Sociology IAS Mains Question Paper 2023

Sociology IAS Mains Question Paper 2023:

There are Eight questions divided into Two Sections. Candidate has to attempt Five questions in all. Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any Three are to be attempted choosing at least One question from each section.

Section- A:

1:- Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50)

(a) What is the distinctiveness of the feminist method of social research? Comment.
(b) Discuss the relationship between sociology and political science.
(c) How does the dramaturgical perspective enable our understanding of everyday life
(d) Is reference group theory a universally applicable model? Elucidate.
(e) Do you think that the boundary line between ethnicity and race is blurred? Justify your answer.

2:- (a) What, according to Robert Michels, is the iron law of oligarchy? Do lions and foxes in Vilfredo Pareto”s theory, essentially differ from each other? Substantiate. (20)
(b) What is historical materialism? Examine its relevance in understanding contemporary societies. (20)
(c) What are variables? How do they facilitate research? (10)

3:- (a) What are the characteristics of scientific method? Do you think that scientific method in conducting sociological research is foolproof? Elaborate. (20)
(b) How do you assess the changing patterns in kinship relations in societies today? (20)
(c) Is Weber’s idea of bureaucracy a product of the historical experiences of Europe? Comment. (10)

4:- (a) Do you think that common sense is the starting point of social research? What are its advantages and limitations? Explain. (20)
(b) How is poverty a form of social exclusion? Illustrate in this connection the different dimensions of poverty and social exclusion. (20)
(c) Highlight the differences and similarities between totemism and animism. (10)

Section- B:

5:- Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50)

(a) Examine the relevance of corporate social responsibility in a world marked by increasing environmental crises. 
(b) How is civil society useful in deepening the roots of democracy?
(c) What functions does religion perform in a pluralistic society?
(d) Analyze critically David Morgan’s views on family practices.
(e) Does women’s education help to eradicate patriarchal discriminations? Reflect with illustrations.

6:- (a) What are the different dimensions of qualitative method? Do you think that qualitative method helps to gain a deeper sociological insight? Give reasons for your answer. (20)
(b) Explain Max Weber’s theory of social stratification. How does Weber’s idea of class differ from that of Marx? (20)
(c) What are the ethical issues that a researcher faces in making use of participant observation as a method of collecting data? Explain. (10)

7:- (a) Explain how economic globalization has brought changes in the patterns of employment in the 21st century. (20)
(b) Do you think that the social media has brought significant changes in the forms of protest? Argue your case. (20)
(c) Assess critically A. G. Frank’s ‘theory of development of underdevelopment’. (10)

8:- (a) What is Taylorism? Analyze its merits and demerits. (20)
(b) What are new religious movements? Elaborate emphasizing their forms and Orientations. (20)
(c) Examine the role of science and technology in addressing age-old taboos and superstitions. (10)

Section- A:

1:- Write short answers, with a sociological perspective, on the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50)

(a) Highlight the significant features of A.R. Desai’s ‘Dialectical Perspective’ to study Indian Society.
(b) “The decade of 1950s was the golden period of village studies in Indian Sociology.” Explain the statement.
(c) Analyse the differences between the attributional and interactional approach in studying the caste system.
(d) Are Tradition and Modernity antithetical to each other? Comment.
(e) Discuss the main features of Land Reforms in post-independence India.

2:- (a) Do you agree with the view of Andre Beteille that India’s villages are representative of Indian society’s basic civilizational values? Present a sociological overview. (20)
(b) Elaborate the salient features and the role of middle class in India’s democracy and development. (20)
(c) Analyse the role of market and modern forces in understanding the changing trends in marriage systems in India. (10)

3:- (a) Contextualize Louis Dumont’s concept of ‘binary opposition’ with reference to caste system in India. (20)
(b) Define the concepts of ‘Descent’ and ‘Alliance’. Differentiate between North Indian and South Indian Kinship systems with examples. (20)
(c) Critically examine the concept of Sanskritization with suitable illustrations. (10)

4:- (a) Analyse the perspectives of Isolation, Assimilation and Integration in understanding the trajectories of Indian Tribal Development. (20)
(b) Explain the implications and the impact of globalization in situating the changing agrarian class structure in India. (20)
(c) Critique the victory narratives of Green Revolution in the context of Indian society. (10)

Section- B:

5:- Write short answers, with a sociological perspective, on the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50)

(a) Citing some case studies, expand the concept of ‘Development-induced Displacement’. 
(b) Examine the concept of ‘Cultural Pluralism’ in the context of India’s Unity in Diversity. 
(c) Highlight the salient features of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
(d) Analyse the sociological interconnections between Social Media and Mass Mobilization in India.
(e) Discuss the nature of regional variations in sex ratio in India, stating reasons thereof. 

6:- (a) How do you account for the increasing significance of religion in public and personal spheres in the context of secularization thesis in India? Explain. (20)
(b) In the face of rising global climatic concerns, how do you contextualize the relevance of Chipko Movement and its Gandhian tone? Answer analytically. (20)
(c) What actionable measures would you suggest to curb the recurrent child labour menace in India?  (10)

7:- (a) Do you think that the decades of Dalit political mobilizations and movements have helped in strengthening India’s democracy? Substantiate your arguments with facts.  (20)
(b) What is ‘reverse migration’? Discuss its features, causes and consequences in India. (20)
(c) Discuss the phenomenon of rural-urban continuum with suitable examples. (10)

8:- (a) Explain the thematic linkages between ‘Patriarchy’ and ‘Honour killing’ in India, citing some recent cases. (20)
(b) Discuss the challenges faced by the cooperative movements in India. Suggest measures to strengthen the movement at the grass-roots level. (20)
(c) What is ‘Ageing’? Discuss the major problems of aged people in India. (10)