UPSC Mains 2016 Sociology Optional Paper I questions

27 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Sociology Optional PYQs

1. i "Sociology is pre-eminently study of modern societies." Discuss.

2. What is 'value-free sociology'? Clarify.

3. Analyze the importance of qualitative method in social research.

4. Evaluate Marx's ideas on mode of production.

5. "Vertical mobility brings structural change even in a closed social system." Comment.

6. Elucidate the basic premises of Davis' structural-functional theory of social stratification. How far is it relevant in understanding contemporary Indian society?

   20 marks

7. Describe the functional prerequisites of social system as given by Talcott Parsons. Examine in the context of a university as a social system.

   20 marks

8. Is sociology common sense? Give reasons in support of your argument.

   10 marks

9. Analyze the manifest and latent functions of 'security of the tenure of bureaucrats' in the light of Merton's theory.

   20 marks

10. Describe the basic postulates of scientific method. How far are these followed in sociological research?

    20 marks

11. "Hypothesis is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables." Elucidate by giving example of poverty and illiteracy.

    10 marks

12. Examine Max Weber's method of maintaining objectivity in social research.

    20 marks

13. "Participant observation is the most effective tool for collecting facts." Comment.

    20 marks

14. Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion.

    10 marks

15. Discuss the importance of 'power elite' in democracy.

16. Is religion playing an important role in increasing fundamentalism? Give reasons for your answer.

17. To what extent is patriarchy a cause for the problems of women? Discuss.

18. "Social conflict is both a cause and a consequence of social change." Explain.

19. "Globalization has pushed the labour into informal organization of work."

20. "Social change can be brought about through development." Illustrate from the contemporary situation of India.

    20 marks

21. Examine the role of protest movements in changing the status of Dalits in India.

    10 marks

22. "Religious pluralism is the order of present-day societies." Explain by giving suitable examples.

    20 marks

23. Discuss the contemporary trends in family as a response to social change in modern society.

    20 marks

24. To what extent revolution replaces the existing order of society? Discuss.

    10 marks

25. "Bducation is a major source of social mobility in contemporary society." Explain.

    20 marks

26. How is Durkheim's theory of religion different from Max Weber's theory of religion?

    20 marks

27. Distinguish between family and household as sociological concepts.

    10 marks