Optional Subject – Sociology

Fundamentals of Sociology

Sociology: Faculty

(a) Modernity and social change and the emergence of sociology in Europe .

(b) The scope of sociology and its comparison with other social sciences .

Sociology as a science

(a) Science, Scientific Method and Review

(b) Key theoretical elements of research methodology

(d) Facts, Values and Objectivity

(e) Non-Indirect Mechanisms

Research Methods & Analysis

(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods

(b) Data collection technique

Sociologist thinker:

(a) Karl Marx – Historical Materialism, Production Method – Class Struggle.

(b) Imil Dukhim – Division of Labour , Social Facts, Suicide, Religion and Society.

(d) Talcott Parsons – Social system, paradigm shift.

(e.) Robert’s Merton – Latent and Expressive Function Analogy and Heterogeneity Reference Group.

(f) Mead – Self and Identity.

Stratification and mobility

(a) Concepts – Equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation.

(b) Theories of Social Stratification – Structural Functionalist Theory, Marxist Theories Weber The principle of .

(d) Social Mobility – Open and Closed Systems, Types of Mobility , Sources of Mobility And the reasons.

Work & Economic Life

(a) Social organisation of work in different types of societies – Slave society , feudal society, industrial/capitalist society.

(b) Formal and informal organisation of work .

Politics & Society

(a) Sociological theories of power .

(b) Power migration, bureaucracy, pressure groups, political parties.

(d) Protests, movements, social movements, mass action, revolution.

Politics & Society

(a) Sociological theories of religion

(b) Types of religious order – animism, monotheism , polytheism, cults, worship,
methods.

Kinship Arrangements:

(a) Family, Household, Marriage

(b) Types and forms of family

(d) Patriarchy and gender division of labour

(e) Current Trends

Social Change in Modern Society :

(a) Sociological theories of social change

(b) Development and dependency

(d) Education and Social Change

(e) Science , Technology and Social Change

Question Paper 2

Indian Society : Structure and Change

Introduction to Indian Society :

Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society

(a) Bharatiya Vidya (G. S . Dhurya))

(b) Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas)

Impact of Colonial Rule on Indian Society

(a) Social Background of Indian Nationalism

(b) Modernization of Indian Tradition

(d) Social Reforms

Social Structure:

Rural and Agrarian Social Structure

(a) Indian Village Idea and Village Study.

(b) Agrarian Social Structure – Development of tenancy system , land reforms.

Caste System

(a) Perspectives on the study of the caste system (G.S . Dhurya, M.N. Srinivas, Luidyum, Andre Betey)

(b) Characteristics of Caste System

Tribal Communities in India

(a) Definitional problems

(b) Geographical Expansion

(d) Issues of integration and autonomy

Social Classes in India

(a) Agrarian class structure

(b) Industrial class structure

Kinship Arrangements in India

(a) Ancestry and inheritance in India

(b) Types of kinship arrangements

(d) Family Household Dimensions

((e) Patriarchy, entitlement and gender – based division of labour

Religion & Society:

(a) Religious Communities in India

(b) Problems of Religious Minorities

Social Change in India :

Visions of Social Change in India

(a) Idea of growth planning and mixed economy

(b) Constitution , Law and Social Change

Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India

(a) Rural Development Programmes, Community Development Programmes, Cooperatives , Poverty Alleviation Schemes

(b) Green Revolution and Social Change

(d) Problems of Rural Labour, Bonded and Migration

Industrialization and Urbanization in India

(a) Development of modern industry in India

(b) Growth of urban settlements in India

(d) Informal Sector, Child Labour

((e) Slum and deprivation in urban areas

Politics & Society

(a) Nation , Democracy and Citizenship

(b) Political Parties, Pressure Groups, Social and Political Migration

(d) Secularization

Social Movements in Modern India

(a) Farmers and peasant movement

(b) Movement

Population Dynamics

(a) Population size, growth , composition and distribution

(b) Components of Population Growth Births, Deaths, Migration

(d) Emerging Issues Time Exposure, Sex Ratio, Child and Infant Mortality , Reproductive Health.

Challenges of Social Transformation

(a) Crisis of Development Displacement, Environmental Problems and Sustainability

(b) Poverty, deprivation and inequalities

(d) Caste Conflict

(e) Ethnic conflict, communalism, religious revivalism

(f) Illiteracy and Similarities in Education

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Sociology a popular optional subject for the IAS exam?

Sociology is a scoring and straightforward optional subject. Its syllabus is concise, relatable, and overlaps significantly with General Studies papers, especially topics like social issues, gender equality, caste dynamics, and poverty. It requires no prior academic background, making it accessible to aspirants from diverse fields.

What are the key topics to focus on in Sociology for scoring well?

Paper 1: Sociological theories (e.g., Durkheim, Marx, Weber), basic concepts like social stratification, social change, and research methods.
Paper 2: Indian society, caste system, gender, religion, tribal issues, social movements, and globalization’s impact on Indian society.

How much overlap does Sociology have with General Studies (GS) in the UPSC syllabus?

Sociology overlaps with:
GS Paper 1: Indian society, social issues, poverty, and urbanization.
GS Paper 2: Welfare schemes, social justice, and governance.
GS Paper 3: Developmental issues and globalization.
GS Paper 4: Ethics and human values related to societal norms.
This overlap saves time and enhances understanding of GS topics.

What is the best strategy for preparing Sociology as an optional subject?

Understand the syllabus thoroughly and link sociological theories to real-life examples.
Refer to standard books like Haralambos and Holborn (Themes and Perspectives) and Nitin Sangwan’s notes for Indian society.
Focus on current affairs to incorporate recent examples in social issues.
Practice writing answers with emphasis on structure, diagrams, and flowcharts to present sociological analysis effectively.

Do I need a background in Sociology to take it as an optional?

No, Sociology is beginner-friendly and does not require prior academic knowledge. Its concepts are relatable to daily life, making it easier to grasp even for aspirants from technical or non-social science backgrounds.

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Optional Subject – Sociology