Sociology Optional for UPSC IAS by SAARTHI IAS
On the subject of choosing an optional subject for the UPSC IAS examination, Sociology has gained significant popularity among aspirants due to its interdisciplinary nature and relevance in understanding societal dynamics. SAARTHI IAS Coaching Institute in Jaipur offers the best coaching for Sociology Optional, providing expert guidance and comprehensive resources to help students excel in this subject. With a focus on UPSC IAS, SAARTHI IAS stands out as a trusted name in the field. Let’s explore the various aspects that make SAARTHI IAS the best coaching institute for Sociology Optional.
SAARTHI IAS Coaching Institute in Jaipur is the ideal destination for UPSC aspirants seeking the best coaching for Sociology Optional. With its focus on UPSC IAS, expert faculty, comprehensive classes, online coaching options, and well-structured study materials, SAARTHI IAS ensures that students receive top-notch guidance and resources for their Sociology Optional preparation. Join SAARTHI IAS, the best coaching institute for Sociology Optional, and unlock your potential to excel in the UPSC IAS examination.
Expert and Seasoned Faculty:
SAARTHI IAS takes pride in its faculty members, and one such expert and seasoned faculty is Arindum Soni Sir. With extensive knowledge and experience in the field of Sociology, Arindum Soni Sir brings a unique teaching methodology that simplifies complex concepts and theories. His expertise in the subject and his ability to provide practical insights make him a valuable asset to UPSC aspirants pursuing Sociology Optional. Under his guidance, students gain a deep understanding of the subject and develop critical analytical skills
Comprehensive Sociology Optional Classes:
SAARTHI IAS Coaching Institute offers comprehensive Sociology Optional classes that cover the entire UPSC Sociology syllabus. These classes, considered the best in the field, provide in-depth knowledge and understanding of sociological concepts, theories, and their practical application. The interactive nature of the classes encourages students to actively participate in discussions and enhances their analytical thinking abilities. The focus is not only on theoretical knowledge but also on developing the necessary writing skills to excel in the UPSC IAS examination.
Sociology Optional Online Coaching:
Recognizing the need for flexible learning options, SAARTHI IAS provides online coaching for Sociology Optional. This online platform, considered the best for Sociology Optional online coaching, enables students to access lectures and study materials from anywhere and at their convenience. The online classes, conducted by experienced faculties including Arindum Soni Sir, ensure that students receive the same level of quality teaching as in physical classrooms. The online coaching program allows aspirants to save time and effort while receiving comprehensive guidance for their Sociology Optional preparation.
Best Coaching for Sociology Optional:
SAARTHI IAS Coaching Institute is renowned as the best coaching institute for Sociology Optional. The institute’s consistent track record of producing successful candidates in the UPSC IAS examination testifies to its excellence in guiding aspirants through the Sociology Optional subject. The coaching program, considered the best for Sociology Optional coaching, focuses on building a strong foundation in sociological concepts, developing critical analysis skills, and enhancing answer-writing abilities. The personalized attention provided to each student helps in identifying their strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted improvement.
Comprehensive Study Materials:
To complement the coaching program, SAARTHI IAS provides comprehensive study materials for Sociology Optional. These materials, aligned with the UPSC Sociology syllabus, are considered the best in the field. Meticulously curated by subject matter experts, the study materials cover all the essential topics, theories, and case studies. The materials are regularly updated to incorporate the latest developments and trends in the field of Sociology, ensuring that students have access to the most relevant and up-to-date content.
CHOOSING SOCIOLOGY AS AN OPTIONAL -A “WISE” CHOICE
The marks allotted for optional subjects in the UPSC exam is 500 out of the total. A wrong choice of optional can lead you to score low marks, and hence your chances of selection may be compromised. In the last few years, Sociology optional has emerged as the safest and most popular option chosen by a multitude of aspirants in the UPSC mains exam.
The success ratio has been exemplary for this option. As far as the marks are concerned, one can fetch 315 to 350 marks in this optional. Another benefit of this optional is that it overlaps with the General Studies syllabus in the mains exam, saving your precious time for general studies papers. The subject owing to its roots in Society can help you in personality tests, too, where many questions arise on societal problems and issues.
