Namaste!

For all those of you who are confused regarding the sources that one should refer to among the
vast ocean of resources available for the UPSC CSE Preparation (Prelims + Mains
Combined), we hope that this article of ours would be at least a bit helpful.

This article has been compiled by Anil (4) Basak (5) (AIR 616, CSE 2019 and AIR 45, CSE
2020) and contains inputs from Shrestha Anupam (AIR 19, CSE 2019) as well.

One stop reference for UPSC CSE from Anil Basak:

https://bit.ly/csekfunde
(Open the link from a laptop/desktop for better experience!)

Enjoy! 🙈😅
For Prelims Specific Sources and Strategy go to: bit.ly/PrelimsPlan

Telegram channel of Shrestha Anupam: UPSC CSE Prep- Shrestha Anupam

What UPSC wants?

First of all, make yourself familiar with the Civil Services Exam (CSE):

Go through the syllabi and other details of the exam.

Links:

1. https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notification-CSPE_2020_N_Engl.pdf
PLAN OF EXAMINATION (pages 23-28) and SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION (pages
31-36)
2. https://www.clearias.com/upsc-syllabus/

Please watch/read at least 8-10 toppers talks/strategies.

Links:
1. https://www.csewiki.org/Strategy:Toppers%27_strategy (CSE Wiki is an initiative of
the selected candidates in CSE)
2. http://demystifycse.in/ (An initiative by Kanishak Kataria Sir ( AIR 1 CSE 2018) )
3. www.mrunal.org/toppers
 4. https://www.youtube.com/c/VisionIASdelhi/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=10

Investing time on these websites will give you a decent idea about the exam and the sources to
be followed. They would also help you to avoid common mistakes that most aspirants make.

Going through Previous Year Questions

(PYQs) is probably the most important thing to
get an idea of what exactly is the demand of
the examination.
Links:
1. https://mrunal.org/prelims (For topic wise prelims PYQs. Note that the 2015 Prelims
analysis is missing in Mrunal. But the remaining years analysis is good enough).
2. https://mrunal.org/mains (For topic wise mains PYQs)
3. https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/previous-question-papers?field_exam_name_value=civi
l+services
4. https://freeupscmaterials.org/category/previous-question-papers/
5. Google searches. E.g. Google “UPSC CSE Prelims Paper 2015”

Note: CSE syllabus changed in 2013. So it would be better to give more priority to the PYQs of
2013-2020.

Analysing PYQs is not a one time exercise. PYQs should be revisited again and again during
your preparation phase and a week before the actual exam date.

PYQs not only give you an idea of the actual demands of the CSE preparation but also help you
know which topics are more important and how the type of questions asked from a particular
topic differs from the others.

Remember that Syllabi should always be read in conjunction with the PYQs, i.e., analyse
the PYQs by looking at the topics given in the syllabi (as done by Mrunal Sir)

Recommended Sources:
# Paper‐2: (General Studies 1) or GS1
Indian culture:
1. Nitin Singhania 3rd edition (For your reference: click here ) (Important Chapters marked)
2. CCRT Cultural History Booklets - Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.
3. Class XI NCERT: An Introduction to Indian Art Part 1 (For your reference: click here )

Modern Indian history:

1. A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum Books (For your reference: click
here ) (Important Chapters marked)
Notes for some chapters.
2. Modern India Old NCERT History Textbook By Bipan Chandra (For your reference: click
here )

Post-independence India:
1. A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum Books (For your reference: click
here )
2. Pradhanmantri Series on Youtube (This is just to get familiar with the post independence
events)

History of the world:

1. Vision IAS World History Classroom Material (softcopy)
Note: World History is part of mains only and is not asked in prelims.

Indian Society:
1. Vision IAS Mains Test Series: questions and answers of Society Tests and GS1 Tests.
2. Indian Society NCERT Textbook in Sociology for Class - 12 (For your reference: click
here)
3. Understanding SocietyNCERT Textbook For Class 11 (For your reference: click here )

Note: Indian Society is part of mains only and is not asked in prelims.

