Sociology is one of the most well-liked and sought-after subjects among UPSC CSE aspirants. It has substantial commonalities with the General Studies papers of the UPSC CSE. Candidates are required to study Sociology not only for the prelims but also for the Mains exam. Similarly, candidates are often asked questions appurtenant to this subject at the interview stage of this examination.
The general myth surrounding Sociology is that it is high scoring. The fact is that all optional subjects are equally scoring and beneficial for aspirants, provided their preparation meets the postgraduate level requirements. Hence, Sociology is a logical and sensible optional subject for most candidates who want to reduce their workload and optimally prepare for the exams. Please note that the level of questions on Sociology and related topics in the General Studies paper does not require specialisation in this subject. However, for the optional papers, specialised knowledge is necessary.
Sociology Optional Paper I
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY
1.Sociology – The Discipline:
(a)Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of Sociology.
(b)Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
(c)Sociology and common sense.
2.Sociology as Science:
(a)Science, scientific method and critique.
(b)Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
(c)Positivism and its critique.
(d)Fact value and objectivity.
(e)Non-positivist methodologies.
3.Research Methods and Analysis:
(a)Qualitative and quantitative methods.
(b)Techniques of data collection.
(c)Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.
4.Sociological Thinkers:
(a)Karl Marx – Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
(b)Emile Durkhteim – Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.
(c)Max Weber – Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
(d)Talcolt Parsons – Social system, pattern variables.
(e)Robert K. Merton – Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
(f)Mead – Self and identity.
5.Stratification and Mobility :
(a)Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation.
(b)Theories of social stratification – Structural func tionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.
(c)Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race.
(d)Social mobility – open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.
6.Works and Economic Life :
(a)Social organization of work in different types of society – slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society.
(b)Formal and informal organization of work.
(c)Labour and society.
7.Politics and Society:
(a)Sociological theories of power.
(b)Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups and political parties.
(c)Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
(d)Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.
8.Religion and Society :
(a)Sociological theories of religion.
(b)Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
(c)Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamen talism.
9.Systems of Kinship:
(a)Family, household, marriage.
(b)Types and forms of family.
(c)Lineage and descent.
(d)Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
(e)Contemporary trends.
10.Social Change in Modern Society :
(a)Sociological theories of social change.
(b)Development and dependency.
(c)Agents of social change.
(d)Education and social change.
(e)Science, technology and social change.
Sociology Optional Paper II
INDIAN SOCIETY : STRUCTURE AND CHANGE
A.Introducing Indian Society :
(i)Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society :
(a)Indology (G.S. Ghure).
(b)Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).
(c)Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai).
(ii)Impact of colonial rule on Indian society :
(a)Social background of Indian nationalism.
(b)Modernization of Indian tradition.
(c)Protests and movements during the colonial period.
(d)Social reforms.
B.Social Structure:
(i)Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:
(a)The idea of Indian village and village studies.
(b)Agrarian social structure—
evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.
(ii)Caste System:
(a)Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
(b)Features of caste system.
(c)Untouchability-forms and perspectives
(iii)Tribal Communities in India:
(a)Definitional problems.
(b)Geographical spread.
(c)Colonial policies and tribes.
(d)Issues of integration and autonomy.
(iv)Social Classes in India:
(a)Agrarian class structure.
(b)Industrial class structure.
(c)Middle classes in India.
(v)Systems of Kinship in India:
(a)Lineage and descent in India.
(b)Types of kinship systems.
(c)Family and marriage in India.
(d)Household dimensions of the family.
(e)Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division oflabour.
(vi)Religion and Society :
(a)Religious communities in India.
(b)Problems of religious minorities.
C.Social Changes in India:
(i)Visions of Social Change in India:
(a)Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
(b)Constitution, law and social change.
(c)Education and social change.
(ii)Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India:
(a)Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes.
(b)Green revolution and social change.
(c)Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
(d)Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.
(iii)Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:
(a)Evolution of modern industry in India.
(b)Growth of urban settlements in India.
(c)Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
(d)Informal sector, child labour.
(e)Slums and deprivation in urban areas.
(iv)Politics and Society :
(a)Nation, democracy and citizenship.
(b)Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.
(c)Regionalism and decentralization of power.
(d)Secularization.
(v)Social Movements in Modern India :
(a)Peasants and farmers movements.
(b)Women’s movement.
(c)Backward classes & Dalit movements.
(d)Environmental movements.
(e)Ethnicity and Identity movements.
(vi)Population Dynamics :
(a)Population size, growth, composition and distribution.
(b)Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
(c)Population Policy and family planning.
(d)Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.
(vii)Challenges of Social Transformation :
(a)Crisis of development : displacement, environmental problems and sustainability.
(b)Poverty, deprivation and inequalities.
(c)Violence against women.
(d)Caste conflicts.
(e)Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.
(f)Illiteracy and disparities in education.
Other Optional Subjects
Agriculture
Animal Science
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerce and Accountancy
Economics
EEE Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political science
Psychology
Public Administration
Statistics
Zoology