Sociology Optional Notes for UPSC

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Fundamentals of Sociology

Introducing Indian Society

Social Structure

Social Changes in India

Paper – 1: Sociology Optional Notes (UPSC)

Fundamentals of Sociology

1. Sociology: The Discipline

1A. Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of Sociology.

1B. Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.

1C. Sociology and common sense.

2.Sociology as a Science

2A. Science, Scientific method and Critique.

2B. Major theoretical strands of research methodology.

2C. Positivism and its critique.

2D. Fact value and objectivity.

2E. Non-positivist methodologies

3.Research Methods and Analysis

3A. Qualitative and quantitative methods

3B. Techniques of data collection.

3C. Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.

4.Sociological Thinkers

4A. Karl Marx – Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.

4B. Emile Durkhteim – Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.

4C. Max Weber – Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.

4D. Talcolt Parsons – Social system, pattern variables.

4E. Robert K. Merton – Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.

4F. G H Mead – Self and identity.

5.Stratification and Mobility

5A. Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation.

5B. Theories of social stratification – Structural func tionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.

5C. Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race.

5D. Social mobility – open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.

6.Works and Economic Life

6A. Social organization of work in different types of society – slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society.

6B. Formal and informal organization of work.

6C. Labour and society.

7. Politics and Society

7A. Sociological theories of power.

7B. Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups and political parties.

7C. Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.

7D. Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.

8. Religion and Society

8A. Sociological theories of religion.

8B. Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.

8C. Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.

9.Systems of Kinship

9A. Family, household, marriage.

9B. Types and forms of family.

9C. Lineage and descent.

9D. Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.

9E. Contemporary trends.

10. Social Change in Modern Society

10A. Sociological theories of social change.

10B. Development and dependency.

10C. Agents of social change.

10D. Education and social change.

10E. Science, technology and social change.

Paper – 2: Sociology Optional Notes (UPSC)

Introducing Indian Society

1.Perspectives on the study of Indian society

1A. Indology (GS. Ghurye).

1B. Structural functionalism (M N Srinivas).

1C. Marxist sociology (A R Desai).

2.Impact of colonial rule on Indian society

2A. The social background of Indian nationalism.

2B. Modernization of Indian tradition

2C. Protests and movements during the colonial period.

2D. Social reforms

Social Structure

1.Rural and Agrarian Social Structure

1A. The idea of Indian village and village studies.

1B. Agrarian social structure – evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.

2.Caste System

2A. Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.

2B. Features of the caste system.

2C. Untouchability – forms and perspectives.

3.Tribal communities in India

3A. Definitional problems

3B. Geographical spread

3C. Colonial policies and tribes

3D. Issues of integration and autonomy

4. Social Classes in India

4A. Agrarian class structure

4B. Industrial class structure

4C. Middle classes in India

5. Systems of Kinship in India

5A. Lineage and descent in India

5B. Types of kinship systems

5C. Family and marriage in India

5D. Household dimensions of the family

6. Religion and Society

6A. Religious communities in India

6B. Problems of religious minorities

6C. Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour

Social Changes in India

1. Visions of Social Change in India

1A. The idea of development planning and mixed economy

1B. Constitution, law and social change

1C. Education and social change

2. Rural and Agrarian transformation in India

2A. Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes

2B. Green revolution and social change

2C. Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture

2D. Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration

3. Industrialization and Urbanisation in India

3A. Evolution of modern industry in India

3B. Growth of urban settlements in India

3C. Working-class: structure, growth, class mobilization

3D. The informal sector, child labour

3E. Slums and deprivation in urban areas

4. Politics and Society

4A. Nation, democracy and citizenship

4B. Political parties, pressure groups , social and political elite

4C. Regionalism and decentralization of power

4D. Secularization

5.Social Movements in Modern India

5A. Peasants and farmers movements

5B. Women’s movement

5C. Backward classes & Dalit movement

5D. Environmental movements

5E. Ethnicity and Identity movements

6. Population Dynamics

6A. Population size, growth, composition and distribution

6B. Components of population growth: birth, death, migration

6C. Population policy and family planning

6D. Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health

7.Challenges of Social Transformation

7A. Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems, and sustainability

7B. Poverty, deprivation and inequalities

7C. Violence against Women

7D. Caste conflicts

7E. Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism

7F. Illiteracy and disparities in education

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