NCERT History Books For UPSC - Best Resources for IAS Preparation

NCERT History Books for UPSC are an essential resource for aspirants preparing for the IAS exam, especially for students who have a commerce or science background. In the UPSC exam, candidates can choose History as their optional subject from a list of 48 optional subjects. The History syllabus also overlaps with the IAS Prelims GS Paper 1 and IAS Mains GS Paper 1. So, to build a strong foundation, we recommend all the candidates to start their history preparation with NCERT books for UPSC. In this article, we have provided a list of History NCERT Books For UPSC, along with it, we will delve deeper into the benefits of studying History NCERTs for UPSC and how they can help aspirants crack the exam.

Must check - How To Read NCERT For UPSC?

Want to score well in history? Join our History Optional Coaching today.

NCERT History Book For UPSC - Class 6th to 12th History NCERTs

The History NCERT Books cover a vast range of topics from ancient to modern India. To be precise, History NCERTs from Class 6th to Class 12th are the best to start with. Candidates can download the PDF of History NCERT Books for UPSC in the table below.

List Of NCERT History Books For UPSC
Class	History NCERT Book Name
Class VI	History NCERT - Our Past I
Class VII	History NCERT - Our Past II
Class VIII	History NCERT - Our Past III – Part 1
Class IX	History NCERT - India and the Contemporary World I
Class X	History NCERT - India and Contemporary World II
Class XI	History NCERT - Themes in World History
Class XII	History NCERT - Themes in Indian History – Part I
	History NCERT - Themes in Indian History – Part II
	History NCERT - Themes in Indian History – Part II

Also, check out Old NCERT History Books For UPSC here.

Free Mentorship Program by

Ravi Kapoor, Ex-IRS

UPSC Exam-Hacker, Author, Super Mentor, MA

100+ Success Stories

Key Highlights

Achieve your Goal with our mentorship program, offering regular guidance and effective exam strategies.
Cultivate a focused mindset for exam success through our mentorship program.

2 Lakh+ Students Mentored

Get Free Mentorship Now

Important Chapters in History NCERT For UPSC

There are some important chapters in the NCERTs of Class 6th to 12th that candidates must study thoroughly for UPSC History preparation. Candidates can find below the list of important chapters in the History NCERT for UPSC.

Must Read Chapters From History NCERT For UPSC Exam
Class	NCERT Name	Total No. Of Chapters	Important Chapters
6th	Our Pasts Part-1	11 Chapters	Chapter 2– From Hunting – Gathering to Growing Food Chapter 4– What Books and Burials Tell Us Chapter 7– Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War Chapter 10– New Empires and Kingdoms
7th	Our Pasts Part-2	10 Chapters	Chapter 3– The Delhi Sultans Chapter 4– The Mughal Empire Chapter 7– Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities Chapter 8– Devotional Paths to the Divine Chapter 10– Eighteenth-Century Political Formations
8th	Our Pasts Part-3	10 Chapters	Chapter 2– From Trade to Territory Chapter 4– Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age Chapter 5– When People Rebel Chapter 8– Women, Caste and Reform Chapter 9– The Making of the National Movement: 1870s – 1947
9th	India and the Contemporary World – I	5 Chapters	Chapter 1– The French Revolution Chapter 2– Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Chapter 3– Nazism and the Rise of Hitler
10th	India and the Contemporary World – 2	5 Chapters	This NCERT book is best for studying the World History section. The book includes events from the 18th century like the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonization, and more. It also covers significant events, characters, and topics in modern Indian history from the middle of the eighteenth century to the present. In this particular book, Candidates must focus on all key events and contributions of individuals that caused a major impact on the nation.
11th	Themes in World History	4 Chapters	Chapter-2 Empires Chapter-4 Towards Modernisation
	Ancient India RS Sharma	27 Chapters	Aspirants should go through all the chapters starting from chapter 4 as it is important for a good understanding.
	Medieval India Satish Chandra	18 chapters	Aspirants can skim through the whole book to develop a good understanding of the events.
	Modern India Bipan Chandra	15 Chapters	Aspirants are advised to read all the chapters to develop a better understanding of the events.
12th	Themes in Indian History – Part I	Total 4 Themes	Theme-2 Early States and Economies Theme-3 Early Societies
	Themes in Indian History – Part II	Total 6 Themes	Theme-5 Perceptions of Society Theme-6 Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts Theme-7 An imperial Capital- Vijayanagara
	Themes in Indian History – Part III	Total 6 Themes	Theme-13 Civil Disobedience and Beyond Theme-14 Politics, Memories, Experiences Theme-15 The Beginning of a New E

Also, read - How To Make Notes From NCERT For UPSC?

NCERT History For UPSC - Important Tips

Candidates need to understand that each subject needs to studied in a particular manner to gain the best knowledge in less amount of time. So, here are five pointers to help you devise a strategy for reading history NCERTs for UPSC exam:

Start with the basics - Begin by reading the NCERT textbooks for Class VI to XII to get a solid foundation in history. It will help you understand the fundamental concepts, events, and movements that shaped the country's history in an easy language.
Take notes - As you progress your reading, take detailed notes on critical events, people, and historical movements. This will help you memorize the facts and figures better and allow you to revise them quickly.
Understand the context - It's essential to understand the historical context behind every event or movement. For example, the rise of nationalism in India was a result of British colonial rule and the exploitation of India's resources. So, understanding the context helps you to link and memorise historical events.
Refer to multiple sources - Apart from History NCERT for UPSC, refer to other standard reference UPSC books, articles, and journals to get a more comprehensive understanding of the topic. Do this once you finish reading the NCERTs.
Practice answer writing - UPSC requires candidates to write clear, concise, and well-structured answers. You can start practising answer writing by solving the UPSC previous year papers and Mock tests.

Also, refer to Class 6 NCERT History For UPSC here.

We hope this article on History NCERT Books For UPSC will help you in the IAS exam preparation. Candidates can check out our UPSC Online Coaching program or install our Testbook App and get access to Mock Tests, Free Live Classes, Study Materials and more!

NCERT History For UPSC - FAQs

Are class 12th NCERT history books important for the UPSC exam?

Yes, class 12th NCERTs are important for the UPSC exam as they cover important themes in Indian History. Candidates are recommended to read Themes 2 & 3 from Part 1, Themes 5, 6 & 7 from Part 2 and Themes 13, 14 & 15 from Part 3 of Indian History Themes.

How to study NCERT history for UPSC?

Candidates must start reading the Class 6th to 12th History NCERT for UPSC to build a basic foundation. Focus on the important chapters in NCERT (as listed in this article) for UPSC exam.

Is NCERT History enough for UPSC exam?

The History NCERT Books for UPSC are the best to start with. Candidates find it easy to understand as the concepts, events, and historical movements are explained in an easy language, but they need to refer to other sources like standard history books, journals, and current affairs.