Sociology Optional · Paper II · Introducing Indian Society
Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society (Paper II, Introducing Indian Society), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Indology (Ghurye), structural functionalism (Srinivas), Marxist sociology (Desai).
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1986–2026
Years covered
55
Questions listed
3
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Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All Sociology Optional units
Paper II · Unit 01
Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
Free practice
Previous year questions: Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2026
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2025
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2024
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2023
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2010
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2011
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2012
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2013
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2014
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2015
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2016
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2017
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2018
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2019
Sociology PYQ Master Pack
Solved PYQ answers: Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society
Topic-wise model answers, newest exam year first. Members open the full answer; everyone else sees the question and can join the pack.
PYQ Solutions
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Indological approach, advocated by G. S. Ghurye, focuses on the study of Indian society through Indian texts. How can Indological approach be useful in the study of other society? Comment in detail.
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Compare G. S. Ghurye’s and A. R. Desai’s approaches used in understanding Indian society.
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Bring out the debates of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ approaches in understanding Indian society.
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‘Textual perspective is important in understanding of Indian Social System.’ Discuss.
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How would you appropriate to characterise G. S. Ghurye as a practitioner of ‘theoretical pluralism’?
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Do you think that in a society like India, orthogenetic changes take place through differentiation? Do you observe continuities in the orthogenetic process? Elaborate your answer with suitable examples.
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Justify that the Indian traditions are modernizing. Also discuss its contributing factors.
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Differentiate between ‘Western’ and ‘Indological’ perspectives on the study of Indian society. Bring out the major aspects of G. S. Ghurye’s contribution to ‘Indological’ approach.
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Highlight the significant features of A.R Desai’s ‘Dialectical Perspective’ to study Indian Society.
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Elaborate on M.N. Srinivas’s structural-functionalist approach to the study of Indian society.
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Critically examine G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach to the understanding of Indian society.
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Critically examine Yogendra Singh’s thesis on ‘Modernisation of Indian Tradition’.
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Examine the social background of growth of Indian nationalism.
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Elaborate A. R. Desai’s perspective to the study of Indian society.
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Elaborate Srinivas’s views on religion and society among the Coorgs.
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Give an account of Ranajit Guha’s approach in studying ‘subaltern class’.
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Write a note on G.S. Ghurye’s Indological perspective of understanding Indian society.
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Analyze A.R. Desai’s views on India’s path of development.
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Write a critique of the structural and functional perspective used by M.N. Srinivas in the understanding of Indian society.
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Write short notes with a sociological perspective: Salient features of A.R. Desai’s Marxist Sociology.
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Discuss Marxist approach to the analysis of Indian nationalism.
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Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following in 150 words : G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach to understand society in India.
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Write short note with a sociological perspective : M.N. Srinivas’s concept of westernisation.
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Write short note on the following with a sociological perspective : Limitations of the dialectical approach to the study of Indian society.
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Write short note on the following with a sociological perspective : Westernization and institutional changes in India.
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Write short note on the following with a sociological perspective : Interaction of ‘little tradition’ and ‘great tradition’.
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Distinguish between : Positional change and structural change.
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‘Indian society may be understood as a system of cognitive structures.’ How far do you agree with this statement ?
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How have social reform movements in colonial India contributed to modernization of Indian society ?
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Write short note on The book – view and the field – view in Indian sociology with a sociological perspective in note more than 150 words.
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Write short note with a sociological perspective on A. R. Desai’s characterization of leadership of Indian freedom movement.
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Comment critically on The heterogenic features that influenced Indian tradition, according to Yogendra Singh.
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How far is the structural functional perspective helpful in understanding changes in contemporary Indian society ?
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Write short note on Colonial hangover and its social impact.
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What are the main principles of the structural-functional perspective? Comment on the suitability of applying this perspective to the study of Indian society.
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Write short note on Indological perspective of G. S. Ghurye.
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How do you differentiate between social change and modernization ? Explain with examples from Indian society.
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How has the Marxist Perspective been applied to explain social background of Indian nationalism ?
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Describe the major aspects of traditional Hindu social organization. How far are they relevant for present day Indian society ?
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Discuss the metaphysical and ethical basis of Hindu social organization
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Examine the ways in which Indian society can be strengthened as multi-cultural society. Is the dominance of single culture a hindrance to multiculturalism in India?
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Write short note : Impact of West on Indian society.
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Write short note : Impact of Buddhism on Indian society
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Write short note : Response of Indian society to the early impact of West
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“Tradition and modernity co-exist in contemporary Indian society’.
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Discuss the factors responsible for this continuity and change.
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Explain the significance of empirical approach to the study of Indian society. How does the use of historical approach enrich empirical orientation.
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Write short note : Social significance of Grihasthasrama.
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Examine the utility and limitations of indological source material to understanding of Indian Society.
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Examine the features of continuity and change of Indian society in historical perspective.
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Write short note : Ethnic diversity and community integration.
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‘Indian tradition, today, exhibits a form of neotraditionalism along with modernisation’. Comment.
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Write short note : Basic features of traditional Hindu social organisation.
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Analyse the impact of the modern West on traditional social values in India.
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Examine the historical roots of Indian society and identify the factors of continuity and change in it.
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Assess the impact of the west in the shaping the Indian renaissance movement in the 19 th centuary.
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Examine the impact of Buddhism and Islam on the Hindu society.
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Write shprt note : The India intellectual between tradition and modernity.
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