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Best Books for XAT 2025 General Knowledge Preparation – Top Resources to Ace GK Section

Best Books for XAT 2025 General Knowledge Preparation – Top Resources to Ace GK Section

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Nov 04, 2024 12:19 PM IST | #XAT

As you prepare for the XAT exam, you should know about the best books available for the subject. Having detailed knowledge about the best books for the XAT exam General Knowledge is very important. In this article, we have analyzed all the top books and their benefits.

Best Books for XAT General Knowledge Preparation 2025

As we know the XAT General Knowledge syllabus consists of diverse topics and is very vast, choosing the correct books during XAT preparation is an absolute necessity. A strategic approach to subjective and objective types of XAT General Knowledge books will result in a good score in this section. In this article, we will discuss XAT 2025 GK preparation books in depth and answer some of the questions students ask about this topic like:

  • What are the best books for XAT GK?

  • Which books cover the overall XAT General Knowledge syllabus?

  • Why is choosing the correct XAT exam GK resources necessary?

Why Choosing the Right Books for XAT GK is Important

Choosing the right XAT preparation books for XAT GK preparation is necessary for many reasons.

Exam-specific insight: The right GK books will provide the latest XAT exam pattern, previous year's papers, and detailed syllabus of XAT.

Book structure: The structure of the books is very important. The right type of books often offers a well-organized approach, starting from basic static GK chapters like history, science, and geography to advanced chapters like polity, and economics.

Current affairs coverage: Top books for XAT GK section also cover recent important current events which will be very helpful for students.

Quality practice sets: Best books include quality practice sets along with questions from the previous year.

Top Recommended Books for XAT 2025 GK Section

Some of the top recommended books for XAT 2025 GK section are:

  1. Lucent’s GK book

  2. Arihant’s GK book

  3. Manorama Yearbook

  4. Banking & Economy Awareness by Disha Experts

  5. Pearson General Knowledge Manual

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How the Right Books Can Improve Your XAT GK Scores

Right GK books can improve your scores in many ways.

  • Equip you with relevant knowledge and boost your confidence for the actual exam.

  • Keep you up to date with the most important and relevant content in a single place to save your time.

  • Provide exercises, previous year's XAT sample papers, and XAT mock tests which are key for revision.

  • Offer exam-specific tips, relevant information, and questions that will be helpful in the XAT exam, giving you a better idea of what to expect.

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Top Books for XAT General Knowledge Section

The right XAT Books are a necessity for achieving high marks in the XAT exam.

XAT 2025 General Knowledge Books: Overview of Best Titles

Here are the names of some of the top GK books for the XAT 2025 exam.

Lucent's General Knowledge:

Key features of this book are:

  • Covers a wide range of static GK topics like history, geography, polity, science and economics.

  • The contents are well structured.

  • Information is shared concisely.

  • Gradually increase the difficulty level of the topics.

  • Affordable for every student.

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Arihant’s General Knowledge:

Key features of this book are:

  • Covers static GK and current affairs combinedly.

  • Annually updated to include recent developments and current affairs.

  • Includes practice questions after each topic.

  • All the information is well organized.

Banking Awareness by Disha:

Key features of this book are:

  • Focus on banking sectors, financial systems, and monetary policies.

  • Covers the latest information on government schemes, bank mergers and new regulations.

  • Contains practice questions.

Manorama Yearbook:

Key features of this book are:

  • Covers the latest national and international events comprehensively.

  • Provides data, charts, and tables to present facts understandably.

  • Published annually

Competition Success Review:

Key features of this book are:

  • Published monthly.

  • Provides detailed coverage of national and international news, government schemes, summits, appointments and economic developments.

  • Includes quiz sections and practice sets at the end.

  • Provides exam-related articles, tips and strategies for exams like XAT, CAT, UPSC and banking exams.

  • Affordable for students every month.

Comparison of Top XAT GK Books in the Market

This is a comparison of all the top books in the market and their strengths.