Geography:
1. Fundamentals of Physical Geography: NCERT textbooks for class 11 (For your
reference: click here ) (Important Chapters marked)
2. India Physical Environment - Geography for Class - 11 (For your reference: click here)
3. Geography for UPSC General Studies by Rajtanil Solanki Youtube lectures
(If you have less time then watch only selected videos by taking a cue from GS1
geography syllabus. Also the Climatology part should be covered in detail. Link for PPTs
of the lectures are given in the description of the videos ). PPTs/Notes of some lectures.
4. Geography NCERTs Class 6-10 and Class 12

Notes:
 1. Try to practice maps from Atlas (Oxford Student Atlas for India). In free time you can
also play map quiz on “country name” and “oceans and seas” from World Map Quiz app
2. For a detailed strategy on geography maps go through this answer:
https://qr.ae/pN21Eb.
3. Map practice should be done continuously throughout the preparation. For better output,
integrate the map preparation of Geography and Environment (Tiger reserves, wetlands
etc.)
4. Remember Class XI NCERTs are the most important ones. Other geography NCERTs
could be read 2-3 times only.

# Paper‐3: (GS 2)

Constitution and Polity:

1. Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth (Important Chapters marked)
2. Constitution of india
3. Class 11 NCERT: Indian Constitution at Work
4. To get comprehensive information on a bill/act, either Google it or go to
https://www.prsindia.org/
International Relations (IR):
1. Vision IAS Mains 365 IR material (Link)
2. This part is mostly current affairs based, so follow the newspaper editorials regularly.
3. Try to do google search for keywords which you don’t understand. E.g. “strategic
autonomy”
4. If you are quite interested in IR then you can also follow: https://idsa.in/ (however, it is
generally used by students with PSIR optional and can be avoided by other aspirants)

Governance:
1. Vision IAS Mains 365 Polity material (Link)
2. Read government schemes from PT 365 Government Scheme material (Link)
3. Vision IAS Mains Test Series: questions and answers of Governance Test and GS2
Tests.
4. This part is mostly current affairs based, so follow the newspaper regularly.
5. Some of the portion can also be prepared along with the Ethics in Governance part of
GS 4.

Social Justice:
1. Read government schemes from PT 365 Government Scheme material (Link)
2. Some portions will be covered in the Society portion of GS 1.
3. Vision IAS Mains Test Series: questions and answers of Social Justice Test and GS2
Tests.
4. This part is mostly current affairs based, so follow the newspaper regularly.
# Paper‐4: (GS 3)

Indian Economy:
1. Vision IAS Mains 365 Economy material (Link)
2. Economics NCERT Class XI.

Science and Technology:

1. Vision IAS Mains 365 Science and Technology material (Link)
2. Vision IAS Mains Test Series: questions and answers of Science and Technology Test
and GS3 Tests.
3.
Environment:
1. Environment By Shankar (For marked book: Click Here)
2. Vision IAS Mains 365 Environment material (Link)

Disaster Management:
1. Vision IAS Value Added Material (VAM)
Note: Disaster Management is part of mains only and is not asked in prelims.

Internal Security:
1. Vision IAS Mains 365 Security material (Link)
2. Vision IAS Mains Test Series: questions and answers of Security Test and GS3 Tests.
3. This part is mostly current affairs based, so follow the newspaper regularly.

# Paper‐5: (General Studies 4)

1. Decode Ethics by Mudit Jain.
2. Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (Read only those topics which are mentioned in
the GS4 Syllabus)
3. Toppers answer copies (See their approach for case studies and the way they define
keywords in their answers)
4. 2nd ARC: Ethics in Governance (If you don’t have time then go through these notes by
D.Amarkesh, AIR 217,CSE-2012)
Notes:
1. The most important part of preparation for GS 4 is to go through each and every term of
the syllabus carefully and to prepare 1-2 page notes on every such term. The notes
should preferably contain definitions, examples( both from personal experience as well
as from others’) and instances of application from the lives of great personalities.
2. Case studies comprise almost half of the marks allocated for the GS4. Thus an elaborate
time-bound practice of various types of case studies is required.
3. Refer PYQs extensively in GS4 as most of the questions and concepts are repeatedly
asked. Note: GS4 is part of mains only and is not asked in prelims.
# Prelims Specific Sources:

Ancient and Medieval History:

1. TAMILNADU BOARD HISTORY - CLASS XI

Indian Economy:
1. Economy (Full Course) for UPSC CSE Prelims by Mrunal Patel.
(You can buy this course from Unacademy.
However, if you can’t afford it then you can get all the videos and PDFs for the lectures
from these sources: Videos and Handouts.
You can find his old videos on YouTube as well. However, youtube lectures don’t cover
the latest current affairs.
2. Introductory Macroeconomics - Textbook in Economics for Class - 12 (Chapters: 2,3,5
and 6)
Science and Technology, Environment, International Relations:
1. Vision IAS Current Affairs Monthly Magazine (Read at least 11 months’ magazines
before the prelims exam. E.g. if prelims is in June 2021 then read CA magazines from
June 2020 to April 2021)
2. If you have less time then you can go through Vision IAS PT 365
3. This part is mostly current affairs based, so follow the newspaper regularly.

