Civil Services Examination PRELIMS BOOKLIST/SOURCES Part-1

Here is my Booklist/Sources Part-1 for Prelims. I have chosen very few books as I always believed in "Read Less, Revise More". And this reflected in my scores as well. I got 147 in my First Attempt-2016 Prelims, when I had got Indian Infiormation Service in the final list and 136 in my Second Attempt-2017 Prelims, when I had got Indian Police Service in the final list.

I will write a detailed Article on Prelims Strategy Later. This article will be limited to the books/sources which we need for CSE Prelims and how to read them.

NEWSPAPERS

• Read THE HINDU diligently and especially look out for 
• Facts related to Environment, Science and Technology, Wildlife, Climate
• Any new Archeological finds, etc.
• New Govt. Schemes
• New Infrastructure Projects
• Tribal Festivals
• Major Cultural Events like Sammakka Sarakka Jatara
• New GI Tags
• International Meets like BRICS, ASEAN, etc
• New Agreements like WTO/UN/IMF etc
• New Laws of Parliament and Salient Features

POLITY

• NCERT Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work: Everyone must read this and also make notes. In 2018, 2019 Prelims 3-4 Questions have directly come from here
• NCERT Class 12 Contemporary World Politics: Read this and make notes. Focus on International Agreements and Organisations
• NCERT Class 12 Politics in India since Independence: Read this and make notes. Focus on events after independence and the approximate timelines. This is important as 2019 Prelims had 1-2 Questions directly from this
• Laxmikanth Polity: Read line by line. Atleast revise 4-5 times. Underline key words and revise. Do all 400-500 Questions at the end of the book
• Bare Act/Mobile App with Constitution: You must read the bare act. Read this while you are travelling or when you get bored. Read 20 Articles at a time. Also remember some important articles which can be used in Mains like Article-136: Special Leave Petition, etc. 

GEOGRAPHY

• All the NEW NCERTS of Class-11, 12 Geography: Must make notes or highlight important points and revise. More focus on Climate Related Chapters. Same source for Mains also so there must be an in depth study
• If time permits also do the Class 6 to Class 10 NCERTS. They will help you in Prelims
• India through Maps by Patel: This is a book for Geography Optional Students but it immensely helped me for Map-Pointing related questions
• Extensive reading of all MAPs given in NCERTS
• Atlas: Whenever you are free just keep looking at the Atlas with special focus on Straits, Channels, Islands and Bays.

MODERN HISTORY/FREEDOM STRUGGLE

• Spectrum's Modern India: Special focus on Education Reforms, Newspapers, Organisations, Govt of India Acts and Charter Acts. You must memorise them by hard
• Old NCERT Class 12 Modern India: For having a coherent understanding and continuity which is missing in Spectrum

See the Booklist Part-2 Post for Economy, Art and Culture, Ancient and Medieval History, Current Affairs, Environment, Science and Technology