Books for OPSC OAS Exam 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) conducts the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) exam annually to recruit candidates for various administrative posts in the state government. The exam is a challenging one, requiring thorough preparation and a comprehensive understanding of various subjects. To help you navigate this journey, we have compiled a list of recommended books for the OPSC OAS Exam 2024, categorized by subject.
General Studies
1. History
- Ancient India:
- Ancient India by R.S. Sharma
- A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh
- India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma
- Medieval India:
- Medieval India by Satish Chandra
- History of Medieval India by A.L. Basham
- The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham
- Modern India:
- Modern India by Bipan Chandra
- India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
- India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
- Odisha History:
- History of Odisha by K.C. Panigrahi
- Odisha: A History by S.N. Rajguru
- The History of Odisha by N.K. Sahu
2. Geography
- NCERT Geography Textbooks (Class 6-12)
- India: A Comprehensive Geography by D.R. Khullar
- Geography of India by Majid Husain
- Odisha Geography:
- Geography of Odisha by P.K. Mishra
- Odisha: A Geographical Perspective by S.K. Panda
3. Polity
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
- Indian Government and Politics by B.L. Fadia
- Odisha Polity:
- Odisha: A Study in State Politics by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A Constitutional Perspective by P.K. Patnaik
4. Economics
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- Economic Survey of India (Latest Edition)
- Indian Economy by Sanjiv Verma
- Odisha Economy:
- Odisha Economy: A Perspective by B.K. Mishra
- Economic Development of Odisha by S.K. Mohanty
5. Environment and Ecology
- Environment and Ecology by Shankar IAS Academy
- India’s Biodiversity: A Vision for the Future by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Odisha Environment:
- Environment and Ecology of Odisha by S.K. Panda
- Odisha: A State of Biodiversity by Odisha Forest Department
6. Current Affairs
- The Hindu
- The Indian Express
- Yojana
- Kurukshetra
- Pratiyogita Darpan
- Monthly Current Affairs Magazines
7. Odisha Specific Topics
- Odisha Art and Culture:
- Odisha: A Cultural Heritage by S.N. Rajguru
- Odisha: A Land of Art and Culture by P.K. Mishra
- Odisha Economy and Development:
- Odisha: A State of Growth and Development by B.K. Mishra
- Economic Development of Odisha by S.K. Mohanty
- Odisha Social Issues:
- Social Issues in Odisha by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A State of Social Change by P.K. Patnaik
Optional Subjects
The OPSC OAS Exam offers a wide range of optional subjects. Choose a subject you are comfortable with and have a strong foundation in. Here are some popular options:
1. Public Administration
- Indian Administration by M. Laxmikanth
- Public Administration by Avasthi & Maheshwari
- Principles of Public Administration by D.D. Basu
- Odisha Public Administration:
- Odisha: A Study in Public Administration by S.N. Mishra
- Public Administration in Odisha by P.K. Patnaik
2. Sociology
- Sociology by M. Hariharan
- Social Problems in India by Ram Ahuja
- Indian Society by NCERT
- Odisha Sociology:
- Social Structure and Change in Odisha by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A Sociological Perspective by P.K. Patnaik
3. Geography
- NCERT Geography Textbooks (Class 6-12)
- India: A Comprehensive Geography by D.R. Khullar
- Geography of India by Majid Husain
- Odisha Geography:
- Geography of Odisha by P.K. Mishra
- Odisha: A Geographical Perspective by S.K. Panda
4. History
- Ancient India:
