UPSC IFoS Books List 2025 for Prelims & Mains

UPSC IFoS exam preparation requires a blend of essential books for Prelims, Mains, and Optional subjects. Key books cover History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, and specific subjects like Forestry, Botany, and Engineering.

Best Books for IFoS Exam
Table of Contents

UPSC IFoS Books play an important role in UPSC IFoS preparation as it helps students in exam preparation for both prelims and mains stages of examination. All the IFoS books to be referred should be of latest editions as they include all the updated current affairs, all the changes government amendments, policies and schemes relevant for IFoS examination. In this article, we are going to cover all the important books for UPSC IFoS Prelims and Mains that will help you in preparation.

Important Books for UPSC IFoS Preliminary Exam 2025

UPSC IFoS Preliminary Exam 2025 will include a general studies paper and a CSAT Paper. To prepare for this exam, the following UPSC IFoS Prelims Books can be referred to: 

Subject

UPSC Books List

History

  • NCERT 11th Ancient and Medieval
  • NCERT 12th Modern Indian History
  • Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania
  • India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra

Geography

  • NCERT VI-X Old Syllabus
  • NCERT XI, XII New Syllabus
  • World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
  • Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong

Indian Polity

  • NCERT IX-XII
  • Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
  • NCERT XI
  • Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri

Economics

  • Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania

International Relations

  • Current Affairs
  • NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)

CSAT

  • Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
  • Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal

 

UPSC IFoS Books for UPSC IFoS Mains

UPSC IFoS Mains requires students to prepare for General English, General Knowledge and four optional subjects. The students who qualify UPSC IFoS Preliminary exam are eligible to appear for UPSC IFoS Mains. The following best books can be referred to appear for UPSC IFoS Mains: 

Subjects 

Recommended IFoS Book List

Paper I (English)

  • “High School English Grammar and Composition” by Wren and Martin (Selective Reading for Understanding Concept)
  • “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis
  • “Descriptive English” by S.P. Bakshi and Richa Sharma
  • “Essays for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations” by Pulkit Khare
  • “151 Essays” by S.C. Gupta
  • Prelims and Mains Pointers by Vajiram & Ravi

Paper II (General Knowledge)

History-Culture (Only One Combination)

  • Tamilnadu Class 11-12 history books +Spectrum
  • Old NCERT + Spectrum 

Geography / Environment

  • For Theory: (NIOS + NCERTs)
  • For Current: Newspapers and The Recital Magazine

Polity

  • Laxmikanth for theory + Hindu / Indian Express for current affairs/PRS legislative

Economy

  • Budget, Survey, Schemes
    • Economic survey, and budget documents (selective reading). 
    • Emphasis should be on the current economy and general awareness about current issues.

International Issues

  • For Theory
    • NIOS Political Science or IGNOU PDFs.
  • For Current
    • Newspaper + Vajiram and Ravi Current Affairs

Science-Tech

  • Theory/contemporary
    • Selected Google search like Nanotech, AI, cryo-tech + current from newspapers.

 

UPSC IFoS Books for IFoS Optional Subjects

For UPSC IFoS Optional Subjects the following UPSC IFoS Books can be referred to: 

Subject

IFS Book List for Optional

Agriculture 

  • Agriculture Science a complete study package by Pushpendra K. Karhana.
  • Principles of Agronomy by Reddy T. Yellamanda
  • An Introduction to Agriculture Extension by K. S. Sidhu
  • Agriculture at a Glance by R.K. Sharma
  • Soil Science by D.K. Das
  • Genetics by B.D. Singh
  • Plant Breeding by B.D. Singh
  • A Textbook of Animal Husbandry by G.C. Banerjee

Agricultural Engineering

  • Soil and Water Conservation by Dr. R Suresh
  • Principles of Agricultural Engineering by A.M. Michael and T.P. Ojha
  • Farm Machinery and Equipment  by Dr. K. Sahay
  • Food Process Engineering and Technology by P.J. Fellows
  • Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures by Santosh Kumar Garg
  • Renewable Energy Sources and their Applications by S.C. Bhatia

Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

  • A Textbook of Animal Husbandry by G.C. Banerjee
  • Veterinary Microbiology by D.V.M. Dryden
  • Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals by Singh, Singh, and Roy
  • Veterinary Physiology by James G. Cunningham
  • Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science by G. Subrahmanyan

Botany

  • NCERT- Plant Biology and General Biology related chapters in NCERT Biology chapters for Std. XI and XII
  • Cryptogams: A Text Book of Botany by Singh, Pandey and Jain
  • Gymnosperms by S. P. Bhatnagar, Alok Moitra
  • Angiosperm Systematics and Families: Plant Systematics by Gurucharan Singh
  • Plant Anatomy by Dr. B. P. Pandey
  • The Embryology of Angiosperms by Sant Saran Bhojwani and S. P. Bhatnagar
  • Karp’s Cell Biology by Karp Gerald
  • Concepts of Genetics by Klug and Cummings
  • Plant Breeding: Principles and Methods by B D Singh
  • Biotechnology: Expanding Horizons by B D Singh
  • Fundamentals of Biostatistics by Veer Bala Rastogi
  • Plant Physiology and Development by Eduardo Zeiger, Lincoln Taiz
  • Ecology and Environment by Dr. P D Sharma + Resources from Newspapers, Magazines, and Web Resources

Chemical Engineering

  • Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by Y.V.C. Rao
  • Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes by B.K. Dutta
  • Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes by B.K. Dutta
  • Chemical Process Calculations” by D.C. Sikdar
  • Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by J.M. Smith, H.C. Van Ness, and M.M. Abbott
  • Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles by Christie J. Geankoplis
  • Chemical Reaction Engineering by Octave Levenspiel
  • Essentials of Chemical Reaction Engineering” by H. Scott Fogler
  • Process Dynamics and Control 
  • by Dale E. Seborg, Thomas F. Edgar, and Duncan A. Mellichamp
  • “Heat Transfer” by J.P. Holman
  • Mass Transfer Operations” by Robert E. Treybal:
  • Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Warren L. McCabe, Ernest Thiele
  • Chemical Process Equipment  Selection and Design by Stanley M. Walas
  • Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by P.K. Nag:
  • Chemical Process Industries by R. Norris Shreve and Joseph A. Brink.

Civil Engineering

  • Building Materials by S.K. Duggal
  • Structural Analysis by R.C. Hibbeler
  • Design of Structures- by N. Subramanian
  • Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering by Dr. K.R. Arora
  • Principles of Geotechnical Engineering by Braja M. Das
  • Fluid Mechanics  by Frank M. White and
  •  Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics  by Modi and Seth
  • Water Supply Engineering by S.K. Garg
  • Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse by Metcalf and Eddy
  • Highway Engineering by S.K. Khanna and C.E.G. Justo
  • Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning by L.R. Kadiyali
  • Surveying by B.C. Punmia
  • Geotechnical Engineering by C. Venkatramaiah
  • Environmental Impact Assessment by Larry Canter
  • Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science by Gilbert M. Masters
  • Numerical Methods for Engineers by Steven C. Chapra and Raymond P. Canale
  • Construction Planning and Management by P. S. Gahlot

Forestry

  • Principles and Practice of Silviculture by L.S. Khanna
  • Theory and Practice of Silviculture Systems by Ram Prakash, L S Khanna and S. Prabhu
  • Introduction to Forest and Renewable Resources by R. Manikandan:
  • A Textbook of Forest Management by G. Kuppusamy
  • Forest Ecology and Environment by P. P. Dhyani and M. S. Rawat
  • Forest Mensuration by Parshotam Kaushik and A. K. Misra
  • Forest Policy and Law by Ram Parkash
  • Forest Resource and Sustainable Development by Kailash Chanda Bebarta
  • Agroforestry in India by KG Tejwani
  • Indian Forestry by S.Prabhu
  • Principles and Practice of Agroforestry by P. K. Ramachandran Nair
  • Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management by S. L. Dingman:

