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The Daily Insight

Which book is best for CSAT UPSC?

Author

Rachel Hernandez

Updated on March 14, 2026

You can also purchase 'A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning' book from here.
5 Best CSAT Books for IAS Prelims Exam
S. No. Book Name
1. General Studies Paper 2 2020 for Civil Services Preliminary Examination
2. Analytical Reasoning
3. Cracking the CSAT Paper-2 - Civil Services Aptitude Test

Regarding this, how can I prepare for CSAT for UPSC?

Devote time for GS Paper 2 (CSAT) so that you ensure 33% marks in the paper. Build your Paper 2 skills – particularly on fast reading and comprehension. Concentrate on Reasoning section and practice CSAT papers on a daily basis in order to clear the first stage of the exam cycle.

Beside above, does UPSC 2020 have CSAT? UPSC Notification 2020 was issued by UPSC on February 2020. UPSC itself recommended removing the CSAT (IAS Prelims GS Paper II) in December 2019 but as visible, the Department of Personnel and Training did not accept it.

Also question is, which is the best book for CSAT paper 2?

Best books for CSAT (GS Paper II):

  • CSAT Paper – 2 Manual by TMH.
  • Analytical Reasoning – M. K. Pandey.
  • Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R. S. Aggarwal.

Is CSAT removed from UPSC 2019?

Yes UPSC has recommended to the govt to remove the csat and replace it with a general studies paper. As it favours engineering students and people with good English background.

Related Question Answers

How can I pass CSAT?

Devote time for GS Paper 2 (CSAT) so that you ensure 33% marks in the paper. Build your Paper 2 skills – particularly on fast reading and comprehension. Concentrate on Reasoning section and practice CSAT papers on a daily basis in order to clear the first stage of the exam cycle.

Is CSAT difficult?

The CSAT Paper 2, like the previous year exam, has questions from the topics like Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, Data Interpretation etc. The overall difficulty level of the question paper is difficult and some questions of Maths are really difficult to crack.

Is coaching necessary for CSAT?

Should you really take CSAT Coaching? Why do you need it? You just need to qualify this test with 67+ marks out of 200. Of the 80 questions that forms the CSAT-II Paper, more than 35 are of comprehension and English test.

Can we clear IAS without coaching?

Yes, one can clear IAS exam without coaching. If you are good at self-study, you can clear UPSC CSE without any classroom coaching. ClearIAS website and ClearIAS mobile app are started just to help the bright minds in India do self-study and crack this exam!

How can I prepare for CSAT in 2 months?

TIPS TO PREPARE IAS PRELIMS EXAM IN 2 MONTHS
  1. Beginners first go through the NCERT books.
  2. Revise previous papers.
  3. Give importance to revision.
  4. Complete revision 15 days before exam date and attend practice, mock tests.
  5. Prelims paper 2 (aptitude/CSAT) need more practice tests.

How do I approach CSAT paper 2?

Take 2–3 previous year question papers and solve those papers within 2 hours as you are attending the exam. Correct your answer sheers get the total marks scored. If you fall into category A, don't worry about CSAT! you will clear it easily.

What is CSAT pattern?

CSAT Exam Pattern: CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test was introduced in 2011 to test candidates' analytical skills. It is the second paper in the UPSC Prelims. Officially, it is known as General Studies Paper – II. The CSAT exam pattern for UPSC 2020: Number of questions: 80 Objective-Type (MCQ) questions.

How can I start my IAS at home?

Follow the steps outlined below to kickstart your IAS preparation at home:
  1. Understand the UPSC pattern and procedure first.
  2. Go through the UPSC syllabus thoroughly.
  3. Start reading a few books and watch video lectures online for a few basic subjects like polity, history, geography, etc.
  4. Read the newspaper regularly.

Is 1 year sufficient for IAS preparation?

Yes, 1 year is sufficient for IAS preparation without coaching. Preparing for UPSC itself is a full time job ,during preparation you need to work hard daily at least 6-8 hours. During 1 year preparation you need to follow proper strategy to crack the exam. Divide your 1 year into 3 phases.

Which is the easiest optional subject for IAS?

