What is the Best Study Material for HPAS Exam Preparation? (Best Books for the HAS Exam)
What is the best study material for Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services HPAS Exam preparation?, is the most commonly asked question by HAS/ HPAS aspirants. A combination of the right knowledge and dedication can help crack any exam. Similarly, to pass the HPAS exam, you need to pick a worthy mix of preparation, coaching, and the best books for the HAS exam. And we know this is one of the most confusing aspects of the exam. So, we brought you a dedicated section to help you get hands on with a worthy selection of HAS study material.
As we know, there are a plethora of books available in the market with the fake name of authors, therefore it is essential to choose the study material wisely. Here you will find a list of the most important books which can be referred to while preparing for the HPAS exam.
About HPAS Exam Pattern & Syllabus?
As you might already know, there are three stages of the HAS exam, namely the preliminary exam, main exam, and personal interview. And each stage focuses on a specific pattern and syllabus. If you are not completely aware of the same, you can read about the HAS Syllabus and pattern here. Besides, with each section covering different subjects, you can prepare for each using the best books for the HAS exam. Subjects you need books for are current affairs, geography, history, Indian polity, Indian and Himachal economy, environment and ecology, and science and technology.
HPAS HAS Study Material
The basic concepts are almost the same in every book, but what makes the difference is the application of the concepts. Studying from the relevant book is one of the crucial things for an HPAS aspirant. Therefore, to score maximum in every stage of a HAS exam, follow the below-listed books recommended by the experts for immense preparation for the HPAS Exam.
List of HPAS Books for Prelims
HAS Preparation Books–Here you will find a list of relevant books that can save your precious time and improve your preparation level. The following list of best books contains many of the basic NCERT and other additional books. Below is the list of books with an updated pattern of the examination with the detailed concept and of the examination. The list is:
Best Books for HPAS - Current Affairs Section
Current affairs play a major role in the HPAS exam, as all the other topics revolve around current affairs. The candidates need to understand that the current affairs section is the key to other subjects. The candidates need to prepare the current affairs comprehensively so they can cover the basic and the current happenings related to that topic. The current affairs can be prepared from the sources given below.
- Newspapers–The Hindu, Indian Express, One local newspaper, HP Giriraj
- Press Information Bureau (PIB) website
- IBTS Institute's Weekly/ Monthly Current Affairs.
Best Books for HPAS - Geography
Geography is a very important part of the HPAS syllabus because a good number of questions have been asked from the Geography section in the HPAS exam. It is one of the most important sections for the prelims main exam. Some of the best books for geography are as follows.
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography–G C Leong
- Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11
- Concise Geography by ALS
- Oxford School Atlas
- IBTS Institute's Study Notes & Book.
Besides the above, the candidates should also prepare notes on the Geographical features of Himachal Pradesh (from any book).
Best Books for HPAS - Indian and Himachal Economy
The economy is also one of the most important subjects in the HPAS exam. The question in the main exam is asked about the structure of the Himachal economy, the component of the Himachal economy, the revenue generation by the people of Himachal, what are the difficulties faced by the hill state, and the like. Besides the Indian Economy, the candidates need to prepare all the above and related issues.
- Indian Economic Development NCERT
- Introduction to Macroeconomics NCERT
- Himachal Government Year Book
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- Indian economy by IBTS Institute
- Niti Aayog Reports(Specific to Himachal Pradesh)
- IBTS Institute's Study Notes & Book.
Best Books for HPAS - History
The history of India comprises three sections. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History. The HPAS asked questions related to the History of Himachal Pradesh. There are lots of questions asked from Modern History, including India’s Freedom Struggle. The candidates should study the local deities of Himachal Pradesh from the local sources so they can answer the questions about the local deities. A recommended list of HPAS study material for history includes:
- Ancient History NCERT Class 11th by R.S. Sharma
- India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma
- Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
- Medieval History NCERT Class XI-XII
- NCERT XII (Modern Indian History)
- A brief history of Modern India - Spectrum
- IBTS Institute's Study Notes & Book.
Best Books for HPAS - Indian Polity
Indian polity questions in the HPAS exam are more oriented toward the state political and administrative structure and the Indian and State Government functionaries. The questions in the HPAS exam ask about the details of appointments, retirements, and eligibility for the Union Executive and State executive positions. Here are some of the best books for the HAS exam’s Polity Section.
- Constitution of India Bare Act
- Indian polity by Laxmikant
- IBTS Institute's Study Notes & Book.
- Our Parliament by Subhash Kashyap
Best Books for HPAS - Science & Technology
The candidates can cover half of this topic while preparing for the current affairs section. The HPAS exam asks questions about the latest technology and the fundamentals of General Science. This is a very dynamic topic and requires constant up-gradation from newspapers and journals. The candidates can prepare basic topics with the following books.
- Science and technology by Ashok Singh
- Newspaper columns dedicated to technology
- IBTS Institute's Study Notes & Book.
- NCERT 6th to 10th
Best Books for HPAS - Environment & Ecology
Environment and ecology topic is relatively new in the General Studies syllabus because earlier it was covered with current affairs only. The candidates need to prepare the local environmental problems of Himachal Pradesh, such as the fundamental of landslides and how they can be reduced to a minimum. The candidates should know the basic structure of the subject because this topic is relatively unstructured. The environment and ecology can be prepared from the following books.
- Environmental Studies Books of IGNOU and NOS
- Environment Book by DS Khullar
- IBTS Institute's Study Notes & Book.
- Environment and Ecology–Shankar IAS
Previous year's question papers play a key role in HPAS preparation. The candidates should analyze and practice with the previous year's question papers so that they can expect the important topic and prepare a preparation plan accordingly.
More Study Material
- NCERT BOOKS Click Here
- Any General Studies manual
- Magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, Jokta Academy current affairs magazine
Following the above study material by heart and practicing them properly will improve your concepts and surely help you gain marks in the upcoming HAS Exam. So make the most of your investment of time and money in preparing for the exam. Join the best HAS coaching institute in Chandigarh now.
