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One of the optional subjects available in the UPSC mains examination is Sociology. The Sociology Optional Syllabus for UPSC is known for its brevity, clarity, and ease of comprehension compared to other optional subjects. This subject includes topics like social structure, social institutions, social change, and globalization. In terms of difficulty, Sociology is considered one of the top 10 challenging subjects in the UPSC exam.
Due to the Sociology syllabus’s scoring nature, many students opt for it as their optional subject in the exam. UPSC Sociology Syllabus has 2 papers, namely Optional Paper I and Paper II, as part of the Mains stage of the IAS Exam, which consists of a total of 9 papers. Below we discussed the detailed Sociology optional syllabus for the Mains exam.
UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024
One significant advantage of choosing UPSC Sociology as an optional subject is that it overlaps with GS Paper 1 in UPSC Mains, particularly the section on Indian Society. This overlap facilitates preparation for GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3, and the Essay Paper as well. Sociology is one of the optional subjects in the UPSC exam, where questions related to the Indian society, social structure, and social changes are asked. To prepare for this subject various books are available in the market that students can use for their UPSC Sociology optional subject preparation.
The Sociology subject consists of two papers, each worth 250 marks, a total of 500 marks. Each paper is divided into two sections, with a total of 8 questions asked in the exam. Students need to answer five questions out of the given eight, with one compulsory question from the last three. A strong performance in the UPSC Sociology optional exam can significantly boost the overall score of an IAS aspirant in the UPSC Mains.
Aspect | Details |
Total Papers | 2 Papers |
Marks per Paper | 250 Marks |
Total Marks | 500 Marks |
Impact on Overall Score |
A strong performance in Sociology can significantly boost the overall score in the UPSC Mains exam
|
UPSC Sociology Syllabus For Optional Paper I
The UPSC Sociology Syllabus for Paper 1 aims to provide candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts and theories of Sociology. It encompasses a wide range of topics related to social structure, social institutions, social change, and globalization. By studying these subjects, candidates can cultivate crucial skills such as critical thinking, analysis, and effective communication, which play a vital role in outperforming others in the UPSC exam. The following topics are included in the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus Paper I.
1. Sociology – The Discipline:
(a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and the 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 Durkheim- Division of labor, social fact, suicide, religion, and society.
(c) Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, the protestant ethic,s 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 functionalist 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, fundamentalism.
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.
Download PDF: UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus 2024 and Exam Pattern PDF
UPSC Sociology Syllabus for Optional Paper II
The UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus for Paper 2 focuses on candidates’ understanding of Indian society, social structure, and social changes in the country. Aspirants must have a comprehensive grasp of all the aspects of the UPSC Sociology Syllabus and prepare for it diligently. Moreover, acquiring insights into these topics will prove advantageous for the GS papers in the UPSC Mains Syllabus as well.
Below, you can find the main topics covered in the Sociology Optional Syllabus for UPSC, along with detailed explanations. To elevate your preparation to the next level, navigate through the comprehensive Sociology Optional Syllabus for Paper II.
Indian Society: Structure and changes
A. Introducing Indian Society:
(i) Perspectives on the study of Indian society:
(a) Indology (GS. Ghurye).
(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: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
(b) Features of the 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 of labour.
(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 Programmes, cooperatives, and poverty alleviation schemes.
(b) Green revolution and social change.
(c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
(d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, and 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 movement.
(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.
UPSC Sociology Syllabus Preparation Tips
Here, are some of the preparation resources added to you like using books and newspapers. use online resources through different web portals and platforms. Solve UPSC previous year’s questions to build a strong understanding of these topics.
- Read NCERT Books
- Analyze Previous Years’ Papers
- Create a Study Plan
- Current Affairs
- Focus on Key Concepts
- Practice Answer Writing
Remember, consistency, discipline, and a thorough understanding of concepts are key to success in the UPSC Mains Sociology examination. Good luck with your preparation.
Best Books for Sociology Optional –
- Introduction to Sociology by Anthony Giddens
- Sociology Themes and Perspectives by Haralambos & Holborn
- Handbook of Indian Sociology by Veena Das
- Social Change in Modern India by M N Srinivas
- Sociological Theory by George Ritzer
- Caste Its Twentieth Century Avatar by M N Srinivas