Aditi Sinha
September 06, 2023 04:35
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Sociology Optional Toppers: Aditi Varshney secured AIR 57 in UPSC CSE 2022. Aspirants can check the UPSC Sociology Optional Toppers in the article given below.
Sociology Optional Toppers: Sociology is a favored choice for UPSC aspirants, with many candidates opting for it as an optional subject. In the 2020 civil services exam, Jagrati Awasthi, who achieved the second rank, chose sociology as her optional subject.
What makes sociology unique is its appeal to candidates from both science and humanities backgrounds. It is a subject that anyone can choose, regardless of their academic background. Moreover, sociology is considered highly scoring, especially when approached with the right strategies and preparation methods.
UPSC Sociology Optional Topper 2023 will be declared once the UPSC Exam is conducted. The UPSC Mains 2023 is scheduled to take place on 15 September. Sociology stands out as an excellent choice for UPSC aspirants, attracting students from various academic backgrounds, be it science or humanities. The beauty of this subject lies in its inclusivity, as it welcomes all individuals, regardless of their prior educational experiences. What’s more, Sociology offers great scoring potential, especially when students approach it with the right study methods and strategies.
Aditi Varshney secured All India Rank (AIR) 57 in the UPSC exam with Sociology as her optional subject is an inspiring tale for aspiring students. Her success highlights the potential of Sociology as a viable choice for UPSC aspirants. Aditi’s journey underscores the importance of diligent preparation, effective study techniques, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that with dedication and the right approach, even unconventional optional subjects like Sociology can lead to top rankings in one of India’s most challenging exams. Aditi Varshney’s success stands as a motivating example for future UPSC aspirants who are considering Sociology as their optional subject, showing that it can indeed pave the way to success in this prestigious examination.
Aditi Varshney secured AIR 57 in UPSC 2022, and Jagrati Awasthi, who secured second rank in the CSE 2020, chose sociology as her optional subject. Similarly, in 2017, the second-ranked candidate Anu Kumari also opted for sociology as her optional subject. Both candidates performed exceptionally well in their optional papers, scoring high marks.
These impressive scores, 163 and 155, significantly boosted their overall rankings and helped them secure the top positions. Below is a table listing the names of several other toppers who chose sociology as their optional subject.
| Toppers with Sociology optional | ||
| Name | Year | Rank |
| Aditi Varshney | 2022 | 57 |
| Jagrati Awasthi | 2020 | 2 |
| Sanjita Mohapatra | 2019 | 10 |
| Shruti Jayant Deshmukh | 2018 | 5 |
| Anu Kumari | 2017 | 2 |
| Ila Tripathi | 2016 | 51 |
| Utkarsh Gupta | 2016 | 78 |
| Chandra Mohan Garg | 2015 | 25 |
| Neha Yadav | 2013 | 24 |
| Neha Jain | 2013 | 12 |
| Amrutesh Aurangabadkar | 2011 | 10 |
| Rajanvir Singh Kapur | 2011 | 92 |
| S Nagarajan | 2004 | 1 |
According to the latest UPSC annual report 2017, many candidates, specifically 1421, chose sociology as their optional subject. Of these candidates, 137 were recommended for the services, resulting in a success rate of 9.6%. The table below provides detailed statistics regarding the number of candidates who opted for sociology as their optional subject and the number of candidates who were ultimately recommended for the services.
|
Table for Sociology Success Rate |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Years | No. of candidates appeared | No. of candidates recommended | Success rate (%) |
| 2014 | 1819 | 193 | 10.6 |
| 2015 | 1479 | 173 | 11.7 |
| 2016 | 1555 | 89 | 5.7 |
| 2017 | 1421 | 137 | 9.6 |
Sociology has emerged as a popular optional subject among UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) aspirants, with several successful candidates achieving top ranks by choosing sociology as their optional subject.
The success of these toppers can be attributed not only to their hard work and dedication but also to the effective strategies they employed during their preparation.
In this section, we will discuss some common strategies adopted by sociology optional toppers that can help aspiring candidates excel in this subject.
1. Start with “Sociology: Themes and Perspectives”: Begin your sociology preparation by reading the book “Sociology: Themes and Perspectives” by Haralambos and Holborn. This book covers all the important concepts of sociology and provides a solid foundation. It includes case studies that help you understand how theory applies to real-life situations. It is beneficial for chapters like Economic Life, Politics and Society, and Kinship and Social Change.
2. Pay attention to thinkers: The chapter on thinkers carries significant weightage in Paper I, as seen in the tables mentioned earlier. Therefore, it is essential to give this section the attention it deserves. Focus on studying the six key thinkers: Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Talcott Parsons, Max Weber, Herbert Mead, and Robert Merton. Cover their theories in detail and thoroughly. This chapter will not only help you answer questions related to thinkers but also assist in addressing topics from other chapters. For example, Max Weber’s Scientific Method in sociological analysis relates to the topic of “Science, scientific method, and critique” in Chapter 2.
