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List of recommended books for OPSC OAS Exam

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) conducts the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) exam to select candidates for key civil service positions in the state. With a syllabus covering a wide range of topics, selecting the right OPSC books is crucial for both the Preliminary and Main exams. At APTI PLUS, we provide expert guidance, including a comprehensive list of recommended books and resources, to ensure students are well-prepared. In this blog, the best OAS coaching in Bhubaneswar will cover paper-wise recommended books for all the three stages of the OPSC OAS exam. 

OPSC OAS Exam Structure

Preliminary Exam:

  • General Studies Paper 1 (200 marks): Covers subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, IR, security and Current Affairs.
  • General Studies Paper 2 (200 marks): Focuses on aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, and basic numeracy.

Main Exam:

The Main Exam consists of four General Studies papers, two language papers (English and Odia), and an optional subject (chosen from a list provided by OPSC). Each paper is 250 marks, with a total of 1750 marks in the written test, followed by a personality test.

OPSC Booklist for Prelims

OPSC General Studies Paper 1

Subject Recommended Books
History
    • NCERT History Textbooks (Class 6-12)
    • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
    • Odisha History book for  opsc
    • History of Odisha by Dr. Manas Kumar Das
    • Ancient History of India: Old NCERT by RS Sharma/ TN class 11 th book
    • Medieval History of India: Old NCERT by Satish Chandra/ TN class 11th book
    • Spectrum
    • An Introduction to Indian Art – Class XI NCERT
    • Aptiplus Academy Study Material
    • Facets of Indian Culture by Spectrum
Geography
  • NCERT Geography Textbooks (Class 6-12)
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong
  • Odisha Geography by D.P. Mishra
  • Aptiplus Academy Study Material
  • Oxford Atlas
Polity
  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
  • Governance in India by M. Laxmikanth
  • Aptiplus Academy Study Material
  • NCERTs 9 th, 10 th (for basic understanding)
  • Acts/Bills, judgements-PRS website
  • Constitution of India at Work (Class XI) NCERT Publication
Economy
  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
  • Economic Survey of India and Odisha (latest edition)
  • Budget: India and Odisha
Environment & Ecology
  • Environment by Shankar IAS
  • NCERT Biology (Chapters on Environment)
Science and Technology
  • Aptiplus Academy Study Material
  • NCERT- Class 6th to 10 th
  • NCERT – Biology – 11th (Unit IV; V only – read basic concepts not technical details)
  • NCERT Biology – 12th (Chapters 4, 5 and rest from 7 to 16)
  • NCERT – Biology – 12th (OLD) – Chapter 9 onwards
  • NCERT – Physics – 11th (Chap 1,5 & 8) and 12th (Chap 15 only)
  • NCERT – Chemistry – 11th (Chap 1 & 14 only) and 12th (Chap 14 & 16 only)
  • Lucent General Science
Current Affairs (including for IR, Security)
  • The Hindu or Indian Express newspaper
  • PIB
  • DowntoEarth
  • Odisha specific newspaper: Sambad etc
  • IAS Gazette and OAS Gazette: Apti Plus Monthly Current Affairs (for focused preparation)

General Studies Paper 2

Topic Recommended Books
Quantitative Aptitude
  • Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
Logical Reasoning
  • Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
Comprehension
  • English Comprehension by Lucent’s General English
Decision Making
  • Practice previous year question papers and Apti Plus’ OAS test series

OPSC Booklist for  Mains

Odia and English Language Papers

Paper Recommended Books
Odia Language
  • Sahitya Akademi’s Standard Odia Grammar Books
  • Odia Sahitya Sampad by Dr. Ramakanta Rath
English Language
  • Wren and Martin’s High School English Grammar & Composition
  • Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi

Essay Paper 

Topic/Aspect Recommended Books
Essay Writing
  • 151 Essays by S.C. Gupta
  • Essays for Civil Services by Pulkit Khare
Philosophical Essays
  • Essays and Philosophical Essays for IAS Mains by G. Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury
Social Issues & Current Affairs
  • Regular reading of The Hindu editorial section
  • Yojana and Kurukshetra magazines for topic diversity
Practice & Evaluation
  • Apti Plus Essay Test Series 
 

General Studies Paper 1 (Indian Heritage, Culture, History, and Geography of India and Odisha, Society)

Topic Recommended Books
Indian Heritage & Culture Same as prelims
History of India Same as prelims
Geography of India & Odisha
  • Geography of India by Majid Husain
  • Odisha Geography by R.K. Dash
Society
  • XI, XII Standard NCERT on Indian Society
  • Social Problems In India by Ram Ahuja
 

General Studies Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, IR)

 
Topic Recommended Books
Indian Polity Same as prelims
Governance Same as prelims
Social Justice
  • Indian Social System by Ram Ahuja
  • Aptiplus study material
International Relations
  • International Relations by Pavneet Singh
  • Aptiplus study material
 

General Studies Paper 3 (Technology, Economic Development, Environment, Security)

Topic Recommended Books
Economy Same as prelims
Science & Technology
  • Science and Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari
  • Aptiplus study material
Disaster Management
  • Disaster Management by R. Subramanian
  • Aptiplus study material
Environment
  • Environment by Shankar IAS
  • Aptiplus study material
 

General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

Topic Recommended Books
Ethics and Integrity
  • Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Subbarao and P.N. Roy Chowdhury
  •  Lexicon for Ethics
  • Aptiplus study material
Case Studies
  • Aptiplus study material 
  • Practice case studies from previous year question papers and Apti Plus Mains Test Series
 

Books for Personality Test (Interview Stage)

 
Topic/Skill Recommended Books/Resources
Interview Techniques
  • Cracking the Civil Services Interview by Madhukar Bhagat
Current Affairs & Opinions
  • The Hindu / Indian Express (Focus on editorials and opinion pieces)
  • Apti Plus Interview material
Personality Development
  • How to Develop Self Confidence & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
General Awareness & Demeanor
  • Civil Services Interview: The Complete Manual by Unique Publications
  OAS Booklist for optionals: https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/upsc-optional-subject-list  

Tips for Success

  • Practice Previous Year Papers: are an invaluable resource for understanding exam trends and enhancing preparation.
  • Apti Plus Coaching: As one of the premier institutes in Odisha, Apti Plus offers tailored coaching programs, including test series and personal mentorship, which can greatly help aspirants stay focused and organized during their preparation.
  By following the above booklist and maintaining a consistent practice, you will be well-prepared for all three: the Prelims, Mains and interview stages of the OPSC OAS exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for OPSC OAS Booklist

Are NCERT books essential for OPSC OAS preparation?

Yes, NCERT books (especially for subjects like History, Geography, and Economics) provide a strong foundational understanding. They are highly recommended for beginners and are often referred to by coaching institutes like Apti Plus.

Yes, reading newspapers like The Hindu or The Indian Express daily is crucial for staying updated with current affairs. You can also supplement this with Apti Plus Monthly Current Affairs to focus on Odisha-specific news and national events.

You should choose optional subjects based on:

  • Your interest and understanding of the subject.
  • Availability of study materials and guidance.
  • Past performance trends of the optional subject in the OAS exam.

Practicing previous year question papers is crucial for understanding the exam pattern, types of questions, and time management. Apti Plus provides a dedicated test series that includes past papers and questions designed to reflect the latest OPSC trends.

You can find comprehensive study materials for both Prelims and Mains at Apti Plus, which offers books, notes, and test series. They also provide online and offline courses that deliver the material straight to your doorstep​.

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