UPSC Sociology Syllabus Overview
Just like other optional subjects, the Sociology optional syllabus for UPSC is divided into two papers namely Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each paper carries 250 marks and the total marks of the optional paper is 500. Acing the optional paper would help the candidates to fetch good marks in the UPSC Mains exam.
Paper 1 talks about the fundamentals of Sociology and on the other hand Paper 2 is all about Indian Society: Structure and Change. Candidates can have a brief look at the Sociology optional syllabus for UPSC below.
UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus | Topics |
UPSC Sociology Syllabus Paper 1 (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 |
Sociology Optional Syllabus Paper 2 (Indian Society: Structure and Change) | Introducing Indian Society Social Structure Social Changes in India |
UPSC Sociology Syllabus PDF
Candidates can download the UPSC Sociology Syllabus in both English and Hindi by clicking on the link we have provided below.
It is recommended to keep a copy of the Sociology syllabus while preparing for this optional subject so that candidates won’t miss out on important topics.
UPSC Sociology Syllabus UPSC Paper 1
Paper 1 of the UPSC Sociology optional syllabus includes fundamentals of Sociology such as social changes in modern society, religion & society, politics & society, works & economic life, sociological thinkers, etc. Candidates can take a look at the complete Sociology optional syllabus for UPSC Paper 1 below.
UPSC Sociology Syllabus Paper 2
Paper 2 of the UPSC Sociology syllabus introduces Indian society, social structure, and social changes in India. Gaining insights on these topics would be helpful in the preparation of the GS papers of the UPSC Mains Syllabus as well. Below candidates can check out the complete Sociology Syllabus for UPSC Mains paper-2.
Understanding the Sociology Optional Syllabus for UPSC
The highlights of the UPSC Sociology Syllabus are mentioned below that would help the candidates to develop a proper understanding of the syllabus.
Difficulty Level- Mots of the topics covered in the syllabus are easy to understand. Even a beginner with no background knowledge in Sociology can master most of the topics with ease. But a few topics would be hard to understand i.e. modernization of Indian tradition and ethnic movements etc.
Structure of UPSC Sociology Syllabus Paper-1
The paper 1 includes a total of 10 units which are mainly divided into 4 sections such as
- Sociology Basics- in the first 3 units candidates will know about the emergence of Sociology, whether this subject is scientific or not, research methods, etc.
- Thinkers- there are 6 thinkers in paper-1 of the Sociology Syllabus for UPSC. 3 are functionalists (namely Durkheim, Merton, and Parsons), one is a symbolic interactionist (GH Mead), one is a conflict theorist (Marx), and one is an interpretive sociologist (Weber).
- Social Changes- this unit gives major emphasis on the changes in society due to the impact of education, science & technology, education, and mass media.
UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus Paper-2
There are 15 units included in the Paper-2 of the Sociology optional syllabus for UPSC as follows:
- Introduction- this section introduces students to Indian Sociology and also analyzes the impact of British rule on our society.
- Changes in Indian Society- this section teaches about the impact of laws and the constitution. How our society changes with the spread of education and how the government policies affect the society and developmental process.
- Structure of Indian Society- this is one of the crucial and biggest sections of the UPSC Sociology optional syllabus paper-2. It covers important social institutions in 6 units namely tribal groups, various classes, caste systems, agrarian social structures, kinship & family systems, and religion
Important Topics in UPSC Sociology Syllabus
All the topics from the UPSC Sociology optional syllabus don’t carry the same weightage. Some topics are more important than others. However, candidates must give equal attention to each topic. Below we have highlighted the most important topics in the Sociology optional syllabus for UPSC.
Important Topics in Paper-1 of the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus | Sociological Thinkers (Unit-IV) is one of the most important topics here. Among all the thinkers Marx, Durkheim & Weber have the maximum weightage. In the Social Institutions, questions are asked mostly from the units of family and religion. |
Important Topics in Paper-2 of the UPSC Sociology Syllabus | Important sections are village studies, untouchability, Patriarchy, integration of tribes, working-class, social movements, and secularism. |
Preparation Strategy for UPSC Sociology Syllabus
The Sociology Optional Syllabus for UPSC is divided into 2 papers, and to score well in both papers candidate must follow a proper preparation strategy. Here we have provided proper planning to cover the Sociology optional UPSC syllabus in the best possible way.
- Analyze the syllabus- The aspirant must go through the Sociology Optional Syllabus for UPSC to understand each and every topic and sub-topic. Download the UPSC Sociology syllabus PDF and keep a copy with yourself while preparing for this subject.
- Refer to UPSC's previous year's question papers after mugging up the UPSC Sociology optional syllabus to know the nature of the question and the pattern of the questions.
- Read from the best books- there are many standard books like NCERT books, Haralambos and Holborn, Indian Sociological thought by BK Nagla, etc. Try to cover all the important topics from the book you want.
- Focus on current affairs- as paper 2 of Sociology optional is dynamic in nature, there are only a few standard sources available for it. So you need to connect this paper with dynamic current affairs while writing your answer.
Best Books for UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus
You can’t prepare for the UPSC Exam without having the right UPSC Books by your side. Below we have covered some of the best UPSC Sociology Optional Books that would help you to cover the UPSC sociology optional syllabus in an efficient manner. You can refer to these UPSC Sociology books and kickstart your preparation.
- Sociology Themes and Perspectives – Michael Haralambos, Martin Holborn
- Society In India: Concepts, Theories And Recent Trends – Ram Ahuja
- Social Problems In India – Ram Ahuja
- Sociology – Anthony Giddens
- Sociological Theory – George Ritzer
- Oxford Dictionary Of Sociology
- Modernization Of Indian Tradition – Yogendra Singh
- Sociological Thought – Francis Abraham, John Henry Morgan
- Social Change In Modern India – M. N. SRINIVAS
- Caste Its Twentieth Century Avatar – M. N. SRINIVAS
- Persistence and Change in Tribal India – M.V. Rao
- Social Background of Indian Nationalism – A. R. Desai
You can cover your UPSC Sociology syllabus with the help of these books. However, it would be more beneficial if you focus on current affairs along with preparing these books. Giving UPSC mock tests and practicing previous year's papers would help the candidates to understand the Sociology Syllabus for UPSC in a better way.
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