RAS Mains: Sociology

Sociology is the study of human society and social behaviour.  Though Sociology does not have a long history it does have a long past, for thousands of years men have reflected upon societies in which they lived. In the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Manu, Kautilya, Confucius, Cicero and others we find major attempts to deal methodically with the nature of Society Law, Religion, Philosophy, etc. Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Confucius Analets, Cicero’s ‘ On Justice’ are some of the ancient sources of social thought.

However, sociology as an independent science came to be established only in the 19th century due to the efforts of the French Philosopher Auguste Comte (1798-1857). Comte invented the term Sociology and was the first man to delineate the subject-matter of Sociology from all the other sciences. The discipline started as the ´science of society´, however with time, sociology has moved on to more reflexive attempts to understand how society works.

Relevance of Sociology:

1. The Improved understanding of a given set of social circumstances gives us all a better chance of controlling them.
2. Sociology provides means of increasing our cultural sensitivities, allowing policies to be based on awareness of divergent cultural values.
3. It helps in investigation of consequences of particular policies and programs.
4. Perhaps most important, it provides self-enlightenment offering groups and individuals an increased opportunity to alter conditions of their own lives.

Sociology for RAS Mains | Syllabus

1. Sociological Thought in India

• Development of Sociological Thought in India
• Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society:
  • Indology (G. S. Ghurye)
  • Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas)
  • Marxist sociology (A.R. Desai)

2.  Social Values

• Concept of Values in Sociology
  • Types of Social Values
  • Norms & Values
  • Role of family, Society, Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values
• Social Values
  • Social vs Cultural Values

3. Caste, Class & Occupation.

• Caste
  • Perspective on the study of caste systems
    • G S Ghurye
    • M. N. Srinivas,
    • Louis Dumont,
    • Andre Beteille.
  • Untouchability: Forms & Perspectives
• Class:
  • Social Classes in India
    • (a) Agrarian class structure
    • (b) Industrial class structure
    • (c) Middle class in India.
  • Working class: structure, growth, class mobilisation.

4. Sanskritization.

• Sanskritization
• Dominant Caste

5. Varna, Ashram, Purusharth and Sanskar Vyavastha.

• Varna, Ashram, Purusharth and Sanskar Vyavastha
• Concept of rit & rin

6. Secularism

• Uniform Civil Code

7. Tribal community of Rajasthan: Bhil, Mina (Meena) and Garasia

• Tribes of Rajasthan
• Scheduled Area of Rajasthan

8. Issues and Problems of Society.

• Social issues in Rajasthan:
  • Child Labour
  • Untouchability
  • Domestic Violence
  • Illiteracy
  • Child Marriage
  • Female Foeticide
  • Silicosis
  • Opium-Doda Addiction 
  • Underage Mothers in Rajasthan: TOI NEWS
  • National Family Health Survey – 4: Rajasthan
  • Unemployment
  • Poverty
  • Inter-Caste Marriages
• India (General)
  • Issues with Clinical drug trial in India
  • Euthanasia
  • Antibiotic Resistance

Practise Questions on Sociology

• Answer-Writing for Sociology

Other Resources to Study 

NCERT Books (Class XI & XII)

• Class XI : Introduction toSociology: Download PDF
• Class XI : Understanding Society: Download PDF
• Class XII : Indian Society: Download PDF
• Class XII :  Social Change and Development in India: Download PDF

NIOS Material 

• India Society: Tribal, Rural and Urban (473 KB)  
• Caste System in India (384 KB)  
• Major Social Problems
  • Major Social Problems of India (419 KB)  
  • Problems of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (391 KB)  
  • Problems of other Deprived Sections (450 KB)  
  • Gender Discrimination (627 KB)  
  • Problem of Women (707 KB)  
  • Quest for Equality and Women’s Empowerment (736 KB)  

Vision IAS:

• Social Issues: PDF

Insights:

• Social Issues: PDF