SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY

SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER

UNIT IN PAPER 1 MARKS 2017 MARKS 2016 MARKS 2015 MARKS 2014
1: Sociology – The Discipline 30 20 20 30
2: Sociology as a Science 40 30 50 30
3: Research Methods and Analysis 30 40 30 20
4: Sociological Thinkers 50 70 70 80
5: Stratification and Mobility 50 40 30 40
6: Works and Economic Life 30 30 30 30
7: Politics and Society 40 30 60 50
8: Religion and Society 30 50 40 30
9: Systems of Kinship 50 40 20 30
10. Social Change in Modern Society 50 50 50 60
UNIT IN PAPER II MARKS 2017 MARKS 2016 MARKS 2015 MARKS 2014
A(i) :Perspectives on the study of Indian Society 10 10 30 10
A(ii): Impact of colonial rule on Indian Society 40 10 40 30
B(i) : Rural and Agrarian Social Structure - 20 - 30
B(ii): Caste System 50 60 50 20
B(iii) :Tribal communities in India 20 30 20 40
B(iv): Social Classes in India - 10 - 20
B(v): Systems of Kinship in India 30 30 50 20
B(vi): Religion and Society 10 20 30 30
C(i): Visions of Social Change in India - - - -
C(ii): Rural and Agrarian transformation in India 30 50 10 20
C(iii): Industrialization and Urbanization in India 40 80 10 10
C(iv): Politics and Society 20 - 20 10
C(v): Social Movements in Modern India 20 20 40 50
C(vi): Population Dynamics 30 20 10 30
C(vii): Challenges of Social Transformation & Generic 50 40 90 60
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER
TREND ANALYSIS OF SOCIOLOGY PAPER I - 2017

 Every unit of the syllabus has been covered in the questions.

 The trend of every unit contributing to one compulsory question which started from 2015
continues in this paper too. For example,

 Q. 1(a) from Unit 1, 1(b) from Unit 2,.... 1(e) from Unit 5 &

 Q. 5(a) from Unit 6, 5(b) from Unit 7,....5(e) from Unit 10

 The overall trend of Unit 1 to 5 contributing to section A and Unit 6 to 10 contributing to

Section B continues.

 Out of the 5 Section B compulsory questions ,3 were Indian Sociology specific questions

 The proportion of Indian Sociology questions in Paper I has seen a significant boost to many as
6 out of 28 questions in Paper I

 There were significant key words in the questions which could change the direction of one’s
answer. For example in 8(c) the word “religious practices” , in 5(d) “patriarchal bargain”, 3(a)
“sociological method” in study of suicide. If one fails to catch the pulse of the question, one
could easily get misled and answer the questions in a different manner altogether.

 A relatively new kind of question framing appeared in 7(c) with the word “Problematise”

 Overall this was quite a manageable paper.

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL PAPER
TREND ANALYSIS OF SOCIOLOGY PAPER II - 2017:
 The paper had a beautiful spread across the syllabus with almost every unit of the syllabus
contributing at least 1 question.
 Like the previous years, the questions were more connecting one part of the syllabus to the other.
 The questions were quite very analytical in nature that the candidate had to remain on the toes
in the exam. The candidates were required to think on the spot and customise all that they had
prepared for the given questions.
 The unit on Caste System, Industrialisation and Urbanisation and Challenges to Social
Transformation have contributed significantly to the question paper.
 Questions 6 (b) on Heritage Tourism, 8 (a) on Cultural Revivalism and performing arts were indeed
challenging areas as writing them with sociological perspective would definitely required a little
wider reading. One is reminded of the Phule as an agrarian radical and Ambedkar as a wise
democrat questions of the past years.
 There is at least 1 social issue based current affairs appearing in Section B over the last 4 years.
 When at one glance the paper overall looks to have more generic questions, a careful analysis will
definitely mesmerise a candidate on how meticulously, the questions have been picked from
within the syllabus.
The paper was undoubtedly a leveller, a good enough measure of one’s subject knowledge, applicative
skills and overall ability to present the answers. Hats off to UPSC!
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