Mathematics

  • Linear Algebra by A.R Vasishtha
  • OR  
  • Linear Algebra by Kenneth Hoffman and Ray Kunze
  • Differential Calculus  by  S Chand  OR  
  • Krishna Prakashan
  • Integral Calculus by S Chand  OR 
  • Vector Calculus by Krishna Prakashan
  • Analytic Geometry by Krishna Prakashan (S Chand)  
  • Numerical Analysis by Richard L. Burden and J. Douglas Faires
  • Abstract Algebra by David S. Dummit and Richard M. Foote
  • Real Analysis by Royden and Fitzpatrick:
  • Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Mary L. Boas:
  • Mathematical Statistics by S.C. Gupta and V.K. Kapoor
  • Partial Differential Equations by M.D. Raisinghania

Mechanical Engineering

  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Strength of Materials
  • Theory of Machines
  • Mechanical Vibrations
  • Machine Design 
  • Design of Machine Elements
  • Fluid Mechanics:
  • Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach
  • Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Material Science and Engineering
  • Material Science by R.K. Rajput
  • Manufacturing Science by 
  • Manufacturing Engineering and Technology 
  • Industrial Engineering and Management
  • Automobile Engineering 
  • Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure 
  • Ecology and Environment
  • Numerical Methods
  • Numerical Methods for Engineers

Physics

  • Classical Mechanics by Herbert Goldstein
  • Introduction to Mechanics by 
  • Kleppner and Kolenkow
  • Principles of Quantum Mechanics by R. Shankar
  • Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications  by Nouredine Zettili
  • Introduction to Electrodynamics by David J. Griffiths
  • Classical Electrodynamics by John David Jackson
  • Thermal Physics by Charles Kittel and Herbert Kroemer
  • Mathematical Physics by B.S. Rajasekaran
  • Atomic Physics by Max Born
  • Introductory Nuclear Physics by Kenneth S. Krane
  • Introduction to Elementary Particles by David J. Griffiths
  • Introduction to Solid State Physics by Charles Kittel
  • Solid State Physics by Neil W. Ashcroft and N. David Mermin
  • Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Robert L. Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky
  • A Course in Electrical and Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation  by A. K. Sawhney
  • Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light by Max Born and Emil Wolf
  • Modern Physics by Kenneth S. Krane

Statistics

  • Mathematical Statistics by Hogg, McKean, and Craig 
  • Introduction to Probability Models by Sheldon M. Ross 
  • A First Course in Statistical Methods” by Ott and Longnecker
  • An Introduction to Generalized Linear Models by Annette J. Dobson
  • Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis by Richard A. Johnson and Dean W. Wichern
  • Sampling Techniques by William G. Cochran
  • Design and Analysis of Experiments by Douglas C. Montgomery
  • Introduction to Time Series and Forecasting by Peter J. Brockwell and Richard A. Davis
  • An Introduction to R by William N. Venables and Brian D. Ripley
  • Biostatistics: The Bare Essentials by Geoffrey R. Norman and David L. Streiner
  • Statistics for Environmental Science and Management by Bryan F.J. Manly

Geology

  • Textbook of Geology by P.K. Mukerjee
  • Principles of Physical Geology by Arthur Holmes
  • Introduction to Mineralogy by William D. Nesse
  • Dana’s New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana by Richard V. Gaines, et al.
  • Igneous Petrology by Myron G. Best
  • Sedimentary Petrology: An Introduction to the Origin of Sedimentary Rocks by Maurice E. Tucker
  • Metamorphic Petrology by Bruce Yardley
  • Structural Geology by Haakon Fossen
  • Basic Methods of Structural Geology by Stephen Marshak and Gautam Mitra
  • “Invertebrate Paleontology” by Raymond C. Moore,
  • Vertebrate Paleontology by Michael J. Benton
  • Stratigraphy:
  • Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy by Sam Boggs Jr.
  • Stratigraphy: A Modern Synthesis by Andrew D. Miall
  • Ore Geology and Industrial Minerals: An Introduction by Anthony M. Evans
  • Introduction to Economic Geology by E.J. Guilbert and Charles F. Park Jr.
  • Environmental Geology by Edward A. Keller
  • Introduction to Geophysics by Seth Stein and Michael Wysession
  • Applied Hydrogeology by C.W. Fetter
  • Remote Sensing and GIS in Geology by Ravi P. Gupta
  • Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing by Eric C. Barrett
  • Geological Field Techniques by Angela L. Coe

