“The country doesn’t deserve anything less than success from us. Let us aim for success”.

–Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Dear students we all are striving for success in some way or another and UPSC is one of that platform through which we strive for success and Sociology is one of the optional through which you can enhance your chances to become successful.

• Sociology is extension of our common sense knowledge of social life.
• As student in some way or another is connected with this society so he/she is having some basic understanding of society. But despite this some basic questions come in our mind regarding such as:

Advantages of Sociology

How effective is Sociology as an Optional in UPSC?

• Sociology is very effective optional. It not only helps you to get good marks in optional paper but is also helpful in Essay and better writing skills.

What is the success ratio of Sociology in UPSC?

• Success Ratio varies as around 85 to 240 candidates are getting selected. However, one can neglect this ratio as there are many candidates who are getting high marks in this optional despite failing in mains due to poor performance in general studies papers.

Will Sociology help in General Studies also?

• Yes definitely, being a generalized topic, it helps in all the four papers of the General Studies. Various sections in which it helps in General Studies has been mentioned below in this Approach paper.

Why Sociology is a safer optional?

• No special knowledge or academic background is required for the preparation of Sociology as an optional subject. Numerous evidence shows that candidates without any particular skill in Sociology have obtained high scores.

Who should take Sociology?

• Any student can take Sociology as an optional as it deals with society and we all are staying in this society itself. Apart from humanities background, students from technical background can also opt for Sociology as students from this background has an edge in applied aspects of Sociology. Rest of the students who are coming from other streams can also chose Sociology as an optional as it is much generalized in nature and no specialization is required for it.

Which books can be referred for Sociology?

• Being one of the popular optional subject abundant study materials are available. But beginning should always be done with NCERT 11th & 12th.

Other Benefits

1. You will never get too much low marks in this subject. Even if you have not completed the syllabus, you can easily write answers from a generalized perspective and it will help you fetch marks unlike other subjects where there are high chances of you getting zero as well in an answer.
2. Further, Sociology helps you have a generalized theory on each issue. Therefore, you will be getting more marks in essays and use sociology scholars as well to fetch marks.
3. Improve your interview skills and speaking at certain levels.
4. Questions on theories are quite repetitive in nature. So, you need not worry about getting surprises in papers.
5. You don’t need a previous background of the subject.
6. Syllabus is not very lengthy.
7. Resources and materials are easily available.

Importance of Sociology

General Studies - Paper I

• Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

General Studies - Paper II

• Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
• Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.

General Studies - Paper III

• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism. – Naxalism.

General Studies - Paper IV

• Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

Essay

• It helps with the essay paper since generally at least one essay is asked on social issues.

Interview

• We all live in society and by analyzing it we try to make our opinion. Being a Sociology student always give you an edge in maintaining balance in your answers in front of the Interview board members.n