UPSC Mains Sociology Optional: Detailed Syllabus, Paper Pattern & Study Material

Have you also thought about why so many toppers choose Sociology as an Optional Subject for UPSC Mains? One of the biggest advantages of Sociology is its manageable syllabus. What also makes this optional popular is its overlap with General Studies, especially in GS Paper I and the Essay paper. 

Plus, you don’t need a background in Sociology to do well. What you do need is clarity on the syllabus and the right resources. That’s exactly what this blog is for. We’ll review the full syllabus for both Paper I and Paper II, break down the paper pattern, and suggest some useful study resources.

We’ll also introduce you to SuperKalam Mains' answer evaluation, which gives instant, expert feedback. Let’s get started!

Sociology has a success rate of 9.2% in the UPSC Mains, which is one of the highest among all optional subjects. But beyond the numbers, there are many reasons why so many aspirants choose it and do well. If you've  chosen Sociology, or are still thinking about it, here’s why it’s a smart choice:

• Short and clear syllabus – Easy to finish on time and revise properly.
• Helps in GS and Essay – Many topics overlap with GS Paper I, Essay, and even Ethics.
• Makes answer writing easier – It trains you to write in a clear, structured way.
• Good scoring potential – With the right strategy and regular writing, you can score very well.
• No need to memorise too much – It rewards understanding more than rote learning.
• Helpful in the interview – Helps you speak clearly on social issues with balance.
• Resources are easily available – Books, notes, and lectures make preparation smoother.

If you prepare with focus and keep your approach simple, Sociology can truly become one of your strengths in this exam. Now, let’s understand the paper structure. 

The Sociology Optional in UPSC Mains is divided into two papers:

• Paper I and Paper II
• Each paper carries 250 marks
• The duration for each paper is 3 hours
• Both papers are descriptive and held on the same day in two separate sessions

Question Paper Format & Important Instructions

Sociology papers I & II follow a specific structure and set of instructions. Here's what you need to know:

• There are a total of 8 questions, divided into 2 Sections – A and B.
• The question paper is printed in both Hindi and English.
• You must attempt 5 questions in total.
• Question 1 (from Section A) and Question 5 (from Section B) are compulsory.
• Out of the remaining questions, you need to attempt three more, choosing at least one question from each section.
• The marks assigned to each question or section are mentioned alongside the question
• Answers must be written in the language (medium) you selected in your UPSC application. 
• Answers written in any other medium will not be evaluated.
• Follow the word limit as specified in the questions.
• Questions will be counted in the order they are attempted. Even partially attempted questions will be counted, unless they are properly struck off.

Tip: Practice answer writing using previous years and mock questions, and always stick to the word limit. To make this more effective, try the SuperKalam Mains Evaluation Tool. It offers fair, UPSC-standard feedback in just 1 minute — no waiting for days. See how it works: 

Below is the complete syllabus for Papers I & II, as prescribed by UPSC. 

SOCIOLOGY PAPER I

FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY 

1. Sociology - The Discipline: 

(a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of Sociology. 

(b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences. 

(c) Sociology and common sense. 

2. Sociology as Science: 

(a) Science, scientific method and critique.   

(b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology. 

(c) Positivism and its critique. 

(d) Fact value and objectivity. 

(e) Non-positivist methodologies. 

3. Research Methods and Analysis: 

(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods. 

(b) Techniques of data collection. 

(c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity. 

4. Sociological Thinkers: 

(a) Karl Marx - Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle. 

(b) Emile Durkhteim - Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society. 

(c) Max Weber - Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. 

(d) Talcolt Parsons - Social system, pattern variables. 

(e) Robert K. Merton - Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups. 

(f) Mead - Self and identity. 

5. Stratification and Mobility: 

(a) Concepts - equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. 

(b) Theories of social stratification - Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory. 

(c) Dimensions - Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. (d) Social mobility - open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility. 

6. Works and Economic Life: 

(a) Social organization of work in different types of society - slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society. 

(b) Formal and informal organization of work. 

(c) Labour and society. 

7. Politics and Society: 

(a) Sociological theories of power. 

(b) Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups and political parties. 

(c) Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology. 

(d) Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution. 

