Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi
BookExcellent for grammar, vocabulary, and sentence arrangement practice.
UPSC CDS Books & Resources (2026)
Everything you need to know about the books & resources for the Combined Defence Services Examination organized by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Tackle the high competition (~0.2% (Approx. 7,000-8,000 clear written out of 3-4 Lakhs; ~400-500 final selection) success rate) and hard difficulty with these detailed insights.
Recommended Resources
Curated study materials for preparation
English
Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis
BookStandard book to drastically improve vocabulary.
The Hindu or The Indian Express
NewspaperCrucial for reading comprehension and current affairs.
General Knowledge
NCERT Books (Class 6 to 12)
BookThe absolute foundation for History, Geography, Polity, and General Science.
Lucent’s General Knowledge
BookGood for quick revision of static facts and basic sciences.
Pathfinder CDS — Arihant Experts
BookComprehensive guide containing PYQs and precise notes.
Elementary Mathematics
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
BookBest for Arithmetic and fundamental concepts.
Mathematics for CDS Entrance Examination — R.S. Aggarwal
BookSpecifically tailored for Advanced Maths (Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration).
SSB Interview
Let's Crack SSB Interview — SSBCrack
BookProvides a comprehensive overview of all 5 days of testing.
OIR Test & PPDT — SSB Interview
BookEssential for clearing Stage 1 screening.