Other stuffs to be done for Prelims through Google searches:

1. Ramsar sites in India: plot them on a map
2. Tiger Reserves of India: plot them on a map
3. Biosphere Reserves of India: plot them on a map

After thoughts:
1. The above sources given are flexible. If you find a better resource, then you can go for
it. Remember there are n number of ways to reach the same goal.
2. If a topic is covered in multiple sources mentioned above then you don’t need to follow
all the sources just follow one of them (e.g. If you have covered “Revolt of 1857 from
Spectrum then you don’t need to reread it from Bipan Chandra’s NCERT). The goal is to
minimise your sources. Don’t read multiple books/resources on the same topic.
Instead read the same book/notes multiple times. This way you will be able to re-collect
the information in the actual exam.
3. Try to cover each and every topic of the GS1-4 syllabus.
4. If a topic is not covered in the above mentioned sources, then Google it by adding
“UPSC” at the end.
E.g. If “Food processing industries” topic is not covered in the above sources. Then
Google: “Food processing industries UPSC”. Make your own notes by reading 4-5
articles.
 Alternatively, you can look for “Vision IAS Value Added Material (VAM)” for that topic.
You can get the VAMs here.
5. Try to minimise your sources. Don’t read multiple books/resources on the same topic.
Instead read the same book/notes multiple times. This way you will be able to re-collect
the information in the actual exam.
6. Try to revise your sources at least 3-5 times for prelims and 5-7 times for mains.
7. For a particular subject/topic, try to incorporate all the information in one or two
copies/books/enotes. You can use sticky notes to add new information to your primary
copy/book. This will minimise confusion and will create a one stop source for
examination.
8. The PT365 / Mains 365 materials mentioned above are mainly based on Monthly
magazines. However, it may be enough to follow the 365 materials as they are topic
wise and easy to revise at the last moment before the actual exam.
9. Try to cover Mains 365 magazines of the current as well as the preceding year as
questions are asked from topics which are 1.5-2 years old. For example, if you are
writing Mains 2021 then cover Mains 365 magazines of both 2020 and 2021.
10. Essay paper is not covered in the above sources. Remember that content for essays will
automatically come when you cover the GS1-4 syllabus. Once you have sufficiently
covered the GS1-4 syllabus, see Essay Copies of Toppers from Vision IAS or other
websites.
Write at least 8-10 essays before the mains exam. You can also join any Essay Test
series as recommended by toppers.

11. Sources for Optional paper are also not covered in the above sources. Watch the talks
given by the toppers of your optional subject.

Newspaper:

You can either follow The Hindu (TH) or The Indian Express (IE). We followed The Hindu
because of its 360° coverage of the syllabus. E.g. Environment, Science and Technology and
Culture news are generally lacking in IE.
However, many candidates prefer IE because of its simpler language, more number of editorials
and explained section.

Notes:
1. If you are finding TH difficult to understand then you can watch The Hindu Analysis of
Rau’s IAS.
2. If you are new to preparation then first you should try to cover your static portion of the
syllabi. However, newspaper reading should be started at least 1 year before the
prelims.
 3. Regarding newspaper notes: If you are sure that you will be able to reproduce your
newspaper notes in the exam then only make newspaper notes.
Otherwise, PT/Mains 365 magazines cover most of the important news articles
throughout the year. You can revise the newspaper through the 365 magazines.
4. Remember the basic purpose of the newspaper is keep you updated with what all topics
are recurring and have high chances of coming in the exam.
5. It’s totally fine if you are unable to recall 90% of the news (after a few days) that you
read in the newspaper. However, by frequent revisions of the 365 magazines or monthly
magazine you will be able to recall most of the important news in the exam.

Test Series:

This is the one of the most important part of the preparation. People tend to delay tests. They
think that first they should cover the entire syllabus then only they will give tests. Believe me you
will never be able to cover the syllabus 100%.
So, as soon as you cover 70-80% of the syllabus of a particular test, give the test.

