Book-list (GS)

 For the past few days, I've been bombarded with requests for my complete book-list. Quite understandable, as aspirants are confused by the multiplicity of sources available in the market as well as the numerous recommendations by their coaching institutes. Since the syllabus is already pretty vast, there is a need to limit sources and then make notes accordingly, so as to not waste time on books that have a low cost benefit ratio. Without further ado, here's the book-list that I followed.

Prelims

Paper-1

• Current events of national and international importance - The Hindu, InsightsIAS Daily Current Affairs, Vision current affairs compilations, Vajiram current affairs compilations
• History of India and Indian National Movement - R.S. Sharma's Ancient India, Satish Chandra's Medieval India, Bipan Chandra's Modern India (basically, old NCERTs) and Spectrum's A Brief History of Modern India
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World - Class XI, XII Geography New NCERTs and any Atlas for important water bodies, borders etc. 
• Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. - Laxmikanth 
• Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.- Macroeconomics Class XII/ Sriram IAS Economics book, Economic Survey and Budget
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization. - Shankar IAS Environment book
• General Science. - 6th -10th Science NCERTs

Paper-2

Past 5 years' CSAT papers

Mains

GS-1

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. - Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania. 
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. - Bipan Chandra's Modern India and selectively, India's Struggle for Independence. *
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. - Class XII Political Science NCERT (Politics in India Since Independence) till chapter 4 *
• History of the world will include events from 18th century 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 society. - Selective readings from selfstudyhistory.com, Jain and Mathur and Norman Lowe *
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Effects of globalization on Indian society. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. - Internet sources (google with the keyword UPSC) and newspapers
• Salient features of world’s physical geography - Class XI Geography NCERT and selective reading of PMFIAS Geography book
• Distribution 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). - Class XII Geography NCERT and mrunal.org 
• Important 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 changes. - Class XI Geography NCERT and selective reading of PMFIAS Geography book

* I didn't specifically prepare for it as I had History as my optional but these are my recommendations. 

GS-2

• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Functions 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. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries. Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Structure, 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. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. - Laxmikanth
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. - Vision IAS Government Schemes Compilation 
• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. - Internet sources (google with the keyword UPSC) 
• Welfare 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 sections. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. - Current affairs only
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. Role of civil services in a democracy. - 2nd ARC reports and internet sources 
• India and its neighborhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. - Current affairs 
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. - Internet sources

GS-3

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. - Sriram IAS Economics book, NITI Aayog 3 year Action Plan, Economic Survey 
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. - Sriram IAS Economics book, NITI Aayog 3 year Action Plan, Economic Survey
• Government Budgeting. - Government budget, Economic Survey
• Major 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 farmers. Issues 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. Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. - Shankar IAS Agriculture book
• Land reforms in India. - Internet sources (I'd recommend CivilsDaily)
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.  - Internet sources
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. - Internet sources
• Investment models. - Internet sources (I'd recommend CivilsDaily)
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. - Current affairs
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. - Current affairs
• Disaster and disaster management. - Vision IAS Disaster Management notes, NDMA reports
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Challenges 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 prevention. Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. - Any book on internal security (I referred to the Tata McGraw Hill one) and current affairs

GS-4

Vajiram and Ravi Ethics notes, Yellow books, some YouTube videos (The School of Life for moral thinkers)

P.S. - Besides the topics I've mentioned current affairs for, do try linking each and every topic in GS-2 and 3 (to some extent, GS-1 and 4) to current affairs. 

P.P.S.- Stay tuned for my book-list for History optional!