UPSC Mains 2024 Sociology Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2024. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Sociology Optional PYQs

1. STAT Discuss the nature of Sociology. Highlight its relationship with Social Anthropology.

   10 marks

2. Analyse the changing nature of caste as a status group.

   10 marks

3. Marriage as an institution has undergone a radical transformation from 'ritual' to 'commercial' in its outlook. Explain the factors behind this change.

   10 marks

4. Democracy needs a vibrant culture of civil society in order to strengthen its foundation of citizenship. Comment.

   10 marks

5. What are the 'asic and irreducible' functions of the family.as proposed by Talcott Parsons? Explain.

   10 marks

6. Sociology is the product of European enlightenment and renaissance. Critically examine this statement.

   20 marks

7. Do you think 'objectivity' is an over-hyped idea in sociological research? Discuss the merits and demerits of non-positivist methods.

   20 marks

8. What is social mobility? Critically examine the classification of 'closed' and 'open' models of social stratification.

   10 marks

9. How do you view and assess the increasing trend of digital ethnography and use of visual culture in sociological research?

   20 marks

10. Describe the main idea of Max Weber's book, 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' as a critique of Marxism.

    20 marks

11. Critically explain the salient features of 'alienation' as propounded by Karl Marx.

    10 marks

12. What do you understand by 'mixed method'? Discuss its strengths and limitations in social research.

    20 marks

13. Define the concept of 'gig' economy and discuss its impact on labour market and workers' social security net.

    20 marks

14. Aerie ALT Critically assess the impact of technological advancement and automation on the nature of work and employment.

    10 marks

15. feet Wee Up UTAH Tea S? Describe various characteristics of a 'social fact'. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim?

    10 marks

16. Explain G.H. Mead's idea of development of 'self through the Describe other'.

17. Describe the differing principles of work organization in feudal and capitalist societies.

    10 marks

18. sat FIAT How is 'power' different from 'authority? Discuss various types of authorities as theorized by Max Weber.

    10 marks

19. Critically examine the roles of science and technology in social change. What is your opinion on their increasing trend in 'online' education and teaching?

    10 marks

20. Underline the role of social media in contemporary social movements and describe its challenges.

    20 marks

21. How does a multicultural society accommodate diversities of all kinds — ethnic, linguistic and religious? Discuss its major challenges.

    20 marks

22. Discuss the concept of animism and differentiate it from naturism.

    10 marks

23. Do modernization and secularization necessarily go together? Give your views.

    20 marks

24. How do you understand the phenomena of the mushrooming of sects and cults in contemporary society? Discuss the factors responsible for the trend.

    20 marks

25. Discuss the dimensions of power in the construction and maintenance of social hierarchies in a society.

    10 marks

26. Modern families have not just become nuclear and neo-local, but also filiocentric. How do you explain this trend?

    20 marks

27. Discuss various theories of social change. Explain the limitations of unilinear theory of social change.

    20 marks

28. Critically examine the World-Systems theory of Immanuel Wallerstein in terms of development and dependency of various nations.

    10 marks