Sociology UPSC PYQ 2016

What is 'valuc-free sociology'? Clarify.

Bring out the significance of the difference between family and household.

Analyze the importance of qualitative method in social research.

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

What accounts for the growth and consolidation of the middle classes in modern India ?

Q2 (Paper 1). (a) Elucidate the basic premises of Davis' structural-functional theory of social stratification. How far is it relevant in understanding contemporary Indian society? (b) Describe the functional prerequisites of social system as given by Talcott Parsons. Examine in the context of a university as a social system. (c) Is sociology common sense? Give reasons in support of your argument.

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

How is ageing becoming an emerging issue in Indian society ?

How has B.R. Ambedkar identified the features of caste system ? How is it different from the mainstream treatment of caste features ?

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

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

Examine the impact of industrialization and urbanization on family structure.

Q3 (Paper 2). (a) Bring out the significance of the difference between family and household. (b) Elucidate the concepts of 'majoritarianism' and 'minoritarianism' in accentuating communal tensions in India. (c) Comment on the increasing significance of caste in politics.

Q4 (Paper 2). (a) How is the tribal question related with the issues of integration and autonomy in modern India? (b) Comment on the factors behind the changing status of women in urban India. (c) What accounts for the growth and consolidation of the middle classes in modern India?

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

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

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

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

Evaluate Marx's ideas on mode of production.

Comment on the factors behind the changing status of women in urban India.

Q5 (Paper 2). Write short answers in about 150 words each (50 marks): (a) Privatization of education and increasing inequalities (b) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for rural development (c) Different forms of Dalit assertion (d) Empowerment through 'Right to Education' (e) Differential sex-ratio and its implications

Q2 (Paper 2). (a) How has B.R. Ambedkar identified the features of caste system? How is it different from the mainstream treatment of caste features? (b) Discuss Andre Beteille's account of the relationship between caste, class and power as a change from a symmetrical to an asymmetrical one. (c) Analyse the major components of Land Reform Acts. Show their effectiveness in curbing rural inequality.

Q8 (Paper 1). (a) "Education is a major source of social mobility in contemporary society." Explain. (b) How is Durkheim's theory of religion different from Max Weber's theory of religion? (c) Distinguish between family and household as sociological concepts.

Distinguish between family and household as sociological concepts.

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

Q3 (Paper 1). (a) Analyze the manifest and latent functions of 'security of the tenure of bureaucrats' in the light of Merton's theory. (b) Describe the basic postulates of scientific method. How far are these followed in sociological research? (c) "Hypothesis is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables." Elucidate by giving example of poverty and illiteracy.

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

Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following, in about 150 words each : (a) Privatization of education and increasing inequalities (b) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for rural development (c) Different forms of Dalit assertion (d) Empowerment through 'Right to Education' (e) Differential sex-ratio and its implications

Discuss the importance of 'power elite' in democracy.

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

Q1 (Paper 2). Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following, in about 150 words each (50 marks): (a) Salient features of A.R. Desai's Marxist Sociology (b) Significance of Village Studies in Indian Sociology (c) 'Isolationism' as a dominant feature of colonial tribal policy (d) Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period (e) Patriarchy as a form of dominance

How is the tribal question related with the issues of integration and autonomy in modern India ?

Q7 (Paper 1). (a) "Religious pluralism is the order of present-day societies." Explain by giving suitable examples. (b) Discuss the contemporary trends in family as a response to social change in modern society. (c) To what extent does revolution replace the existing order of society? Discuss.

Q7 (Paper 2). (a) Write a detailed note on the effects of growing slums in urban areas. (b) Discuss the changing nature of the problems of working class in the informal sector of the economy. (c) What are the factors accounting for the resurgence of ethnic identity movements in India?

Discuss Andre Beteille's account of the relationship between caste, class and power as a change from symmetrical to asymmetrical one.

Q6 (Paper 2). (a) Write a note on the uneven impact of the 'Green Revolution' on rural society. (b) Discuss the emerging forms of 'inequalities' and 'acute poverty' as major challenges of social transformation in India. (c) Discuss the various forms of environmental movements waged in India.

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

Comment on the increasing significance of caste in politics.

Q8 (Paper 2). (a) Bring out the impact of the declining significance of the agrarian economy. (b) Examine the impact of industrialization and urbanization on family structure. (c) How is ageing becoming an emerging issue in Indian society?

Bring out the impact of the declining significance of the agrarian economy.

"Globalization has pushed the labour into informal organization of work." Substantiate your answer with suitable examples.

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

Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion.

What are the factors accounting for the resurgence of ethnic identity movements in India ?

Q6 (Paper 1). (a) "Globalization has pushed the labour into informal organization of work." Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (b) "Social change can be brought about through development." Illustrate from the contemporary situation of India. (c) Examine the role of protest movements in changing the status of Dalits in India.

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

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

Discuss the changing nature of the problems of working class in the informal sector of the economy.

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

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

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

Discuss the various forms of environmental movements waged in India.

Q4 (Paper 1). (a) Examine Max Weber's method of maintaining objectivity in social research. (b) "Participant observation is the most effective tool for collecting facts." Comment. (c) Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion.

Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following, in about 150 words each : (a) Salient features of A.R. Desai's Marxist Sociology (b) Significance of Village Studies in Indian Sociology (c) 'Isolationism' as a dominant feature of colonial tribal policy (d) Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period (e) Patriarchy as a form of dominance

Discuss the emerging forms of 'inequalities' and 'acute poverty' as major challenges of social transformation in India.

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

Q5 (Paper 1). Write short answers in about 150 words each: (a) Describe the nature of social organization of work in industrial society. (b) Discuss the importance of 'power elite' in democracy. (c) Is religion playing an important role in increasing fundamentalism? Give reasons for your answer. (d) To what extent is patriarchy a cause for the problems of women? Discuss. (e) "Social conflict is both a cause and a consequence of social change." Explain.

Write a detailed note on the effects of growing slums in urban areas.

Write a note on the uneven impact of 'Green Revolution' on rural society.

Analyse the major components of Land Reform Acts. Show their effectiveness in curbing rural inequality.

Describe the nature of social organization of work in industrial society.

Q1 (Paper 1). Write short answers in about 150 words each (10x5=50 marks): (a) "Sociology is pre-eminently the study of modern societies." Discuss. (b) What is 'value-free sociology'? Clarify. (c) Analyze the importance of qualitative methods in social research. (d) Evaluate Marx's ideas on mode of production. (e) "Vertical mobility brings structural change even in a closed social system." Comment.

Elucidate the concepts of 'majoritarianism' and 'minoritarianism' in accentuating communal tensions in India.

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