Book title

Topic

Strengths

Ideal for

Lucent's General Knowledge

Static GK

Structured manner, easy language and covers important points

Building basic concepts and revision

Arihant’s General Knowledge

Static GK + Current affairs+ Practice questions

Balanced coverage of both static GK and current affairs. Offers practice sets.

All in one book and good for practice

Banking Awareness by Disha

Business and Economy

Detailed coverage of banking sectors and economic policies.

Business-oriented students preparing for XAT

Manorama Yearbook

Current affairs

Comprehensive coverage of current events of a year

Detailed knowledge about important events of the past 1 year

Competition Success Review

Current Affairs mainly + Static Gk

Monthly updates and GK quizzes

Staying up to date monthly.

Expert Recommendations for XAT GK Books 2025

These are the top XAT General Knowledge books that experts suggest.

Static GK

Current Affairs

  1. Lucent’s General Knowledge

  2. Pearson General Knowledge Manual

  1. Manorama Yearbook

Newspapers like:

  1. The Hindu

  2. Economic Times

  3. The Indian Express

Magazines like:

  1. Business Line

  2. Business Today

  3. Management Compass Journals

  4. Competition Success Review

Books for Current Affairs and Dynamic GK for XAT 2025

Manorama yearbook is very useful for Current Affairs.

Other than that, here are the names of some magazines.

  1. Competition Success Review

  2. Business Line

  3. Business Today

  4. Management Compass Journals

The daily newspaper also helps us to stay updated about recent events. These are the names of some newspapers that can be useful for current affairs.

  1. The Hindu

  2. Economic Times

  3. The Indian Express

XAT 2025 General Knowledge Syllabus and Key Topics

Detailed knowledge of the syllabus and key topics is essential for any exam preparation.

Understanding the XAT General Knowledge Syllabus

Here is a detailed list of the topics covered in General Knowledge.

Static GK

History

Economics

Geography

Sports

Science & Technology

Important Organizations and their headquarters

Politics

Important books and authors

Important national awards and winners



Current Affairs

Recent national and international events

Recent deaths of famous personalities

Recent scientific breakthroughs

Recent awards and winners

Recent published important books

New applications and schemes

Recent sports events

Recent Summits and Conferences

Important GK Topics to Cover for XAT 2025

Important topics in the GK section for the XAT 2025 exam are:

  • Current affairs

  • Business

  • Politics

  • Economics

  • Indian Constitution and laws

  • Books and authors

  • Famous personalities

  • History and Geography

  • Awards and Winners

How to Align Books with the XAT GK Syllabus

Aligning the right XAT GK study materials with the XAT GK Syllabus is very essential for effective preparation. There are many ways to efficiently do it.

Understand the syllabus: Before choosing books, it is important to understand the full syllabus of the XAT exam. There are static GK chapters like history, geography, polity, economy, and science in the syllabus.

Choose the right book:

  • Choose a book where these chapters are explained thoroughly and study them to build your base.

  • The book should also contain the past 6-12 months' important current events.

  • Also, there should be an ideal amount of exercises and mock test sets in the book for adequate practice.

Study plan: After choosing the right books, create a XAT study plan and divide your syllabus into that plan so that you can cover every chapter.

Mock tests: To fully align your preparation with the XAT GK syllabus, practice 3-4 mock tests every week to evaluate your progression.

XAT 2025 General Knowledge Preparation Strategy

A detailed preparation strategy for the XAT General Knowledge section is mentioned below.

How to Use Books Effectively for XAT GK Section

Random reading of books will not help students during XAT 2025 General Knowledge preparation.

Here are some ways to use books effectively in preparation.

  • Build basic concepts from the NCERT textbooks of various subjects like history, geography, Indian polity, science and economics.

  • Rely on daily newspapers and the Manorama yearbook for current affairs.

  • Practice from objective-type books and increase your knowledge about these chapters.

  • Frequent revision is very important for the GK section. Spend 1-1.5 hours every weekend to revise the topics you read during the weekdays.