- Ancient India by R.S. Sharma
- A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh
- India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma
- Medieval India:
- Medieval India by Satish Chandra
- History of Medieval India by A.L. Basham
- The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham
- Modern India:
- Modern India by Bipan Chandra
- India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
- India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
- Odisha History:
- History of Odisha by K.C. Panigrahi
- Odisha: A History by S.N. Rajguru
- The History of Odisha by N.K. Sahu
5. Economics
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- Economic Survey of India (Latest Edition)
- Indian Economy by Sanjiv Verma
- Odisha Economy:
- Odisha Economy: A Perspective by B.K. Mishra
- Economic Development of Odisha by S.K. Mohanty
6. Political Science
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
- Indian Government and Politics by B.L. Fadia
- Odisha Polity:
- Odisha: A Study in State Politics by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A Constitutional Perspective by P.K. Patnaik
7. Law
- Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
- Indian Legal System by P.S. A. Pillai
- Law of Torts by R.K. Bangia
- Odisha Law:
- Odisha: A Study in Law by S.N. Mishra
- Law in Odisha by P.K. Patnaik
8. Literature
- Odia Literature:
- Odia Sahitya by S.N. Rajguru
- Odia Sahitya: A History by N.K. Sahu
- Odia Sahitya: A Critical Perspective by P.K. Mishra
9. Philosophy
- Indian Philosophy by S. Radhakrishnan
- A History of Indian Philosophy by Surendranath Dasgupta
- Odisha Philosophy:
- Odisha: A Study in Philosophy by S.N. Mishra
- Philosophy in Odisha by P.K. Patnaik
10. Anthropology
- Indian Anthropology by N.K. Bose
- Social Anthropology by M.N. Srinivas
- Odisha Anthropology:
- Anthropology of Odisha by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: An Anthropological Perspective by P.K. Patnaik
11. Psychology
- Psychology by R.J. Baron
- Psychology by Morgan & King
- Odisha Psychology:
- Psychology in Odisha by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A Psychological Perspective by P.K. Patnaik
12. Agriculture
- Agriculture by R.L. Arora
- Principles of Agronomy by D.K. Salunkhe
- Odisha Agriculture:
- Agriculture in Odisha by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A State of Agriculture by P.K. Patnaik
13. Commerce
- Business Studies by T.S. Grewal
- Principles of Management by P.C. Tripathi
- Odisha Commerce:
- Commerce in Odisha by S.N. Mishra
- Odisha: A State of Commerce by P.K. Patnaik
14. Mathematics
- NCERT Mathematics Textbooks (Class 11-12)
- Higher Algebra by Hall & Knight
- Trigonometry by S.L. Loney
15. Physics
- NCERT Physics Textbooks (Class 11-12)
- Concepts of Physics by H.C. Verma
- Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick & Walker
16. Chemistry
- NCERT Chemistry Textbooks (Class 11-12)
- Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J.D. Lee
- Organic Chemistry by Paula Yurkanis Bruice
17. Botany
- NCERT Botany Textbooks (Class 11-12)
- A Textbook of Botany by P.C. Ray
- Plant Physiology by Taiz & Zeiger
18. Zoology
- NCERT Zoology Textbooks (Class 11-12)
- Animal Physiology by Hill & Wyse
- Ecology and Environment by E.P. Odum
Test Series and Mock Tests
- OPSC OAS Test Series by Leading Coaching Institutes
- Online Mock Tests by Various Platforms
Study Plan and Time Management
- Create a Realistic Study Schedule: Allocate sufficient time for each subject and topic.
- Prioritize Subjects: Focus on your strengths and areas that require more attention.
- Regular Revision: Revise regularly to reinforce your learning.
- Practice Previous Year Papers: Analyze the exam pattern and difficulty level.
- Mock Tests: Take mock tests regularly to assess your preparation level.