Advantages of Sociology Optional
✓SCORING POTENTIAL
From the previous trends, it can be inferred that Sociology as an option for UPSC mains has a high-scoring potential, which is one of the main reasons behind its popularity. The sociology optional has a high success ratio, too, and many of the toppers with this optional testify to this. The average mark in sociology is 250+ marks.
✓SHORT SYLLABUS
Having a comparatively concise syllabus, the entire coverage can be done within 3-4 months, approximately 300 hours of the syllabus.
✓ABUNDANCE OF STUDY MATERIAL
There is plenty of study materials and resources related to this option. Online and offline material is in excess and can be utilized from multiple platforms.
✓NO BACKGROUND REQUIRED
The academic background has no foundation for this option, so all candidates, irrespective of their background, can choose it with little or no knowledge of sociology. This subject is often in the limelight in newspapers due to concepts like family, religion, etc.
✓OVERLAPPING WITH GENERAL STUDIES AND OTHER PAPERS
There are 10 topics in the paper, amongst which 4 overlap with paper 2, such as kinship, social change, Politics and Society, Religion and Society.Almost the entire prelims preparation is Indian Society-centric, and as a result, we are aware of important changes in Society, whether it be government schemes or Landmark Court judgments; this automatically takes care of any dynamic elements in the subject too.
Sociology paper-2 Poverty, Deprivation and Inequality, Illiteracy and disparity, Communalism, Sex ratio, IMR, MMR, Reproductive Health and Democracy, Nation, Citizenship, secularization, Regionalism, Informal sector, Child labour, Education and social change, Green Revolution, Community Development Programs, Poverty Alleviation Schemes, Rural Development.
GS and other papers like essay find a huge overlapping with sociology optional. For example, in General Studies Paper 1, about 40-50 marks can be extracted from sociology-related topics.
Similarly, General Studies, Paper 2 can be found coherent with issues like welfare initiatives, depressed and vulnerable section-related issues, NGOs and other welfare institutions, issues related to poverty and hunger etc.
General Studies Paper 3 is linked with issues like Land reforms in India, Comprehensive development and emerging issues, Naxalism and Maoism and their effect on Society, Globalization, Industrialization and privatization and their impact on Society etc.
General Studies Paper 4 has many common areas with Sociology optional such as Human Values, the role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values, reformers and administrators, and lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders. Similarly, there are many overlapping areas in the sociology syllabus with the syllabus of the essays.The subject, owing to its roots in Society, can also help you in personality tests, where many questions arise on societal problems and issues.
✓USING SCHOLARS AND THEORIES OF PAPER 1 IN PAPER 2 AND USING INDIAN SOCIETY-SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IN PAPER 1
Showcasing the examiner how the Sociological ideas are currently related and applicable in Society is a prime necessity for fetching maximum marks in Sociology. Examples from case studies, newspapers, reports or real life are to be quoted.
✓INTERLINKING OF SYLLABUS (BOTH MICRO AND MACRO TOPICS) OF PAPERS 1 & 2 such as Showing the impact of Sanskritization in politics and Society, social change of paper Using Emile Durkheim’s concepts of Solidarity and collective conscience, and Alienation by Marx in paper 2.
Theories of Social Stratification’, part of Chapter 5, is linked to Chapter 2. Chapter 7, ‘Politics and Society’, discusses sociological theories of power, which can be linked to Weberian and Marxian theories of power.
Chapter 8 discusses ‘Sociological theories on religion’, interlinked to Weber and Durkheim.
✓PAPER 2 IS DYNAMIC AND MOSTLY DEALS WITH INDIAN ASPECTS.
The questions asked in paper 2 are current-based and dynamic. Hence, a blend of sociological and current affairs is necessary while answering questions for this paper. For Paper II, you should also remember that newspapers are an important source of answers.
Consolidating your knowledge shall be a mix of current affairs and static portions. Topics like the Informal sector, child labour, Slums and deprivation in urban areas, Violence against women, Poverty, deprivation and inequalities, Regionalism and decentralization of power, Secularization etc, can be supplemented with current affairs news.
