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UPSC Sociology Optional syllabus for Mains Paper I and Paper II is provided here in detail. Explore Sociology preparation tips, analysis, and PYQs to boost your preparation.
UPSC Mains Sociology Optional is widely considered as one of the optional troika, along with PSIR and Public Administration. This is because of its popularity with UPSC aspirants. Sociology is the systematic study of human society and social interactions. Sociology Optional is currently one of the most sought-after subjects for UPSC Preparation. In recent times, we have seen many toppers choose sociology as an optional subject. If you want to choose sociology as your optional, then keep on reading to know more about UPSC Mains Sociology optional paper, its syllabus, pattern, and trends.
The sociology optional syllabus gives a detailed list of topics and sub-topics that have to be studied by the candidates. The detailed syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2 is as follows.
| Topic | Syllabus |
| Sociology – The Discipline | (a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of Sociology. (b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences. (c) Sociology and common sense. |
| Sociology as Science | (a) Science, scientific method, and critique. (b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology. (c) Positivism and its critique. (d) Fact value and objectivity. (e) Non-positivist methodologies. |
| Research Methods and Analysis
|
(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods. (b) Techniques of data collection. (c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity. |
| Sociological Thinkers:
|
(a) Karl Marx – Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle. (b) Emile Durkheim – Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society. (c) Max Weber – Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. (d) Talcott Parsons – Social system, pattern variables. (e) Robert K. Merton – Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups. (f) Mead – Self and identity. |
| Stratification and Mobility
|
(a) Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation. (b) Theories of social stratification – Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory. (c) Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. (d) Social mobility – open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility. |
| Works and Economic Life
|
(a) Social organization of work in different types of society – slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society. (b) Formal and informal organization of work. (c) Labour and society. |
| Politics and Society:
|
(a) Sociological theories of power. (b) Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups and political parties. (c) Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology. (d) Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution. |
| Religion and Society
|
(a) Sociological theories of religion. (b) Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults. (c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism. |
| Systems of Kinship
|
(a) Family, household, marriage. (b) Types and forms of family. (c) Lineage and descent. (d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour. (e) Contemporary trends. |
| Social Change in Modern Society
|
(a) Sociological theories of social change. (b) Development and dependency. (c) Agents of social change. (d) Education and social change. (e) Science, technology, and social change. |
| Topic | Syllabus |
| Introducing Indian Society | 1. Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society:
(a) Indology (G.S. Ghure). 2. Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: |
| B. Social Structure | 1. Rural and Agrarian Social Structure: (a) The idea of Indian village and village studies (b) Agrarian social structure— evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.2. Caste System: (a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille. (b) Features of caste system. (c) Untouchability-forms and perspectives3. Tribal Communities in India: (a) Definitional problems. (b) Geographical spread. (c) Colonial policies and tribes. (d) Issues of integration and autonomy. 4. Social Classes in India: (a) Agrarian class structure. (b) Industrial class structure. (c) Middle classes in India. 5. Systems of Kinship in India: 6. Religion and Society: |
| C. Social Changes in India | 1. Visions of Social Change in India: (a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy. (b) Constitution, law, and social change. (c) Education and social change.2. Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India: (a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes. (b) Green revolution and social change. (c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture. (d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.3. Industrialization and Urbanisation in India: (a) Evolution of modern industry in India. (b) Growth of urban settlements in India. (c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization. (d) Informal sector, child labour. (e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas.4. Politics and Society: (a) Nation, democracy and citizenship. (b) Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite. (c) Regionalism and decentralization of power. (d) Secularization. 5. Social Movements in Modern India: 6. Population Dynamics: 7. Challenges of Social Transformation: |
Sociology optional books have to be selected in such a way that the whole of the syllabus is covered while also providing the content in an easily understandable manner. The following are the most vital sociology optional books:
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|
|
In sociology, optional, current affairs play an important role in Paper 2, which is dynamic in nature. Before reading the current affairs, the candidate has to analyze PYQs to understand the types of current affairs questions that are asked in the exam. It will help in studying targeted sources.
It is not necessary that current affairs have to be used only if asked specifically in the exam. Information from current affairs can be quoted as examples, which will give the answers a much-needed dynamism. The main thing is that current affairs have to be approached from a sociological perspective
Here is the reason why candidates choose Sociology Optional Paper as their optional paper:
As a general practice, the candidates are required to have a thorough knowledge of the syllabus before starting the preparation. The total marks from both the papers is 500, with each paper carrying a weightage of 250 marks.
Each Paper is equally divided into two sections, with a total of eight questions. A candidate has to attempt five questions in total from the whole question paper, out of which Question 1 and Question 5 are compulsory. Out of the remaining questions, any Three are to be attempted, choosing at least One from each section.
Once the requirements are understood, the preparation can be started in the following manner:
As mentioned in the beginning, PYQs are the directional markers, which guide aspirants on the right path of preparation. Studying PYQs helps candidates to understand the depth of the knowledge that the exam demands. It also helps them identify the core topics that are repeated regularly in the exam. It is, therefore, necessary that PYQs are analysed regularly during the course of the preparation.
No Optional in UPSC is tough or easy. The selection of an optional is purely based on one’s interest. However, candidates preparing for sociology optional must keep in mind the vital points mentioned above, which will give them an edge over their competitors.
The table below contains the links to the Previous Year’s Question Papers of Sociology Optional Paper I and Paper II:
| UPSC CSE Sociology Optional PYQ 2024 | Paper I: UPSC Sociology Optional Paper-I (2024) |
| UPSC CSE Sociology Optional PYQ 2023 | Paper 1: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper I (2023) |
| Paper 2: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper II (2023) | |
| UPSC CSE Sociology Optional PYQ 2022 | Paper 1: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper I (2022) |
| Paper 2: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper II (2022) | |
| UPSC CSE Sociology Optional PYQ 2021 | Paper 1: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper I (2021) |
| Paper 2: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper II (2021) | |
| UPSC CSE Sociology Optional PYQ 2020 | Paper 1: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper I (2020) |
| Paper 2: UPSC CSE Sociology Optional Paper II (2020) |
The table contains the list of UPSC Toppers who got the highest marks in Sociology Optional each year, along with their ranks and marks:
| Year of Examination | Name of the Candidate | Rank of the Candidate | Marks of the Candidate |
| 2022 | Komal Aggarwal | 74 | 315 |
| 2021 | Gamini Singla | 3 | 287 |
| 2020 | Meera K | 6 | 315 |
| 2019 | Sanjita Mohapatra | 10 | 272 |
| 2018 | Vishal Shah | 63 | 329 |
| 2017 | Anu Kumari | 2 | 318 |
| 2016 | Ila Tripathi | 51 | 301 |
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