  • Only some chapters from the book are equally important. Understand the trends from the previous year's sample papers and focus more on those topics.

  • Study various books in the GK section to gain more knowledge about important topics.

  • Read business and economy-related questions more as these questions frequently appear in the XAT exam.

Developing a Structured XAT GK Preparation Plan

Here is a structured study plan for 1 month. Students can change as per their preferences.


Weekdays

Weekends

Week 1

History and Indian Polity

National politics and economics

Topic-wise tests and revision of important points

Week 2

Geography and the Indian economy

Business news financial policies

Full-length Mock tests

Week 3

Science and technology

Sports, awards, international treaties, summits

Topic-wise tests and revision of important points

Week 4

Revision of the whole static GK

Revision of the whole month's current affairs

Full-length Mock tests

Balancing Between Static GK and Current Affairs for XAT 2025

After analyzing the previous year's questions, we see the trend that more questions come from the Static GK section than from Current Affairs. But to achieve good marks in the exam, we have to give the same focus on both sections.

Static GK refers to the sections which can not be changed and happened in the past. Current affairs cover the recent important national and international events and developments. Generally, questions from this section come from events that happened in the last 1 or 2 years. So prepare accordingly to get familiar with the topics and questions.

General Knowledge Books to Cover Static GK for XAT Exam

Selecting the right book which covers all the static GK chapters that are in the XAT 2025 syllabus is very important.

Recommended Books for Static GK Preparation

These are the names of the top books which will be helpful for static GK preparation.

  1. Lucent’s General Knowledge

  2. General Knowledge by Arihant

  3. General Knowledge 2024 by Disha Experts

  4. General Knowledge by Tarun Goyal

Key Topics Covered in Static GK for XAT 2025

Static GK parts cover topics like:

  • History

  • Geography

  • Polity

  • Economics

  • Science and technology

  • Sports

  • Important Organizations

  • Books and Authors

  • Awards and Winners

How to Maximize Your Score with Static GK Books

Here are some ways to maximize your score with static GK books.

Understand important topics: Review the past year's sample papers to identify important chapters that are frequently tested in the XAT exam.

Divide your study time: The next step is to make a timetable incorporating those chapters. This should give you ample time to prepare for the exam. Give extra focus to those high-weightage topics like history, polity and geography.

Use various techniques to revise: After reading a chapter, try to write important points without watching the book and recheck them after writing. Use flashcards to point out important points. You can also use mind mapping or diagrams for history and geography to remember them better.

Regular revision: Regular revision plays a dividend role in the preparation process. Revise all the chapters from time to time for effective preparation.

Linking static GK to current affairs: Many static GK questions are based on current events. So when you read some important news about any country or topic, cover all the relevant static GK points about that country and topic.

Best Current Affairs Books for XAT 2025 GK Section

Current affairs knowledge is also very important to score high in the XAT 2025 GK section.

How Current Affairs Play a Vital Role in XAT GK

Current affairs also hold significant weightage in the XAT GK section. Current affairs tests your knowledge about recent events all over the world.

Here are other reasons why current affairs matter.

  • Current affairs questions generally cover the past 6-12 months and cover important topics such as major political developments, global economic changes, government schemes and reforms, awards, summits, and sports.

  • It is also a scoring section as the questions are straightforward and if you give enough attention to important events of recent times, you can score high in this section.

  • Unlike static GK, current affairs are ever-changeable. So staying updated is the only option to ace this section.

Top Books for Mastering Current Affairs for XAT 2025

The below-mentioned books are very helpful for mastering current affairs.

  1. Manorama Yearbook

  2. Competition Success Review (CSR)

  3. Pratiyogita Darpan

  4. General Knowledge 2024 by Disha Experts

  5. The Hindu Review (Monthly Compilation)

Resources for Monthly Current Affairs Preparation

These are some renowned websites that can help you to stay updated.

  1. GKToday

  2. AffairsCloud

  3. Bankers Adda

  4. Jagran Josh

XAT Exam General Knowledge Books for Beginners

Beginners face the toughness of the XAT GK section firsthand and need help from some of the top study materials and books to get a good grasp on the GK section.