Remember that tests check not just your knowledge but a variety of aspects like your presence
of mind, your exam-preparedness, your intuition and creativity etc.

Don’t let the test scores get into your head. Analyse the mistakes from the test and keep
improving.
In case of mains tests, apart from model answers also see good copies of that particular test.

Prelims Test Series:

1. Vision IAS Prelims Test Series (You can get the tests from here)
It is not needed to buy the prelims test series from Vision IAS. You can do the test on
your own and match your answers with the answer key and detailed solutions.
Alternatively, if you find other Coachings’ test series (e.g. Forum IAS) helpful then go for
it.
Notes:
1. Give at least 12-15 Sectional tests and 10-12 full tests.
2. If you have time then you can also refer to other coaching’s test series like GS Score,
Forum IAS etc.

Mains Test Series:

1. Vision IAS Mains Test Series (You can get the tests from here)
However, it would be better to buy the test series. This is because you need
someone who can check your copy and give feedback.
Alternatively, if you find other Coachings’ test series (e.g. Forum IAS) helpful then go for
it.
Notes:
1. Give at least 10-12 GS Tests before the mains exam.
2. Try to do the test in 3hours duration. Initially a test may take 5-6 hours to complete.
However, with practice you will be able to write the tests within 3 hours.
3. Try to incorporate the feedback of the test in your answers.

Answer Writing:
Answer writing skills may take months to develop. So you can practice 1-2 answers daily from
websites like IAS Baba and Insights Secure to develop a taste and feel for answer-writing.
However, it’s highly recommended that before appearing for the examination, you practice 8-10
full length papers in a time-bound manner (3 hours) as well.

IAS Baba TLP

Insights IAS Secure Initiative

Note: Most of the answer writing skills will develop by writing full length mains tests in a time
bound manner (3 hours). So when you start writing mains tests you may abandon IAS Baba
TLP and Insights Secure initiatives.

Time Management for Answer Writing (Will update soon)

Need for Coaching:

Whether coaching is required or not for UPSC CSE preparation is a perennial question. We
believe that it’s a personal choice of the candidate based on his temperament and availability of
resources( time, money, energy etc.). There are umpteen examples of successful candidates in
both the categories( those who took coaching and those who didn’t).
If you decide to go for self-study there are ample resources available in the market and on the
internet that can help you clear this examination. (e.g. www.csewiki.org)

The bottom line is: Figure out your strengths, temperament and availability of resources and
decide accordingly.

Remember more than 95% of your CSE knowledge (whether you take coaching or not) will
come from self study and discussions with friends and mentors!
E-Resources

Useful Websites:
1. https://freeupscmaterials.org/
2. https://www.visionias.net/
3. https://www.csewiki.org/
4. https://upsc.gov.in/ :)
5. Rajya Sabha TV debates
6. IE Explained and IE 3 Things
7. https://www.thehindu.com/
8. https://www.pib.gov.in/
9. http://arthapedia.in/ (For government schemes)
10. https://www.gktoday.in/
11. https://mrunal.org/
12. https://www.insightsonindia.com/
13. https://iasbaba.com/
14. Vision IAS Daily Current Affairs
15. https://news.google.com/topstories?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN:en
16. https://www.prsindia.org/
17. https://www.investopedia.com/ (Mostly short videos are useful. Try to Google an
economics keyword by adding “investopedia” at the end. E.g. Google “equity market
investopedia” )
18. https://cseplus.nic.in/ (For past years CSE vacancies and rank wise service and cadre
allocations)
Useful Apps:
1. Telegram
2. Evernote
3. Constitution of india
4. Medito
5. NCERT Books
6. World Map Quiz
7. Forest: Stay focused
I found this PDF reader much helpful than Adobe PDF reader: Foxit PDF Reader

Useful Telegram Channels

1. Mrunal Unacademy videos
2. https://t.me/PTT2019 (For past year Personality Test (aka Interview) experiences)

Note: The e-resources and other sources given above are just tentative. It’s impossible to
follow all the e-resources. Follow them selectively as per cost benefit analysis.
P.S. We will keep updating this Google doc from time to time. So keep visiting this document.
For any query or suggestion please fill this Google Form.

Thank you for reading this and best of luck for your future endeavours.
Jai Hind!