Reference: PyDocs
import csv from os import path file_path = r"C:\Users\uday\Desktop\details - Copy.csv" if not path.exists(file_path): print("file not found: ",file_path) exit() old_files = [] new_files = [] with open(file_path, 'r') as csvfile: spamreader = csv.reader(csvfile, delimiter=',', quotechar='\"') for row in spamreader: #print('- '.join(row)) print(row) old_files.append(row[0]) new_files.append(row[1]) old_files = old_files[1:] new_files = new_files[1:] print(old_files) print(new_files)