UPSC 2014 Mains - Sociology Papers 01 and 02 - 19 Dec 2014
http://mrunal.org/2014/12/download-upsc-mains-2014-sociology-optional-question-paper-1-2-including-hindi-medium-pdf.html
UPSC Mains-2014: Sociology Optional Paper 1 & 2, including Hindi medium PDF
- Instructions for UPSC Mains Sociology Paper
- Sociology Optional Paper 1: SECTION-A
- Sociology Optional Paper 1: SECTION-B
- Sociology Optional Paper 2: SECTION-A
- Sociology Optional Paper 2: SECTION-B
- (Poor quality PDF) Original Scan for Hindi Medium
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
- How is objectivity different from value neutrality? Discuss with reference to Weber’s views on methodology.
- How did the emergence of industrial society change the family life in Western Europe?
- How is sociological approach to human actions different from that of psychological approach?
- In what way biographies could be used to study social life?
- How can we use reference group theory to understand fashion in society?
Q2.Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- Which research technique would be most suitable for the study of consumer behaviour and its social correlates? Explain.20 marks
- Identify the similarities and differences between Marx’s theory of ‘alienation’ and Durkheim’s theory of ‘anomie’.20 marks
- 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)
- What do you understand by gender? How does it shape ‘male ‘identity?20 marks
- “According to Max Weber, ‘class’ and ‘status’ are two different dimensions of power.” Discuss.20 marks
- 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)
- How does Weber use the notion of ‘ideal types’ in his theory of bureaucracy?20 marks
- In what way ‘interpretative’ method is different from ‘positivist’ approach in the study of social phenomena?20 marks
- 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
- For Marx, class divisions are outcomes of ‘exploitation’. Discuss.
- What are the distinctive features of social organization of work in slave society? How is it different from feudal society?
- Discuss T. H. Marshall’s views on citizenship.
- Distinguish between Political Parties and Pressure
- “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)
- “Power is not a zero-sum game”. Discuss with reference to Weber’s and Parsons’s views.20 marks
- Critically examine the functionalist views on the institution of family. How do those help us in understanding family in the present times?20 marks
- What do you understand by institutionalization of ‘live-in-relationship?10 marks
Q7. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- How is religious revivalism different from communalism? Elaborate with suitable examples from the Indian context.20 marks
- Education is often viewed as an agency of social change. However in reality it could also reinforce inequalities and conservatism. Discuss.20 marks
- 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)
- How is the increasing use of technology changing the status of women in Indian society?20 marks
- Write a short essay on the Latin American perspective on ‘dependency’.20 marks
- 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
- Gandhi’s efforts on communal harmony
- Modernisation of Indian traditions
- Types of kinship systems in India
- Features of caste system
- G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach to understand society in India
Q2. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- Analyse the different views on integration and autonomy of tribes in India.20 marks
- Discuss the social background of Indian nationalism.20 marks
- 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)
- Give a sociological analysis of the problems of migrant urban poor.20 marks
- Discuss the problems of religious minorities in India.20 marks
- Write some of the important social reforms in India for the removal of untouchability.10 marks
Q4. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- Discuss the status of women among the emerging urban middle class.20 marks
- Describe the impact of land reforms on the peasants of Indian society.20 marks
- 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
- Trends of Infant Mortality Rate among females10 marks
- Domestic Violence Act, 2005
- Dynamics of Contemporary Dalit movements
- Impact of privatisation on educational disparities
- Rural landless labourers and development induced displacement
Q6. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- What are the main features of the second wave of Women’s movement in the Indian context ?20 marks
- Discuss the ‘Chipko movement’ as an example of eco-feminism.20 marks
- Discuss the impact of globalisation on the workers in the Informal sector.10 marks
Q7. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- 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
- What are the possible underlying causes of the spurt of increased violence against women in public spaces in the last decade ?20 marks
- How do caste and class come together in creating the category of extreme poor ?10 marks
Q8. Answer the following: (20+20+10 marks)
- 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
- Tribal conflicts based on ethnic differences often camouflage a struggle for political and economic advantage.’ Substantiate with examples.20 marks
- Who are the elites? Discuss their roles in bringing social transformation.10 marks
(Poor quality PDF) Original Scan for Hindi Medium
Click me to
download originally scanned paper- containing both Hindi and English
questions. Although PDF quality is not that great, so better wait for
UPSC to upload papers in next 30-40 days.
