SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL SYLLABUS
What is an Optional Subject in UPSC? The Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Among the nine papers in the Mains examination, two papers (Paper I and Paper II) are dedicated to an optional subject of the candidate's choice. The optional subject plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s final rank, as it carries 500 marks, making it a deciding factor in overall performance.
Importance of the Optional Subject in the Exam The optional subject can significantly impact the final selection and ranking of a candidate. With a weightage of 500 marks out of 1750 in the Mains, a well-prepared optional can provide a competitive edge. Choosing the right optional subject is essential, as it should align with the candidate's interest, availability of study material, and scoring trends.
Why Choose Sociology as an Optional Subject? Sociology is one of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC aspirants due to its high scoring potential, relatively short syllabus, and relevance to General Studies and Essay papers. Here are some key reasons to opt for Sociology:
Concise and Manageable Syllabus: The syllabus is well-defined and can be covered within a reasonable timeframe compared to other optional subjects.
Conceptual Clarity and Overlapping Topics: Many topics overlap with General Studies (GS) papers, especially Indian Society, Social Justice, and Ethics.
No Prior Background Required: Sociology does not require a technical or specialized background, making it accessible for students from diverse academic disciplines.
Essay and Interview Advantage: Knowledge of sociological concepts helps in writing better essays and answering interview questions with a broader perspective.
High Success Rate: Sociology has consistently been among the top-performing optional subjects in terms of success rate and high-scoring potential.
Tips to Prepare for Sociology Optional
Understand the Syllabus: Go through the official syllabus thoroughly and break it down into manageable topics.
Read Standard Books: Reference books such as Haralambos and Holborn, Anthony Giddens, and Indian sociologists like M.N. Srinivas are essential for conceptual clarity.
Make Crisp Notes: Summarize important theories, definitions, and case studies to revise effectively.
Analyze Previous Year Questions: Understanding the pattern and trend of questions helps in structuring answers accordingly.
Practice Answer Writing: Regularly writing answers and getting them evaluated is crucial for scoring well in Sociology.
Link Current Affairs: Relate sociological theories and concepts with contemporary social issues to enhance the quality of answers.
Revision and Mock Tests: Multiple revisions and attempting mock tests ensure better retention and application of concepts in the exam.
Sociology as an optional subject offers a balanced combination of theoretical and application-based learning, making it an excellent choice for UPSC aspirants. With the right strategy and consistent efforts, it can be a game-changer in your UPSC journey.
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL SYLLABUS FOR UPSC CSE
PAPER-I: FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology - The Discipline
Modernity and social changes in Europe and the emergence of Sociology.
Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
Sociology and common sense.
Sociology as Science
Science, scientific method, and critique.
Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
Positivism and its critique.
Fact, value, and objectivity.
Non-positivist methodologies.
Research Methods and Analysis
Qualitative and quantitative methods.
Techniques of data collection.
Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.
Sociological Thinkers
Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
Emile Durkheim- Division of labor, social fact, suicide, religion and society.
Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic, and the spirit of capitalism.
Talcott Parsons- Social system, pattern variables.
Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
Mead - Self and identity.
Stratification and Mobility
Concepts - equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, deprivation.
Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist, Marxist, Weberian.
Dimensions- Social class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race.
Social mobility- Open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources, and causes of mobility.
Works and Economic Life
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.
Politics and Society
Sociological theories of power.
Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.
Religion and Society
Sociological theories of religion.
Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
Religion in modern society- Religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.
Systems of Kinship
Family, household, marriage.
Types and forms of family.
Lineage and descent.
Patriarchy and sexual division of labor.
Contemporary trends.
Social Change in Modern Society
Sociological theories of social change.
Development and dependency.
Agents of social change.
Education and social change.
Science, technology, and social change.
PAPER-II: INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE
A. Introducing Indian Society
Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society
Indology (G.S. Ghurye).
Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).
Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai).
Impact of Colonial Rule on Indian Society
Social background of Indian nationalism.
Modernization of Indian tradition.
Protests and movements during the colonial period.
Social reforms.
B. Social Structure
Rural and Agrarian Social Structure
The idea of Indian village and village studies
Agrarian social structure - evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.
Caste System
Perspective on the study of caste system: G. S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille
Features of caste system
Untouchability- forms and perspectives
Tribal Communities in India
Definitional problems
Geographical spread
Colonial policies and tribes
Issues of Integration and autonomy
Social Classes in India
Agrarian Class Structure
Industrial class structure
Middle classes in India
Systems of Kinship in India
Lineage and descent in India
Types of kinship systems
Family and marriage in India
Household dimensions of the family
Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour
Religion and Society
Religious communities in India
Problems of religious minorities
C. Social Changes in India
Visions of Social Change in India
Idea of development planning and mixed economy
Constitution, law and social change
Education and social change
Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India
Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation scheme
Green revolution and social change
Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture
Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.
Industrialization and Urbanization in India
Evolution of modern industry in India
Growth of urban settlements in India
Working class: structure, growth, class, mobilization
Informa sector, child labour
Slums and deprivation in urban areas
Politics and Society
Nation, democracy and citizenship
Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite
Regionalism and decentralization of power
Secularization
Social Movements in Modern India
Peasants and farmers movement
Women's movement
Backward classes and Dalit movements
Environmental movements
Ethnicity and Identity movements
Population Dynamics
Population size, growth, composition and distribution
Components of population growth: birth, death, migration
Population Policy and family planning
Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health
Challenges of Social Transformation
Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability
Poverty, deprivation and inequalities
Violence against women
Caste Conflicts
Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism
Illiteracy and disparities in education