report, Vision IAS notes, research on internet
5Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.Vision IAS notes, research on internet
6Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.State of Indian Agriculture report, Vision IAS notes, research on internet
7Land reforms in IndiaVision IAS notes
8Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.Oxford Companion to Indian Economy, Vision IAS notes
9Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.Oxford Companion to Indian Economy, Vision IAS notes
10Investment models.Vision IAS notes
11Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.Vision IAS notes
12Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technologyVision IAS notes
13Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.Vision IAS notes
14Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessmentVision IAS notes
15Disaster and disaster management.2nd ARC report on Disaster Management, Vision IAS notes
16Linkages between development and spread of extremism.Development Challenges in Extremism Affected Areas-report by erstwhile Planning Commission
17Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.Vision IAS notes
18Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its preventionVision IAS notes
19Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorismVision IAS notes
20Various Security forces and agencies and their mandateIndia Year Book, Vision IAS notes

  GENERAL STUDIES-IV Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

SERIAL NO.TOPICBOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE
1Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
2Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
3Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
4Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
5Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
6Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
7Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
8Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information, sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes
9Case Studies on above issues2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes

 

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