8. Religion and Society: 

(a) Sociological theories of religion. 

(b) Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults. 

(c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism. 

9. Systems of Kinship: 

(a) Family, household, marriage. 

(b) Types and forms of family. 

(c) Lineage and descent. 

(d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour. 

(e) Contemporary trends. 

10. Social Change in Modern Society: 

(a) Sociological theories of social change. 

(b) Development and dependency. 

(c) Agents of social change. 

(d) Education and social change. 

(e) Science, technology and social change. 

SOCIOLOGY PAPER II 

INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE 

A. Introducing Indian Society: 

(i) Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society: 

(a) Indology (G.S. Ghure). 

(b) Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas). 

(c) Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai). 

(ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: 

(a) Social background of Indian nationalism. 

(b) Modernization of Indian tradition. 

(c) Protests and movements during the colonial period. 

(d) Social reforms. 

B. Social Structure: 

(i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure: 

(a) The idea of Indian village and village studies. 

(b) Agrarian social structure— evolution of land tenure system, land reforms. 

(ii) Caste System: 

(a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille. 

(b) Features of caste system. 

(c) Untouchability-forms and perspectives 

(iii) Tribal Communities in India: 

(a) Definitional problems.  

(b) Geographical spread. 

(c) Colonial policies and tribes. 

(d) Issues of integration and autonomy. 

(iv) Social Classes in India:

(a) Agrarian class structure. 

(b) Industrial class structure. 

(c) Middle classes in India. 

(v) Systems of Kinship in India: 

(a) Lineage and descent in India. 

(b) Types of kinship systems. 

(c) Family and marriage in India. 

(d) Household dimensions of the family. 

(e) Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labor. 

(vi) Religion and Society: 

(a) Religious communities in India. 

(b) Problems of religious minorities. 

C. Social Changes in India: 

(i) Visions of Social Change in India: 

(a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy. 

(b) Constitution, law and social change. 

(c) Education and social change. 

(ii) Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India: 

(a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes. 

(b) Green revolution and social change. 

(c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture. 

(d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration. 

(iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India: 

(a) Evolution of modern industry in India. 

(b) Growth of urban settlements in India. 

(c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization. 

(d) Informal sector, child labour. 

(e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas. 

(iv) Politics and Society: 

(a) Nation, democracy and citizenship. 

(b) Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite. 

(c) Regionalism and decentralization of power. 

(d) Secularization. 

(v) Social Movements in Modern India: 

(a) Peasants and farmers movements. 

(b) Women’s movement. 

(c) Backward classes & Dalit movements. 

(d) Environmental movements. 

(e) Ethnicity and Identity movements. 

(vi) Population Dynamics: 

(a) Population size, growth, composition and distribution. 

(b) Components of population growth: birth, death, migration. 

(c) Population Policy and family planning. 

(d) Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health. (vii) Challenges of Social Transformation: 

(a) Crisis of development : displacement, environmental problems and sustainability. (b) Poverty, deprivation and inequalities. 

(c) Violence against women. 

(d) Caste conflicts. 

(e) Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism. 

(f) Illiteracy and disparities in education. 

Also read: Scoring Top Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains Exam

Now that you're familiar with the complete Sociology Optional syllabus, let’s take a look at the essential books and resources you’ll need to build a strong foundation and write effective answers in the exam.

NCERT Sociology Books for UPSC 

These NCERTs form the foundation for understanding basic sociology concepts and are highly recommended for beginners:

Class XI:

• Introducing Sociology
• Understanding Society

Class XII:

• Indian Society
• Social Change and Development in India

Want to master the NCERTs for UPSC? Kickstart your UPSC Prep with Super Start with NCERT – a free initiative by SuperKalam to help you build a strong NCERT foundation the right way.

UPSC Sociology Optional Standard Booklist 

Sociology optional preparation doesn’t need to be complicated. Just focus on understanding the syllabus, prepare topic-wise, and keep writing answers regularly. Keep your approach simple, stay consistent, and learn from your mistakes.

Boost Your Sociology Optional Score with SuperKalam’s Mains Answer Evaluation Tool – Get Instant, Expert Feedback on Your Answers!

Explore SuperKalam’s resources and take the next step towards cracking UPSC with confidence.