Important portions of UPSC sociology Every year, lakhs and lakhs of candidates appear for the UPSC exam. Since the UPSC exam is regarded as one of the most challenging civil service exams, few can make it to the UPSC Mains. However, if you have been fortunate enough to secure a position in the UPSC Mains, you have to buck up yourself and start preparing for the Mains. In the UPSC Mains, there are nine papers, of which two papers cater to the optional subject that you choose. The Indian civil service allows you to choose one subject as the optional paper amongst 48 subjects. Hence, it is wise to choose a subject that you are familiar with. Keeping in mind the vastness of the UPSC syllabus, most IAS aspirants prefer selecting sociology as their optional subject due to obvious reasons. Many aspirants join the sociology optional online test series to put their knowledge to the test for better preparation. However, many aspirants do not want to join any coaching centers. Does that mean they cannot prepare well? Certainly not, because we will cover the important portions in sociology that IAS candidates need to go through in this blog. Therefore, let's dive into the important portions of the IAS sociology syllabus without further delay. The sociology paper in the UPSC exam is divided into two parts – Paper I and Paper II. But, first, let's look into the essential portions of the UPSC sociology optional subject individually. Sociology paper I In the UPSC exam, short notes are an integral part of sociology or any other optional paper. in the first paper of sociology, you have to prepare short notes on the following topics: ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯
Discipline of sociology Economic, political, and educational system Science and technology Data collection techniques and analysis Scientific study of the society
Besides the short notes, you have to write long answers as well. The topics that are covered mainly in the long question section include the following: ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯
Karl Marx Max Weber Emile Durham Talcott Parson Robert Merton
You have to go through all the thinkers mentioned above policies, theories, and principles. Every year, the UPSC examiners and question paper setters pay special attention to the
thinkers. Therefore, there is no question of conducting a selective study regarding the portion of the thinkers. Now, let's focus on the 'Pioneering contributions to sociology.' Here, pay close attention to political and socio-economic background, views and analysis of the thinkers, and contemporary evolutions. Keep a keen eye on the arguments presented by the thinkers and try to analyze them critically. Sociology paper II In the second paper of UPSC sociology optional subject, the IAS aspirants should not keep them confined within the sociological terms and different sections of the society. Instead, they will have to broaden their perspectives and relate one topic to another. This will help to write better answers. Besides, topics like caste system, family, marriage, etc., should be studied in relation to the present scenario. The topics for long questions in sociology paper II include caste system, class culture, industry and society, agrarian social structure, social movements, women and society, tribal societies, and political processes. On the other hand, the short notes for sociology paper II should be prepared on marriage, family, kinship, population dynamics, social problems, education, political system, and historical moorings of Indian society. Conclusion Therefore, the optional sociology paper should not be kept for completion at the end. Instead, it is better to start early. Try to finish the syllabus by four months and keep the remaining two months for revision and practicing previous years' questions. If you face difficulties managing all by yourself, you can enroll in any reliable sociology optional online test series.