One of the most challenging exams in India, the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam, includes geography as a crucial subject. Not only is geography a fascinating subject, but it also has a significant weight in the exam. It is a subject that necessitates a thorough comprehension of the numerous ideas and concepts of the earth, its physical characteristics, and its various phenomena. Candidates must therefore have a complete comprehension of the subject to pass the UPSC exam, which can be attained by reading the appropriate books.                         

The Geography Optional Books are essential for the UPSC Mains test. If appropriately tackled, geography is the most successful optional subject, which helps in GS exams. Many applicants who chose geography as their optional subject were successful in the UPSC Mains exam. Candidates using the Geography Books for UPSC can complete all three IAS Exam levels.

For prelims, mains, and optional levels, the geography books for the UPSC are roughly divided into Indian and global geography. The atlas and current events must be added to each Geography Optional Booklist to demonstrate your understanding of a concept. 

Geography is a crucial topic for both the UPSC Prelims and Mains exams. The UPSC Mains optional subject in geography has the highest scoring rate. If the topic is studied thoroughly, it can also help with general studies papers. The Geography Books for UPSC have been separated into stages and segments to ensure clarity and convenience of study.

The portions where the UPSC geography books will be used are listed here. You must also review the UPSC Geography Syllabus to choose the finest books for your preparation.

Geography Optional Books

All of the UPSC Geography Books must be read by those who have chosen geography as an optional subject. Geography Optional consists of two 250-point papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. There are 500 points available for the geography optional.

Geography Optional Books – Paper 1

• Human Geography by Majid Husain
• A Geography by Population by R.C. Chandna
• Goh Cheng Leong
• Oceanography by Sharma & Vatal
• Physical Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publisher
• Physical Geography by Savindra Singh
• Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple by Rupa Publisher
• Environmental Geography by Savindra Singh
• Environmental Geography by Saxena
• Environmental Awareness by R.C.Chandna
• Agricultural Geography by Masjid Husain
• Political Geography by R.D.Dixit
• General Climatology by Critchfield
• Physical Geography in Diagrams by Bunnett
• Economic Geography by Hertshorn& Alexander
• Principles of Geomorphology by W.D. Thornbury
• Geomorphology by Savindra Singh
• Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publishers
• Urbanization & Urban Systems in India by Ramachandran
• Perspectives in Human Geography: Evolution of Geographic Thought by Majid Husain
• Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publisher
• Regional Planning: Regional Planning – by Chand &Puri
• Settlement Geography by K Siddhartha
• Climatology by D.S.Lal
• Physical Geography by Strahler & Strahler

Geography Optional Books – Paper 2

The top geography books for optional paper 2 are listed below. Regular use of the atlas and current events is required for Paper 2 of the optional Geography course.

• Economic and Commercial Geography of India by Sharma & Coutinho
• Economic and Commercial Geography of India by C.B. Mamoria
• Geography of India – Majid Husain
• Transport, Communication, and Trade
• Regional Development and Planning
• Agriculture Geography by Majid Husain
• Urbanization and Urban Systems in India by Ramachandran
• Human Geography by Majid Husain
• India Year Book published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• Certificate Physical and Human Geography by GC Leong
• Political Aspects: Modern Political Geography of India by B.L. Sukhwal.
• Geography of Population by R.C.Chandna
• A Geography of India by Gopal Singh
• Regional Planning and Development by Chand and Puri
• Indian Geography by D R Khullar

Geography Booklist for UPSC Prelims

We have created a booklist below if you're looking for the top geography books to read while preparing for the UPSC Prelims. You must read the newspaper daily and compare Current Affairs with the atlas in addition to these books. The NCERT Books should be your best ally when preparing for the UPSC prelims because they offer a solid framework and intellectual clarity.

NCERT Geography Books

• Class 6 – The Earth Our Habitat
• Class 7 – Our Environment
• Class 8 – Resource and Development
• Class 9 – Contemporary India – I
• Class 10 – Contemporary India – II
• Class 11 – Fundamentals of Physical Geography
• Class 11 – India – Physical Environment
• Class 12 – Fundamentals of Human Geography
• Class 12 – India – People and Economy

Apart from the NCERTs, it would help if you went through the below-mentioned UPSC Books for geography also.

• Go Cheng Leong – Certificate Physical & Human Geography Indian Geography.
• School Atlas – Orient Black Swan.
• Oxford Student Atlas.

Geography Optional Books for UPSC Mains – GS Paper 1

Since geography is a significant component of the UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus, selecting the best geography book for UPSC Mains is crucial for candidates. Candidates must finish the UPSC Prelims Geography Books as well as the new additions listed below to move on to the Mains round.

• Geography of India by Surender Singh (alternative to Majid Husain).
• India: A Comprehensive Geography by D.R Khuller (alternative to Majid Husain)
• Physical Geography by Savindra Singh. (alternative to Goh Ching Leong)

Utilizing the atlas and geography textbooks to their maximum potential is crucial since fundamental concepts like the distribution of important natural resources in India and the world are covered. With the aforementioned texts, their preparation is simple.

World Geography Books for UPSC

World geography textbooks cover the population, urbanization, agriculture, culture, economics, and political systems in various parts of the world. The books listed below will undoubtedly aid aspirants in laying a solid foundation in global geography.

• Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple – R.Knowles & J.Wareing
• Evolution of Geographic Thought-Majid Husain
• Physical Geography – Made Simple – Richard H Bryant
• Oxford School Atlas – Oxford

Indian Geography Books for UPSC

For a thorough understanding of India's physical, economic, and social geography, an Indian geography book is a vital tool. The UPSC Exam includes several geography-related questions. Thus, applicants must improve their preparedness.

With the aid of Atlas, the majority of the Indian geography curriculum may be covered in Class 6 through Class 12, utilising NCERT textbooks. You can study the remaining topics from UPSC Books and the NCERTs.

• Physical Geography by Savindra Singh
• Geomorphology by Savindra Singh
• Physical Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publisher
• Geography of India By Majid Husain
• Human Geography by Majid Husain
• Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publishers
• A Geography by Population by R.C. Chandna
• Agriculture Geography by Majid Husain
• India Year Book, published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.