5 Things Every IAS Aspirant Should Know About the India Year Book (IYB)

UPSC aspirants should know how to effectively read the India Year Book which is important for IAS Exam. However, the India Year Book is undoubtedly a bulky book that aspirants either cannot ignore or spend more time with.

This article will introduce the IAS candidates to India Year Book, and in the latter part, important chapters of this book will be provided.

To complement your preparation for the upcoming exam, check the following links:

1.Introduction to India Year Book

What is the India Year Book?

India Year Book (IYB) is an annual book that has ministry-wise or department-wise chapters, and it’s a compilation of information that is available on the relevant ministry websites. The book comprises 32 chapters, which is mentioned below.

Who publishes the India Year Book?

The India Year Book is issued by the publication division, which is a media unit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

Why is the India Year Book important for UPSC Preparation?

For UPSC aspirants, this book comes handy for current affairs preparation of civil services exam. Aspirants are required to concentrate on current events of the previous year till the main examination of the current year (e.g. if a candidate appears for UPSC 2023 Exam then he/she has to start preparing for current affairs from June 2022 to December 2023. (The prelims 2023 is on 28th May 2023 and mains in September 2023).

This book is the one source that covers all the information needed regarding various programs and policies launched by the government, which is very helpful for civil services exam for both prelims and mains while writing descriptive answers.

2. Chapters of India Year Book Aspirants Must Read

If one analyses the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam previous years question papers then it can be seen that roughly around 10-15 questions are asked from this book, and those are majorly related to schemes and policies initiated by the government.

The table gives the chapters, one will find in India Year Book:

Chapters in India Year Book
Chapters Topics
Chapter 1 Land and the People
Chapter 2 National Symbols
Chapter 3 Polity
Chapter 4 Agriculture
Chapter 5 Culture and Tourism
Chapter 6 Basic Economic Data
Chapter 7 Commerce
Chapter 8 Communications and Information Technology
Chapter 9 Defence
Chapter 10 Education
Chapter 11 Energy
Chapter 12 Environment
Chapter 13 Finance
Chapter 14 Corporate Affairs
Chapter 15 Food and Civil Supplies
Chapter 16 Health and Family Welfare
Chapter 17 Housing
Chapter 18 India and the World
Chapter 19 Industry
Chapter 20 Law and Justice
Chapter 21 Labour, Skill Development and Employment
Chapter 22 Mass Communication
Chapter 23 Planning
Chapter 24 Rural and Urban Development
Chapter 25 Scientific and Technological Developments
Chapter 26 Transport
Chapter 27 Water Resources
Chapter 28 Welfare
Chapter 29 Youth Affairs and Sports
Chapter 30 States and Union Territories
Chapter 31 Diary of National Events
Chapter 32 General Information

3. How to read the India Year Book for UPSC?

Especially for beginners who are first time reading this book for IAS Preparation, here are a few tips on how to read India Year Book for IAS exam:

  1. Read directly from the book other than going to different sources where the gist of IYB is provided.
  2. Important chapters of India Year Book should be carefully read as there can be questions asked from such chapters. The example given is a question asked in the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2016. Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’ that was in the news recently?
    • amphibious warfare ship
    • nuclear -powered submarine
    • torpedo launch and recovery vessel
    • nuclear – powered aircraft carrier
  3. The list of important chapters provided below should be followed, and notes from each should be made separately to revise them periodically.
  4. Visit the ministry websites whenever any such topic is read to substantiate it with updated information

4. Important Chapters in India Year Book for UPSC

India Year Book – Important Chapters to Read
First Priority Second Priority Third Priority
Land and the People Commerce Corporate Affairs
National Symbols Communications and Information Technology Food and Civil Supplies
Polity (Recommended to focus more on Laxmikanth) Finance Housing
Agriculture Industry Labour

 

Culture and Tourism Justice and Law Mass Communication
Basic Economic Data (Recommended to focus more on Economic Survey) Transport
Defence Water Resources
Education Diary of National Events

 

Energy General Information
Environment
Health and Family Welfare
India and the World
Planning
Rural and Urban Development

 

Scientific and Technological Developments
Welfare
Youth Affairs and Sports
States and Union Territories

5. General Doubts related to India Year Book for UPSC

IAS aspirants frequently doubt on the cost-benefit ratio while reading this book and hence generate even more doubts. Some doubts are being cleared in the points below:

Is India Year Book important for UPSC Yes, if the trend of the UPSC prelims is analysed, it is suggested to read a few important chapters of this book
Which India Year Book is best for UPSC? Candidates can read the revised editions of India Year Book
In which month is India Year Book published? Publication division generally releases annual edition of their book during March

These are just a few tips to approach on how to read the India Year Book for UPSC Civil Services Exam Preparation. Hope, this would help the aspirants in their IAS Exam Preparation.

Every year this year book is released and candidates preparing for the upcoming examination must review the India Year Book 2022 and 2023 for further preparation.

You can refer to the important articles linked in the table below:

Top 5 Magazines for UPSC Union Budget 2021 IPS Ranks & Salary Gist of Yojana
ARC Reports for UPSC Updated List of Cabinet Ministers of India International Organisation Reports Gist of Kurukshetra

Frequently Asked Questions on India Year Book

Q1

Q 1. Which is the best India Year Book for UPSC preparation?

Ans. The Manorama Year Book is the best for candidates preparing for the upcoming civil services exam.
Q2

Q 2. How to effectively use India Year Book for UPSC civil services exam?

Ans. The India Year Book is a comprehensive digest of the country’s progress in various aspects. This will boost up a candidates knowledge of the latest schemes, policies, initiatives taken by the government of the country. Candidates must make proper notes out of it and thoroughly go through the progressive developments made by various Ministries.
Q3

Q 3. Which department is responsible to publish India Year Book?

Ans. Publications Division and the New Media Wing of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting publishes the India Year Book.
Q4

Q 4. Can someone prepare the India Year Book in 1 month?

Ans. It is completely on the strategy of candidates that can make completing the entire yearbook in 30 days possible. However, it is recommended that candidates must go through the details subject-wise or chapter-wise, make proper notes and strategically go through the India Year Book so that no part is avoided.

Related Links:

Language Papers in UPSC – Tips to Study IAS Toppers Marks Subject Wise
IAS Topper UPSC Calendar 2023
UPSC Admit Card UPSC Prelims
Difference Between Articles Success Rate for Optional Subjects in UPSC

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