Best Beginner-Friendly Books for XAT GK

Here are the names of some books which will help beginners to learn the basics of the GK section

  1. Lucent’s General Knowledge

  2. Manorama Yearbook

  3. General Knowledge by Arihant

How to Start Your XAT GK Preparation with the Right Books

Due to the vast syllabus of the General knowledge section in XAT, the preparation for this section is often overwhelming for students.

Here is a systematic approach which students can follow to score high in this section.

Start with Static GK: Static GK information doesn't change with time such as history, geography, and the constitution. Study these subjects for the first 2-3 weeks.

Incorporate current affairs: After an initial 2-3 weeks, use resources like the Manorama yearbook and daily newspapers to read current events.

Note down important information: from the beginning of the preparation, if any information seems important, note it in flashcards or notebooks to revise in the future. Use the same approach with current affairs.

Quiz and exercises: Many objective-type GK books provide quiz and practice exercises. Use them to test your knowledge as you progress.

Step-by-Step Approach for Beginners in XAT GK Section

Beginners should approach the XAT GK section strategically.

Here is a step-by-step approach for beginners to handle the XAT GK section.

Get accustomed to the syllabus: Review XAT notification and previous year's papers thoroughly. Understand important static GK topics and current affairs trends.

Pick a decent book: Choose a decent subjective book that covers all the topics and builds the basics from them. Start with some relatively easier topics like history and geography.

Start reading newspapers: Read daily newspapers to stay updated with the latest events around the world.

Increase difficulty: After some time, gradually increase the difficulty level of the topics. Start reading politics and economics.

Attempt mock tests: After clearing the basics, start attempting mock tests and track your progression.

Revision and review: Start revising all the chapters frequently. Revise all the current affairs of the week at the weekends.

Additional Resources to Boost XAT General Knowledge Scores

Students should also have an idea about other important resources other than traditional books and newspapers and take help from those resources when needed.

Beyond Books: Using News Apps and Journals for XAT GK

Newspapers help us to stay updated to date with current events. At Least spend 30 to 45 minutes every day reading major news articles like:

  • National and International politics

  • Recent economic development

  • Business related articles

  • Science and technology

  • Environmental issues

Nowadays various news applications post important articles which we can easily read from our mobile phones.

Apps which post important news are:

  • The Hindu

  • BBC News

This will also save us time and we can read from these applications anytime anywhere.

How to Incorporate Newspapers and Magazines in Your XAT GK Prep

Newspapers and Magazines offer in-depth coverage and analysis of important topics in the XAT GK section.

Use of Newspapers: Read newspapers like The Hindu, Economics Times, and The Indian Express every day and focus on editorials, opinion pieces and key news articles.

Use of Magazines: Magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan, Competition Success Review and Frontline cover important events all around the world every month. These magazines also highlight the relevant information for competitive exams.

Leveraging Podcasts and Videos to Enhance GK for XAT

Students often get bored reading from books and magazines. Visual representation is also a good way to prepare for the exam. Students can listen to podcasts and learn from the discussions on politics, economics, and national & global issues by the experts.

Some of the top podcasts are:

  • All Things Policy by Takshashila

  • The Daily by The New York Times

  • BBC Global News Podcast

  • Mint Business Podcasts

Several YouTube channels also discuss current affairs and important static GK questions which are important to this year's XAT exam.

The names of these YouTube channels are:

  • Study IQ

  • Drishti IAS

  • The Print and The Wire

Importance of Revising GK Books Before XAT 2025

Revision is the key to success in the GK section as the syllabus is enormous and students have to revise important topics from time to time to remember them clearly. If you do not revise the GK portion, you will not be able to remember it for a long duration.

How to Create an Effective Revision Plan for XAT GK

For the first 1-2 months during preparation, build your base around all the chapters and collect as much important information as you can. Note or highlight important information so that when you revise, you can identify them quickly.

