The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) offers Sociology as an optional subject for the Civil Services Examination. Sociology is a social science discipline that explores the study of society, human behavior, social structures, and social changes. The UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus is designed to assess candidates' understanding of sociological concepts, theories, and their ability to critically analyze social phenomena.
The Sociology Optional subject is a popular choice among aspirants appearing for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civil Services Examination. It offers a comprehensive understanding of society, social institutions, and various social processes. The syllabus for UPSC Sociology Optional is designed to cover a wide range of topics that provide candidates with a deeper insight into sociological theories, research methodologies, and the dynamics of social change.
The UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus is divided into two papers, Paper-I and Paper-II. Each paper covers various topics that provide a comprehensive understanding of sociology and its relevance in contemporary society. Let's explore the key components of the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus:
IAS Sociology optional papers I and paper II together they carry 500 marks. Since IAS officers deal with many facets of society in their work, sociology is a popular choice among candidates for the optional subject slot in the UPSC Mains.
The syllabus is structured to ensure a comprehensive understanding of sociological theories, perspectives, and their practical applications. It covers both classical and contemporary sociological theories, along with an emphasis on research methodologies and sociological concepts.
To excel in the Sociology Optional paper, one should attempt both, the 1st and the 2nd paper with utmost and equal diligence; the candidates are encouraged to study the prescribed syllabus thoroughly and develop a sound understanding of sociological concepts, theories, and their interconnections. It is advisable to read standard textbooks, reference books, and scholarly articles to gain a deeper insight into the subject matter.
This unit introduces the history of sociology, its basic concepts, and its methods of inquiry. It also discusses the different perspectives in sociology, such as structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
This unit discusses the nature of science, the scientific method, and the role of values in sociological research. It also discusses the different types of data collection methods, such as surveys, interviews, and participant observation.
This unit discusses the work of some of the most influential sociologists, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and George Simmel.
This unit discusses the concepts of social stratification and social mobility. It also discusses the different forms of social stratification, such as caste, class, ethnicity, and gender. It also discusses the factors that contribute to social mobility, such as education, occupation, and family background.
This unit discusses the different types of economic systems, such as capitalism, socialism, and communism. It also discusses the different aspects of work, such as the labor market, industrial relations, and occupational stratification.
This unit discusses the different types of political systems, such as democracy, dictatorship, and anarchy. It also discusses the different aspects of politics, such as political participation, political parties, and the state.
This unit discusses the definition, functions, and types of religion. It also discusses the relationship between religion and society, such as the role of religion in social control and social change.
This unit discusses the definition, types, and functions of kinship. It also discusses the different aspects of marriage and family, such as the formation of families, the roles of family members, and the changes in family structure.
This unit discusses the theories of social change, such as modernization theory, dependency theory, and world systems theory. It also discusses the different processes of social change, such as industrialization, urbanization, and globalization.
This unit discusses the different perspectives on the study of Indian society, such as Indology, structural functionalism, and Marxist sociology. It also discusses the impact of colonial rule on Indian society, such as the social background of Indian nationalism, the modernization of Indian tradition, and the protests and movements during the colonial period.
This unit discusses the caste system, the class system, and ethnicity and tribe in India. It discusses the origin, features, functions, and changes in these systems.
This unit discusses the different types of social mobility in India, such as vertical mobility, horizontal mobility, and intergenerational mobility. It also discusses the determinants of social mobility, such as education, occupation, and family background.
This unit discusses the rural social structure, rural institutions, and rural development in India.
This unit discusses the urban social structure, urban institutions, and urbanization and its problems in India.
This unit discusses the visions of social change in India, the factors of social change, and the impact of social change on Indian society.
यह इकाई समाजशास्त्र के इतिहास, इसकी मूल अवधारणाओं और इसकी अनुसंधान विधियों को प्रस्तुत करती है। यह समाजशास्त्र में विभिन्न दृष्टिकोणों, जैसे संरचनात्मक कार्यप्रणाली, संघर्ष सिद्धांत और प्रतीकात्मक अंतःक्रियावाद पर भी चर्चा करता है।
यह इकाई विज्ञान की प्रकृति, वैज्ञानिक विधि और समाजशास्त्रीय अनुसंधान में मूल्यों की भूमिका पर चर्चा करती है। यह विभिन्न प्रकार के डेटा संग्रह विधियों, जैसे सर्वेक्षणों, साक्षात्कारों और प्रतिभागी अवलोकन पर भी चर्चा करता है।
