Religion and Society

Sociology Optional PYQPs, Sociology Optional
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Model answers for these questions. 54 UPSC questions from Religion and Society (1985–2026) are solved in Sociology Optional PYQ Solutions, with a full model answer for each. Use the View answer links in the table, or open the whole unit topic-wise, newest year first.

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YearQuestionAnswer
2026Discuss the relationship between religion and science in modern society. Do they necessarily remain in conflict? (20 marks)View answer
2026How does the rise of new 'cults' and 'sects' influence intercaste relations? (10 marks)View answer
2026How does Emile Durkheim conceptualize religion as a 'social fact'? Explain. (10 marks)View answer
2025How do theories of Marx, Weber and Durkheim differ in understanding religion? Explain. (20 marks)View answer
2025What is the nature of the relationship between science and religion in modern society? Analyse with suitable examples. (10 marks)View answer
2024How does a multicultural society accommodate diversities of all kinds- ethnic, linguistic and religious? Discuss its major challenges.View answer
2024How do you understand the phenomena of the mushrooming of sects and cults in contemporary society? Discuss the factors responsible for the trend.View answer
2024Discuss the concept of animism and differentiate it from naturism.View answer
2024Do modernization and secularization necessarily go together? Give your views.View answer
2023What is Taylorism? Analyze its merits and demerits.View answer
2023What are new religious movements? Elaborate emphasizing their forms and orientationsView answer
2023Highlight the differences and similarities between totemism and animism.View answer
2023What functions does religion perform in a pluralistic society?View answer
2022Write a note on global trends of secularization.View answer
2022How do-little tradition and great tradition coexist in contemporary Indian society?View answer
2021Critically compare the views of E.B. Tylor and Max Muller on Religion.View answer
2021What is cult? Explain the growth of cults in the contemporary world.View answer
2021Give your comments on the growth of religious revivalism in the present-day context.View answer
2020State the reasons for the various religious beliefs and practices in pre-modern societies.View answer
2019Are all world religious patriarchal Substantiate your answer with examples?View answer
2018What are sects? Discuss the role in multi-religious societies with empirical examples.View answer
2018Discuss the challenges thrown by religious revivalism to a secular nation- state.View answer
2017Give an assessment of Durkheimian notion of 'sacred' and 'profane' in sociology of religion.View answer
2017Problematise the concept of secularism in the present context.View answer
2017Elaborate on various types of religious practices prevalent in Indian society.View answer
2016Is religion playing an important role in increasing fundamentalism ? Give reasons for your answer.View answer
2016How is Durkheim's theory of religion different from Max Weber's theory of religion ?View answer
2016"Religious pluralism is the order of present-day societies." Explain by giving suitable examples.View answer
2015Distinguish between sects and cults with illustrations.View answer
2015Define Secularisation. What are its major dimensions in the modern world ?View answer
2014How is religious revivalism different from communalism ? Elaborate with suitable examples from the Indian context.View answer
2013“Science has empirical means to logical ends and religion has non-empirical means to logical ends.” – Comment. (150 words)View answer
2013Is religion antithetical to science ? Comment.View answer
2012Discuss the factors leading to growing religious revivalism in the contemporary world.View answer
2011Write short note on Cultural Pluralism from a sociological perspective (in about 150 words)View answer
2011Define sect, cult and religion. In what way do Weber’s views on religion differ from those of Durkheim ?View answer
2010Examine the social dimensions of religious revivalism and fundamentalism in the context of globalisation.View answer
2010Write short note on Positive Religion.View answer
2010“Science has empirical means to logical ends and religion has non – empirical means to logical ends.” CommentView answer
2009“Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” Comment on this statement critically in the light of emerging sociological contexts in Europe, USA and India.View answer
2009Write short note on Secularization of societies in the modern world.View answer
2008In what important ways can religion be a force both for social stability and social change ? Discuss.View answer
2006Write short note : Religion and Science.View answer
2005Write short note : Origins of religious beliefs and practices in premodern societies.View answer
2004Examine the functional as well as dysfunctional aspects of religion in a pluralistic society taking India and the United States of America as illustrative models.View answer
2001Write short note : Religion and Science.View answer
2000Critically examine functional and dysfunctional aspects of religion.View answer
1999Elaborate on the social necessity of religion. Discuss the relationship between religion and science.View answer
1998Write short note : Religious pluralism.View answer
1997Write short note : Fundamentals of religion.View answer
1992What is happening to religion in the face of challenges of science in modern societies ? Elaborate your answer with the help of sociological literature.View answer
1990“Religion is said to have emancipated human beings on the one hand but it also alienates them on the other’. Bring out the paradoxical functions religion plays in a modern secular society.View answer
1986Discuss the role of religion in the world today. Has the supergrowth of science any de- mystifying effect on religion ?View answer
1985Write short note : Religion and Society.View answer
1984Write short note : Religious factor in economic development.View answer
1983Write short note : Religious and scientific world views.View answer

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