In the AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) exam, the General Awareness section plays an important role. Within that, the Static GK / Books & Authors topic is frequently tested. Candidates must be familiar with not only classic and modern works but also with award-winning books, contemporary writers, and works related to India and the world.
AFCAT 1 2026 Exam Static GK – Books and Authors
Why “Books & Authors” is Important in Static GK
- Exams like AFCAT often ask direct questions like “Who wrote X?”, “Which of the following is written by Y?”, or “Which is the correct pairing of author and book?”
- Since the syllabus is wide, having a reliable list helps avoid last-minute surprises
- It draws from literature, current award winners, biographies, and works related to defence, politics, etc.
- It is relatively easy-scoring if you memorize a good list
Thus, a systematic approach is needed: focus on must-know works + updates over the past few years.
Key Books & Authors to Remember
Below is a curated list (not exhaustive) of works and authors useful for AFCAT 1 2026 Static GK. You should also track new award winners or bestselling books in recent years.
Indian & Regional Works
| Book / Work | Author | Notes / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Gitanjali | Rabindranath Tagore | Nobel laureate poet |
| Anandamath | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee | Important in India’s freedom struggle literature |
| Wings of Fire | A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (with others) | Popular autobiography, often asked |
| The Discovery of India | Jawaharlal Nehru | Classic work; many MCQs in defence / civil exams |
| The India Way | S. Jaishankar | Contemporary work on foreign policy |
| The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories | Rachna Bisht Rawat | Defence / military-related literature |
| Kargil: From Surprise to Victory | Gen. V.P. Malik | Classic military memoir |
| India’s Wars: A Military History, 1947–1971 | Arjun Subramaniam | Useful for India military history questions |
International / Award-Winning / Recent Works
| Work | Author | Award / Notable Info |
|---|---|---|
| The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka | Winner of the Booker Prize 2022 |
| The Light We Carry | Michelle Obama | Recent memoir from a high-profile figure |
| The Third Pillar | Raghuram Rajan | Economics / governance topics often cross over |
| Becoming | Michelle Obama | Widely known memoir |
| To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | Classic English literature often featured |
| One Hundred Years of Solitude | Gabriel García Márquez | A staple in world literature lists |
Additionally, always keep track of literary awards (Booker Prize, Nobel Prize for Literature, etc.) and recent Indian literature prizes (Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith, etc.).
Tips to Memorize & Recall
- Segment by genre or theme — group biographies, defence books, classic Indian works, award winners.
- Use flashcards — have “Book → Author” pairs, and also reverse (“Author → Book(s)”)
- Update yearly — reserve time to add 5–10 new books/authors published or awarded in the last 2–3 years
- Quiz yourself regularly — keep a notebook with 10 random pairs per day
- Connect with context — e.g. when you read about a war or a politician, check if they authored a book
- Mock tests / past papers — use these to see which pairs are asked repeatedly
