UPSC Sociology Syllabus
Paper – I: Fundamentals of Sociology
Sociology Syllabus For UPSC: Sociology – The Discipline
- Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology.
- Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
- Sociology and common sense.
Sociology as Science
| Science, scientific method and critique | Major theoretical strands of research methodology |
| Positivism and its critique | Fact value and objectivity |
| Non- positivist methodologies | — |
Research Methods and Analysis
| Qualitative and quantitative methods | Techniques of data collection |
| Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity | — |
UPSC Sociology Syllabus Optional – Sociological Thinkers
- Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
- Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.
- Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
- Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables.
- Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
- Mead – Self and identity.
Sociology Syllabus For UPSC: Stratification and Mobility
| Concepts | equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation |
| Theories of social stratification | Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory |
| Dimensions | Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race |
| Social mobility | open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility |
Sociology Optional Syllabus: Works and Economic Life
- Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society, feudal society, industrial /capitalist society
- Formal and informal organization of work
- Labour and society
Sociology Syllabus For UPSC :Politics and Society
- Sociological theories of power
- Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties
- Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology
- Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution
Religion and Society
| Sociological theories of religion | |
| Types of religious practices | Animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults. |
| Religion in modern society | Religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism. |
UPSC Sociology Syllabus Optional – Systems of Kinship
| Family, household, marriage | Types and forms of family |
| Lineage and descent | Patriarchy and sexual division of labour |
| Contemporary trends | — |
Social Change in Modern Society
| Sociological theories of social change | Development and dependency |
| Agents of social change | Education and social change |
| Science, technology and social change | — |
Paper – II: Indian Society – Structure and Change
UPSC IAS Sociology Syllabus – Introducing Indian Society
| PERSPECTIVES ON THE STUDY OF INDIAN SOCIETY | |
| Indology (GS. 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 |
Sociology Syllabus For UPSC :Social Structure
| RURAL AND AGRARIAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE | |
| The idea of Indian village and village studies. | Agrarian social structure – evolution of land tenure system, land reforms. |
| CASTE SYSTEM | |
| Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille. | Features of caste system. |
| Untouchability – forms and perspectives. | — |
| TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN INDIA | |
| Definitional problems | Geographical spread |
| Colonial policies and tribes | Issues of integration and autonomy |
| SOCIAL CLASSES IN INDIA | |
| Agrarian class structure | Industrial class structure |
| Middle classes in India | — |
| SYSTEMS OF KINSHIP IN INDIA | |
| Lineage and descent in India | Types of kinship systems |
| Family and marriage in India | Household dimensions of the family |
| Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour | — |
| RELIGION AND SOCIETY | |
| Religious communities in India | Problems of religious minorities |
UPSC Sociology Syllabus Optional :Social Changes in India
| VISIONS OF SOCIAL CHANGE IN INDIA | |
| Idea of development planning and mixed economy | Constitution, law and social change |
| Education and social change | — |
| RURAL AND AGRARIAN TRANSFORMATION IN INDIA | |
| Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes | Green revolution and social change |
| Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture | Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration |
| INDUSTRIALIZATION AND URBANISATION IN INDIA | |
| Evolution of modern industry in India | Growth of urban settlements in India |
| Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization | Informal sector, child labour |
| Slums and deprivation in urban areas | — |
| POLITICS AND SOCIETY | |
| Nation, democracy and citizenship | Political parties, pressure groups , social and political elite |
| Regionalism and decentralization of power | Secularization |
| SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN MODERN INDIA | |
| Peasants and farmers movements | Women’s movement |
| Backward classes & Dalit movement | Environmental movements |
| Ethnicity and Identity movements | — |
| POPULATION DYNAMICS | |
| Population size, growth, composition and distribution | Components of population growth: birth, death, migration |
| Population policy and family planning | Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health |
| CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION | |
| Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability | Poverty, deprivation and inequalities |
| Violence against women | Caste conflicts |
| Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism | Illiteracy and disparities in education |
UPSC Sociology Books:
Here we’ve added UPSC Sociology Syllabus Books list to prepare well for Paper 1 and Paper 2, must have a glance:
| Paper-I | |
| 1 | Sociology – Anthony Giddens |
| 2 | Sociology – Harlombos and Holborn |
| 3 | Sociological Thought – Francis Abraham and John Henry Morgan |
| 4 | Political Theory – O P Gauba |
| Paper-II | |
| 5 | Social Change in India – M N Srinivas |
| 6 | Modernization of Indian Tradition – Yogendra Singh |
| 7 | Handbook of Indian Sociology – Veena Das |
| 8 | Indian Society and Culture – NadeemHasnain |
| 9 | Rural Sociology – Doshi and Jain |
| 10 | Social Background of Indian Nationalism – A R Desai |