Note: This list is a curated exam-focused set of books repeatedly asked in UPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking and State PSC papers. Themes are kept short for quick revision.
Arthashastra
Writer: Kautilya (Chanakya)
Theme: Statecraft, economics, governance and diplomacy.
Indian ClassicAbhijnana Shakuntalam
Writer: Kalidasa
Theme: Classical Sanskrit drama, love and ethics.
Indian LiteratureGitanjali
Writer: Rabindranath Tagore
Theme: Spiritual poetry and inner dialogue with the divine.
Nobel-linkedAnandamath
Writer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Theme: Nationalism; source context of "Vande Mataram".
National MovementThe Discovery of India
Writer: Jawaharlal Nehru
Theme: Indian civilizational history, culture and political evolution.
Modern IndiaGlimpses of World History
Writer: Jawaharlal Nehru
Theme: World history through letters and comparative perspective.
World HistoryMy Experiments with Truth
Writer: Mahatma Gandhi
Theme: Autobiography centered on truth, ethics and non-violence.
AutobiographyHind Swaraj
Writer: Mahatma Gandhi
Theme: Swaraj, critique of modern civilization and self-rule ideas.
Political ThoughtIndia Wins Freedom
Writer: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Theme: Political memoir of the Indian freedom struggle.
Freedom StruggleUnhappy India
Writer: Lala Lajpat Rai
Theme: Critique of colonial attitudes and policies.
Nationalist TextThe Indian War of Independence
Writer: V.D. Savarkar
Theme: Nationalist interpretation of the Revolt of 1857.
1857Poverty and Un-British Rule in India
Writer: Dadabhai Naoroji
Theme: Drain of Wealth theory and colonial economic exploitation.
EconomyGita Rahasya
Writer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Theme: Karma Yoga and interpretation of the Gita.
PhilosophyWhy I am an Atheist
Writer: Bhagat Singh
Theme: Rationalism and revolutionary introspection.
Revolutionary WritingsAnnihilation of Caste
Writer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Theme: Social justice, anti-caste critique and equality.
Social ReformThe Buddha and His Dhamma
Writer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Theme: Modern interpretation of Buddhist thought and ethics.
Religion & SocietyAin-i-Akbari
Writer: Abul Fazl
Theme: Administration, revenue and society under Akbar.
Medieval IndiaBaburnama
Writer: Babur
Theme: Memoir covering early Mughal politics, campaigns and geography.
MemoirRajatarangini
Writer: Kalhana
Theme: Historical chronicle of Kashmir rulers.
Ancient/Medieval SourceIndica
Writer: Megasthenes
Theme: Greek account of Mauryan India.
Ancient SourceThe Argumentative Indian
Writer: Amartya Sen
Theme: India's plural intellectual tradition and public reasoning.
ContemporaryWings of Fire
Writer: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (with Arun Tiwari)
Theme: Inspirational autobiography of science and nation-building.
BiographyIgnited Minds
Writer: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Theme: Youth power, innovation and vision for developed India.
MotivationalTrain to Pakistan
Writer: Khushwant Singh
Theme: Partition violence and human tragedy.
Partition LiteratureMidnight's Children
Writer: Salman Rushdie
Theme: Post-independence India through magical realism.
Post-IndependenceThe God of Small Things
Writer: Arundhati Roy
Theme: Family, society, class and identity.
Booker-linkedGeet Govinda
Writer: Jayadeva
Theme: Devotional lyrical poetry of Radha-Krishna.
Bhakti LiteratureWar and Peace
Writer: Leo Tolstoy
Theme: War, society and moral philosophy in Russia.
World ClassicThe Communist Manifesto
Writers: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Theme: Class struggle and foundations of communist thought.
Political TheoryOrigin of Species
Writer: Charles Darwin
Theme: Evolution by natural selection; major science-GK reference.
Science Classic