Sociology Optional Coaching In Bangalore

“Limits exist only in our minds. But if we harness our imaginations, our possibilities become boundless.” – This sentiment resonates deeply with our approach as we guide UPSC aspirants, especially those choosing sociology as their optional subject.

Selecting the right optional subject is crucial in a UPSC aspirant’s journey, given its substantial impact on the mains examination.

An ideal optional subject should not only help you excel in the mains but also serve as a safety net, balancing your overall score in General Studies. It should bring out your full potential.

Why Choose Sociology as an Optional?

Sociology, being analytical and comprehensive, proves to be an excellent choice for several reasons:

• Its clarity and relatability make it a popular choice among aspirants.
• It covers various topics included in GS Paper 1, Essay, and even touches upon GS Paper 2 and Paper 4.
• It has a commendable success rate among candidates.
• Abundant study material is readily available.

Who Should Opt for Sociology as an Optional?

Choosing sociology is ideal for those who:

• Have a genuine interest in social issues and structures.
• Prefer understanding and analysis over rote learning.

Is Sociology a Scoring Subject?

Many candidates score above 300 in sociology, making it a favoured optional. While UPSC doesn’t prefer any particular subject, your interest should always be your guide.

Why Join Our Best Sociology Coaching in Bangalore and Across India?

We provide detailed coverage of both Sociology papers I & II, with topic-wise modules and special lecture series on answer writing practice. Access 150+ hours of offline/online lectures by experienced faculty members.

Benefits of Online Sociology Coaching:

Enjoy the flexibility of learning at your convenience. With online coaching, you never miss a lecture, saving time on commuting.

Choose Us for Your Sociology Optional Preparation:

Our course is designed for those interested in sociology, facing challenges in understanding theories, and struggling with answer writing. Our course will help you unlock your potential and grasp the fundamentals.

Answer Writing in Sociology:

Our coaching emphasizes answer writing techniques specific to sociology. We encourage integrating sociological theories, data, facts, figures, and technical terms. We guide you to interlink topics and use case studies for comprehensive answers.

Books to Study UPSC Sociology Syllabus

Here’s a list of recommended books for both papers of the sociology optional:

Booklist for Paper 1:

• “Sociology: Themes and Perspectives” by Haralambos and Holborn
• “Introduction to Sociology” by Anthony Giddens
• “Sociological Theory” by George Ritzer
• “An Introduction to Political Theory” by O. P. Gauba
• “Essential Sociology” by Nitin Sangwan
• IGNOU Sociology Study Material

Booklist for Paper 2:

• “Social Change in Modern India” by M. N. Srinivas
• “Caste: Its Twentieth-Century Avatar” by M. N. Srinivas
• “Handbook of Indian Sociology” by Veena Das
• IGNOU Sociology Study Material
• “Indian Society: Themes and Social Issues” by Nadeem Hasnain
• “Modernization of Indian Tradition” by Yogendra Singh
• “Social Background of Indian Nationalism” by A. R. Desai

Join us today for the best online sociology classes in India, and let us guide you towards achieving your UPSC dream.

Key Highlights of the Optional Subject Programme (OSP) for UPSC 2025:

• Duration of the Course: September 2024 to February 2025 (5 months).
• Classes: 4-hour sessions, 3 days a week.
• Tests: 6 full-length tests along with daily answer writing practice.
• Modes: Offline + live and interactive online sessions.
• Test attempts: Both online and offline modes.

Offline + Live-and-Interactive Online Classes for Optional Subjects:

Classes are accessible through three modes:

• Offline physical classroom sessions.
• Live and interactive online sessions.
• Recorded sessions.

Our platform ensures simultaneous offline and online sessions, so you can attend live sessions from anywhere without missing out on interactions. Recorded sessions are available without restrictions.

Legacy IAS Academy’s Online Platform for Live Interactive Sessions

Optional subjects are also part of the Foundation Course and 2-Year Integrated Course, integrating coaching for optional subjects with General Studies, including test series, mains answer-writing practice, personal guidance programs, and study materials.

Sociology Optional Coaching Fees:

We offer competitive fees for our comprehensive courses:

• Online video lectures for both optional papers 1 & 2 + soft copy study material: Rs. 25,000/-
• Classroom lectures for both optional papers 1 & 2 + study material + 6 tests: Rs. 40,000/-

For registration, visit Legacy IAS Academy or contact us on 9606900004/05.

UPSC Sociology Syllabus for Paper 1

FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY

Sociology – The Discipline:

1. Modernity and social changes in Europe and the emergence of Sociology.
2. Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
3. Sociology and common sense.

Sociology as Science:

1. Science, scientific method, and critique.
2. Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
3. Positivism and its critique.
4. Fact value and objectivity.
5. Non-positivist methodologies.

Research Methods and Analysis:

1. Qualitative and quantitative methods.
2. Techniques of data collection.
3. Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.

Sociological Thinkers:

1. Karl Marx – Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
2. Emile Durkheim – Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion, and society.
3. Max Weber – Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethics, and the spirit of capitalism.
4. Talcolt Parsons – Social system, pattern variables.
5. Robert K. Merton – Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
6. Mead – Self and identity.

