Sociology Optional Syllabus for UPSC | How to Prepare Sociology Optional for UPSC

Sociology is one of the most popular optional subjects among UPSC aspirants due to its short, easy-to-understand syllabus and convenient availability of resources. Many of the UPSC toppers have also had sociology as an optional subject, adding to its appeal amongst aspirants. For example, Anu Kumari (AIR 2 in IAS Exam 2017) is one of the most well-known toppers who had sociology as an optional subject. In this article, you will learn the Sociology optional syllabus as well as preparation tips.

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Why choose Sociology Optional?

Here’s why many aspirants choose sociology as an optional subject, and why you should consider doing so.

Syllabus of Sociology Optional

The Sociology Optional syllabus for the UPSC Main Examination is divided into Paper-1 and Paper-2. While the Paper-1 syllabus covers core sociological concepts, Paper-2 deals with Indian society. Following is the tabulated topic-wise sociology optional syllabus for your convenience. 

Paper 1: Fundamentals of Sociology

Paper 1 Sociology Optional Syllabus 

Sociology - The Discipline
  1. Modernity and social changes in Europe and the emergence of sociology.
  2. Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
  3. Sociology and common sense.

Sociology as Science
  1. Science, scientific method, and critique.
  2. Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
  3. Positivism and its critique.
  4. Fact value and objectivity.
  5. Non- positivist methodologies.

Research Methods and Analysis
  1. Qualitative and quantitative methods.
  2. Techniques of data collection.
  3. Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.

Sociological Thinkers
  1. Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
  2. Emile Durkheim- Division of labor, social fact, suicide, religion, and society.
  3. Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, the protestant ethic, and the spirit of capitalism.
  4. Talcott Parsons- Social system, pattern variables.
  5. Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
  6. Mead - Self and identity.                       

Stratification and Mobility
  1. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation.
  2. Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.
  3. Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race.
  4. Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.

Works and Economic Life
  1. Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society, feudal society, industrial /capitalist society.
  2. Formal and informal organization of work.
  3. Labour and society.

Politics and Society
  1. Sociological theories of power.
  2. Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
  3. Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
  4. Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.

 

Religion and Society
  1. Sociological theories of religion.
  2. Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
  3. Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.

Systems of Kinship
  1. Family, household, marriage.
  2. Types and forms of family.
  3. Lineage and descent.
  4. Patriarchy and sexual division of labor.
  5. Contemporary trends.

Social Change in Modern Society
  1. Sociological theories of social change.
  2. Development and dependency.
  3. Agents of social change.
  4. Education and social change.
  5. Science, technology, and social change.

Paper 2: Indian Society: Structure and Change

Introducing Indian Society

Perspectives on the study of Indian society
  1. Indology (GS. Ghurye).
  2. Structural functionalism (M N Srinivas).
  3. Marxist sociology (A R Desai).

Impact of colonial rule on Indian society
  1. Social background of Indian nationalism.
  2. Modernization of Indian tradition.
  3. Protests and movements during the colonial period.
  4. Social reforms.

Social Structure

Rural and Agrarian Social Structure
  1. The idea of the Indian village and village studies.
  2. Agrarian social structure - evolution of land tenure system, land reforms

Caste System
  1. Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
  2. Features of caste system.
  3. Untouchability - forms and perspectives.

Tribal communities in India
  1. Definitional problems.
  2. Geographical spread.
  3. Colonial policies and tribes.
  4. Issues of integration and autonomy.

Social Classes in India
  1. Agrarian class structure.
  2. Industrial class structure.
  3. Middle classes in India

Systems of Kinship in India
  1. Lineage and descent in India.
  2. Types of kinship systems.
  3. Family and marriage in India.
  4. Household dimensions of the family.

Religion and Society
  1. Religious communities in India.
  2. Problems of religious minorities.
  3. Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labor

Social Changes in India

Visions of Social Change in India
  1. Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
  2. Constitution, law and social change.
  3. Education and social change.

Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India
  1. Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, and poverty alleviation schemes.
  2. Green revolution and social change.
  3. Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
  4. Problems of rural labour, bondage, and migration.

 

Industrialization and Urbanisation in India
  1. Evolution of modern industry in India.
  2. Growth of urban settlements in India.
  3. Working-class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
  4. Informal sector, child labour.
  5. Slums and deprivation in urban areas.

Politics and Society
  1. Nation, democracy, and citizenship.
  2. Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.
  3. Regionalism and decentralization of power.
  4. Secularization

 

Social Movements in Modern India
  1. Peasants and farmers' movements.
  2. Women’s movement.
  3. Backward classes & Dalit movement.
  4. Environmental movements.
  5. Ethnicity and Identity movements.

Population Dynamics
  1. Population size, growth, composition, and distribution.
  2. Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
  3. Population policy and family planning.
  4. Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.

Challenges of Social Transformation
  1. Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems, and sustainability.
  2. Poverty, deprivation. and inequalities.
  3. Violence against women.
  4. Caste conflicts.
  5. Ethnic conflicts, communalism, and religious revivalism.
  6. Illiteracy and disparities in education.

For the complete UPSC Mains syllabus, refer to the linked article.

Booklist for Sociology Optional

Sociology Optional is one of the popular optional subjects among UPSC aspirants. The resources for this optional subject are also widely available. Below is the paper-wise booklist for Sociology optional: 

Booklist for Sociology Optional Paper 1: 

Booklist for Sociology Optional Paper 2:

Note: You do not need to read these books cover to cover. Refer to the syllabus and read only the syllabus-specific topics. You can prepare short notes for ease of understanding and quick revision.

For the complete booklist for UPSC preparation, read the linked article.

How to prepare Sociology Optional for UPSC Mains?

Sociology Optional is a preferred choice among many UPSC aspirants due to the reasons discussed in the article above. However, various theories can be challenging to understand without expert guidance. You must seek external guidance if you do not have a mentor or a senior who can guide you. Thereafter, the following approach can be used to enhance your preparation: 

This is a brief overview of the UPSC Sociology Optional syllabus, booklist, and preparation strategy. If you are unsure about how to choose the best UPSC optional subject, read the linked article.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are several pros and cons that one must consider before choosing Sociology as an Optional for UPSC Mains. Some of the pros of choosing sociology as an optional subject include the overlapping and short syllabus, consistent success rate amongst toppers, scoring potential, and that one doesn't need a background in Sociology to perform well in this subject. It is also highly relevant to the job of an IAS officer and helps in understanding social issues better.

Choosing Sociology as an optional subject can have some cons as well. Some of these are the subjective nature of evaluation in this paper, the dynamic nature of the syllabus; therefore, aspirants need to link current affairs with static concepts while writing answers, and the requirement for rigorous answer-writing practice.

Yes, Sociology optional is considered one of the most scoring optional subjects in the Main. If aspirants have good conceptual clarity and consistently practice answer writing, then they can easily score high marks in the Main.

The syllabus is divided into two papers: 

  • Paper 1: Fundamentals of Sociology – theories, thinkers, and core concepts.
  • Paper 2: Indian Society – structure, change, and issues related to caste, class, gender, and modernization.

The detailed syllabus for both papers is provided in the article above.

Yes, Sociology is a good choice for first-time UPSC takers. The syllabus is concise and easy to cover, concepts are easy to understand, and no academic background in sociology is required. With consistent study and practice, even beginners can easily score good marks.

The success rate of the Sociology Optional is one of the highest in all humanities subjects, making it a preferred choice for many aspirants. In 2021, the success rate was 8.5%. The average success rate for the sociology optional has been 8-10% in recent years.