Sociology Optional Enrichment Programme 2025-December Batch

The Sociology Optional Enrichment Programme 2025 is meticulously designed for aspirants who have completed foundational studies in Sociology or possess an academic background in the subject, as they gear up for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 and beyond. Sociology remains a popular and rewarding choice for candidates from diverse academic streams due to its comprehensive syllabus, real-world applicability, and consistent success rates over the years. This programme is tailored to help candidates deepen their understanding of the subject, enhance their ability to present answers logically and structurally, master diverse answer-writing techniques, and enrich their preparation with contemporary examples and case studies.

The programme features weekly tests focusing on 1-2 chapters in each test for targeted preparation. Test papers are evaluated by subject experts from reputed universities, with model answers provided for all questions. Candidates also have the opportunity to discuss their evaluated answer scripts directly with Prof. Subhash Mahapatra, receiving personalized feedback to improve their performance. The questions are meticulously aligned with current UPSC trends and contemporary issues, ensuring aspirants develop a sociological perspective that meets the demands of the examination. This programme bridges the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application, equipping aspirants with the confidence and precision needed to excel in the Sociology Optional paper.

Key Features of our Sociology Optional Enrichement Programme include:

• 12 Sectional Tests covering the entire Sociology syllabus.
• 6 Doubt Clearance Sessions by Professor Subhash Mahapatra for conceptual clarity and addressing queries.
• Expert evaluation and feedback for each test.
• Focus on improving content quality, structure, and presentation in your answers.

1.Comprehensive Coverage: A systematic and detailed approach to the UPSC Sociology Optional syllabus, divided into 12 tests.

2. Fortnightly Doubt Clearance Sessions:

• Dedicated Doubt Clearance Sessions after every two tests, scheduled on Sundays.
• Conducted by Professor Subhash Mahapatra, a renowned expert in Sociology.
• A total of 6 sessions to clarify concepts, address doubts, and provide in-depth insights.

3. Expert Evaluation: Personalized feedback and guidance to improve your answer-writing skills.

4. Integrated Learning: Focus on conceptual clarity, contemporary examples, and application of sociological perspectives.

5. Trusted Expertise: Delivered by Vajiram & Ravi’s experience

Test Schedule & Syllabus

Test-1: December 21, 2024 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Sociology - The Discipline

1. Modernity and social changes in Europe and the emergence of Sociology.

2. Scope of Sociology and comparison with other social sciences.

3. Sociology and common sense.

Test-2: December 28, 2024 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Sociology as Science & Research Methods

1. Science, scientific method, and critique.

2. Positivism and its critique.

3. Fact value and objectivity; Non-positivist methodologies.

4. Qualitative and quantitative methods; Techniques of data collection.

5. Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.

Doubt Clearance Session-1: January 5, 2025 (Sunday)**

Covers Test-1 and Test-2**

Test-3: January 4, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Sociological Thinkers (Part I)

1.Karl Marx - Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.

2. Emile Durkheim - Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion, and society.

3. Max Weber - Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethics, and the spirit of capitalism.

Test-4: January 11, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Sociological Thinkers (Part II)

1. Talcott Parsons - Social system, pattern variables.

2. Robert K. Merton - Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.

3. Mead - Self and identity.Doubt Clearance Session-2: January 19, 2025 (Sunday)**

Covers Test-3 and Test-4**

Test-5: January 18, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Stratification and Mobility

1.Concepts: equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation.

2.Theories: Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.

3.Dimensions: Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race.

4. Social mobility: Types, sources, and causes of mobility.

Test-6: January 25, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Works and Economic Life; Politics and Society

1. Social organisation of work: slave, feudal, industrial capitalist societies.

2. Bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.

3. Nation, democracy, and citizenship.

4. Protest, social movements, and collective action.

Doubt Clearance Session-3: February 2, 2025 (Sunday)**

Covers Test-5 and Test-6**

Test-7: February 1, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Religion and Society

1. Sociological theories of religion.

2. Religion in modern society: secularisation, fundamentalism, religious revivalism.

3. Religious minorities and issues.

Test-8: February 8, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Systems of Kinship

1.Family, marriage, lineage, and descent.

2. Patriarchy and contemporary trends in kinship.

3. Kinship systems in India: family and marriage, entitlements, and sexual division of labour.

Doubt Clearance Session-4: February 16, 2025 (Sunday)**

Covers Test-7 and Test-8**

Test-9: February 15, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Social Change in Modern Society

1.Sociological theories of social change.

2. Agents of social change: education, science, and technology.

3. Visions of social change in India: development planning, constitution, and social change.

Test-10: February 22, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Perspectives on Indian Society & Colonial Impact

1. Indology (G.S. Ghure), Structural functionalism (M.N. Srinivas), Marxist sociology (A.R. Desai).

2. Modernisation of Indian traditions, social reforms, and protests during colonial rule.

Doubt Clearance Session-5: February 23, 2025 (Sunday)**

Covers Test-9 and Test-10**

Test-11: February 29, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Rural and Agrarian Social Structure

1. Agrarian social structure: land tenure, land reforms.

2. Green revolution and rural development programmes.

3. Rural labour, bondage, and migration.

Test-12: March 7, 2025 (Saturday)

Syllabus: Social Movements and Challenges of Social Transformation

1. Peasant, women’s, Dalit, environmental, and identity movements.

2. Caste conflicts, communalism, and gender-based violence.

3. Crisis of development: poverty, displacement, and sustainability.

Doubt Clearance Session-6: March 9, 2025 (Sunday)**

Covers Test-11 and Test-12**