Understanding social justice is essential for any aspiring civil servant, as it plays a significant role in shaping equitable public policies and governance frameworks. In the UPSC Mains GS Paper 2, social justice is an important topic covering welfare schemes, inclusive development, and rights-based policies. To effectively prepare for this, candidates must refer to the Social Justice Books for UPSC, combining academic texts with current affairs and government reports.
Social Justice Books for UPSC Overview
Social justice refers to ensuring fair access to resources, opportunities, and rights for all individuals, particularly the marginalized. For UPSC aspirants, mastering this concept is vital to answering questions on government schemes, constitutional rights, welfare policies, and challenges to inclusivity. Candidates must use a mix of NCERTs, standard reference books, and real-world case studies to understand the historical, social, and legal context of social justice in India.
Social Justice Books for UPSC NCERT Books
Social Justice Books for UPSC – NCERT Books provide a solid foundation for understanding basic sociological and political concepts related to social justice. These texts are beginner-friendly and recommended for both Prelims and Mains preparation:
- Class 11 Sociology: Understanding Society – Introduces topics such as caste, class, and social inequality.
- Class 12 Sociology: Indian Society & Social Change – Covers social movements, marginalization, and development challenges.
- Class 11 Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work – Explains constitutional provisions related to justice and equality.
- Class 9 & 10 Social Science – Lays the groundwork for understanding social issues and policy frameworks.
Social Justice Books for UPSC Reference Books
Candidates must refer to the below mentioned Social Justice Books for UPSC – Reference Books after covering the NCERT books, these books must be supplemented with newspaper editorials and key reports to align with UPSC’s dynamic nature.
Social Justice Books for UPSC – Reference Books | ||
Book Title | Author/Publication | Description |
Social Problems in India |
Ram Ahuja |
A comprehensive text discussing caste, gender, poverty, and other societal issues. |
Indian Society |
S.C. Dube |
Offers a sociological perspective on rural and tribal societies in India. |
Social Change in Modern India |
M.N. Srinivas |
Explores the dynamics of social reform and transformation in Indian society. |
India and the Dynamics of Social Justice |
N.R. Madhava Menon |
An analytical text focusing on challenges and policies related to social justice. |
Caste in Indian Politics |
Rajni Kothari |
Explores the intersection of caste and democratic politics in India. |
Governance in India |
M. Laxmikanth |
Covers government functioning and policies that impact social justice. |
Scheduled Castes and the Struggle Against Inequality |
Sukhadeo Thorat & Narender Kumar |
Focuses on the SC community’s fight for equality. |
Social Justice Books for UPSC Preparation Strategy
Preparing for the Social Justice section of UPSC requires both static understanding and real-time awareness which a candidate may achieve by following mention preparation strategy:
- Start with NCERTs to build conceptual clarity. Then move on to advanced books by Ram Ahuja, S.C. Dube, and M.N. Srinivas.
- Read newspapers like The Hindu and Indian Express daily for editorials related to affirmative action, reservation, marginalized communities, and welfare schemes.
- Refer to government reports such as the NITI Aayog reports, National Family Health Survey (NFHS), Economic Survey, and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment publications.
- Focus on case studies from Yojana and Kurukshetra to use as examples in answers.
- Practice answer writing for topics like “Role of civil society in social justice,” “Right-based approach in policymaking,” and “Social equity and welfare state.”
- Revise constitutional provisions like Articles 15, 16, 17, 39, 46, and DPSPs related to social justice.
- Solve previous year papers and participate in GS Paper 2 test series to improve accuracy and presentation.
Related Topics | |
History Books for UPSC | UPSC Maths Optional Books |
Sociology Books for UPSC | Philosophy Books for UPSC |
UPSC Books | CSAT Books |
Last updated on July, 2025
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Social Justice Books for UPSC FAQs
Q1. What is the concept of Social Justice in UPSC context?+
Q2. Which are the best books for Social Justice for UPSC?+
Q3. Is Social Justice covered in UPSC Prelims?+
Q4. How important is current affairs for Social Justice preparation?+
Q5. What government sources are helpful for Social Justice topics?+