Zoology

  • Invertebrate Zoology by P.S. Verma and E.L. Jordan
  • Chordate Zoology by P.S. Verma and E.L. Jordan
  • Vertebrates Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution by K. KardongEcology:
  • Ecology and Environment by Dr. P.D. Sharma
  • Animal Behaviour (Ethology) by Agarwal V.K. 
  • Economic Zoology:
  • Applied And Economic Zoology by Dr. V. B. Upadhyay and Dr. G. S. Shukla
  • Bioinstrumentation by Bhawana Pandey and M.H. Fulekar 
  • Fundamentals of Biostatistics by Veer Bala Rastogi
  • Karp’s Cell Biology by Gerald Karp
  • Concept of Genetics by Klug and Cummings
  • Organic Evolution by Veer Bala Rastogi 
  • Biochemistry by U. Satyanarayana:
  • Principles of Anatomy and Physiology by Tortora
  • Developmental Biology by Scott F. Gilbert

Chemistry 

  • Atomic Structure by Principle of Physical Chemistry by Puri, Sharma & Pathway 
  • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry by J.D. Lee 
  • Physical Chemistry by Ira N. Levine
  • Chemical Periodicity, Chemical bonding, Coordination compound by Maden, Malik, Tuli 
  • Theoretical Principles of Inorganic Chemistry by G.S. Manku, 
  • Extradition of metals, Principle of inorganic chemistry by Puri, Sharma, Jauhar. 
  • Rest all the chapters – An advanced inorganic chemistry by J.D. Lee 
  • Pollution and its control – A textbook of environmental chemistry and pollution by S.S. Dara.
  • Principles of Physical Chemistry (Gaseous state, Thermodynamics, Phase rule, solutions, Colligative properties, Electro Chemistry, Catalysis, Colloids)  by Puri, Sharma & Pathawa
  • Chemical kinetics – Advance physical chemistry by Gurdeep Raj
  • Photochemistry – A text book of physical chemistry (Vol. – IV) by K.L. Kapoor
  • Advance physical chemistry by Gurdeep Raj
  • Bonding and shape of organic molecules, Stereochemistry of carbon compound – Reactions and reagents by O.P. Agarwal
  • A guide to mechanism in organic chemistry by Peter Sykes
  • Rest all the chapters – A text book of Organic Chemistry by Bahl & Bahl
  • Environmental Chemistry by Stanley E. Manahan 

UPSC IFoS Exam 2025 Preparation Strategy

Effective time management is crucial for success in the UPSC IFoS exam. Allocate sufficient time for both study and rest to maintain efficiency. Follow these strategies to create an effective timetable:

  • Understand the Syllabus: A thorough knowledge of the UPSC IFS syllabus is essential. Identify and list topics that require more attention.

  • Prioritize Strengths: Begin with subjects you are confident in, as this boosts confidence and saves time for challenging topics.

  • Practice Previous Year Papers: Solving past papers provides insight into question patterns and helps tailor your preparation accordingly.

  • Make Concise Notes: Summarize key concepts from multiple sources for quick revision and easy access.

  • Use Visual Aids: Incorporate diagrams, tables, graphs, and mnemonics to enhance memory retention.

  • Attempt Mock Tests: Regular practice tests improve speed, accuracy, and help identify areas that need improvement.
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Latest UPSC Exam 2025 Updates

Last updated on Feb, 2025

UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.

→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.

→ As per UPSC Notification, the last date to apply is 18th February 2025.

→ The UPSC Prelims 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on 25th May 2025 and UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.

→ Apply once through it and aspirants can apply for various government exams conducted by UPSC.

→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.

→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi

IFoS Books FAQs

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Q4. Which subject is best for IFoS? +

Q5. Is IFoS better than IAS?+

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