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Best Sociology Optional Coaching

Optional plays a crucial role in the UPSC exam. Aspirants should choose the best optional subject before appearing for the exam. There are 48 optional subjects in the UPSC Civil Service exam, and every optional subject is divided into two papers (Paper I and Paper II). The total marks for the optional subject are 500, with each paper carrying 250 marks. Sociology is an optional subject that is considered easier than others. Most aspirants and toppers choose Sociology as an optional subject in the UPSC exam.

What is Sociology? The study of sociology refers to the study of social science and social phenomena. Sociology deals with human science and all its aspects. The main goal of studying sociology is to understand society as well as human behaviour.

Why Choose Sociology as an Optional in the UPSC Exam? Sociology is a very easy and dynamic optional subject compared to other optional subjects. Most UPSC toppers choose sociology as an optional subject in their exams. The study material for sociology optional is easily available in the market as well as on the internet. The accuracy rate of success in sociology optional is higher than in other optional subjects. Sociology is associated with our daily lives, making it easily understandable for aspirants. This familiarity with daily life helps aspirants grasp the sociology optional syllabus more easily, especially if they are confused about which optional subject to choose for the UPSC exam.

Choosing Sociology as an optional subject will definitely broaden your horizons in understanding society better. The candidate will be better equipped to handle the impact of a decision on society and communities.

Sociology syllabus in UPSC exam:

PAPER-I

(1) Sociology-The discipline Modernity and social changes in Europe and the emergence of Sociology.

Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences

Sociology and common sense.

(2) Sociology as Science;

Science, scientific method, and critique
Major theoretical stands of research methodology.
Positivism and its critique.
Fact value and objectivity.
Non-positivist methodologies.

(3) Research Methods and Analysis;

Qualitative and quantitative methods.
Techniques of data collection.
Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.

(4) 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, social fact, bureaucracy, the protestant ethic, and the sprint of capitalism.
Talcott Persons – Social system, pattern variables.
Robert K. Merton – Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
Mead – Self and identify.

(5) 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.

(6) Works and Economic Life;

The social organization of work in different types of society – slave society, feudal society, industrial society, and industrial capital society.
Formal and informal organization of work.
Labour and society.

(7) Political and Society;

Sociological theories of power.
The power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
Protest; agitation, social movements, collective action, and revolution.

(8) Religion and society;

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

(9) Systems of Kinship;

Family, household, and marriage.
Types and forms of family.
Lineage and descent.
Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
Contemporary trends.

(10) 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

(1) Introducing Indian society:

(A) Perspectives on the study of Indian Society:

Indology (G. S. Ghure).
Structural functionalism (M.N. Srinivas),
Marxist sociology (A.R. Desai).

(B) 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.

(2) Social Structure:

(A) Rural and agrarian social structure:

The idea of Indian village and village studies
Agrarian social structure- evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.

(B) Caste System:

Perspective on the study of caste systems ( G.S. Ghurya, M.N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.)
Features of caste system.
Untouchability- forms and perspectives.

(C) Tribal community in India:

Definitional problems.
Geographical spread.
Colonial policies and tribes.
Issues of integration and autonomy.

(D) Social classes in India:

Agrarian class structure.
Industrial class structure.
Middle classes in India.

(E) 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.

(F) Religion and Society:

Religious communities in India.
Problems of religious minorities.

(3) Social change in India:

(A) Vision of social change in India.

Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
Constitution, law and social change.
Education and social change.

(B) Rural and agrarian transformation in India;

Programmes of rural development, community development programmes, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes.
Green revolution and social change.
Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.

( C) Industrialization and Urbanization in India;

Evolution of modern industry in India.
Growth of urban settlement in India.
Working class – structure, growth, class modernization.
Information sector, child labour.
Slums and deprivation in urban areas.

(D) Politics and society;

Nation, democracy and citizenship.
Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.
Regionalism and decentralization of power.
Secularization.

(E) Social movements in modern India;

Peasants and farmers movements.
Women’s movements.
Backward classes and Dalit movements.
Environmental movements.

(F) 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.

(G) Challenges of social transformation;

Crisis of development – displacement, environmental problems and sustainability.
Poverty, deprivation and inequalities.
Violence against women.
Caste conflicts.
Ethnic conflict, communalism, religious revivalism.
Illiteracy and disparities in education.

Sociology Optional Coaching by Analytics IAS Analytics IAS provides the best faculty for Sociology optional coaching. Analytics IAS has well-qualified faculty members for Sociology optional coaching. The institute has a valid track record in sociology optional with a good success rate. We provide the best guidance for sociology optional coaching.

Our faculty, Pankaj Shukla, has over 6 years of experience as a subject matter expert in sociology optional coaching. Pankaj Shukla has mentored many toppers and is considered one of the best faculty members for Sociology optional in the UPSC exam. His expertise and dedication ensure aspirants get the most accurate and effective guidance.

Batch Size: Analytics IAS ensures limited batch sizes (35-40 students) for the Sociology Foundation course. This allows faculty to give individual attention to each aspirant and address their queries effectively. The limited batch size also facilitates better interaction between students and faculty.

Doubt-Session: Analytics IAS conducts regular doubt-clearing sessions after classes. These sessions aim to minimize aspirants’ stress and self-doubt by providing them direct access to the faculty. The team at Analytics IAS monitors these sessions daily to ensure every aspirant’s doubts are addressed comprehensively.

Study Material: Analytics IAS provides the best study material for Sociology optional coaching. The study material is fully aligned with the UPSC syllabus and its latest pattern. A lot of research goes into creating comprehensive and easily understandable study material to cater to the aspirants’ needs.

Test Series: Analytics IAS offers the best mock test series for Sociology optional coaching at an affordable price. The institute conducts regular mock tests, including 40 test series during the Sociology Foundation course. Of these, 20 are sectional tests, and 20 are full-length tests. These mock tests are designed by a well-qualified team with in-depth research to ensure aspirants’ success. The importance of mock tests in UPSC preparation is undeniable, and Analytics IAS ensures the highest quality in this regard.

Conclusion Analytics IAS is the best institution for Sociology Foundation courses. With experienced faculty like Pankaj Shukla and a dedicated team, we are committed to providing the best Sociology optional coaching for UPSC aspirants. Since optional subjects play a pivotal role in the UPSC IAS exam, aspirants should carefully choose the most comfortable and scoring optional subject. We hope this article helps you make an informed decision while choosing your optional subject for the UPSC exam.