Best Books to Crack SSC, Banking, and Railway Exams in 2025-2026-2026-2026 – Complete Guide with Publisher Recommendations

Every year, millions of aspirants appear for SSC, Banking, and Railway recruitment exams in India. These competitive exams are the gateway to some of the most secure and prestigious government jobs. With increasing competition in 2025-2026-2026, choosing the right preparation books can make the difference between selection and rejection.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most trusted books for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, RRB NTPC, and RRB Group D exams. We’ll also recommend titles from Ashirwad Publication’s trusted publishers such as Arihant Publications, Kiran Prakashan, Lucent Publication, Rakesh Yadav Publication, Disha Publication, Crown Publication, and others.

Why Choosing the Right Book Matters for SSC, Banking & Railway Exams

• Syllabus Alignment – Good books strictly follow the official syllabus and exam pattern.
• Concept Clarity – Books with detailed explanations help build strong fundamentals.
• Practice Quality – High-quality practice questions mirror the real exam difficulty.
• Previous Year Papers – Books with authentic solved papers give you an edge.
• Language Preference – Whether in Hindi or English, choosing the right language boosts confidence.

The wrong choice of study material can lead to wasted time and poor preparation. Many aspirants make the mistake of referring to too many books at once. Instead, focus on 2–3 standard books per subject and revise them multiple times.

1. Best Books for SSC Exams (CGL, CHSL, CPO, MTS)

a) Quantitative Aptitude

• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand Publication)
• Advance Maths – Rakesh Yadav (Rakesh Yadav Publication)
• SSC Mathematics 7300+ Objective Questions – Kiran Prakashan

b) English Language

• Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publication)
• Plinth to Paramount – Neetu Singh (KD Publication)

c) General Awareness

• Lucent’s General Knowledge – Lucent Publication
• Manorama Year Book – (Malayala Manorama)
• Disha GK Capsule – Disha Publication

d) Reasoning Ability

• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand Publication)
• SSC Reasoning Chapterwise Solved Papers – Kiran Prakashan

2. Best Books for Banking Exams (IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO, RBI Assistant)

a) Quantitative Aptitude

• Fast Track Objective Arithmetic – Rajesh Verma (Arihant Publication)
• Data Interpretation & Analysis – Arun Sharma

b) Reasoning Ability

• A New Approach to Reasoning – B.S. Sijwali & Indu Sijwali (Arihant Publication)
• Puzzle Mania – Kiran Prakashan

c) English Language

• Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publication)
• Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis

d) Banking Awareness

• Banking Awareness – Arihant Publication
• Economic & Banking Awareness – Kiran Prakashan

3. Best Books for Railway Exams (RRB NTPC, Group D, ALP)

a) Mathematics

• Quickest Mathematics – Kiran Prakashan
• Railway Mathematics Solved Papers – Arihant Publication

b) General Awareness

• Lucent’s General Knowledge – Lucent Publication
• Railway GK – Crown Publication

c) General Science

• General Science for Railway Exams – Lucent Publication
• Science Capsule – Disha Publication

Publisher-Wise Recommendations for 2025-2026-2026

1. Follow a fixed timetable – Allocate time for all sections daily.
2. Mix learning and practice – Read theory, then solve related questions.
3. Revise regularly – Short daily revisions boost retention.
4. Use mock tests – Simulate real exam pressure.
5. Analyze mistakes – Learn from every incorrect answer.
6. Prioritize strong publishers – Stick to books from reputed publishers listed here.
7. Track syllabus completion – Mark off topics as you finish them to avoid last-minute stress.

Your book choice will define your preparation quality. By choosing trusted names like Arihant, Kiran, Lucent, Rakesh Yadav, and Disha Publication, you ensure your preparation stays on the right track. Combine these with regular mock tests, previous year paper practice, and revision — and your chances of cracking SSC, Banking, or Railway exams in 2025-2026-2026 will multiply. Remember, consistency and smart study matter more than the number of hours you put in.