UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1 & Paper 2

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1 & Paper 2

Edited By Meghana Mohana Krishnan | Updated on Feb 14, 2024 05:49 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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Candidates attempting the UPSC Sociology optional in the civil services exam are advised to acquaint themselves with the IAS Sociology 2024 Syllabus. The UPSC sociology syllabus pdf download can be done on the official UPSC website- upsc.gov.in. The sociology syllabus contains a list of important topics that will be covered in the IAS exam.
Download - IAS Sociology Syllabus 2024 pdf

This Story also Contains
  1. UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 (Paper 1 & 2)
  2. UPSC Sociology Books 2024
  3. UPSC Sociology Optional Books
UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1 & Paper 2
UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1 & Paper 2

The UPSC CSE Syllabus and the official Civil services exam pattern can help aspirants prepare a solid preparation strategy. Candidates are encouraged to consult the UPSC Sociology syllabus and account for the topics in the syllabus while drafting a preparation strategy for the IAS exam.

Sociology as a subject is very important for UPSC Exam Preparation because there is an overlap between the topics covered in the IAS Sociology 2024 Syllabus and the topics covered in the general studies paper. This makes sociology a valuable optional subject to choose because candidates can study more efficiently due to the overlap of topics from the UPSC Sociology Syllabus. Candidates are encouraged to download the UPSC sociology optional syllabus pdf and go through the material below for information regarding the IAS Sociology Syllabus.

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024 (Paper 1 & 2)

It is important for candidates preparing for Sociology as an optional subject must go through the Sociology Optional Syllabus for IAS 2024. UPSC Sociology syllabus for IAS is released separately for both the CSE prelims and the mains. For more details, candidates can consult the IAS Sociology Syllabus in the table below.

UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus for Paper I

Chapters

Topics

Sociology - The Discipline

  • Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.

  • Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of Sociology.

  • Sociology and common sense.

Research Methods and Analysis

  • Qualitative and quantitative methods.

  • Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.

  • Techniques of data collection.

Works and Economic Life

  • Formal and informal organization of work.

  • Social organization of work in different types of society - slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society.

  • Labour and society.

Sociological Thinkers

  • Emile Durkhteim - Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.

  • Talcott Parsons - Social system, pattern variables.

  • Max Weber - Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.

  • Mead - Self and identity

  • Robert K. Merton - Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.

  • Karl Marx - Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.

Sociology as Science

  • Non-positivist methodologies.

  • Science, scientific method and critique.

  • Fact value and objectivity.

  • Major theoretical strands of research methodology.

  • Positivism and its critique.

Stratification and Mobility

  • Theories of social stratification - Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.

  • Concepts - equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation.

  • Social mobility - open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.

  • Dimensions - Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race.

Politics and Society

  • Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.

  • Sociological theories of power.

  • Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.

  • Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups and political parties.

Religion and Society

  • Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.

  • Sociological theories of religion.

  • Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.

Social Change in Modern Society

  • Development and dependency.

  • Sociological theories of social change.

  • Education and social change.

  • Science, technology and social change.

  • Agents of social change.

Systems of Kinship

  • Lineage and descent.

  • Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.

  • Types and forms of family.

  • Contemporary trends.

  • Family, household, marriage.

Also read: Information about category-wise career exams

UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
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UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus for Paper II

Chapter

Topics

Introducing Indian Society

Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society

  • Indology (G.S. Ghure).

  • Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai).

  • Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).

Impact of colonial rule on Indian society

  • Modernization of Indian tradition.

  • Social reforms.

  • Social background of Indian nationalism.

  • Protests and movements during the colonial period.

Social Structure



Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:

  • Agrarian social structure— evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.

  • The idea of Indian village and village studies.

Caste System in India

  • Untouchability-forms and perspectives

  • Features of caste system.

  • Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.

Systems of Kinship in India

  • Household dimensions of the family.

  • Lineage and descent in India.

  • Types of kinship systems.

  • Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour.

  • Family and marriage in India.

Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India

  • Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration

  • Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes.

  • Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.

  • Green revolution and social change.

Religion and Society

  • Social Changes in India

  • Problems of religious minorities.

  • Religious communities in India.

Tribal Communities in India

  • Definitional problems.

  • Colonial policies and tribes.

  • Issues of integration and autonomy.

  • Geographical spread.

