Paper I
UPSC_CSE_OPTIONAL_SOCIOLOGY_PAPER_I.md
1. Sociology – The Discipline
Sociology as a Science
Meaning and definition of sociology
Subject matter of sociology
Sociology as a scientific study of society
Scientific method in sociology
Objectivity and value neutrality
Sociology as an Interpretative Discipline
Sociology as a social science
Meaningful social action
Subjective meanings in social behaviour
Sociology and Common Sense
Difference between sociology and common sense
Sociological imagination
2. Sociology and Other Social Sciences
Sociology and Anthropology
Similarities and differences
Overlapping areas of study
Sociology and Psychology
Individual vs society
Social psychology
Sociology and History
Historical sociology
Use of historical methods
Sociology and Economics
Economic behaviour and social structure
Sociology and Political Science
Power
Authority
State and society
3. Basic Concepts and Terms
Social Structure
Meaning of social structure
Structural elements
Structure and agency
Social System
Meaning of social system
Components of social system
Social Organization
Formal organization
Informal organization
Social Institutions
Family
Marriage
Religion
Economy
Polity
Education
Culture
Meaning of culture
Material culture
Non-material culture
Culture and society
Cultural diversity
Social Groups
Primary groups
Secondary groups
In-groups and out-groups
Reference groups
4. Social Stratification
Concept of Stratification
Meaning and characteristics
Forms of social inequality
Class
Concept of social class
Class structure
Class consciousness
Status
Ascribed status
Achieved status
Power
Meaning of power
Authority
Legitimacy
Social Mobility
Vertical mobility
Horizontal mobility
Open and closed systems
5. Works and Economic Life
Social Organization of Work
Division of labour
Occupational structure
Industrial Sociology
Industrial organization
Informal sector
Formal sector
Work and Alienation
Marx’s concept of alienation
Impact of Globalization
Changing nature of work
Precarious labour
6. Politics and Society
Power and Authority
Types of authority
Sources of power
State
State and society
Nation-state
Political Sociology
Political participation
Democracy and society
7. Religion and Society
Sociological Approaches to Religion
Functional approach
Conflict approach
Interpretative approach
Religion and Social Change
Religion as an agent of change
Religion as a conservative force
Secularization
Concept of secularization
Debate on secularization
8. Systems of Kinship
Kinship Terminology
Descriptive terminology
Classificatory terminology
Descent
Unilineal descent
Bilateral descent
Double descent
Marriage
Forms of marriage
Rules of marriage
Marriage payments
Family
Types of family
Functions of family
Changing family patterns
9. Social Change in Modern Society
Social Change
Meaning and characteristics
Sources of social change
Development and Dependency
Development theories
Dependency theory
Modernization
Concept of modernization
Critiques of modernization
Globalization
Cultural globalization
Economic globalization
Political globalization
10. Population and Society
Population Studies
Fertility
Mortality
Migration
Demographic Transition Theory
Stages of demographic transition
Population Problems
Overpopulation
Ageing
Migration issues
11. Sociological Thinkers (Foundations)
Karl Marx
Historical materialism
Mode of production
Class struggle
Alienation
Emile Durkheim
Social facts
Division of labour
Mechanical and organic solidarity
Anomie
Max Weber
Social action
Types of authority
Bureaucracy
Protestant ethic
12. Modern Sociological Thinkers
Talcott Parsons
Social system theory
Pattern variables
Functional prerequisites
Robert K. Merton
Manifest and latent functions
Dysfunction
Anomie
Mead
Self and society
Symbolic interactionism
Schutz
Phenomenology
Life-world
13. Research Methods and Analysis
Scientific Method
Hypothesis
Theory
Conceptualization
Research Designs
Exploratory research
Descriptive research
Experimental research
Methods of Data Collection
Observation
Interview
Questionnaire
Schedule
Case study
Sampling
Probability sampling
Non-probability sampling
Analysis
Qualitative analysis
Quantitative analysis
Ethics in Research
Objectivity
Informed consent
Confidentiality
Paper II
UPSC_CSE_OPTIONAL_SOCIOLOGY_PAPER_II.md
1. Introducing Indian Society
Perspectives on Indian Society
Colonial perspective on Indian society
Indological perspective
Structural–functional perspective
Marxist perspective
Subaltern perspective
Unity and Diversity
Cultural diversity
Linguistic diversity
Religious diversity
Regional diversity
Ethnic diversity
