7 Best History Books You Need To Appear For Competitive Exams

An impeccable masterpiece, this book stands tall in the list of best history books for competitive exams. It offers an organized set of information about India’s rich cultural heritage with enough and more coverage over economy, art, and political aspects. It serves as a classic book in the vanity of every UPSC aspirant, and even for those who wish to dig deeper into their roots to familiarize themselves with the history of our nation.

What do other aspirants have to say?
Beyond the text, this book provides visual representation in the form of maps from different periods like Harappan civilization, Mauryan and Gupta Dynasty. And after the end of every chapter there’s a chronological series of events that helps one in note-making and easy revision.

Pros

• Best Suited For All: Undergraduate students of History major and UPSC aspirants
• Good quality and interesting

Cons

• Page numbering in kindle edition

2. Best in Information: The Wonder That Was India: Volume I

Getting into the world of history from the beginning of time can be a little tricky. There’s just so much to know. But this book makes it all easy like a pie for you. It updates you with all the important events and provides you a brief knowledge about everything that is out there to know about.

If you have a penchant for visual learning, this book provides you with various figures and images for quick understanding and great learning. These beautiful pictures in the book really steal the show for someone who wants to go a step further from textual learning. The words and text are also crisp and clear while being easily readable.

What do other aspirants have to say?
The detailed explanation given in this book would prepare one and get them ready for their next competitive exam with an abundance of knowledge. If you are interested in a logical, fact-based, intellectual and engrossing study of Ancient Indian History, then this is the right pick for you!

Pros

• Best Suited For: UPSC aspirants
• In-depth knowledge

Cons

• May not arrive on time

3. Best in Page Quality: A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India

With such a vast and beautiful history of the nation, it’s only possible to break it down in parts to understand it completely. This book by Author Upinder Singh, covers the history of Ancient and Early Medieval India. To be precise, the text covers information and offers knowledge from the Stone Age to the 12th Century. This book also claims to be India's most complete textbook ever for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

With a detailed description of the original sources such as ancient texts, artifacts, inscriptions and coins, the book offers excellent illustration of how historians compare history on their levels, through their understandings. The book also evidently conveys a unique and balanced clarification of ideas and historical debates , the understanding of which allows the student to separately evaluate evidence, theories and arguments.

What do other aspirants have to say?
If you are a student looking for India’s Ancient History from an archaeological point of view, adorned with photographs and riddled with the depths of knowledge; then this is the right pick for you!

Pros

• Best Suited For: Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students, UPSC aspirants
• Outstanding page quality

Cons

• Pages may not be aligned properly

4. Best for Advanced:The Penguin History Of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300

Looking for the perfect book that takes you right back to the origins of India wondering how it actually began? This book by Penguin tells you all the tales. Penguin Publishers are well-renowned for their texts and this book is no exception. It carefully and vividly binds India’s fragments from the past, helping its readers visualize the formation of a vast, beautiful and historically unique land. It documents India like it has never been spoken about before, exploring all its hues from then to now.

For those appearing for competitive examinations, this book is a heavenly treat. It explores a diversity of subjects from marriage to class, art, erotic and even astronomy. Providing a nuanced picture of India, the Author, Romila Thapar, has curated a rich mosaic of historical kingdoms, beliefs, cultures, languages and landscapes too.

What do other aspirants have to say?
This book offers in-depth information and knowledge of all the major topics like sources, historiography, prehistory, Harappan civilisation, Age of Buddha, Mahajanpada, Mauryas and much more. With right-on-point analysis and amazingly well-written text, this book sets out to be a must-have for every UPSC aspirant.
If you are someone looking for an utterly unbiased history of India with the real cusp of the story behind it all, then this is the right pick for you!

Pros

• Best Suited For: Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students, UPSC aspirants
• For advanced learners

Cons

• Not easy to understand

5. Best in Latest Edition: History of Modern India

While you need to be well-versed in the History of Ancient India, it’s also important to pay equal attention to the happenings of Modern India, aka the land commonly called British India. In just 360 pages, this book covers all that you need to know about the History of Modern India to prepare for your UPSC examination.

What do other aspirants have to say?
It is crisp, precise and supremely easy to understand. The storytelling style of the book is particularly striking. It keeps things interesting for the learner while offering depths of information. If you are someone who likes your books short and knowledge wide, this one is definitely for you!

Pros

• Best Suited For: Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students, UPSC aspirants
• Latest edition

Cons

• Small word print

6. Best in Most Extensive: History of the world

Once you have been thorough with all the stages of Indian History, the next up comes the history of the world and the text from this book captures it in the perfect light. This book, however, particularly focuses on the time period from the late nineteenth to the early twenty-first century.

This book extensively covers all the major events of world history right from the two World Wars to Anti-Imperialist & Nationalist Movements, Myth Burst Of European Despotism, Rise Of Japan, The Great Economic Depression, Formation of UN, Cold War and the following crisis.

What do other aspirants have to say?
It provides a clear, simple and concise view on all of the mentioned events and gets your knowledge prepped up for UPSC preparation. This book indeed serves as the best one for competitive exams. If you want to focus on one text to brush up on a hundred years of world history, then this is the best pick for you!

Pros

• Best Suited For: Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students, UPSC aspirants
• Provides extensive knowledge

Cons

• Content may seem old

7. Best Budget: India's Struggle For Independence

From the struggling years of the 1800s to the victorious years of the 1900s, this book vividly combines all the phases of India’s struggle for independence. The latest revised and updated version of the book is stated as a must-have and must-read for all competitive exams including IAS, UPSC, and Civil Services Mains.

What do other aspirants have to say about it?
This book is a world in itself and serves as the go-to for competitive exam prep. All the knowledge and information is compiled in a simple-to-understand and easy-to-remember methodology.
If you are looking for a fluid, comprehensive, coherent book about the history of India’s Independence, then this is the perfect pick for you.

Pros

• Best Suited For: IAS, UPSC, and Civil Services Mains aspirants
• Most affordable

Cons

• Paper quality may not be up to the mark

FAQs

Which ancient history book is best for competitive exams?
For competitive exams that require knowledge of ancient history, "Ancient India" by R.S. Sharma is a valuable resource. It provides comprehensive coverage of ancient Indian history, including details about different periods, dynasties, and cultural developments. Additionally, books like "A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India" by Upinder Singh and "The Penguin History Of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300" by Romila Thapar are also recommended for their depth and relevance in competitive exams.

How can I study history for government exams?
To study history for government exams, start by understanding the exam syllabus. Use reliable textbooks, make a study schedule, take concise notes, and practice with past papers. Stay updated on current events and historical developments. Seek guidance through coaching classes or online courses for expert support and thorough preparation.

Why history is important in competitive exams?
History is important in competitive exams for several reasons. It tests candidates' knowledge of past events, cultures, and societies, which are essential for understanding the context of contemporary issues. Historical knowledge also demonstrates critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, it assesses a candidate's ability to extract and evaluate information, which is valuable in various government and competitive job roles where decision-making and understanding societal trends are crucial.

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