Social Classes in India

  • Industrial class structure.

  • Agrarian class structure.

  • Middle classes in India.

Visions of Social Change in India

  • Education and social change.

  • Constitution, law and social change.

  • Idea of development planning and mixed economy.

Politics and Society

  • Regionalism and decentralization of power.

  • Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.

  • Secularization.

  • Nation, democracy and citizenship.

Industrialization and Urbanisation in India

  • Evolution of modern industry in India.

  • Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.

  • Slums and deprivation in urban areas.

  • Growth of urban settlements in India.

  • Informal sector, child labour.

Social Movements in Modern India

  • Backward classes & Dalit movements.

  • Peasants and farmers movements.

  • Women’s movement.

  • Environmental movements.

  • Ethnicity and Identity movements.

Population Dynamics

  • Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.

  • Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.

  • Population Policy and family planning.

  • Population size, growth, composition and distribution.

Challenges of Social Transformation

  • Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.

  • Illiteracy and disparities in education.

  • Poverty, deprivation and inequalities.

  • Violence against women.

  • Caste conflicts.

  • Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability.

UPSC Subject-wise Questions for various Subjects

Why Choose Sociology as UPSC Optional Subject?

Given the large number of optional subjects that one can choose from while writing the IAS exam 2024, many candidates are bound to get confused about the best optional subject for them. Let’s discuss some of the advantages of choosing Sociology as an optional subject to provide some clarity to those looking to take this subject.

  • Candidates taking sociology will be able to study efficiently as there is an overlap in topics covered in the IAS sociology optional syllabus and the General studies paper.

  • Candidates from any background can pick sociology as a subject

  • The sociology syllabus is relatively shorter compared to some other subjects

  • Sociology is a great choice of optional subject for those who prefer subjects that can be learnt by conceptual understanding over rote learning

  • Sociology as a subject complements the profession of an IAS officer really well as the topics covered by the UPSC Sociology Syllabus deal with the condition of society.

UPSC Sociology Books 2024

Along with the UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2024, candidates can also refer to this curated list of the best books for IAS Sociology optional to find good study material for preparation.

  • Yogendra Singh book- Modernisation of Indian Tradition

  • Social change in India - M.N. Srinivas

  • Mahapatra class notes

  • Upendra sir notes

  • Haralambos Blue book

  • NCERT books of sociology

  • IGNOU books (Certain chapters)

  • Social Background of Indian Nationalism - A.R. Desai

Also read: UPSC Mock Tests Series for UPSC


UPSC Sociology Optional Books

Candidates preparing for the UPSC Sociology 2024 exam must go through the list of recommended books for the exam in order to study the topics from the UPSC Sociology Syllabus effectively. For more details, candidates can consult the table given below.

Sociology Optional Books for Paper-I

Book name

Author

Sociological Theory

Ritzer George

Political Theory

O P Gauba

Related Articles

Sociology Optional Books for Paper-II

Book name

Author

Indian Society and Culture

Nadeem Hasnain

Persistence and Change in Tribal India

M.V. Rao

Also check:


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the selection process of the IAS 2024 exam?

IAS selection process 2024 comprises prelims exam, mains exam and personal interview.

2. What is the age limit to apply for IAS 2024 application form?

Candidates between the age of 21 to 32 years can fill out the IAS application form.

3. Can I challenge the answer key of IAS 2024?

No candidates are not allowed to challenge the IAS answer key.

4. How will the IAS 2024 result be released?

IAS result 2024 will be released in PDF having roll numbers of all the qualified candidates.

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.

Hope this helps!

To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):

This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).

Any Bachelor's Degree:

A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.

Beneficial Degrees:

Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.

Optional Subject:

You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.

Hope it helps!!

Hello!!

That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:

1. Understand the Exam Structure

The UPSC CSE has three stages:

Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)

Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)

Interview: Personality Test

2. Check Eligibility

Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)

Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)

3. Choose Your Optional Subject

Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).

Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.

4. Build a Study Plan

Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.

Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.

Focus on:

NCERTs (6th–12th)

Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)

Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)

5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)

For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.

6. Practice Answer Writing

Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.

7. Appear for the Exam

Notification comes out around February.

Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.

How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:

Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.

Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.

If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:

BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.

KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.

After 10th for IAS

Hello aspirant,

For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.

To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

All the best!!

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