UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2025 Download Optional Paper PDF

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) offers candidates the option to choose an optional subject for the UPSC examination, with Sociology being one of them. Aspirants preparing for India’s toughest civil service exam this year should thoroughly understand the UPSC Sociology optional subject syllabus. This subject includes social structure, social institutions, social change, and globalization. Regarding difficulty, Sociology is considered one of the top 10 challenging subjects in the UPSC exam.

UPSC Sociology Syllabus 2025

UPSC Sociology Syllabus For Optional Paper I

The UPSC Sociology Syllabus for Paper 1 aims to provide candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts and theories of Sociology. It encompasses a wide range of topics related to social structure, social institutions, social change, and globalization. By studying these subjects, candidates can cultivate crucial skills such as critical thinking, analysis, and effective communication, which play a vital role in outperforming others in the UPSC exam. The following topics are included in the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus Paper I.

1. Sociology – The Discipline:

(a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and the emergence of sociology.
(b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
(c) Sociology and common sense.

2. Sociology as Science:

(a) Science, scientific method and critique.
(b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
(c) Positivism and its critique.
(d) Fact value and objectivity.
(e) Non- positivist methodologies.

3. Research Methods and Analysis:

(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods.
(b) Techniques of data collection.
(c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.

4. Sociological Thinkers:

(a) Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
(b) Emile Durkheim- Division of labor, social fact, suicide, religion, and society.
(c) Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, the protestant ethic,s and the spirit of capitalism.
(d) Talcolt Parsons-   Social system, pattern variables.
(e) Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and  deviance, reference groups
(f) Mead   – Self and identity.

5.  Stratification and Mobility:

(a) Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and  deprivation
(b) Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.
(c) Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race.
(d) Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources, and causes of mobility.

6. Works and Economic Life:

(a) Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society,  feudal society, industrial /capitalist society.
(b)  Formal and informal organization of work
(c)  Labour and society.

7. Politics and Society:

(a)  Sociological theories of power
(b)  Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
(c)   Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
(d)   Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.

8. Religion and Society:

(a)   Sociological theories of religion.
(b)   Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
(c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.

9. Systems of Kinship:

(a)   Family, household, marriage.
(b)   Types and forms of family.
(c)   Lineage and descent
(d)   Patriarchy and sexual division of labour
(e)   Contemporary trends.

10. Social Change in Modern Society:

(a)   Sociological theories of social change.
(b)   Development and dependency.
(c)   Agents of social change.
(d)   Education and social change.
(e)   Science, technology and social change.

Download PDF: UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus and Exam Pattern PDF

UPSC Sociology Syllabus for Optional Paper II

Indian Society: Structure and changes

A. Introducing Indian Society:

(i) Perspectives on the study of Indian society:

(a) Indology  (GS. Ghurye).
(b) Structural functionalism  (M N Srinivas).
(c) Marxist sociology  ( A R Desai).

(ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society:

(a) Social background of Indian nationalism.
(b) Modernization of Indian tradition.
(c) Protests and movements during the colonial period.
(d) Social reforms

B. Social Structure:

(i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:

(a) The idea of Indian village and village studies-
(b) Agrarian social structure –
evolution of land tenure system,  land reforms.

(ii) Caste System:

(a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
(b) Features of the caste system.
(c) Untouchability – forms and perspectives

(iii) Tribal communities in India:

(a) Definitional problems.
(b) Geographical spread.
(c) Colonial policies and tribes.
(d) Issues of integration and autonomy.

(iv) Social Classes in India:

(a) Agrarian class structure.
(b) Industrial class structure.
(c) Middle classes in India.

(v) Systems of Kinship in India:

(a) Lineage and descent in India.
(b) Types of kinship systems.
(c) Family and marriage in India.
(d) Household dimensions of the family.
(e) Patriarchy, entitlements, and sexual division of labour.

(vi) Religion and Society:

(a) Religious communities in India.
(b) Problems of religious minorities.

C. Social Changes in India:

(i) Visions of Social Change in India:

(a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
(b) Constitution, law and social change.
(c) Education and social change.

(ii) Rural and Agrarian transformation in India:

(a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programmes, cooperatives, and poverty alleviation schemes.
(b) Green revolution and social change.
(c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
(d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, and migration.

(iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:

(a) Evolution of modern industry in India.
(b) Growth of urban settlements in India.
(c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
(d) Informal sector, child labour
(e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas.

(iv) Politics and Society:

(a) Nation, democracy, and citizenship.
(b) Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.
(c) Regionalism and decentralization of power.
(d) Secularization

(v) Social Movements in Modern India:

(a) Peasants and farmers’ movements.
(b) Women’s movement.
(c) Backward classes & Dalit movement.
(d) Environmental movements.
(e) Ethnicity and Identity movements.

(vi) Population Dynamics:

(a) Population size, growth, composition, and distribution.
(b) Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
(c) Population policy and family planning.
(d) Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.

(vii) Challenges of Social Transformation:

(a)  Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems, and sustainability.
(b) Poverty, deprivation, and inequalities.
(c) Violence against women.
(d) Caste conflicts.
(e) Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.
(f) Illiteracy and disparities in education.

UPSC Sociology Syllabus Preparation Tips

Here, are some of the preparation resources added to you like using books and newspapers. use online resources through different web portals and platforms. Remember, consistency, discipline, and a thorough understanding of concepts are key to success in the UPSC Mains Sociology examination. Good luck with your preparation.

• Read NCERT Books
• Analyze Previous Years’ Papers
• Create a Study Plan
• Current Affairs
• Focus on Key Concepts
• Practice Answer Writing

Best Books for Sociology Optional –

• Introduction to Sociology by Anthony Giddens
• Sociology Themes and Perspectives by Haralambos & Holborn
• Handbook of Indian Sociology by Veena Das
• Social Change in Modern India by M N Srinivas
• Sociological Theory by George Ritzer
• Caste Its Twentieth Century Avatar by M N Srinivas

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