Factors of unity in India
2. Social Structure
Caste System
Features of Caste
Caste as a system of stratification
Hierarchy
Endogamy
Occupational specialization
Pollution and purity
Jajmani relations
Theories of Origin of Caste
Religious theory
Occupational theory
Racial theory
Political theory
Evolutionary theory
Caste Dynamics
Dominant caste
Sanskritization
Westernization
Modernization
De-Sanskritization
Secularization
Caste and Politics
Caste in electoral politics
Caste-based mobilization
Vote banks
Identity politics
Caste and Economy
Caste and land ownership
Caste and occupation
Changing economic roles
Class System
Agrarian Class Structure
Landlords
Rich peasants
Small peasants
Landless labourers
Industrial Class Structure
Capitalist class
Working class
Middle class
Class Consciousness
Class formation
Class conflict
Class mobility
3. Tribal Communities in India
Tribal Identity
Definition of tribe
Features of tribal societies
Tribal Distribution
Geographical distribution of tribes
Ecological zones
Tribal Economy
Hunting–gathering
Pastoralism
Shifting cultivation
Settled agriculture
Tribal Social Organization
Kinship
Marriage
Family
Political organization
Tribal Religion
Animism
Ancestor worship
Nature worship
Tribal–Caste Continuum
Concept
Transitional communities
4. Rural and Agrarian Social Structure
Indian Village
Village as a social unit
Village studies tradition
Agrarian Relations
Land ownership
Tenancy
Sharecropping
Agricultural labour
Power Structure
Traditional leadership
Panchayati Raj institutions
Green Revolution
Social impact
Economic impact
Regional inequalities
5. Urbanization and Industrialization
Urbanization
Growth of cities
Urban morphology
Metropolitan regions
Urban Social Structure
Class structure
Slums and informal settlements
Industrialization
Growth of industries
Labour migration
Informal sector
Urban Problems
Housing
Transport
Pollution
Crime
6. Family, Marriage and Kinship in India
Family
Types of Family
Joint family
Nuclear family
Extended family
Functions of Family
Socialization
Economic support
Emotional support
Changing Family Patterns
Impact of urbanization
Impact of industrialization
Impact of education
Impact of globalization
Marriage
Forms of Marriage
Arranged marriage
Love marriage
Inter-caste marriage
Inter-religious marriage
Marriage Rules
Endogamy
Exogamy
Gotra exogamy
Dowry
Dowry system
Dowry prohibition
Social consequences
Kinship
Kinship System
Kinship terminology
Descent systems
Kinship and Social Organization
Kinship and caste
Kinship and family
7. Religion and Society
Religious Communities
Hindu society
Muslim society
Christian society
Sikh society
Buddhist society
Jain society
Religion and Social Change
Reform movements
Revival movements
Communalism
Meaning of communalism
Causes of communalism
Consequences of communalism
Secularism
Indian model of secularism
Challenges to secularism
8. Social Movements in India
Peasant Movements
Tebhaga movement
Telangana movement
Farmers’ movements
Tribal Movements
Identity-based movements
Autonomy movements
Dalit Movements
Anti-caste movements
Ambedkarite movement
Women’s Movements
Pre-independence movements
Post-independence movements
Environmental Movements
Chipko movement
Narmada Bachao Andolan
9. Political Processes in India
Democracy
Democratic institutions
Electoral politics
Political Participation
Role of caste
Role of class
Role of gender
Civil Society
NGOs
Pressure groups
Social activism
10. Education and Society
Education System
Formal education
Informal education
Education and Social Change
Education and mobility
Education and inequality
Issues in Education
Access
Quality
Privatization
11. Population Dynamics
Population Growth
Population trends
Demographic transition in India
Fertility and Mortality
Fertility patterns
Mortality trends
Migration
Rural–urban migration
Interstate migration
International migration
12. Gender and Society
Status of Women
Women in traditional society
Women in modern society
Gender Inequality
Patriarchy
Gender-based violence
Wage gap
Women Empowerment
Legal measures
Political participation
Economic participation
13. Social Change in Contemporary India
Processes of Change
Sanskritization
Westernization
Modernization
Globalization
Development and Displacement
Development-induced displacement
Rehabilitation issues
Media and Society
Role of media
Social media impact
14. Challenges of Social Transformation
Inequality
Economic inequality
Social inequality
Identity Politics
Regionalism
Linguism
Ethnicity
Global Challenges
Impact of globalization
Cultural homogenization
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