Friday, December 19, 2014

SOCIOLOGY-2014-UPSC-MAIN-EXAM


SOCIOLOGY-2014-UPSC-MAIN-EXAM

Instructions for UPSC Mains Sociology Paper

  • For each paper: Time Allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
  • There are EIGHT questions divided in two Sections and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
  • Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
  • Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each Section.
  • The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
  • Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
  • Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
  • Attempts of questions shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Sociology Optional Paper 1: SECTION-A

Q1. Write short answer of the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50           
  1. How is objectivity different from value neutrality? Discuss with reference to Weber’s views on methodology.
  2. How did the emergence of industrial society change the family life in Western Europe?
  3. How is sociological approach to human actions different from that of psychological approach?
  4. In what way biographies could be used to study social life?
  5. How can we use reference group theory to understand fashion in society?
Q2.Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. Which research technique would be most suitable for the study of consumer behaviour and its social correlates? Explain.20 marks
  2. Identify the similarities and differences between Marx’s theory of ‘alienation’ and Durkheim’s theory of ‘anomie’.20 marks
  3. How could one use Merton’s concept of deviance to understand the traffic problem in urban India?10 marks
Q3. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. What do you understand by gender? How does it shape ‘male ‘identity?20 marks
  2. “According to Max Weber, ‘class’ and ‘status’ are two different dimensions of power.” Discuss.20 marks
  3. Using Merton’s concepts of ‘manifest’ and ‘latent’ functions, explain the persistence of corruption in Indian society.10 marks
Q4. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. How does Weber use the notion of ‘ideal types’ in his theory of bureaucracy?20 marks
  2. In what way ‘interpretative’ method is different from ‘positivist’ approach in the study of social phenomena?20 marks
  3. Using Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism, discuss the stages in the formation of gender identity.10 marks

Sociology Optional Paper 1: SECTION-B

Q5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
  1. For Marx, class divisions are outcomes of ‘exploitation’. Discuss.
  2. What are the distinctive features of social organization of work in slave society? How is it different from feudal society?
  3. Discuss T. H. Marshall’s views on citizenship.
  4. Distinguish between Political Parties and Pressure
  5. “According to Durkheim, the essence of religion in modern society is the same as religion in primitive society.” Comment.
Q6. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. “Power is not a zero-sum game”. Discuss with reference to Weber’s and Parsons’s views.20 marks
  2. Critically examine the functionalist views on the institution of family. How do those help us in understanding family in the present times?20 marks
  3. What do you understand by institutionalization of ‘live-in-relationship?10 marks
Q7. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. How is religious revivalism different from communalism? Elaborate with suitable examples from the Indian context.20 marks
  2. Education is often viewed as an agency of social change. However in reality it could also reinforce inequalities and conservatism. Discuss.20 marks
  3. According to Marx, capitalism transforms even the personal relationships between men and women. Critically examine with illustrations from the contemporary Indian context.10 marks
Q8. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. How is the increasing use of technology changing the status of women in Indian society?20 marks
  2. Write a short essay on the Latin American perspective on ‘dependency’.20 marks
  3. What do you understand by social movement? How has the mobilization by Scheduled Castes helped them in constructing a new identity?10 marks

Sociology Optional Paper 2: SECTION-A

Q1.Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
  1. Gandhi’s efforts on communal harmony
  2. Modernisation of Indian traditions
  3. Types of kinship systems in India
  4. Features of caste system
  5. G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach to understand society in India
Q2. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. Analyse the different views on integration and autonomy of tribes in India.20 marks
  2. Discuss the social background of Indian nationalism.20 marks
  3. Define Patriarchy. How does it impact the overall entitlement of a girl child in India ?10 marks
Q3. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. Give a sociological analysis of the problems of migrant urban poor.20 marks
  2. Discuss the problems of religious minorities in India.20 marks
  3. Write some of the important social reforms in India for the removal of untouchability.10 marks
Q4. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. Discuss the status of women among the emerging urban middle class.20 marks
  2. Describe the impact of land reforms on the peasants of Indian society.20 marks
  3. What is the idea of ‘Indian village’? Explain.10 marks

Sociology Optional Paper 2: SECTION-B

Q5. Write short notes with a sociological Perspective on the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
  1. Trends of Infant Mortality Rate among females10 marks
  2. Domestic Violence Act, 2005
  3. Dynamics of Contemporary Dalit movements
  4. Impact of privatisation on educational disparities
  5. Rural landless labourers and development induced displacement
Q6. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. What are the main features of the second wave of Women’s movement in the Indian context ?20 marks
  2. Discuss the ‘Chipko movement’ as an example of eco-feminism.20 marks
  3. Discuss the impact of globalisation on the workers in the Informal sector.10 marks
Q7. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. What are the demographic projections for the ageing population (60+) for the next decade? What are the implications for formulating policy for them ?20 marks
  2. What are the possible underlying causes of the spurt of increased violence against women in public spaces in the last decade ?20 marks
  3. How do caste and class come together in creating the category of extreme poor ?10 marks
Q8. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
  1. Many caste conflicts are between castes which are close to each other on the hierarchical scale.’ Give a sociological explanation for this phenomenon.20 marks
  2. Tribal conflicts based on ethnic differences often camouflage a struggle for political and economic advantage.’ Substantiate with examples.20 marks
  3. Who are the elites? Discuss their roles in bringing social transformation.10 mark
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4 comments:

IAS-IFS said...

Modernisation of Indian traditions -defined modernisation and tradition nd features i.e holism,hierarchy etc.then explained 1,1 lines about sanskritization,westernization,little great traditions,dialectical approach.In india modernization and hierarchy are not two polar opposites but are in continum.y.singh's synthesized approach to modernization and his criticism.then how beteille has explained caste old is replaced by caste new.

IAS-IFS said...

types of kinship systems in India-kinship definition.system based on pattern of residence,lineage,descent.generally divided into north ,south,central ,east and west.features of north based on caste endogamy and clan exogamy as explained by ghurye.then features of north indian kinship and compared with south (toda,nairs etc).central india having features of both,east matrilineal and tribal different rules.

IAS-IFS said...

Features of caste system-caste is a complex endogamous closed system characterized by hierarchy ,ascription .ghurye gave features as segmentary division,food restriction,marriage restriction,civil and religious disabilities,lack of restriction of choice of occupation.dumont argue its system of pure vs impure.
srininivas's features of caste

Gandhi’s efforts on communal harmony-I wrote that he brought communal harmony on 3 axes,regional,religion and caste.for religion he supported hindu muslim unity as seen during NCM-khilafat,for caste he supported temple entry movements and opposed untouchability,for regional harmony he supported unified idea of india.He was opposed by ambedkar on caste issue

IAS-IFS said...

Give a sociological analysis of the problems of migrant urban poor.-I wrote that they have stay in slums and hence sometimes termed as deviant.face double problem of urban inflation ,have to travel long to cities main center,face health problems and don't get any attention from authorities,police themselves are harsh on them. they face sanitation problems,Women have fear of security also in case of sanitation outside.Mostly concentrated on low wage works which lacks social security benefits and form a part of informal economy as explained by Jan breman in his study of gujarat.