Polity Books for UPSC – List of Best UPSC Polity Books
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 6th, 2023
Polity Books for UPSC are a must when it comes to covering the polity section of both the Prelims and Mains syllabus. Previously, the candidates used to prepare for the UPSC polity syllabus from a single book only. But the way UPSC has been framing the questions, one IAS polity book won’t be enough for the aspirants. That is why it is highly recommended to follow some of the best Polity Books for UPSC that would help them to cover a wide range of polity topics in a comprehensive and effective manner.
It is not wise to purchase all IAS Polity Books available on the market, that’s why we have prepared a list of some of the best Polity Books for UPSC that will give in-depth information on each topic covered in the Polity section. We have also mentioned a strategy that would allow the candidates to cover these books easily, and help them use their time efficiently.
Table of content
List of Polity Books for the UPSC Exam
The Polity Books for UPSC cover the understanding of the entire government machinery, including the Functions of Parliament, the Union, States, Local Administrations, the Constitution, and so on. The questions in the UPSC exam in Polity come from a wide range of topics, and that’s why we have listed the best Polity Books for UPSC below.
- Indian Polity Book for UPSC – M Laxmikanth
- Introduction to Constitution of India – Durga Das Basu
- Important Acts that Transformed India – Alex Andrews George
- Important Judgments that Transformed India – Alex Andrews George
NCERT Polity Books for UPSC
NCERT Books are the best source of to build a strong basic foundation. One must cover all the NCERTs books first, and then move to advanced-level books. To cover the polity section of the UPSC Syllabus candidates must cover these below-mentioned NCERT Books.
- Indian Constitution at Work- Class 11
- Political Theory- Class 11
- Contemporary World Politics- Class 12
- Politics in India Since Independence- Class 12
Best Polity Books for UPSC
Below we have mentioned some of the best Polity Books for UPSC, which are highly recommended by the IAS toppers. In addition, we have mentioned why these books are a must-read to cover the Polity section.
Indian Polity Book for UPSC by M Laxmikanth
M Laxmikanth Indian Polity is one of the most recommended Polity Books for UPSC. Laxmikanth Polity’s book is divided into several parts, and Part 1 of the book is the most crucial as 30% of the question will be asked, and it includes topics like Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Preamble of Indian Constitution, and Salient Features of the Constitution. This is the best polity book for UPSC, and it has been a consistent bestseller over the years. This polity book for UPSC should be on your list to fetch maximum marks in the Mains exam.
Introduction to Constitution of India – Durga Das Basu
There are a few Polity Books for UPSC that would offer an in-depth analysis of the Indian constitution, and it is certainly one of the best among them. This polity book is for the people who want to know everything about the constitution of India during the first fifty years. This is an analytical piece of work by Durga Das Basu and immensely helpful for the aspirants who are preparing for competitive exams held by UPSC or the State Public Services Commission.
Important Acts that Transformed India – Alex Andrews George
This is another amazing addition to the Polity Books for UPSC. In 2019, a total of 22 marks questions were asked on a single topic – Important Acts enacted by the Indian Parliament. UPSC wants civil servants to be aware of the importance of Bills, Acts, and Rules. And this is an all-in-one book that covers important Rules, Important Acts in India, and Regulations. It has divided 100 must-know topics wise into 12 parts that correlate with the latest UPSC Polity Syllabus.
Important Judgements that Transformed India – Alex Andrews George
Among all the Polity Books for UPSC, this book by Alex George has a compilation of 30+ landmark supreme court cases of which every aspirant must be aware. This polity book will complement the Indian Polity By Laxmikanth. Additionally, candidates will find tables, mind maps, and previous years’ questions that will make their work a lot easier.
Governance in India: Basic and Beyond – M Karthikeyan
Divided into 15 chapters, the book gives a basic idea of the Indian model of governance. This book delves into issues concerning the judiciary, people’s fundamental rights, and the role of civil service in governance. This book acts as an exhaustive resource for students to effectively understand governance, its elements, and its processes. The book provides coverage of both elementary and modern concepts spread across public administration, political science, public policy, governance, etc. The book is commonly referred to by civil service aspirants.
Polity Books for UPSC Prelims
The polity section of the prelims syllabus covers topics like Indian polity and governance, Constitution, Political system, Panchayati Raj Public Policy, and Rights Issues, etc. to cover the polity section of the prelims syllabus candidates must follow the best Polity Books for UPSC. Below we have mentioned some of the highly preferred Polity Books for UPSC Prelims.
- Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth
- Objective Indian Polity: General Studies – Paper I by M. Laxmikanth
- NCERT XI-XII Political Science
Apart from these, candidates should read the newspapers for UPSC like The Hindu and Indian Express.
Polity Books for UPSC Mains
The General Studies Paper-II of the UPSC Mains syllabus comprises the Indian Polity section. It covers a wide range of topics like the Indian Constitution, Governance, Polity, and Social Justice. Further, these topics are divided into subtopics. And following are the Polity Books for UPSC mains that a candidate shouldn’t miss.
- Indian Polity Book for UPSC by M Laxmikanth
- Introduction to Constitution of India- Durga Das Basu
- NCERT Class XI – Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work (New)
- NCERT Class XII – Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics(New)
- NCERT Class XII – Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence(New)
UPSC Polity Books (More Reference Books)
We have mentioned the top 4 core Polity Books for UPSC above. However, if you want to cover more polity books then we have mentioned a few useful reference textbooks. Remember that you need to cover the most important books first and then move to reference books.
- Our Constitution- Subhash C. Kashyap
- Our Parliament- Subhash Kashyap
- Indian Polity- By Spectrum
- NCERT Class XI – Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work (New)
- NCERT Class XII – Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics(New)
- NCERT Class XII – Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence(New)
How to Prepare with Polity Books for UPSC?
While covering the Polity Books for UPSC, it is important to keep a few things in mind that would make the preparation easier and more efficient.
- Keep a copy of the Polity Syllabus for UPSC before you start your preparation. Create a mind map of all the topics required to cover, and proceed accordingly.
- Cover the NCERTs first to make your basic understanding clear. Without a strong foundation, you won’t be able to crack UPSC.
- Cover only the topics mentioned in the syllabus. Or you will end up covering topics that are not required. But remember that don’t study from multiple books at a time. Compile one book properly and then move on to the next.
- Don’t study one topic from a single book. However, you can read other books to gather additional information. But
- Make Polity notes when covering a topic as it will help you during the last-minute revision.