Here is a timetable after those initial 1-2 months, to revise all the chapters efficiently. You can make necessary changes according to your preparation.


Subjects to be revised

Monday

History

Tuesday

Geography

Wednesday

Indian Polity

Thursday

Economics and Business

Friday

Science and technology

Saturday

Miscellaneous topics

Sunday

Full-length mock test

Books and Notes for Quick Revision Before XAT 2025

For quick revision of static GK, these books are helpful.

  1. Lucent’s General Knowledge

  2. Manorama Yearbook

  3. Arihant’s General Knowledge

These magazines will help to revise the current affairs:

  1. Competition Success Review

  2. Pratiyogita Darpan

  3. Yojana

  4. Kurukshetra

Also, read the handwritten notes and important points written in the flashcards before the exam.

Tips for Retaining Key General Knowledge Information

To cover the enormous GK syllabus, here are some tips to retain GK information.

  • Active recall and spaced repetition are very helpful in this section.

  • Use Mnemonics and acronyms to remember long lists or complex data.

  • Use mind maps, flowcharts and diagrams to remember topics like the Indian constitution, and geographical features like states, rivers and mountains.

  • Join online communities or study groups and discuss among the fellow peers to gain new perspective and information about the GK section.

  • Regular practice of mock tests will reinforce the learning.

Final Thoughts on Preparing for XAT 2025 General Knowledge

As the XAT 2025 exam date comes closer, it is important to maintain a well-rounded approach for the XAT GK section.

Importance of Consistent Practice with Books and Study Material

Topics like history, geography, polity, economics, and science need consistent practice to have a good grasp of them. Use the right books and study materials to learn the basic and important concepts. Then revisit them frequently to sharpen those knowledge and learn new questions from different sources on those topics.

How Books and Real-Time GK Sources Complement Each Other

Books help to prepare for static GK sections and real-time GK sources help students to stay updated about current events. Combining these resources will provide students with both breadth and depth in the XAT GK section.

Use mock tests to test both areas together and apply your book-based and real-time learning from resources.

Last-Minute Tips for Using GK Books Effectively

Last-minute tips are always important for effective revision. Here are some of the important last-minute tips.

  • Focus on the high-weightage topics for one last time.

  • Revise all the important current events you have already noted and search through the internet if you have missed anything important.

  • Check the flashcards or lists you have made writing the important facts.

  • Practice 3-4 mock tests on GK to fine-tune your preparation.

Read More:

How to Prepare for XAT in One Month

XAT Essay Writing Tips and Strategy

XAT Exam Last Minute Tips

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are there any books that combine both static GK and current affairs?

Here are the names of some books where students can get both static GK and current affairs.

  1. Manorama Yearbook

  2. Competition Success Review (CSR)

  3. Pratiyogita Darpan

2. How do I choose the right book for the XAT General Knowledge section?

In the right GK book, there should be:

  • Both static GK and current affairs of the past 6-12 months.

  • Structured formation of topics.

  • Updated the latest version of events and developments.

  • Some mock test sets and practice questions.

  • Sample papers of past year's exam.

3. What are some additional resources apart from books for XAT GK preparation?

Apart from books, students can learn these resources to prepare for the XAT GK section.

  • Online portals

  • News applications

  • Magazines

  • Podcasts and YouTube channels

4. How many months of current affairs do I need to cover for XAT?

In general, the important events of the past 6-12 months appear in the XAT exam. Still, to be safe, check the past 2 years' important events but give more attention to the past 6-12 months' events.

5. Are eBooks or online resources enough for XAT GK preparation?

Though eBooks and online resources provide lots of information and help students stay updated on current events, studying hardcopy books is also necessary for structured and detailed content, especially for static GK.

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XAT scores are valid for 2 years hence you can easily download it again Visit the official website of XAT 2025 i.e xatonline.in. and then Click on 'scorecard' tab.login with your credentials XAT ID and password type the security text shown on screen. Click on candidate scorecard and download a PDF copy of the same hope it helps.

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