If you are preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) State Services Examination, having the right study material is the foundation of your success. With the syllabus being vast and covering both state-specific and national topics, a balanced mix of standard reference books and Maharashtra State Board textbooks is essential.

We have analyzed a number of books for MPSC and shortlisted some of them to help the students find the useful books instantly.

NCERT & State Board Books

Before moving to advanced reference books, build your conceptual clarity with:

• NCERT Books (Class 6th to 12th): Essential for History, Geography, Science, and Economics.
• Maharashtra State Board Books: These are non-negotiable for state-specific history, geography, and administration. Pay special attention to the 11th Standard History (Old) and Geography textbooks.

Subject-Wise Booklist for Prelims & Mains

1. History

• Ancient & Medieval: NCERTs and Maharashtra State Board books.
• Modern India: A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum or India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra.
• Maharashtra Specific: Adhunik Bhartacha Itihas by Samadhan Mahajan or Adhunik Maharashtracha Itihas by S.S. Gathal.

2. Geography

• Physical Geography: Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong.
• Indian Geography: Geography of India by Majid Husain.
• Maharashtra Geography: Maharashtra Bhugol by A.B. Savadi (Deepstambh) or Anil Katare.
• Atlas: Oxford Student Atlas for India.

3. Indian Polity & Governance

• The “Bible” of Polity: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (available in both English and Marathi).
• Panchayat Raj: Panchayat Raj by Kishor Lavate or Mahesh Gharge.
• Constitution: An Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu.

4. Economics

• Fundamentals: Indian Economy by Ranjan Kolambe or Bharatiya Arthavyavastha by Kiran Desale (Part 1).
• Advanced Reading: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh (for selective topics).
• Reference: Latest Economic Survey of Maharashtra and the Union Budget.

5. General Science & Technology

• General Science: Lucent’s General Science or Samanya Vidnyan by Dr. Sachin Bhaske.
• NCERTs: Science textbooks from Class 8th to 10th.
• Science & Tech: Monthly compilations from platforms like Drishti IAS or specialized tech sections in newspapers.

6. Environment & Agriculture

• Environment: Environment by Shankar IAS (English) or Paryavaran Paristithiki by Tushar Ghorpade (Marathi).
• Agriculture: Fundamentals of Agriculture Vol-1 by Arun Katyayan and Maharashtra State Board 11th & 12th Science/Agri textbooks.

Language & CSAT (Paper II)

7. Marathi & English Language

• Marathi Grammar: Sugam Marathi Vyakaran ani Lekhan by M.R. Walambe or books by Balasaheb Shinde.
• English Grammar: High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin or Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi.

8. CSAT (Aptitude & Reasoning)

• Quantitative Aptitude: Objective Arithmetic by R.S. Aggarwal.
• Logical Reasoning: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal or Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey.

Current Affairs

Current affairs bridge the gap between static and dynamic portions of the exam.

• Newspapers: Loksatta (Marathi), The Hindu, or The Indian Express.
• Magazines: Yojana, Kurukshetra, and Lokrajya (Maharashtra Government publication).
• Yearly Compilations: Simplified Chalu Ghadamodi or Yashachi Parikrama.

Effective Preparation Tips

1. Syllabus First: Always keep a printed copy of the MPSC syllabus on your desk. Use it as a checklist.
2. Limit Your Resources: It is better to read one book five times than to read five different books once. Stick to standard sources.
3. Solve PYQs: Previous Year Questions are the best way to understand the exam’s “pulse” and the weightage of different topics.
4. Maharashtra Focus: Since this is a state-level exam, ensure you are thorough with Maharashtra-specific data in History, Geography, and Economy.
5. Mock Tests: Regularly attempt mock tests to improve your time management, especially for the CSAT paper.

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