Most Overrated and Underrated Books in UPSC Economics Optional Preparation

Walk into any UPSC library or Telegram group and you’ll see the same thing—piles of Economics books, all recommended as “must-reads.” It looks impressive at first. But, let’s be honest, can you really finish all of them? Should you even try?

The truth is simple. Some books are praised because they’ve been around forever. Others, quietly sitting in the background, actually hold the answers you need. The trick is knowing which is which.

And if you’re looking for a clean list to get started, this curated UPSC Economics Optional booklist is worth a look.

Why Picking the Right Book Is Half the Battle

Time is your scarcest resource in UPSC prep. One wrong book and you’ll lose weeks. One right book and suddenly, concepts click and revision becomes smoother.

Think about it:

• Wrong book = wasted hours, frustration.

• Right book = clearer thinking, sharper answers.

• Balanced booklist = calmer preparation.

So, let’s call out the overrated ones and shine light on the underrated gems.

The Overrated Books

These are the ones aspirants swear by, but honestly, they don’t give you the return on investment you expect.

Paul Samuelson’s Economics

Yes, it’s legendary. But UPSC is not a university research program. The book is vast, academic, and loaded with details you’ll never use. People spend months on it and still can’t write concise answers.

NCERTs (Beyond the Basics)

Good for beginners, no doubt. But if you’re revising Class 11 and 12 NCERTs again and again in your third attempt, you’re wasting time. They’re stepping stones, not the main road.

Blanchard’s Macroeconomics

Highly respected worldwide. But do you really need complex models and heavy math for UPSC? Probably not. Many spend weeks on it only to realize examiners never ask such questions.

Mishra and Puri

Once considered a standard for Indian economy. The problem is, it hasn’t aged well. Too descriptive, not contemporary enough. At best, it gives you background knowledge.

Dutt and Sundaram

Bulky, verbose, and tempting for note-making. But at the end of the day, the notes you extract don’t serve well in answers. It’s like training with weights you’ll never actually lift in the exam hall.

The Underrated Gems

These are not flashy. They’re not always recommended in forums. But if you know how to use them, they can make your preparation sharper.

Uma Kapila’s Indian Economy: Performance and Policies

Simple, updated, and exam-relevant. It connects policies with data beautifully. Perfect for adding contemporary depth to your answers.

Samuelson and Nordhaus – Foundations of Economic Analysis

People overlook it because it feels “too basic.” But that’s the strength—it explains core microeconomics concepts in a way that sticks. And clarity is exactly what you need under pressure.

Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy (Selective Reading)

Mostly known for GS, but sections on fiscal policy, growth, and banking are very useful for Optional too. Saves you time by bridging GS and Optional preparation.

Uma Datta Roy Choudhury’s Public Finance

A hidden gem. It connects taxation, deficits, and government finance with Indian context. If you want to write analytical answers in Paper II, this book is gold.

Economic Survey and Union Budget

Not books in the classic sense. But if you skip them, you’re missing out on ready-made examples and data. Just be smart—don’t read cover to cover. Pick syllabus-linked chapters.

Quick Way to Judge a Book

Still unsure if a book belongs on your table? Ask yourself:

• Does it map directly to the syllabus?

• Can I revise it at least twice before the exam?

• Will it help me frame sharper, real-world answers?

If the answer is no, it’s overrated.

Mistakes Aspirants Make (Almost Everyone Does)

• Buying too many books just to feel secure.

• Underestimating coaching notes that save time.

• Thinking one book will cover the whole syllabus.

• Ignoring current debates and sticking only to static texts.

You’ve probably done at least one of these already, right?

A Smarter Booklist Strategy

Here’s a balanced way to approach it:

• Start with a core micro and macro theory text.

• Add Uma Kapila for Indian economy.

• Use Economic Survey and Budget for examples.

• Rely on concise notes for revision.

• Keep current affairs handy.

This way you don’t drown in clutter, yet you’re always exam-ready.

A Quick Look: Overrated vs Underrated

Instead of throwing another long list at you, let’s keep it simple. Here’s what usually happens: the books everyone keeps talking about aren’t always the most useful, and the quiet ones often punch above their weight.

• Paul Samuelson’s Economics → A heavyweight classic, but way too broad for UPSC.Uma Kapila’s Indian Economy → Short, updated every year, and directly tied to policies you’ll actually write about.

• NCERTs beyond the basics → Great for building a foundation, but that’s where their role ends.Samuelson & Nordhaus → Cuts through microeconomics with clarity. Exactly what you need when the paper feels tricky.

• Blanchard’s Macroeconomics → Brilliant if you love graphs and math, but UPSC rarely demands it.Ramesh Singh (selective reading) → Helps you cover GS and Optional at the same time, saving effort.

• Mishra & Puri → Too descriptive, feels dated in today’s context.Uma Datta Roy Choudhury’s Public Finance → Hits the sweet spot for taxation and fiscal policy questions.

• Dutt & Sundaram → Heavy, bulky, and not exam-friendly.Economic Survey & Budget → The kind of real-world data that instantly makes your answers look stronger.

Final Word

Well, let’s be honest. UPSC prep isn’t about hoarding books or showing off the biggest stack. Nobody’s counting how many texts you’ve read. What matters is whether you can take what you’ve studied, connect it to India’s economic reality, and put it on paper in a way that makes sense to the examiner.

Some books will waste your time, even though they’re famous. Some will quietly become your secret weapons. The trick is to know the difference—and stick to the ones that actually help you write better answers.

So before buying or starting a new book, just pause and ask yourself: Will this genuinely improve my score? If the answer is no, save your time. Trust me, that single habit can make your journey far lighter and far smarter.