Stratification and Mobility:

1. Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation.
2. Theories of social stratification – Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.
3. Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race.
4. Social mobility – open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources, and causes of mobility.

Works and Economic Life:

1. Social organisation of work in different types of society – slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society.
2. Formal and informal organisation of work.
3. Labour and society.

Politics and Society:

1. Sociological theories of power.
2. Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
3. Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
4. Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.

Religion and Society:

1. Sociological theories of religion.
2. Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
3. Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularisation, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.

Systems of Kinship:

1. Family, household, and marriage.
2. Types and forms of family.
3. Lineage and descent.
4. Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
5. Contemporary trends.

Social Change in Modern Society:

1. Sociological theories of social change.
2. Development and dependency.
3. Agents of social change.
4. Education and social change.
5. Science, technology, and social change.

Sociology Optional Syllabus – Paper 2

INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE

Introducing Indian Society:

(i) Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society:

1. Indology (G.S. Ghure).
2. Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).
3. Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai).

(ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society:

1. Social background of Indian nationalism.
2. Modernization of Indian tradition.
3. Protests and movements during the colonial period.
4. Social reforms.

Social Structure:

(i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:

1. The idea of Indian village and village studies.
2. Agrarian social structure—evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.

(ii) Caste System:

1. Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
2. Features of caste system.
3. Untouchability- forms and perspectives

(iii) Tribal Communities in India:

1. Definitional problems.
2. Geographical spread.
3. Colonial policies and tribes.
4. Issues of integration and autonomy.

(iv) Social Classes in India:

1. Agrarian class structure.
2. Industrial class structure.
3. Middle classes in India.

(v) Systems of Kinship in India:

1. Lineage and descent in India.
2. Types of kinship systems.
3. Family and marriage in India.
4. Household dimensions of the family.
5. Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour.

(vi) Religion and Society:

1. Religious communities in India.
2. Problems of religious minorities.

Social Changes in India:

(i) Visions of Social Change in India:

1. Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
2. Constitution, law and social change.
3. Education and social change.

(ii) Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India:

1. Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes.
2. Green revolution and social change.
3. Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
4. Problems of rural labour, bondage, and migration.

(iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India: 

1. Evolution of modern industry in India. 
2. Growth of urban settlements in India. 
3. Working class: structure, growth, class mobilisation. 
4. Informal sector, child labour. 
5. Slums and deprivation in urban areas. 

(iv) Politics and Society:

1. Nation, democracy, and citizenship.
2. Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.
3. Regionalism and decentralisation of power.
4. Secularization.

(v) Social Movements in Modern India:

1. Peasants and farmers’ movements.
2. Women’s movement.
3. Backward classes & Dalit movements.
4. Environmental movements.
5. Ethnicity and Identity movements.

(vi) Population Dynamics:

1. Population size, growth, composition, and distribution.
2. Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
3. Population Policy and family planning.
4. Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.

(vii) Challenges of Social Transformation:

1. Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems, and sustainability.
2. Poverty, deprivation, and inequalities.
3. Violence against women.
4. Caste conflicts.
5. Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.
6. Illiteracy and disparities in education.

How to Prepare for the UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus

Understanding the Syllabus: Before diving into preparation, thoroughly understand the UPSC sociology syllabus. Analyze previous years’ questions to grasp how UPSC frames its questions, aiding in answer writing and identifying key topics.

Key Considerations While Preparing:

• Paper 1 and Paper 2 Dynamics: Paper 1 is primarily static, covering thinkers and sociological theories comprehensively. Paper 2 is dynamic, focusing on Indian society. Interlink concepts from Paper 1 with Paper 2; for instance, use thinkers’ theories and perspectives in Paper 2 answers.
• Role of Current Affairs: Current affairs are crucial for Paper 2, as it often includes current-based questions. Integrating current affairs enhances answers, even those not purely current-based. Utilize case studies and data from government reports. Reviewing previous questions provides insights into the types of current-based questions asked by UPSC.
• Conceptual Clarity: Develop a clear understanding of various sociological thinkers and themes. Start with NCERT books before progressing to standard texts. Make concise notes for quick revision.
• Regular Answer Writing: Regular practice in answer writing is essential for interlinking concepts from both papers. Analyze previous years’ questions (PYQs) and begin writing answers after understanding the core concepts of thinkers and themes, tackling one topic at a time.

Static vs. Dynamic Syllabus in Sociology

The UPSC Sociology syllabus is a mix of static and dynamic elements:

• Static Component: Includes methodologies, sociological theories, and the discipline’s antecedents.
• Dynamic Component: Encompasses contemporary economic, political, social, demographic, and developmental issues.

Sociology blends static and dynamic aspects, allowing current affairs to bring novelty to answers. Human behavior, being dynamic, makes sociology a dynamic subject. When sociology studies actions, they become facts. Engaging with current affairs from a sociological perspective is crucial as questions on contemporary relevance are common.

Important Topics in the UPSC Sociology Syllabus

The syllabus covers a broad range of topics. Key areas to focus on include:

Paper 1:

• Sociological Thinkers
• Social Stratification and Mobility
• Politics and Society
• Social Change in Modern Society

Paper 2:

• Caste System and Mobility
• Indian Sociological Thinkers (including modern thinkers)
• Systems of Kinship in India
• Social Changes