General Studies Paper I

1. History (Prelims & Mains):

• Class 6–8: Our Past – Fundamental Concepts
• Class 9–10: India and the Contemporary World
• Class 11: Themes in World History
• Class 12: Themes in Indian History (Part I, II, III)

2. Geography (Prelims & Mains):

• Class 6–8: Social Science Geography Units
• Class 9–10: Contemporary India
• Class 11: Physical Geography & India – Physical Environment
• Class 12: India – People, Human & Economic Geography
• Atlas: Oxford Atlas

3. Society (Prelims & Mains):

• Class 11: Introducing Sociology & Understanding Society
• Class 12: Indian Society & Social Change and Development in India

General Studies Paper II

Polity (Prelims & Mains):

• Class 9–10: Democratic Politics I & II
• Class 11: Political Theory & Indian Constitution at Work
• Class 12: Politics in India Since Independence & Contemporary World Politics

General Studies Paper III

Economic Development & Indian Economy (Prelims & Mains):

• Class 9–10: Economics & Economic Development
• Class 11: Indian Economic Development
• Class 12: Introductory Macro Economics

S & T, Environment and Ecology (Prelims & Mains):

• Class 6: Food, Plants, Living Organisms (Basics)
• Class 7: Human Physiology (Basics)
• Class 8: Goods
• Class 9–10: Ecology, Biology, Physics & Chemistry
• Class 11–12: Human Physiology

General Studies-IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

Psychology:

• Class 11: 9 Chapters (Useful for Ethics & CSAT)
• Class 12: 9 Chapters (Useful for Ethics, Integrity & CSAT)

Yes, you need to read all the NCERT's for understanding of basics and fundamentals which are essential for Prelims and Mains Read and prepare notes / gist on basics.

• Class 6–8: Build fundamentals
• Class 9–10: Build foundational concepts, diagrams, tables and flow charts
• Class 11–12: Clear understanding of concepts and their application in society

Note: No need to memorize, but understand the basics.

NCERTs cover around 50–70% of the Prelims syllabus.
GS foundation contributes approximately 30–40%.

Apart from NCERTs, aspirants should read newspapers such as The Hindu, The New Indian Express (TNIE), and The Times of India (TOI) for current affairs.

Magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, and Down To Earth (DTE) should be followed regularly.

Websites such as PIB and MEA help enrich comprehensive current affairs along with NCERT subject knowledge.

UPSC often asks direct questions based on NCERTs in the form of definitions, conceptual meaning, maps, diagrams, charts, facts, and statements from History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Science, Environment and Ecology.

Yes. NCERTs are useful for both Prelims and Mains. Concepts like Democracy, Federalism, Poverty, Agro-Climatic Zones, Science & Technology, and Environment are explained in a concise and precise manner to enrich subject understanding for all the General Studies Papers including General Essay.