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Best Books for XAT 2026 General Knowledge Preparation: As you get ready for the XAT 2026 exam, it's essential to know which books will help you score better in each section. Having clear information about the best books for XAT 2026 General Knowledge is super important for your success. The GK section can make a big difference to achieve a good XAT 2026 score and admission chances to top MBA colleges. In this helpful guide, we have carefully studied and reviewed all the top XAT GK books available in the market and explained their main benefits for students.
This article from careers360 covers everything from XAT General Knowledge preparation basics to advanced XAT 2026 study materials that will boost your current affairs knowledge and static GK understanding. With the right XAT GK preparation books and smart study techniques, you can master this scoring section and improve your chances of cracking the XAT entrance exam successfully.
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 the 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 2026 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?
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 a detailed syllabus of XAT.
Book structure: The structure of the books is very important. The right type of books often offers a well-organised 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 the AT GK section also cover recent critical current events, which will be very helpful for students.
Quality practice sets: Best books include quality practice sets along with previous year question paper.
Some of the top recommended books for the XAT 2026 GK section are:
Lucent's GK book
Arihant's GK book
Manorama Yearbook
Banking & Economy Awareness by Disha Experts
Pearson General Knowledge Manual
The right GK books can improve your scores in many ways.
Equip you with relevant knowledge and boost your confidence for the actual exam.
Stay updated with the most critical and relevant content in one place, saving you 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.
The right XAT Books are a necessity for achieving high marks in the XAT exam.
Here are the names of some of the top GK books for the XAT 2026 exam.
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.
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 organised.
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.
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
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.
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 essential 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 suitable 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. |
These are the top XAT General Knowledge books that experts suggest.
Static GK | Current Affairs |
|
Newspapers like:
Magazines like:
|
Manorama Yearbook is very useful for Current Affairs.
Other than that, here are the names of some magazines.
Competition Success Review
Business Line
Business Today
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.
The Hindu
Economic Times
The Indian Express
Detailed knowledge of the syllabus and key topics is essential for any exam preparation.
Here is a detailed list of the topics covered in General Knowledge.
Static GK | |
History | Economics |
Geography | Sports |
Science & Technology | Important Organisations 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 |
Recently published important books | New applications and schemes |
Recent sports events | Recent Summits and Conferences |
Essential topics in the GK section for the XAT 2026 exam are:
Current affairs
Business
Politics
Economics
Indian Constitution and laws
Books and authors
Famous personalities
History and Geography
Awards and Winners
Aligning the right XAT GK study materials with the XAT GK Syllabus is essential for adequate preparation. There are many ways to do it efficiently.
Understand the syllabus: Before choosing books, it is essential to understand the whole syllabus of the XAT exam. The syllabus includes static GK chapters such as history, geography, polity, economy, and science.
Choose the right book:
Choose a book that thoroughly explains these chapters and study it to build your base.
The book should also include the past 6-12 months' most significant 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 an XAT 2026 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.
A detailed preparation strategy for the XAT 2026 General Knowledge section is mentioned below.
Random reading of books will not help students during XAT 2026 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 significant 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.
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, and summits | Topic-wise tests and revision of important points |
Week 4 | Revision of the whole static GK | Revision of the entire month's current affairs | Full-length Mock tests |
After analysing 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 to both sections.
Static GK refers to the sections that can not be changed and have 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 occurred in the last 1 or 2 years. So, prepare accordingly to get familiar with the topics and questions.
Selecting the right book that covers all the static GK chapters that are in the XAT 2026 syllabus is very important.
These are the names of the top books that will be helpful for static GK preparation.
Lucent's General Knowledge
General Knowledge by Arihant
General Knowledge 2024 by Disha Experts
General Knowledge by Tarun Goyal
Static GK parts cover topics like:
History
Geography
Polity
Economics
Science and technology
Sports
Important Organizations
Books and Authors
Awards and Winners
Here are some ways to maximise your score with static GK books.
Understand important topics: Review the past year's sample papers to identify essential 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 referring to the book and recheck them after writing. Use flashcards to highlight key points. You can also use mind mapping or diagrams for history and geography to remember them better. Regular revision plays a significant role in the preparation process. Revise all the chapters from time to time for adequate 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.
Current affairs knowledge is also very important to score high in the XAT 2026 GK section.
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 essential topics such as significant 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-changing. So, staying updated is the only option to ace this section.
The following books are invaluable for mastering current affairs.
Manorama Yearbook
Competition Success Review (CSR)
Pratiyogita Darpan
General Knowledge 2024 by Disha Experts
The Hindu Review (Monthly Compilation)
These are some renowned websites that can help you to stay updated.
GKToday
AffairsCloud
Bankers Adda
Jagran Josh
Beginners face the toughness of the XAT 2026 GK section firsthand and need help from some of the top study materials and books to get a good grasp on the GK section.
Here are the names of some books that will help beginners to learn the basics of the GK section
Lucent's General Knowledge
Manorama Yearbook
General Knowledge by Arihant
Due to the vast syllabus of the General Knowledge section in XAT 2026, the preparation for this section is often overwhelming for students. Here is a systematic approach that 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 essential, 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 quizzes and practice exercises. Use them to test your knowledge as you progress.
Beginners should approach the XAT GK section strategically. Here is a step-by-step approach for beginners to handle the XAT GK section.
Get familiar to the syllabus: Review XAT notification and previous years' 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 more straightforward issues 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 weekends.
Students should also be aware of other necessary resources, beyond traditional books and newspapers, and utilise them when needed.
