UPSC sociology syllabus for the Mains exam:
Paper-I
Section A: Fundamentals of Sociology
- Sociology - The Discipline:
- Nature and scope of sociology
- Relationship with other social sciences
- Development of sociology in India
- Sociology as Science:
- Methodological issues in the study of society
- Research methods and techniques
- Data collection and analysis
- Sociological Thinkers:
- Major contributions of Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Talcott Parsons, Robert K. Merton
- Stratification and Mobility:
- Concepts of equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation
- Theories of social stratification: Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory
- Dimensions of social stratification: Class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race
- Social mobility: Open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources, and causes of mobility
Section B: Indian Society: Structure and Change
- Introducing Indian Society:
- Perspectives on the study of Indian society: Indology (G.S. Ghurye), Structural functionalism (M.N. Srinivas), Marxist sociology (A.R. Desai)
- Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: Social background of Indian nationalism, Modernization of Indian tradition, Protests and movements during the colonial period, Social reforms
- Social Structure:
- Rural and Agrarian Social Structure: Landownership and social stratification, Changes in land relations, Impact of globalization on rural society
- Caste System: Structure and origins of the caste system, Untouchability and social exclusion, Caste system and social change
- Tribal Communities in India: Problems of tribal communities, Development and displacement of tribal communities
Paper-II
Section A: Institutions and Processes of Social Change
- Family and Kinship:
- Changing patterns of family and kinship in India
- Marriage and family: norms and variations
- Gender roles and relations within the family
- Religion and Society:
- Religious institutions and their role in society
- Secularization and religious change
- Religion and social conflict
- Economic System and Processes of Development:
- Agrarian structure and change
- Industrialization and urbanization
- Globalization and its impact on the Indian economy
- Political System and Processes of Change:
- Democracy and social change
- Political parties and social movements
- State and civil society
Section B: Issues and Challenges of Indian Society
- Population and Society:
- Demographic trends and their implications
- Population control policies and their impact
- Gender and population issues
- Education and Social Change:
- Role of education in social change
- Educational inequalities and social mobility
- Challenges of educational development
- Social Deviance and Crime:
- Nature and types of social deviance
- Crime and social control
- Juvenile delinquency
- Social Movements and Social Change:
- Major social movements in India
- Impact of social movements on social change
- Challenges faced by social movements