Easiest Optional Subject for UPSC Exams: The judgment of choosing the easiest/best optional subject for UPSC is a deep-rooted position for civil service candidates.

Answer:

  • Sociology.
  • Agriculture.
  • Medical Science.
  • Literature Subject (Any)
  • Anthropology.
  • Public Administration.
  • Psychology.
  • Law.

What is the qualifying marks for CSAT paper?

CSAT (Paper II) Syllabus Marking Scheme: Total 80 questions have 200 marks, thus each question is of 2.5 marks. There is a negative marking of 33% or 0.83 marks. A candidate needs to score a minimum of 33% in the CSAT Paper to qualify the UPSC Prelims Exam.

Is Upsc removing CSAT?

UPSC itself recommended removing the CSAT (IAS Prelims GS Paper II) in December 2019 but as visible, the Department of Personnel and Training did not accept it. The number of vacancies notified in UPSC notification 2020 is 796.

What is CSAT full form?

CSAT may refer to: Civil Services Aptitude Test, a compulsory part of Civil Services Examination, that act as a screening test to Civil Services Main examination Conducted annually by Union Public Service Commission of India. It is also known as Civil Services Preliminary Examination.

How can I apply for CSAT exam?

  1. Eligibility for IAS is one of the first questions which comes in mind of IAS aspirants.
  2. Candidates can fill the IAS application form online within the stipulated period of time.
  3. Available IAS exam centres are notified in the UPSC CSAT notification each year.

What is GS Paper 2 in UPSC?

Structure of Mains General Studies Paper-II for IAS The question paper is divided into two sections: Section-A having ten questions worth 10 Marks each and, Section-B having ten questions worth 15 marks each. The word limit for 10 marks questions is 150 and for 15 marks is 250.

What should I do if I fail Upsc?

There are lot of opportunities for people who fail to clear UPSC (IAS) examination ( in spite of preparing well): 1) Since you have already prepared well, you can think of a second chance (if you can afford to invest another year or two). 2) You can join a relevant master's degree, and get going.

Is optional removed from UPSC 2021?

New UPSC pattern mains optionals will be removed. Question: In the new mains pattern they are planning to remove all optionals and replace them by subjects like LAW,ECONOMY,PUB AD etc which will be compulsory for all .

What should I study for CSAT?

UPSC CSAT Syllabus
  • Comprehension.
  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
  • Decision-making and problem-solving.
  • General mental ability.
  • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (

How many vacancies are there in UPSC 2020?

UPSC has notified 796 vacancies in the official UPSC Notification 2020. The number of vacancies includes 24 vacancies for the Persons with Benchmark Disability Category. UPSC vacancy varies with the requirement raised by different ministries.

Is Upsc going to reduce the age limit in 2020?

Currently, the upper age limit remains 32 years for candidates belonging to general category. For candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes category, the upper age limit to appear for the exam remains 37 years. UPSC Prelims 2020 Test Series - Register Now!

Can I crack UPSC while working?

IAS Exam is a tough nut to crack and it becomes even tougher if you are trying to do it while being a full-time working professional. When other IAS aspirants are devoting around 18 hours per day for UPSC civil services preparation, you are only able to manage 3-4 hours that too not consistently.

What is CSAT paper in UPSC?

CSAT. CSAT stands for Civil Services Aptitude Test. It is a part of the UPSC Prelims (Civil Services Exam – Preliminary). However, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) refers to the exam as General Studies (GS) Paper – II.

How can I prepare for UPSC 2020?

How to prepare for IAS exam?
  1. Tip #1: Prepare Yourself.
  2. Tip #2: Make a Time Table.
  3. Tip #3: Know the UPSC Syllabus.
  4. Tip #4: Newspaper Reading/Current Affairs for IAS.
  5. Tip #5: Choosing Optional.
  6. Tip #6: NCERTs.
  7. Tip #7: Making Notes.
  8. Tip #8: Answer Writing Practice.

What is the cutoff of UPSC Prelims 2019?

The UPSC Prelims 2019 was conducted on June 2, 2019, and the expected UPSC Prelims cutoff score should be in the range of 95-100 for general category. Only those candidates who score above the UPSC Prelims cutoff will qualify for the Mains stage of the exam.