The preparation for the Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) exams requires focused study, as these exams cover specific subject areas in-depth. Both exams require candidates to have a good understanding of economics or statistics, depending on the exam stream. Below is a comprehensive and updated guide to the recommended books and study materials for preparing for the IES and ISS exams.
1. Recommended Books and Study Materials for IES (Indian Economic Service) Preparation:
The IES exam consists of both General Studies and Economics papers. Candidates need to focus on building a strong foundation in economics and stay updated with current affairs. Below are the suggested books for different subjects.
A. General Studies (Paper I)
Current Affairs:
- Manorama Yearbook – A must-have for current affairs and general knowledge.
- The Hindu / The Indian Express – Regular reading of these newspapers helps build a strong foundation in current affairs, particularly in economics and government policies.
- Economic Survey of India – Provides detailed insights into the Indian economy, including government policies, reforms, and budget highlights.
- Yojana / Kurukshetra – Monthly government magazines that provide insights into key social, economic, and developmental issues in India.
Indian Polity:
- M. Laxmikanth's "Indian Polity" – An essential book for understanding the structure, functions, and processes of the Indian government.
Indian Economy:
- Ramesh Singh’s "Indian Economy" – A highly recommended book to understand the macroeconomic framework of India, fiscal policies, planning, and development.
- Datt and Sundaram’s "Indian Economy" – Another standard book for the Indian economy, often used for in-depth knowledge on various aspects.
Geography and History:
- NCERT Books – For a basic understanding of Indian geography and history (especially for prelims).
- GC Leong’s "Certificate Physical and Human Geography" – An essential resource for geography-related questions.
B. Economics Papers (Papers II, III, and IV)
Microeconomics:
- H.L. Ahuja’s "Principles of Microeconomics" – A detailed book on microeconomic theory, offering insights into demand, supply, pricing, market structures, etc.
- M.L. Jhingan’s "Microeconomics" – Another essential book to understand the core principles and theories of microeconomics.
Macroeconomics:
- Mankiw's "Macroeconomics" – A comprehensive book for macroeconomic theory, which covers concepts like GDP, inflation, unemployment, fiscal policy, and monetary policy.
- H.L. Ahuja’s "Macroeconomics" – Another good reference for understanding macroeconomic principles.
Indian Economy:
- Datt and Sundaram's "Indian Economy" – A standard and comprehensive reference book for understanding the Indian economy.
- Uma Kapila’s "Indian Economy: Performance and Policies" – A good resource for policy analysis and economic reforms in India.
Economic Survey of India:
- Economic Survey – Published by the Ministry of Finance, it provides detailed information about India’s economic progress, policies, and challenges.
- Budget of India – Understanding the annual budget is essential as it plays a central role in policymaking.
Economic Statistics:
- R.G. Datt’s "Econometrics" – A detailed book that covers econometric techniques and statistical applications in economics.
- Gujarati's "Basic Econometrics" – A key book for econometrics, particularly for understanding statistical models and their application in economics.
Quantitative Techniques for Economics:
- S.P. Gupta’s "Statistical Methods" – A foundational book for mastering statistics used in economics.
- M. L. Jhingan's "Mathematics for Economists" – Focuses on mathematical tools essential for economic analysis.
2. Recommended Books and Study Materials for ISS (Indian Statistical Service) Preparation:
The ISS exam focuses on statistics, so candidates need to build strong foundations in various statistical methods, probability theory, and econometrics. Below are the recommended books for different subjects in the ISS exam.
A. General Studies (Paper I)
Current Affairs:
- Manorama Yearbook – As with IES, this book is essential for general knowledge and current affairs.
- The Hindu / The Indian Express – Regular reading of newspapers for current affairs.
- Economic Survey of India – Provides updates on key statistics, policies, and reports that are essential for the ISS exam.
General English:
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis – This book is useful for vocabulary and enhancing your English proficiency.
- English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin – A classic reference for grammar.
- Objective General English by SP Bakshi – Helps in practicing general English for the descriptive section.
B. Statistics Papers (Papers II, III, and IV)
Descriptive Statistics:
- V.K. Kapoor’s "Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics" – A comprehensive book for understanding the concepts of statistics.
- R.S. Bhardwaj’s "Mathematical Statistics" – A solid resource for the basics of statistics.
Probability Theory:
- T.V. Eapen’s "Probability and Statistics" – A detailed book on probability theory with real-world applications.
- S.C. Gupta’s "Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics" – Another good resource for understanding the concepts of probability and its statistical applications.
Sampling Theory:
- A.M. Mood’s "Introduction to the Theory of Statistics" – A classic text for sampling and inference theory.
- Goon, Gupta, and Dasgupta’s "An Outline of Statistical Theory" – A good book to understand the theory behind statistical estimation and inference.
Mathematical Statistics:
- K. R. Parimal’s "Mathematical Statistics" – A detailed book that covers statistical models, theory, and applications.
- Harper’s "Mathematical Statistics" – A recommended book for mastering advanced statistical concepts.
Econometrics:
- Gujarati’s "Econometrics" – A must-have book for econometrics, covering regression, hypothesis testing, and forecasting models.
- Damodar N. Gujarati’s "Basic Econometrics" – Essential for econometric analysis, particularly for quantitative data analysis.
Statistical Inference:
- Casella & Berger's "Statistical Inference" – A classic textbook for understanding statistical inference, which is a significant part of the ISS syllabus.
- Wackerly, Mendenhall & Scheaffer’s "Mathematical Statistics with Applications" – Covers both theoretical and applied statistics, particularly useful for statistical methods.
3. Online Resources and Additional Study Materials:
UPSC Websites:
- UPSC official website: Always refer to the latest syllabus and exam pattern directly from the official website.
- National Portal for Statistics: For the ISS exam, it’s helpful to refer to official statistics portals and reports published by the government.
Online Test Series:
- Vision IAS and Insights IAS: Provide a comprehensive test series for both IES and ISS exams.
- BYJU’s: Offers video lectures and study materials for economics and statistics.
- ClearIAS: Provides free resources and study plans for the IES/ISS exams.
YouTube Channels:
- Unacademy UPSC – Offers video lectures and discussions on both IES and ISS syllabus.
- Study IQ Education – Provides video lectures, tips, and tricks to understand key concepts.
Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers:
- Practicing previous year papers is essential to understanding the exam format and question patterns.
- Websites like Gradeup and Testbook provide good practice papers and mock tests for both IES and ISS exams.
4. Strategy and Study Plan:
- Time Management: Create a balanced study schedule that gives equal focus to General Studies and Core Subjects (Economics/Statistics).
- Current Affairs: Dedicate a specific time each day to stay updated with national and international current affairs.
- Revision: Regular revision of important concepts, especially statistical formulas and economic theories, is key.
- Mock Tests: Take online mock tests and solve previous year question papers to assess your preparation.
Conclusion:
For both IES and ISS exams, it is essential to follow a structured study plan with comprehensive reference books. Ensure to stay updated with current affairs, especially for General Studies, and focus on building a strong foundation in Economics for IES or Statistics for ISS. Along with standard textbooks, using online resources, test series, and practicing previous years' papers will significantly enhance your preparation.