Newspapers help us stay updated on 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 essential articles that we can easily read from our mobile phones.
Apps that post essential news are:
The Hindu
BBC News
This will also save us time, and we can read from these applications anytime, anywhere.
Newspapers and Magazines offer in-depth coverage and analysis of essential topics in the XAT GK section.
Use of Newspapers: Read newspapers like The Hindu, Economic 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 essential events all around the world every month. These magazines also highlight the relevant information for competitive exams.
Students often get bored reading 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 essential 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
Revision is the key to success in the GK section, as the syllabus is enormous and students have to revise essential topics from time to time to remember them clearly. If you do not modify the GK portion, you will not be able to remember it for a long duration.
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 it quickly.
Here is a revised timetable after the initial 1-2 months, to efficiently revise all the chapters. You can make necessary changes according to your preparation.
Day | 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 |
For quick revision of static GK, these books are helpful.
Lucent's General Knowledge
Manorama Yearbook
Arihant's General Knowledge
These magazines will help to revise the current affairs:
Competition Success Review
Pratiyogita Darpan
Yojana
Kurukshetra
Also, read the handwritten notes and important points written in the flashcards before the exam.
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 with fellow peers to gain new perspectives and information about the GK section.
Regular practice of mock tests will reinforce the learning.
As the XAT 2026 exam date nears, adopting a balanced strategy for the GK section is essential. Focus on both static and current affairs to boost your overall score and stay ahead of the competition. Below are a few tips and pointers that one must check before the exam:
Topics like history, geography, polity, economics, and science need consistent practice to have a good grasp of them. Utilise the appropriate books and study materials to master the fundamental and essential concepts. Then revisit them frequently to sharpen that knowledge and learn new questions from different sources on those topics.
Books help prepare for the static GK section, while real-time GK sources like newspapers and online updates keep you informed about current events. Combining these resources ensures both depth and breadth in your XAT GK preparation. Use mock tests to evaluate your grasp on both areas and apply insights gained from your study materials. As you approach the final phase, especially if you're wondering How to Prepare for XAT 2026 in One Month, don’t neglect important areas like essay writing—go through XAT 2026 Essay Writing Tips and Strategy thoroughly. Also, follow key XAT 2026 Exam Last Minute Tips to stay confident and composed on the test day.
Last-minute tips are always crucial for effective revision. Here are some of the essential 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 the internet if you have missed anything important.
Check the flashcards or lists you have made, writing the essential facts.
Practice 3-4 mock tests on GK to fine-tune your preparation.
Here are the names of some books where students can get both static GK and current affairs.
Manorama Yearbook
Competition Success Review (CSR)
Pratiyogita Darpan
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.
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.
Start with one comprehensive book (Manorama). Add specialised books for weak areas like current affairs or specific subjects.
You need books specifically designed for competitive exams. Regular GK books lack the depth and current affairs coverage needed for XAT.
Use them for static GK, but buy new books for current affairs. XAT asks questions from the last 12 months.
GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.
The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.
If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.
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No, not all MBA programs require these tests. These are merely entrance exams that are accepted by a lot of universities. Depending on the college you wish to attend, you can take any of them (such as MAH CET, MAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, or ATMA).
Additionally, some universities have entrance exams of their own. Therefore, for the majority of MBA admissions, you only need to take one appropriate exam. To find out which tests the college accepts, always visit their website.
Yes, it is definitely possible for you to get an interview call from Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai for their PGDM program, even with a 73 percentile in XAT 2025. While the typical cutoff for XAT may be higher, around 85 percentile, Great Lakes considers a variety of factors in their selection process, including academic performance, work experience, and diversity in the class.
Since you are a non-engineer female candidate, that diversity is seen as a positive aspect. Even with your XAT score, if you have a strong academic record, relevant work experience, and a clear passion for management, you can still stand out in the application process.
To increase your chances:
Prepare thoroughly for the interview by focusing on your experiences, what drives you, and how you align with the program’s values.
Highlight your unique background and any leadership roles you’ve had.
Show how Great Lakes fits with your career goals.
While the competition can be tough, if you present a well-rounded application and give your best in the interview, you can definitely convert the call into an offer.
With a 74 percentile in the XAT 2025 exam, you are eligible to apply to several reputable MBA colleges in India. Some of the top institutions that typically accept candidates within the 70-80 percentile range include KIIT School of Management (KSOM), Bhubaneswar; Jaipuria Institute of Management (multiple campuses); Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool), Bangalore; Woxsen University, Hyderabad; IFMR Graduate School of Business at KREA University, Sri City; BIM Trichy (Bharathidasan Institute of Management), Tiruchirappalli; and XIME Bangalore (Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship).
To proceed, research each institution's application deadlines and procedures and ensure you submit all required documents promptly. Be prepared for further selection stages such as group discussions, personal interviews, and written ability tests. Evaluate each program's curriculum, faculty, placement records, and campus culture to determine the best fit for your career goals. While your XAT percentile is significant, remember that your overall profile, including academic records, work experience, and extracurricular activities, also plays a crucial role in the selection process.
Admission to MICA's PGDM and PGDM-C programs involves a multi-stage selection process. The final composite score is calculated with the following weightage:
Your XAT score is 73, performing exceptionally well in MICAT can enhance your chances of being shortlisted for the GE and PI rounds. Specific score requirements for MICAT are not publicly disclosed, focusing on thorough preparation and aiming for high performance in each section will strengthen your application.
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A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
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