Paper I : GS1: History, Culture, Social Issues & Geography of India and World

Important Books:
New Arrival : IAS Mains General Studies - Indian Heritage & Culture History & Geography of the World & Society (Paper 1) - Arihant

Also Read :
Paper 2 : GS2 Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and IR
Paper 3 : GS3 Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Paper 4 : GS4 Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

Paper 5 & 6 : Books For All UPSC Optional Subjects

Detailed Studyplan and Books

Topic 1 : Culture

Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Essential NCERT BOOKS

NCERT Class VI – History – Our Past
NCERT Class VII – Our Past -I
NCERT Class VIII – Our Past II and III
NCERT Class XII – Themes In Indian History I
NCERT Class-XII – Themes in Indian History – II
NCERT Class XII – Themes In Indian History III

Important Reference Book

Topic 2 : Modern History

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.

     1. From Plassey to Partition - A History Of Modern India
    2. History of Modern India 1st Edition
    3. Spectrum Book on Brief History of Modern India
    4. Comprehensive History Of Modern India – Spectrum

Topic 3 : The Freedom Struggle

The Freedom Struggle ‐ its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.

Bipan Chandra’s Struggle For India’s Independence.

Topic 4 : Post Independence Era

Post‐independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. Both must Have books for this section are :

India Since Independence – Bipan Chandra / Here
India After Gandhi: The History Of The World’s Largest Democracy

Topic 5 : History of the World

History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.‐ their forms and effect on the society.

Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe (Buy From Amazon India)   Or This IMPORTED Edition
History of the World from the Late Nineteenth to the Early Twenty First Century by Arjun Dev

OR

Old NCERT World History Class-X
Contemporary World by Arjun Dev / Old NCERT xerox by same author

Topic 6 : Indian Society
Indian Society – Ram Ahuja
Social Problems in India – Ram Ahuja
Salient features of Indian Society
NCERT – Indian Society Class 12

Topic 7 : Social Issues

Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Women’s organization,
Population and associated issues,
Poverty and developmental issues,
Urbanization

Topic 8 : Effects of Globalization on Indian Society

Indian Society – Ram Ahuja

Topic 9 : Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.

Social Empowerment,
Communalism,
Regionalism
Secularism

Topic 10 : Salient features of World’s Physical Geography

Certificate Physical and Human Geography 1st Edition

Fundamentals of Physical Geography (NCERT Class-XI)
Principles of Geography - NECRT 11th Book
Economic Geography of the World (11th Class NCERT)

Topic 11 :

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub‐continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
Geography of India - Majid Hussain
India : Comprehensive Geography - D. R. Khullar / Here
NCERT Class XII – Human Geography
NCERT Class-XII – India-People and Economy

Physical Geography of India (NCERT)
Environment & Economic Geography (NCERT - 9th Class)
Cultural & Economic Geography of India (NCERT)
Those who don't have time to read NCERT they can read this one : India & World Geography by TMH- Majid Hussain

Topic 12 : Geophysical Phenomenons

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location‐ changes in critical geographical features (including water‐bodies and ice‐caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography 1st Edition

GS Manuals :