✓STUDY MATERIAL
We intend to provide you with comprehensive material and selective guidance related to “what to read, how to read and how much to read” systematically. So that the answer looks multidimensional, distinct, dynamic and unique.
Our “DISTINCT” Approach
Case studies conducted by various social researchers have their role in paper-2. Inclusions of case studies in your answers make them more readable and authentic.
Besides this, it also makes your answer different and unique; hence, the possibility of scoring gets higher. Therefore a Separate strategy is required for value addition and substantiations in dynamic portions of paper 2 for teaching distinct answer writing Skills to the candidate.
We need to quote a few relevant and current facts, figures, case studies and recommendations of reports/commissions. Real-life examples are of utmost importance in this paper. For example, when discussing the problem of religious minorities in India, you can cite the recent SC verdict on triple talaq. On issues of patriarchy, you can give the skewed sex ratios of various states in India and relate it to development, women empowerment, etc.
For example, take a look at the following question from Paper I-
•Elaborate on the “Me Too” movement and its impact in India.
This question, based on current affairs, has many aspects to it. Answering this question requires multiple dimensions, from psychology, sexual harassment in the workplace and its prevention (polity, law), feminism, consent, social hierarchies, gender roles, etc.
Now, look at another question from Paper II –
- Indebtedness is one of the serious issues leading to farmers’ suicides. Discuss reasons and suggest solutions.
Here also, you have to talk about various aspects of farmers’ suicides, like the agricultural distress in India, the vagaries of the monsoons and their effect on our farmers, the mental health of Indians, etc. Here, it would be best to discuss what Durkheim had to say about suicides.
Other Examples
- Under Changing Forms of Marriage, ‘marriage • divorce remarriage’ is one pattern visible in urban settings. However, you can use the term Serial Monogamy to refer to the same.
- Similarly, for topics such as Modernity in India and Middle Class in India, you can always incorporate concepts such as Conspicuous Consumption, Value Conflict among the Middle class etc.
- Many events around us break the notion of patriarchy and signify women’s empowerment. Ex: Induction of women into the armed forces
- Law and social change Recent Maternity Benefit Act and Provision of creche services.
- Some social conflicts, Caste conflicts, Communal Violence in the news etc
- Environment movements, social movements (LGBT, RTI, Anti-Corruption)
- In sociology, you can embellish your answers by including relevant diagrams and flowcharts. Prepare a few standard topics and concepts so that you can use them in the exam. Develop points from both sides of the spectrum (positive and negative) on every topic and present a balanced picture. Your conclusions must be futuristic, realistic and positively oriented.
Dealing with the demands of UPSC
The faculty of this course puts seamless efforts to fulfil the demands of UPSC Sociology optional. We have dedicatedly developed a smart, systematic and simple approach to dealing with this 500-mark game-changer optional subject.
The class paradigm will follow:
- Previous year question paper analysis and in-depth understanding of UPSC demands.
- Initial basic understanding of the topic, which is to be followed by the dictation in a summarized manner.
- MINDMAPS based on that summarised dictation understanding of the topic.
- Printed material at last for better understanding and self-reading by the students.
Books can be referred for the fundamentals
- Indian Society: NCERT Class Xl Sociology: Understanding Society
- Indian Society: NCERT Class XII Indian Society
- Indian Society: NCERT Class XII Social Change and Development in India.
Advanced Level reading references for sociology :
- Sociology Themes and Perspectives • Michael Haralambos, Martin Holborn
- Society In India: Concepts, Theories And Recent Trends Ram Ahuja
- Social Problems In India Ram Ahuja
- Sociology Anthony Giddens
- Sociological Theory George Ritzer
- Oxford Dictionary Of Sociology
- Modernization Of Indian Tradition Yogendra Singh
- Sociological Thought Francis Abraham, John Henry Morgan
- Social Change In Modern India M. N. SRINIVAS
- Caste Its Twentieth Century Avatar M. N. SRINIVAS
- Persistence and Change in Tribal India M.V. Rao
- Social Background of Indian Nationalism A. R. Desai
- Social Change in Modern India MN Srinivas
- Indian Sociological Thought BK Nagla
For current aspects of Sociology, EPW magazine can be referred to, which is a good compilation of society-related articles.