यह इकाई कुछ सबसे प्रभावशाली समाजशास्त्रियों, जैसे कार्ल मार्क्स, मैक्स वेबर, इमाइल दुर्खीम, टॉल्कॉट पार्सन्स और जॉर्ज सीमेल के काम पर चर्चा करती है।
यह इकाई सामाजिक स्तरीकरण और सामाजिक गतिशीलता की अवधारणाओं पर चर्चा करती है। यह सामाजिक स्तरीकरण के विभिन्न रूपों, जैसे जाति, वर्ग, जातीयता और लिंग पर भी चर्चा करता है। यह सामाजिक गतिशीलता में योगदान देने वाले कारकों, जैसे शिक्षा, व्यवसाय और पारिवारिक पृष्ठभूमि पर भी चर्चा करता है।
यह इकाई विभिन्न प्रकार की आर्थिक प्रणालियों, जैसे पूंजीवाद, समाजवाद और साम्यवाद पर चर्चा करती है। यह काम के विभिन्न पहलुओं, जैसे श्रम बाजार, औद्योगिक संबंधों और व्यावसायिक स्तरीकरण पर भी चर्चा करता है।
यह इकाई विभिन्न प्रकार की राजनीतिक प्रणालियों, जैसे लोकतंत्र, तानाशाही और अराजकता पर चर्चा करती है। यह राजनीति के विभिन्न पहलुओं, जैसे राजनीतिक भागीदारी, राजनीतिक दलों और राज्य पर भी चर्चा करता है।
यह इकाई धर्म की परिभाषा, कार्यों और प्रकारों पर चर्चा करती है। यह धर्म और समाज के बीच संबंध पर भी चर्चा करता है, जैसे धर्म की भूमिका सामाजिक नियंत्रण और सामाजिक परिवर्तन में।
यह इकाई रिश्तेदारी की परिभाषा, प्रकारों और कार्यों पर चर्चा करती है। यह परिवार और परिवार के सदस्यों की भूमिकाओं के गठन, विभिन्न पहलुओं पर भी चर्चा करता है, और परिवार के ढांचे में परिवर्तन।
यह इकाई सामाजिक परिवर्तन के सिद्धांतों, जैसे आधुनिकीकरण सिद्धांत, निर्भरता सिद्धांत और विश्व प्रणालियों के सिद्धांत पर चर्चा करती है। यह सामाजिक परिवर्तन के विभिन्न प्रक्रियाओं, जैसे औद्योगीकरण, शहरीकरण और वैश्वीकरण पर भी चर्चा करता है।
इंडोलॉजी, संरचनात्मक कार्यप्रणाली और मार्क्सवादी समाजशास्त्र जैसे भारतीय समाज के अध्ययन के विभिन्न दृष्टिकोण।
भारतीय समाज पर औपनिवेशिक शासन का प्रभाव, जैसे भारतीय राष्ट्रवाद का सामाजिक आधार, भारतीय परंपरा का आधुनिकीकरण, और औपनिवेशिक काल के दौरान विरोध और आंदोलनों।
भारत में जाति व्यवस्था, वर्ग व्यवस्था और जातीयता और जनजाति।
इन प्रणालियों की उत्पत्ति, विशेषताएं, कार्य और परिवर्तन।
भारत में सामाजिक गतिशीलता के विभिन्न प्रकार, जैसे ऊर्ध्वाधर गतिशीलता, क्षैतिज गतिशीलता और पीढ़ीगत गतिशीलता।
सामाजिक गतिशीलता के निर्धारक, जैसे शिक्षा, व्यवसाय और पारिवारिक पृष्ठभूमि।
भारत में ग्रामीण सामाजिक संरचना, ग्रामीण संस्थान और ग्रामीण विकास।
A: Sociology optional syllabus for UPSC is divided in two parts, i.e. paper 1 (Fundamentals of Sociology) and paper 2(Indian Society: Structure and Change). The first paper deals with western thinkers, their theories and concepts related to methodology, stratification and mobility, work and economic life, politics and society, religion and society, system of kinship, social change in modern society etc. The sociology second paper exclusively deals with Indian society like Indian social structure and social change in India.
A: The syllabus is shorter for sociology optional. It is simple to comprehend and earning points as well. It is a social science and is equally well-liked by students of humanities as well as non-humanities. Pupils with a background in science they, with sociology optional, top in upsc exam because it is simple to understand.
A: The sociology optional syllabus can easily be covered within 3-4 months including the revision and all the text practices.
A: One of the main optional subjects for the UPSC with the highest scoring ability is sociology optional. Because of the significant boost their sociology optional marks give them, candidates consistently find their names in the top league of the merit list.
A: The best book for sociology optional are Sociology Themes & Perspectives by Haralambos and Holborn, Introduction to sociology by Anthony Giddens, Sociological Theory by George Ritzer, A Dictionary of Sociology by John Scott and many other great books.
A: One can simply visit the Topper IAS website and find the UPSC Sociology optional syllabus PDF on the ‘Notes’ page of the website.
A: Every year around 3000 aspirants opt for sociology optional. Since sociology optional syllabus is short, easy to understand and lots of applicability and very helpful for upsc essay papers so this enhances candidate’s chances to get selected in upsc civil services examination.
| Further Reading |
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| Sociology Optional Notes |
| Sociology Optional Books |
| Sociology Question Paper UPSC |
| Sociology Optional Strategy |
Sociology is a very interesting optional. It gives a unique perspective to see society and Ritesh sir has a very long background in sociology. He has done great research for the purpose of teaching sociology optional. He has a very vast, highly enriched and unique repository of contents to offer to his students. Also the quality of questions in test series was very good and it was very helpful for me to secure this 10th rank in CSE.
Ritesh sir is an excellent teacher when you look from the quality of content he provides to his student. My quality of answers really improved because I followed his lectures and discussions religiously. Ritesh sir gave me new perspective and insight to evaluate the things from sociological perspectives. Also sir provided me personal mentoring and guided me really well. I was in constant touch with him throughout my preparation. I would really thank Ritesh sir for mentoring me personally.
I want to thank Ritesh sir and Toppers IAS for helping with my sociology optional preparation. I am a civil engineer and a management post-graduate, no any background in sociology. I joined sociology foundation class of Ritesh sir and sir made sure that my journey of studying a new subject altogether was extremely smooth. Throughout my upsc journey Ritesh sir was always there to teach and guide me. He is very humble, responsive and directly approachable.
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Ritesh sir is an amazing teacher having vast knowledge and experience in the field of teaching sociology optional. He makes sociology very interesting, easy to understand and relate it with contemporary development. Also because of his personal mentoring I was able to clear this exam in my very first attempt. Thank you sir.
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