UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2020

Sociology holds immense importance as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam and is widely chosen by aspirants. The subject offers several advantages that make it appealing to candidates from various backgrounds. Firstly, sociology is a social science that provides a comprehensive understanding of society, its structures, and its dynamics. This knowledge equips aspirants, including those from science backgrounds, to comprehend and analyze the multifaceted aspects of society. Secondly, sociology is known for its scoring potential. The syllabus is relatively shorter compared to other subjects, making it manageable for thorough preparation. Additionally, the subject often overlaps with the General Studies Paper I, which covers Indian Society, thereby enhancing the candidate's overall performance.

Moreover, sociology is particularly beneficial for the essay paper, as it enables candidates to address social issues effectively. Furthermore, the insights gained from sociology can be applied to the interview round and the ethics paper, enhancing the aspirant's performance in these areas. Considering its intriguing nature and its relevance to contemporary social issues, sociology generates significant interest among UPSC aspirants. Its ability to provide a deeper understanding of society and its functioning makes it an appealing choice for those who seek to serve as IAS officers and navigate the complexities of society effectively.

UPSC Mains Sociology Paper 1 Syllabus

Fundamentals of Sociology

Sociology – The Discipline:
- Modernity and social changes in Europe and 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 labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.
- Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
- Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables.
- Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
- Mead – Self and identity.

Stratification and Mobility:
- A. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation.
- Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.
- 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.

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 labour.
- 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.

UPSC Mains Sociology Paper 2 Syllabus

Introducing Indian Society:
- Perspectives on the study of Indian society:
  - Indology (GS. 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.

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:
  - Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS 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.

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 schemes.
  - Green revolution and social change.
  - Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture .
  - Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.
- Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:
  - Evolution of modern industry in India.
  - Growth of urban settlements in India.
  - Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
  - Informal 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 movements.
  - Women’s movement.
  - Backward classes & Dalit movement.
  - 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.

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UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2020

UPSC Mains Sociology Paper 1 Syllabus

Fundamentals of Sociology

Sociology – The Discipline:

Sociology as Science:

Research Methods and Analysis:

Sociological Thinkers:

Stratification and Mobility:

Works and Economic Life:

Politics and Society:

Religion and Society:

Systems of Kinship:

Social Change in Modern Society:

UPSC Mains Sociology Paper 2 Syllabus

Introducing Indian Society:

Perspectives on the study of Indian society:

Impact of colonial rule on Indian society:

Social Structure:

Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:

Caste System:

Tribal communities in India:

Social Classes in India:

Systems of Kinship in India:

Religion and Society:

Social Changes in India:

Visions of Social Change in India:

Rural and Agrarian transformation in India:

Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:

Politics and Society:

Social Movements in Modern India:

Population Dynamics:

Challenges of Social Transformation: