SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL

ORIENTATION SESSION
PRAGYA DUDHORIA SHARMA
CIVIL SERVICES EXAM

WHY
 CIVIL SERVICES

Status Stability Career Authority

WHY
 HOW TO CHOOSE AN OPTIONAL

Interest of Success Education Vastness

individual rate al of
backgrou syllabus
nd

Overlap Resource Scoring

with GS availability trend
 Gender
Class Marriage

Religion Tribes
SOCIO
LOGY
Politics Politics

Caste Work
Family
 PAPER 1 - FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY
1. Sociology - The Discipline:
2. Sociology as Science:
3. Research Methods and Analysis:
4. Sociological Thinkers:
5. Stratification and Mobility:
6. Works and Economic Life:
7. Politics and Society:
8. Religion and Society:
9. Systems of Kinship:
10. Social Change in Modern Society:
 INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE
1. Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society:
2. Impact of colonial rule on Indian society:
3. Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:
4. Caste System:
5. Tribal Communities in India:
6. Social Classes in India
7. Systems of Kinship in India:
8. Religion and Society:
9. Visions of Social Change in India:
10. Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India:
11. Industrialization and Urbanization in India:.
12. Politics and Society:
13. Social Movements in Modern India
14. Population Dynamics:
15. Challenges of Social Transformation:
 OVERLAP WITH GS
● GS Paper I (5-6 QUESTIONS)
● Political philosophies such as capitalism, communism, socialism, etc. and their effects on
society.
● Highlights of Indian society, Diversity in India.
● Impacts of globalisation on Indian culture.
● Role of women and women’s organisation, poverty and developmental issues, population
and associated issues, urbanization.
● Social empowerment, communalism, secularism and regionalism.

● GS Paper II ( 3-4 QUESTIONS)

● Pressure groups and formal/informal associations, their role in the polity.
● Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population, mechanisms, laws, institutions
and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections.
● Development processes and the development industry –
the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors,
charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
● Education, Human Resources.
● Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to
health.
● Civil services in a democracy.
● Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

● GS Paper III (1-2 QUESTIONS)

● Land reforms in India.
● Comprehensive development and issues emerging from it.
● Development and spread of extremism linkage – Naxalism.
● Changes in industrial policy, impacts of liberalization on the economy, and their outcome on
industrial growth.

● GS Paper IV
● Human Values- role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values;
reformers and administrators, lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders.

● ESSAY ( 1-2 QUESTIONS)

2018 MAINS TRENDS
2017 MAINS TRENDS
TABLE FOR SOCIOLOGY SUCCESS RATE
Year No. of candidates No. of candidates Success rate (%)
appeared recommended

2014 1819 193 10.6

2015 1479 173 11.7

2016 1555 89 5.7

2017 1421 137 9.6

TOPPERS WITH SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL

Name Year Rank

Jagrati Awasthi 2020 2

Sanjita Mohapatra 2019 10

Shruti Jayant Deshmukh 2018 5

Anu Kumari 2017 2

Aditi
Varshney
AIR 57
 SOME REFERENCE PYQS

● From UPSC Optional Sociology Paper II, 2018

Q. Elaborate on the “Me Too” movement and its impact in India.

● From UPSC Optional Sociology Paper II, 2017

Q. Indebtedness is one of the serious issues leading to farmers’ suicides. Discuss

reasons and suggest solutions.
 WHY OPT FOR SOCIOLOGY?

Neutral Middle Concise Career

Subject Path Syllabus Prospect

High
Overlap Scoring
Helps in
with GS Potential
interview
 HOW TO ACE THE RACE

ACCUMUL INTEGRATI VALUE PRESENTA

ATION ON ADDITION TION
 CLASS STRUCTURING
● In depth word to word syllabus coverage
● Time duration: 3.5 months
● Regular Mains Answer Writing
● PYQs alignment
● Regular Feedback
● Dynamic Analytical perspective building
● Mentorship and support
● What do I expect?
GOOD LUCK FUTURE OFFICERS!!