Best Books for HCS Prelims and Mains
Best Books for HCS Prelims and Mains 2026
The quality of books you read plays a crucial role in your preparation for the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) Exam, conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) for top administrative positions such as SDM, DSP, and Tehsildar. As one of the most prestigious state-level examinations, the HCS syllabus is vast and often confusing, leaving aspirants uncertain about what to study, what to skip, and which resources to rely on.
In today’s age of abundant online content, this confusion has increased even more, making focused and relevant preparation difficult. To address this, this article provides a concise and reliable booklist strictly aligned with the latest HCS syllabus. Choosing the right sources is important because they strongly influence the direction and success of your preparation.
Importance of Good Books for HCS Preparation
Good books form the foundation of your entire HCS preparation journey. The quality of sources you choose directly decides the strength of your concepts. NCERTs help in building this foundation from ground zero and prepare you to move smoothly towards standard reference books.
Standard books ensure proper syllabus coverage, provide reliable factual knowledge, and match the latest trends of the HCS exam. Books also help you study in a structured and systematic way, which is essential for focused preparation.
- Build strong conceptual clarity through NCERTs
- Ensure full syllabus coverage with standard books
- Help in organized and disciplined study
- Reduce confusion caused by excessive online material
Books for HCS Prelims Exam
Ancient History
- NCERTs (Old): India’s Ancient Past – Class 11th & 12th
- NCERTs (Old): Themes in Indian History – Class 11th & 12th
Medieval History
- History of Medieval India – Satish Chandra
- New NCERTs: Themes in Indian History – Class 11th & 12th
Modern History
- Spectrum Modern History
Indian Heritage, Art and Culture
- NCERT – Class 11th & 12th
- Nitin Singhania – Indian Art and Culture
Indian and World Geography
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong
- NCERT – Class 11th & 12th
- Oxford Student Atlas
Environment and Ecology
- 12th NCERT Biology (Chapters 12 to 16)
- Current Affairs related to Ecology
Indian Polity
- Indian Polity – M. Laxmikant
- NCERT/NIOS – Class 11th & 12th Political Science
Economy
- Indian Economy – Sanjeev Verma
- Economic Survey of India (latest)
- NCERT – Class 10th, 11th & 12th Macro Economics
General Science
- NCERTs – Class 6th to 10th
- Science Reporter Magazine
- NCERT – Class 12th Biology
Haryana GK
- Know Your State Haryana – Arihant Experts
- Economic Survey of Haryana
- Haryana Budget
- O2 IAS Academy Notes
Current Events (National & International)
- Newspaper: Indian Express, Tribune (for state news)
- Any good monthly current affairs magazine
CSAT
- RS Aggarwal
- Lucent General English
Booklist for HCS Mains Exam
In addition to the books recommended for Prelims, students should read a few extra standard books for complete coverage of the HCS Mains syllabus. The HCS Mains stage consists of six papers: English, Hindi, GS Paper I, GS Paper II, GS Paper III, and GS Paper IV.
HCS Mains Langauge papers (English & Hindi)
Book for HCS Mains English English
- Lucent General English
Books for HCS Mains Hindi
- Hindi Vyakaran – HG Publication
HCS Mains GS Paper I
Indian Art and Culture
- Class 11th Fine Arts NCERT
World History
- NCERT Class 12th Contemporary World History
- Mastering Modern World History – Norman Lowe
Indian Society
- NCERT Class 11th Sociology – Understanding Society
- NCERT Class 12th – Indian Society
- NCERT Class 12th – Social Change & Development in India
Haryana GK
- Know Your State Haryana – Arihant Experts
HCS Mains GS Paper II
Social Justice
- Yojana and Kurukshetra magazines (focus on social issues)
International Relations
- Related Current Affairs
- O2 IAS Academy Notes / IR Book by Pavneet Singh
Haryana GK
- Know Your State Haryana – Arihant Experts
HCS Mains GS Paper III
Science and Technology
- Science Reporter Magazine
- Science and Tech by Ravi P Agarhari
Security & Disaster Management
- Internal Security & Disaster Management – Ashok Kumar
- Bharat ki Aantarik Suraksha Evam Aapda Prabandhan – Udaybhan Singh (Hindi)
Haryana GK
- Know Your State Haryana – Arihant Experts
- Economic Survey of Haryana
- Haryana Budget
GS Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)
- Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude – Subba Rao, P. N. Roy Chowdhury & Karthikeyan
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Motivational Books for HCS Exam 2026
Apart from syllabus-based books, a few motivational books help you stay inspired and mentally strong during long months of preparation. These books are not directly linked with the syllabus but play an important role in maintaining discipline, focus, and confidence.
- The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
- 12th Fail – Anurag Pathak
- Learning How to Fly: Life Lessons for the Youth – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
- Godaan – Munshi Premchand
- Ignited Minds – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
How to Use These Books in Your Preparation
When it comes to booklists and resources for the HCS exam, there is no fixed rule that one list will suit everyone. The choice of books can be adjusted according to your background, strengths, and time availability. We have streamlined this list by recommending fewer but reliable books for both Prelims and Mains preparation.
One practice that will certainly help you is making your own short notes and continuously enriching them with information from the books you read over time. This habit improves retention and makes revision faster before the exam.
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Confused about which books to start with or how to study them properly? Talk to a teacher and get a clear book strategy based on the latest HCS syllabus and exam pattern.
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Important HCS Preparation Resources
Study Material for HCS
Apart from the books mentioned above, the essential study material for HCS preparation includes the following standard reports, newspapers, and government publications. These sources help in strengthening current affairs, governance, economy, and policy-related topics.
- 2nd ARC Report (Administrative Reforms Commission)
- Economic Survey of India
- Union Budget
- Finance Commission Report
- The Hindu Newspaper
- Yojana Magazine
- Press Information Bureau (PIB) Releases
- NITI Aayog Action Agenda
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Which books are recommended for Hindi medium students?
You can read the Hindi medium NCERTs and Hindi translations of the standard reference books.
Q. Is reading only NCERTs enough to clear the HCS Exam?
NCERTs are essential for building basics, but you should supplement them with standard books to cover the topics in depth.
Q. How should I prepare Haryana GK for HCS?
You can prepare Haryana GK from the book “Know Your State Haryana – Arihant Experts” along with the Haryana Economic Survey and Budget.
Q. How should I cover Current Affairs for HCS?
Read newspapers like The Indian Express and Tribune (for state news) and supplement them with any good monthly current affairs magazine.
Q. Which book is best for Indian Economy for HCS?
Indian Economy by Sanjeev Verma is a good book for Indian Economy. You can also supplement it with the Economic Survey.
