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PYQs (GS & Optional)
Science, scientific method, and critique

Sociology Optional UPSC Solved PYQs
Sociology Optional 2024 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2024 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2023 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2023 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2022 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2022 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2021 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2021 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2020 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2020 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2019 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2019 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2018 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2018 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2017 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2017 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2016 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2016 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2015 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2015 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2014 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2014 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology Optional 2013 Solved PYQs Paper 1
Sociology Optional 2013 Solved PYQs Paper 2
Sociology PYQs
Topic 1. Sociology Fundamentals
Topic 2. Sociological Thinkers
Topic 3. Introducing Indian Society
Topic 4. Social Stratification
Topic 5. Sociology of Religion
Topic 6. Political Sociology
Topic 7. Kinship
Topic 8. Rural sociology
Topic 9. Industrial and Urban Sociology
Topic 10. Demographic Sociology
Topic 11. Social Change
A. Unit 1. Sociology - The Discipline
B. Unit 2. Sociology as Science
C. Unit 3. Research Methods and Analysis
Unit 4. Thinkers
A. Unit 11. Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society
B. Unit 12. Impact of colonial rule on Indian society
A. Unit 5. Stratification and Mobility
B. Unit 14. Caste System
C. Unit 15. Tribal Communities in India
D. Unit 16. Social Classes in India
Unit 8 and 18. Sociology of Religion
Unit 7 and 22. Political Sociology
Unit 9 and 17. Kinship
A. Unit 13. Rural and Agrarian Social Structure
B. Unit 20. Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India
A. Unit 6. Works and Economic Life
B. Unit 21. Industrialization and Urbanisation in India
Unit 24. Demographic Sociology
A. Unit 10. Social Change in Modern Society
B. Unit 19. Visions of Social Change in India
C. Unit 23. Social Movements in Modern India
D. Unit 25. Social Changes in India: Challenges of Social Transformation
Write short note: Modernisation.
Enlightenment and Renaissance
French revolution and Industrial revolution
Scope of the subject
Comparison with other Social Sciences
Sociology and Common Sense
Science, scientific method, and critique
Science
Scientific method
Major theoretical strands of research methodology
Research
Positivism and its critique
Non-positivist methodologies
Fact value and objectivity
Value
"Mindless addiction to Form, ignoring the Substance of the matter, results in rendering of injustice. A perceptive civil servant is one who ignores such literalness and carries out true intent." Examine the above statement with suitable illustrations.
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Techniques of Data Collection
Different Techniques
Variables
Sampling
Hypothesis
Reliability and Validity
Karl Marx– Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle
Historical materialism
Mode of production
Alienation
Class struggle
Emile Durkheim– Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society
Division of labour
Social fact
Suicide
Religion
Emile Durkheim–religion
Comparison: Durkheim vs Waber’s Religion
Society
Max Weber– Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
Max Waber: Social action
Max Waber: Ideal Types
Max Waber: Authority
Max Waber: Bureaucracy
Max Waber: Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism
Comparison: Durkheim vs Waber’s Religion
Talcolt Parsons– Social system, pattern variables
Social system
Pattern Variables
Robert K. Merton– Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups
Latent and manifest functions
Conformity and deviance
Anomie
Reference groups
Mead – Self and identity
Hindu society
Impact of different cultures on Indian society
Indology (G.S. Ghure)
Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas)
Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai)
Yogendra Singh
Social background of Indian nationalism
Modernization of Indian tradition
