TACKLING GENERAL STUDIES...

Being given equal weightage to general studies in mains, as is with optional's, it is crucial to pay adequate attention to it, though even after investing much time, effort and energy, the surety of return is very minimal,(this teaching i learned this year)...but we have to tackle it...

following is the suggestive list for general studies reference, though there is no comprehensive or exhaustive list which can give you confidence to solve whole 600 marks paper...

1. HISTORY-  

• ANCIENT-NCERT'S BOOK (preferably older version)
• MEDIEVAL-NCERT'S BOOK 
• MODERN- Spectrum's history, or TMH's GS manual's india's freedom struggle's section. if have time, then it is advised to go through Bipin Chandra's india's struggle for independence . it will help to get a overall picture of that phase.(chapterisation of book is very good). or IGNOU's modern india (6 booklets). 

1. GEOGRAPHY-

• Physical geography- NCERT
• Indian geography-    NCERT
• People and economy-NCERT

1. ART AND CULTURE- 

• WIZARD'S or SPECTRUM's art and culture.

1. POLITY-

• INDIAN POLITY by LAXMIKANT (TMH)...this is sufficient.

1. ECONOMICS-

• DUTT AND SUNDARAM - indian economy (reading whole book is advisable), if in shortage of time, can go through last 2 units.
• basic economics books of NCERT. (micro, macro, indian eco. devp.)
• economic and buisness section of newspaper.
• ECONOMIC SURVEY, (SELECTED CHAPTER'S)

1. SC. AND TECH.- basic NCERT  for concepts and current by newspaper and magazines.
2. INDIA YEAR BOOK (i&b ministry)
3. YOJANA
4. C.S. CHRONICLE or GHATNA-CHAKRA(for  hindi medium)
5. websites of various GoI ministries.(MoEF,MoF,DoST,PC)
6. pib.nic.in (home page, backgrounders and features) PIB
7. IDSA   for IR and strategic issues
8. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
9. STATISTICS- SPECTRUM'S
10. Economic and political weekly (imp. if managable)
11. newspaper- THE HINDU/INDIAN EXPRESS (any 1 is must).(complete coverage of all sections)

.....So keep eyes and ears and mind open and vroooom......