UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1 & 2, Download PDF

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024

The UPSC Sociology syllabus 2024 covers a wide range of topics relevant to Indian society. Key areas include the fundamentals of sociology like social structure, social stratification, and social change. Other major topics are introductions to concepts like culture, religion, marriage, family, social institutions, tribes, and social problems. The syllabus aims to provide a foundational understanding of Indian society to CSE aspirants.

You can download the UPSC CSE Sociology Optional paper Syllabus from the direct link given below.

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 Overview

There is a list of optional subjects for mains in which there are 48 subjects, from which candidates can choose according to their choice. Sociology is one of the optional subjects for the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. The optional paper is conducted for 250 marks. The UPSC CSE optional subject Sociology Syllabus 2024 has two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Optional Sociology Syllabus for UPSC CSE 2024

Sociology is an optional subject in UPSC Mains with two papers. The sociology syllabus has overlap with GS Paper 1 (Indian Society part) and helps in GS 2, GS 3 and Essay too. The syllabus covers contemporary social issues. Key topics are social structure, social change, culture, religion, family, tribes, and social problems in India. Sociology develops analytical skills in aspirants to examine social trends.

If you opt for Sociology optional in UPSC mains, prepare it thoroughly. Go through the UPSC CSE Syllabus and previous years’ Sociology papers. Also study relevant Sociology books for UPSC preparation.

UPSC CSE Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Research Methods and Analysis:

• Qualitative and Quantitative Methods.
• Techniques of Data Collection.
• Variables, Sampling, Hypothesis, Reliability, and Validity.

4. 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.
• Talcott Parsons: Social System, Pattern Variables.
• Robert K. Merton: Latent and Manifest Functions, Conformity and Deviance, Reference Groups.
• Mead: Self and Identity.

5. Stratification and Mobility:

• Concepts: Equality, Inequality, Hierarchy, Exclusion, Poverty, and Deprivation.
• Theories of Social Stratification: Structural Functionalism, 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.

6. Work 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Systems of Kinship:

• Family, Household, Marriage.
• Types and Forms of Family.
• Lineage and Descent.
• Patriarchy and Sexual Division of Labour.
• Contemporary Trends.

10. 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 CSE Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 2

Indian Society: Structure and Change

A. 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.

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:
  • Perspectives on the Study of Caste Systems: 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 Schemes.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.

UPSC tests conceptual clarity and applied knowledge through this subject. As an optional, sociology provides a multi-disciplinary perspective on Indian society useful for the exam and as future administrators. The dynamic nature of the syllabus makes it relevant for understanding modern Indian society. By studying sociology, candidates gain crucial analytical skills to examine social realities and trends. The UPSC tests both conceptual clarity and applied knowledge through this paper.

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