UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus

UPSC Sociology Syllabus is mentioned in the latest UPSC Notification. Candidates interested in choosing the UPSC Sociology Optional Subject must have a detailed understanding of the Sociology Optional Syllabus for the IAS Exam 2024. The UPSC Sociology syllabus covers the topics related to society, like how it's structured, how it changes, and different social institutions like family, religion, gender, and globalization. In this article, we will have a detailed look at the UPSC Sociology Syllabus. Candidates can also make use of the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus PDF by downloading it for free from this article.

The syllabus emphasizes the importance of analyzing and evaluating different social phenomena and institutions, like caste, class, ethnicity, and politics.

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UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus PDF

The UPSC Sociology PDF is now available for download on the Testbook website. The initial preparation for the exam starts with a thorough knowledge of the syllabus and the exam pattern. So, the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus PDF becomes a vital resource for UPSC aspirants, and it can be easily downloaded from the links provided below.

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UPSC Sociology Syllabus - Important Topics

Have a look at the list of Important Topics for the UPSC Sociology Optional Papers 1 & 2.

• Sociological Theories: Classical and Contemporary
• Research Methods and Analysis
• Social Stratification and Mobility
• Family, Marriage and Kinship
• Religion and Society
• Political Processes and Movements
• Social Change in Modern Society
• Perspectives on Indian Society: Indian Sociological Traditions and Western Perspectives
• Caste System: Perspectives on Untouchability
• Gender and Society: Patriarchy, Feminism and Women Empowerment
• Demographic Changes and Urbanisation
• Globalisation and Social Change
• Tribal Communities in India: Issues and Challenges
• Social Movements in Modern India

Check out UPSC Sociology Previous Year Question Paper here.

UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus For Paper 1

The UPSC Sociology Optional Paper 1 Syllabus includes the topics on FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY. Candidates can have a look at the detailed syllabus of Sociology Optional Paper 1 below.

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 Durkhteim - 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

• 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, and 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 Sociology Optional Syllabus For Paper 2

The UPSC Sociology Syllabus for Optional Paper 2 focuses on the INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE and its various dimensions such as caste groups, amongst individuals, and family and kinship groups. Have a look at the detailed syllabus of Sociology Optional Paper 2  for UPSC below.

Introducing Indian Society

Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society

• Indology (G.S. Ghure).
• 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 the land tenure system, land reforms.

Caste System

• Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
• Features of the 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

1. Evolution of modern industry in India.
2. Growth of urban settlements in India.
3. Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
4. Informal sector, child labour.
5. 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 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.

Tips To Prepare For UPSC Sociology OptionalEffectively

With the right strategies and techniques, you can cover the Sociology syllabus for UPSC effectively and increase your chances of success. Have a look at some tips and tricks to help you cover the sociology syllabus effectively.

• Analyze the Syllabus - The first step to effective preparation is to analyze the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus. Divide the syllabus into smaller sections, and create a study plan that covers all the topics. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you cover the entire syllabus.
• Start with the Basics - It's essential to have a strong foundation in sociology concepts and theories before moving on to more advanced topics. Start with the basics, such as the theories of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx, and then move on to the advanced sociological topics.
• Focus on Current Affairs - Sociology is a subject that is heavily influenced by current affairs. Stay updated with the latest news, and try to relate it to the sociological concepts and theories that you're studying. This will help you understand the subject better and score well on the exam.
• Use Multiple Resources - Relying on a single Sociology book for UPSC or study material may not be sufficient for covering the entire syllabus. Use multiple resources, such as online courses, previous year question papers, and study groups, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
• Practice Answer Writing - The UPSC Sociology Optional Exam includes descriptive-type questions that require you to analyze and articulate your thoughts effectively. Practice writing the answers regularly to improve your writing skills and gain confidence in expressing your ideas.

We hope with this article on UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus, you have a clear understanding of the topics to focus on for the sociology optional subject. With a thorough study of the syllabus and regular practice, you can gain the required subject knowledge and succeed in this challenging exam. To boost your preparation, you can also enrol in our UPSC Online Coaching program. To get access to the best study material, live classes, and mock tests, download the Testbook App now and start your preparation for this difficult exam as smoothly as you can imagine.