Top 7 Magazines For UPSC IAS Preparation 2024

The top 7 magazines for UPSC IAS preparation are Yojana, Kurukshetra, Economic and Political Weekly, Down to Earth, Pratiyogita Darpan, Civil Services Times and Competition Success Review.

Monthly current affairs magazines are essential for UPSC exam preparation and typically asks theoretical questions pertaining to current events. Therefore, it's critical to understand all the pertinent details and context in order to make an opinion on the news.

One must read daily newspapers as well as weekly and monthly current affairs publications, which cover every facet of current events occurring in India and around the globe, in order to gain such command or understanding.

These periodicals support students during all three exam phases, and they are easily accessible in print and digital formats.

Top 7 Magazines For UPSC IAS Preparation

A few top magazines for UPSC exam have been published by government organizations such as Yojana in Kurukshetra; others are from top coaching institutes such as Civil Services Times and Competition Success Review.

1. Yojana
2. Kurukshetra
3. Economic and Political Weekly
4. Down to Earth
5. Pratiyogita Darpan
6. Civil Services Times
7. Competition Success Review

1. Yojana

One of the finest monthly current events magazines for UPSC Exam is Yojana, as it addresses socioeconomic challenges from an Indian perspective. The government of India's I&B ministry publishes Yojana magazine monthly. 

• One or two essays are taken straight from Yojana magazine and appear in the UPSC Main essay each year.
• Essential subjects covered include budgeting, agriculture, federalism, and governance. 
• It provides a fair analysis of the advantages and disadvantages, which is crucial for preparing for the Civil Services Examination, particularly for the interview, because it is a government publication.
• Essay papers and General Studies Papers II & III benefit from the Yojana.

Available at: yojana.gov.in

Available in English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia.

Price: Free

Also Read: UPSC Mains Book List: Check Subject-Wise Books

2. Kurukshetra

The Indian government's Ministry of Rural Development publishes the monthly publication Kurukshetra. It addresses rural development issues. This Current Affairs Magazine is issued by the Publications Division, just like Yojana. 

• It functions as a platform for thoughtful discourse on the diverse matters associated with farming and rural advancement. It makes it easier for the candidate to comprehend the government's new programs. For careers in public administration, this is particularly helpful. 
• Reading Kurukshetra will benefit in both the preliminary and main exams since, in line with recent trends in the civil service exam, UPSC is emphasizing the environment and rural development, among other things.

Available at: yojana.gov.in

Available in Languages: Hindi & English 

Price: Free

Also Read: UPSC Preparation for Prelims and Mains

3. Economic and Political Weekly

A reputable and top-notch social science publication is Economic and Political Weekly, but this magazine has limited use for the UPSC exams. Their writing style is highly technical, necessitating several reads. 

• It publishes scholarly articles in the social sciences in addition to analyses of current events. 
• The Economic and Political Weekly is a multidisciplinary newspaper that covers history, political science, sociology, and environmental studies in addition to economic problems.
• Leading subject matter experts, well-known public commentators, and political activists have contributed essays to the collection.
• For disputes, this publication primarily covers the following topics: academics, researchers, policymakers, independent thinkers, non-governmental organization members, and political activists.

Available at: epw. in

Available in Languages: English

Price: INR 129

Also Read: How to Start UPSC Preparation from Zero Level?

4. Down to Earth

The topics covered in this journal are livelihood, health, the environment, and financial stability. This current affairs magazine is produced based on news and information regarding the main issues that Indian society is currently facing. 

• Since environmental topics make up the majority of the exam questions, UPSC applicants are required to consult this magazine.
• Every two weeks, Down to Earth provides students with a thorough examination of the politics surrounding development, the environment, and health. 
• This magazine for UPSC focuses on environmental awareness and issues, and the articles in this journal feature contributions from activists, well-known pundits, and leading subject area specialists.

Available at: downtoearth.org.

Available in Languages: English and Hindi

Price: INR 160

Also Read: UPSC Study Material for IAS Preparation - Complete Guide

5. Pratiyogita Darpan

Shri Mahendra Jain founded Pratiyogita Darpan in 1978, which was published by the Agra-based Upkar Prakashan; it is a popular magazine for UPSC that is extensively read and studied for exams. 

• It covers a wide range of topics, including current events, the Indian constitution, geography, history, politics, and economy.
• It topped the list of professional and education magazines in India in 2011 Q2, according to the Indian Readership Survey (IRS). 
• With an average issue readership (AIR) of 2.154 million, it was the third-largest magazine in India overall, with a total readership of 5 million.

Available at: pdgroup.in/

Available in Languages: English and Hindi

Price: INR 125

Also Read: UPSC IAS Reference Books

6. Civil Services Times

A news magazine for UPSC published by the Government of India (Ministry of IB) and registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India is The Civil Services Times.

In-depth information articles are also prepared for this UPSC Current Affairs Magazine by considering the questions from past exams. 

• Thus, as a result of all these characteristics of covering difficulties, this UPSC current affairs magazine covers all pertinent test themes, including science and technology, national and international affairs, foreign policy, and the economy.
• It also emphasizes topics like politics, sociology, economy, culture, and the environment.

Available at: civilservicestimes.com

Available in Languages: English

Price: INR 2600

Also Read: How to Crack UPSC? Essential Tips and Techniques

7. Competition Success Review

Often shortened to CSR, Competition Success Review is an Indian general knowledge magazine intended for students planning to take the Union Public Service Commission examinations. 

• General knowledge with an emphasis on current events in India, advice for college interviews, interviews with IAS high-rankers, interview and general discussion advice, and sample question papers for various competitive exams are all included in its content. 
• It was first released as a pull-out supplement in 1964.
•  This magazine's primary goal is to provide an overview of domestic and international happenings. 
• It is a constant aspect of interviews held with candidates for the civil service. It also disseminates the success tales of CSE toppers, which are helpful to aspiring candidates.

Available at: competition review.in

Available in Languages: English

Price: INR 140

Also Read: Important UPSC Essay Topics from Previous Years: Download PDF