Top 10 Books Toppers Don’t Skip for UPSC, PCS, SSC & IBPS Prep

By Saurav Pandey | June 19, 2025

Top 10 Books Toppers Don’t Skip for UPSC, PCS, SSC & IBPS Prep

1. Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

This book is considered the Bible of Indian Polity and is indispensable for aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, and State PSCs. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the Indian Constitution, governance, political system, and key amendments.

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2. Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

A must-read for UPSC, SSC, and Banking aspirants, this book covers economic concepts, budget policies, fiscal developments, and current economic trends in an easy-to-grasp manner.

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3. A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum)

This book is a concise yet comprehensive guide to India’s freedom struggle and post-independence history, making it ideal for UPSC and SSC CGL.

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4. Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong

For UPSC Geography and SSC exams, this book is a classic reference. It explains physical geography (landforms, climate, oceans) and human geography (population, settlements, resources) in a lucid manner.

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5. Manorama Yearbook / Pratiyogita Darpan Yearbook

Current affairs play a pivotal role in all competitive exams, and these yearbooks are the best sources for yearly updates.

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6. Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal

A gold standard for SSC, Banking (IBPS, SBI), and Railway exams, this book covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation, and advanced maths in a structured way.

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7. Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal

Reasoning is a key section in SSC, Banking, and Defence exams, and this book is the most trusted resource.

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8. English Grammar & Comprehension by Wren & Martin / SP Bakshi (Arihant)

Wren & Martin is a time-tested grammar guide, while SP Bakshi’s book is tailored for competitive exams, covering vocabulary, grammar rules, and comprehension techniques.

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9. Lucent’s General Knowledge

A compact yet powerful resource for static GK, this book is useful for all competitive exams. It covers history, geography, science, awards, and important facts in bullet-point format, making revision quick and effective.

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10. Previous Years’ Question Papers (Kiran Prakashan / Disha)

Solving PYQs is the ultimate key to understanding exam patterns, difficulty levels, and frequently asked topics.

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