Sociology Optional · Paper II · Social Structure
Systems of Kinship in India Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Systems of Kinship in India (Paper II, Social Structure), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Lineage and descent, types of kinship systems, family and marriage, household dimensions, patriarchy and entitlements.
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1984–2025
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55
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Paper II · Unit 05
Systems of Kinship in India 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: Systems of Kinship in India
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: Systems of Kinship in India
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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What is kinship? Briefly explain G. P. Murdock’s contribution to the study of the kinship system.
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How same sex marriages are responsible for population dynamics in India? Discuss.
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Why is the study of marriage important in Sociology? Analyse the implications of changing marriage patterns for Indian society.
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Do you think that family bondings are being affected by the changing kinship patterns in India? Comment.
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Is patriarchy a key to understanding different forms of inequalities in Indian society? Elaborate.
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Examine the concept of ‘Cultural Pluralism’ in the context of India’s Unity in Diversity.
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Define the concepts of ‘Descent’ and ‘Alliance’. Differentiate between North Indian and South Indian Kinship systems with examples.
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Analyse the role of market and modern forces in understanding the changing trends in marriage systems in India.
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Discuss the material basis of patriarchy as an ideological system.
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Discuss different forms of Kinship system in India.
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Discuss the conceptual issues about lineage and descent in India. Give suitable illustrations.
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Analyze household dimensions of family in India.
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Define patriarchy. Does it have bearings on women’s entitlement in Indian family system? Explain.
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Illustrate the importance of ‘Kanyadan’ and ‘Kulabadhu’ in changing institutions of marriage and family.
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Western patriarchy which surrenders feminine principles is the new development project in India. Do you agree with this view? Why?
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Clarify the distinction between ‘household’ and ‘family’ and evaluate whether joint families have completely disintegrated.
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Compare the North Indian Kinship System with the South Indian Kinship System.
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Write short notes with a sociological perspective: Patriarchy as a form of dominance.
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Bring out the significance of the difference between family and household.
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Give some of the important studies relating to the structural changes in the Indian family system.
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What is patriarchy ? How does it affect the child socialization pattern in India ?
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Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following in about 150 words : Types of kinship systems in India.
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Define Patriarchy. How does it impact the overall entitlement of a girl child in India?
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Write short note on the following with a sociological perspective : Challenges to institution of marriage.
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Distinguish between : Affinal kin and Consanguineous kin.
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Distinguish between : Marriage as sacrament and marriage as contract.
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Comment on the social and cultural determinants of sexual division of labour.
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Has nuclear family existed in traditional India ? Discuss with reference to the views of I. P. Desai.
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Comment critically on Linkages between Patriarchy and honour killings.
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Comment on the influence of social and cultural factors on family planning in India.
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Comment on the changes in the household dimensions of family under modem economic reforms.
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What has been the impact of globalisation on the cultural aspect(s) of the family?
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What is Patriarchy? How have the women’s movements confronted the norms of Patriarchy?
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Discuss the impact of legislation and socioeconomic changes on marriage and family institutions. Are these institutions weakening in contemporary India?
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Write short note: Industrialisation and family change in India, with examples.
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Write short note: Generation Gap.
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Discuss the influence of socio-cultural factors on age of marriage in India.
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What factors are responsible for the instability of the Indian family? Will the family survive the present crisis in modem society?
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Outline the social factors related to generation gap. How has the generation gap led to the problem of youth unrest?
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“Nuclear families grow into joint families and then break into nuclear families. The change from nuclear to joint and from joint to nuclear families is fairly frequent in India.” Explain the changes in the structure and functions of joint family in this context.
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Write short note : Legislation and socio-economic change in family.
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Write short note : Changing pattern of Hindu joint family.
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‘Family jointness still continues unaffected by the differences of religion, caste, urbanization and occupation’. Elucidate
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Critically assess the role of social legislation in bringing about basic structural changes in marriage, family and property in India. What are the main obstacles in evolving a common Civil Code?
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Write short note : Social Implications of Intercaste marriages.
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Write short note : Acculturation.
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Write short note : Regional Variation in Kinship System
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Examine the roots of youth unrest. How can we channel youth power for national development ?
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Write short note : The Indian family in continuity and change.
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How far is generational disaffiliation responsible for youth activism in India? Why is the Indian youth failing to respond to the national challenges?
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Examine the impact of recent social legislation on Hindu marriage and family with special reference to the status of women.
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Trace the impact of urbanisation on the Hindu family.
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