Protests and movements during the colonial period, social reforms
Concepts
Equality, Inequality, Hierarchy
Exclusion, Poverty, Deprivation
Theories of social stratification
Structural Functionalist Theory
Marxist Theory
Weberian Theory
Marx and Weber
Dimensions
Social Stratification of Class
Status Groups
Gender
Ethnicity and Race
Social mobility
Open and Closed Systems
Types of Mobility
Sources and causes of mobility
Perspectives on the study of caste systems
G. S. Ghurye
M. N. Srinivas
Sanskritization
Louis Dumont
Andre Beteille
Features of caste system
Structural and cultural perspective
Caste and class
Caste mobility
Change in caste structure
Dalit Castes
Caste and Polity
Caste Conflict
Untouchability – forms and perspectives
Misc.
Definitional problems
Geographical spread
Colonial policies and tribes
Isolation approach
Assimination Approach/ Indological Approach
Issues of integration and autonomy
Tribal policy
Tribal unrest
Misc.
Class System
Agrarian Class Structure
Industrial Class Structure
Middle Classes in India
Religion
Sociological theories of religion
Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
Animism, monism
Sects, cults
Pluralism
Religion in modern society
New Religious Movements
Religion and science
Secularization
Religious revivalism
Fundamentalism
Secularism
Religious communities in India
Religious minorities
Communalism
Role of Religion
Sociological theories of power
Power elite, social and political elite
Pareto and Mills
Origin of elites
Power
Authority
Max Waber: Bureaucracy
Democracy
Pressure Groups
Political Parties and Political Partnership
Regionalism
Nation and State
What are the constitutional rights of the citizens of India? What do you think about the demand of the NRIs for dual citizenship?
Civil Society
Ideology
Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution
Decentralization of Power
Misc.
Systems of Kinship
Types of kinship systems
Family
Nuclear and Joint family
Changing structure of family
Industrialization and family
Types and forms of family
Household, Household dimensions of the family
Marriage
Emerging trends in marriage
Lineage and descent
Entitlements
Patriarchy
Sexual division of labour
Misc. and Contemporary Issues
Generation gap
Socialization and social control
Role of culture
The Idea of Indian Village and Village Studies
Evolution of Land Tenure system
Land Reforms
Programmes of Rural Development
Community Development Programme
Cooperatives
Poverty Alleviation Schemes
Green Revolution and Social Change
Changing modes of production in Indian Agriculture
Problems of Rural Labour, Bondage and Migration
Economic Development in India
Social organization of work in different types of society
Slave Society
Feudal Society
Industrial / Capitalist Society
Formal and Informal Organization of Work
Labour and Society
Misc.
Urbanisation in India
Evolution of modern industry in India
LPG Reforms
Globalisation
Market Economy
Growth of urban settlements in India
Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization
Labour class movements
Informal sector
Globalization and Informal sector
Child labour
Slums and deprivation in urban areas
Population Dynamics
Population Size, Growth, Composition and Distribution
Components of Population Growth: Birth, Death and Migration
Recent trends of Migration
Population Policy and Family Planning
Emerging issues
Ageing
Sex Ratio
Child and Infant Mortality Rate
Reproductive Health
Sociological theories of social change
Development of Underdevelopment
Marx
Theory of Cultural Lag
Dependency Theory
Talcott Parsons
Development and Dependency
Agents of Social Change
Tradition and Modernisation
Media
Education and Social Change
Science, Technology and Social Change
Social Changes in India
Modernization of Indian society
Idea of development planning and mixed economy
Constitution, law, and social change
Social Movements in Modern India
Peasants and Farmers Movements
Women’s Movement
Backward Classes & Dalit Movements
Dalit Movement
Satya Sodhak Samaj
Self-respect movement
Naxalbari Movement
Environmental Movements
Ethnicity and Identity Movements
Ethnic conflicts
Crisis of Development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability
Violence Against Women
Violence
Law and Order Issues
Changing Status of Women
Women empowerment
Illiteracy and Disparities in Education
Social Problems
Corruption
Alcoholism and drug addiction
Sociology Optional 2024 Paper 1 With Solution
Sociology Optional 2024 Paper 2 With Solution
Sociology Optional 2025 Paper 1 With Solution
Sociology Optional 2025 Paper 2 With Solution
Sociology Optional Test 1 2026

UPSC Optionals
Sociology Optional
Science, scientific method, and critique

Science, scientific method, and critique

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