3. Relate concepts across chapters: Throughout the UPSC Sociology syllabus, there are connections between different chapters that you should understand. For example, “Theories of Social Stratification” in Chapter 5 can be linked to Chapter 2. Similarly, in Chapter 7, “Politics and Society,” topics on sociological theories of power can be linked to Weberian and Marxian theories of power. Chapter 8 discusses “Sociological theories on religion,” which is interlinked with the works of Weber and Durkheim.
4. Recommended book on sociological thought: Reading a comprehensive book on sociological thought is essential to enhance your understanding of various theories and improve your answers. “Sociological Theory” by George Ritzer is highly recommended, as it covers sociological, modern, and post-modern theories. Successful candidates like Anu Kumari and Ila Tripathi have endorsed this book.
5. Remember original definitions by thinkers: Memorizing the original definitions given by the thinkers adds value to your answers. This demonstrates a deeper understanding of the subject matter and can help you score better.
6. Focus on current affairs for Paper II: Paper II of sociology focuses on Indian society and is dynamic in nature. Stay updated on current affairs, especially those with an Indian perspective, as they are crucial for scoring well in this section.
7. Include relevant facts, case studies, and recommendations: When writing answers, include relevant and current facts, figures, case studies, and recommendations from reports/commissions. Real-life examples are highly valuable and help support your points. For instance, when discussing the issue of religious minorities in India, citing the recent Supreme Court verdict on triple talaq adds credibility to your answer.
8. Use quotations effectively: Quotations can make your answers stand out. Make sure to use relevant quotes attributed to the correct author. This adds depth and authority to your arguments.
9. Recommended books for Paper II: For Paper II, three important books to refer to are “Social Change in Modern India” by MN Srinivas, “Caste Its Twentieth Century Avatar” by MN Srinivas, and “Indian Sociological Thought” by BK Nagla.
10. Utilize newspapers as a source: For Paper II, newspapers are a valuable source of information. Pay attention to topics that have the potential to be asked in the exam, such as gender/women issues, caste-based issues, tribal issues, erosion of Indian values, and Indian society.
11. Provide multi-dimensional answers: Ensure your answers cover various dimensions and perspectives. When preparing a topic, include different angles and viewpoints. For example, environmental movements in India have social aspects related to women and child issues, tribal issues, and more.
For example, look at the following questions:
| UPSC Optional Year | Question | How to write the answer |
| From UPSC Optional Sociology Paper II, 2018 | Q. Elaborate on the “Me Too” movement and its impact in India. | This question from 2018 covers various aspects related to current affairs. To answer it effectively, you need to consider multiple dimensions from fields like psychology, preventing sexual harassment in the workplace (politics and law), feminism, the concept of consent, social hierarchies, and gender roles. |
| From UPSC Optional Sociology Paper II, 2017 | Q. Indebtedness is one of the serious issues leading to farmers’ suicides. Discuss reasons and suggest solutions. | Here, you need to discuss different aspects related to farmers’ suicides. These include agricultural distress in India, the impact of unpredictable monsoons on farmers, the mental health of Indians, and other relevant factors. Additionally, it is important to mention Durkheim’s perspective on suicides. |
12. You can enhance your answers by incorporating helpful diagrams and flowcharts in sociology. Creating a few commonly covered topics and concepts you can utilize during the exam is a good idea.
13. For each topic, consider points from both positive and negative perspectives to present a balanced view. When concluding your answers, strive for a forward-looking, realistic, and optimistic approach.
As mentioned earlier, thinkers play a significant role in UPSC exam questions. Here are a few questions from previous year papers that highlight the importance of thinkers:
| Years | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I, 2018 | Do you think ‘I’ and ‘Me’ are central terms in Mead’s work? | 10 marks |
| Paper I, 2018 | Explain Durkheim’s basic arguments on suicide. Can you analyse high suicide rates of contemporary Indian society with Durkheim’s theory? | 20 marks |
| Paper I, 2017 | Critically analyse Talcott Parsons’ conception of ‘Pattern Variables’. | 10 Marks |
| Paper I, 2017 | What is Weberian critique of Marxist notion of social stratification? | 20 Marks |
Based on the strategies shared by several sociology optional toppers in CSE 2019, here are the common elements observed:
1. In their answers, the toppers mention the names of different sociologists and discuss various sociological theories.
2. Most toppers prefer to limit their sources and not read from too many different resources.
3. The toppers emphasized adequate practice in answer writing before taking the actual UPSC exam.
4. The toppers completed the entire paper for 250 marks and did not leave any sections unattempted.
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