Table 1: Recommended Books for OPSC OAS Exam 2024 (General Studies)
| Subject | Book Title | Author | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| History | Ancient India | R.S. Sharma | S. Chand |
| History | A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India | Upinder Singh | Oxford University Press |
| History | Medieval India | Satish Chandra | S. Chand |
| History | Modern India | Bipan Chandra | Orient Longman |
| Geography | NCERT Geography Textbooks (Class 6-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
| Geography | India: A Comprehensive Geography | D.R. Khullar | Vikas Publishing House |
| Polity | Indian Polity | M. Laxmikanth | McGraw Hill Education |
| Economics | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh | McGraw Hill Education |
| Environment and Ecology | Environment and Ecology | Shankar IAS Academy | Shankar IAS Academy |
| Current Affairs | The Hindu | The Hindu | The Hindu |
Table 2: Recommended Books for OPSC OAS Exam 2024 (Optional Subjects)
| Subject | Book Title | Author | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Administration | Indian Administration | M. Laxmikanth | McGraw Hill Education |
| Sociology | Sociology | M. Hariharan | Oxford University Press |
| Geography | NCERT Geography Textbooks (Class 6-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
| History | Ancient India | R.S. Sharma | S. Chand |
| Economics | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh | McGraw Hill Education |
| Political Science | Indian Polity | M. Laxmikanth | McGraw Hill Education |
| Law | Introduction to the Constitution of India | D.D. Basu | Prentice Hall |
| Literature | Odia Sahitya | S.N. Rajguru | Odisha Sahitya Akademi |
| Philosophy | Indian Philosophy | S. Radhakrishnan | Oxford University Press |
| Anthropology | Indian Anthropology | N.K. Bose | Oxford University Press |
| Psychology | Psychology | R.J. Baron | Pearson Education |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | R.L. Arora | S. Chand |
| Commerce | Business Studies | T.S. Grewal | S. Chand |
| Mathematics | NCERT Mathematics Textbooks (Class 11-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
| Physics | NCERT Physics Textbooks (Class 11-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
| Chemistry | NCERT Chemistry Textbooks (Class 11-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
| Botany | NCERT Botany Textbooks (Class 11-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
| Zoology | NCERT Zoology Textbooks (Class 11-12) | NCERT | NCERT |
Remember, this is just a guide. You may find other books that suit your learning style and preferences. The key is to choose books that are comprehensive, updated, and written in a clear and concise manner. Good luck with your preparation!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Short Answers
1. What are the best books for the OPSC OAS General Studies paper?
- Focus on NCERT textbooks for core subjects like History, Geography, Polity, and Economics.
- Supplement with standard books like M. Laxmikanth’s “Indian Polity” and Ramesh Singh’s “Indian Economy.”
- For Odisha-specific topics, refer to books by authors like K.C. Panigrahi, S.N. Rajguru, and P.K. Mishra.
2. Which optional subjects are popular for the OPSC OAS exam?
- Public Administration, Sociology, Geography, History, and Economics are popular choices.
- Choose a subject you are comfortable with and have a strong foundation in.
3. How do I prepare for the current affairs section of the OPSC OAS exam?
- Read newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express regularly.
- Refer to monthly current affairs magazines and websites.
- Stay updated on Odisha-specific news and events.
4. What are some good test series and mock tests for the OPSC OAS exam?
- Enroll in test series offered by leading coaching institutes.
- Take online mock tests available on various platforms.
5. How do I create a study plan for the OPSC OAS exam?
- Allocate sufficient time for each subject and topic.
- Prioritize subjects based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Revise regularly to reinforce your learning.
- Practice previous year papers to understand the exam pattern.
6. What are some tips for time management during the OPSC OAS exam?
- Allocate time for each section based on the marks allotted.
- Attempt easier questions first to gain confidence.
- Avoid spending too much time on any single question.
7. What are the important resources for preparing for the OPSC OAS exam?
- Books, newspapers, magazines, websites, coaching institutes, and online platforms.
8. How do I stay motivated during my OPSC OAS exam preparation?
- Set realistic goals and milestones.
- Take breaks and engage in activities you enjoy.
- Surround yourself with supportive friends and family.
9. What are the key factors to success in the OPSC OAS exam?
- Thorough preparation, consistent effort, effective time management, and a positive attitude.
10. What are some tips for writing the OPSC OAS exam?
- Write clearly and concisely.
- Use relevant examples and data.
- Structure your answers logically.
- Proofread your answers carefully.
Remember, success in the OPSC OAS exam requires dedication, hard work, and a strategic approach.