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UPSC CSE Mains 2021 — Sociology Questions with Answers
All 56 Sociology previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2021, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Sociology as a timed test →- Q1.Social Change & Movements
Europe was the first and the only place where modernity emerged. Comment.
- Q2.Research Methods & Methodology
Do you think ethnomethodology helps us in getting reliable and valid data? Justify your answer.
- Q3.Research Methods & Methodology
Discuss the challenges involved in collecting data through census method.
- Q4.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Explain whether Durkheim's theory of Division of Labour is relevant in the present day context.
- Q5.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Critically examine Max Weber's theory of Social Stratification.
- Q6.General Sociology
From the viewpoint of growing importance of multidisciplinarity, how do you relate sociology to other social sciences?
- Q7.Research Methods & Methodology
How far are sociologists justified in using positivist approach to understand social reality? Explain with suitable illustrations.
- Q8.General Sociology
How is sociology related to common sense?
- Q9.Research Methods & Methodology
How do qualitative and quantitative methods supplement each other in sociological enquiry?
- Q10.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Critically examine the dialectics involved in each mode of production as propounded by Karl Marx.
- Q11.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Do you agree with Max Weber's idea that bureaucracy has the potential to become an iron cage? Justify your answer.
- Q12.Social Stratification & Mobility
Explain the concept of social mobility. Describe with suitable illustrations how education and social mobility are related to each other.
- Q13.Work & Economic Life
How has the idea of 'Work From Home' forced us to redefine the formal and informal organisation of work?
- Q14.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
With suitable examples, explain how conformity and deviance coexist in a society as propounded by R.K. Merton.
- Q15.Work & Economic Life
Explain the emerging challenges in establishing gender equality in the informal sector.
- Q16.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Critically examine the relevance of Vilfredo Pareto's theory of Circulation of Elites in the present scenario.
- Q17.Religion & Society
Critically compare the views of E.B. Tylor and Max Muller on Religion.
- Q18.Religion & Society
What is cult? Explain the growth of cults in the contemporary world.
- Q19.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Do you think Talcott Parsons gave an adequate theory of social change? Justify your answer.
- Q20.Work & Economic Life
Elucidate the main problems and challenges faced by the migrant labourers in the recent 'Lockdown period'.
- Q21.Sociological Theory & Thinkers
Explain how political parties and pressure groups are dialectically related to each other in terms of achieving their goals.
- Q22.Religion & Society
Give your comments on the growth of religious revivalism in the present day context.
- Q23.Work & Economic Life
Explain how the pattern of patriarchy is being altered in a family and at the workplace in the present context.
- Q24.Social Change & Movements
Critically examine the contribution of dependency theories in understanding the present global scenario.
- Q25.Society, Culture & Institutions
Explain the growing salience of ethnicity in the contemporary world with illustrations.
- Q26.Kinship, Marriage & Family
Discuss the changing nature of kinship relations in the contemporary world.
- Q27.Science, Technology & Society
Describe the role of Science and Technology in enabling us to face the challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Q28.Society, Culture & Institutions
Highlight the roles and functions of civil society in a democratic system.
- Q29.Indian Sociology: Perspectives & Thinkers
Caste system studies in India have been dominated by the "book-view" initially. How did the entry of "field-view" bring about a balance in the study of Indian caste system? Discuss.
- Q30.Caste System
What does Dr. B.R. Ambedkar mean by the concept of "Annihilation of caste"?
- Q31.General Sociology
Discuss different forms of kinship system in India.
- Q32.Agrarian & Rural Society
Critically examine briefly the phrase "Little Republics" as used to denote India's villages.
- Q33.Caste System
Caste-like formations are present in Non-Hindu religious communities as well. Discuss with examples.
- Q34.Caste System
What is identity politics? Discuss the main trends in Dalit movements in India.
- Q35.General Sociology
Is Indian society moving from "Hierarchy" towards "differentiation"? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.
- Q36.General Sociology
Discuss the salient features of 'new middle class' in India.
- Q37.Indian Sociology: Perspectives & Thinkers
Discuss in detail the major contribution of Prof. Yogendra Singh in theorizing India's modernization.
- Q38.Agrarian & Rural Society
Examine the factors responsible for the rural unrest in contemporary India.
- Q39.Industry, Urbanisation & Labour
Discuss the changing dimensions of family structure in urban India.
- Q40.Industry, Urbanisation & Labour
What are the sociological reasons and implications of "reverse migration" during the recent pandemic in India?
- Q41.Indian Sociology: Perspectives & Thinkers
Discuss the main features of the debate between G.S. Ghurye and V. Elwin on tribal development.
- Q42.Caste System
What are the various forms of untouchability in India? Critically examine.
- Q43.Development, Planning & Education
Analyze the idea of developmental planning in India.
- Q44.Agrarian & Rural Society
Comment on the role of co-operatives in rural development.
- Q45.Industry, Urbanisation & Labour
Urban slums are sites of social exclusion - explain.
- Q46.Politics, Movements & Democracy
Does regionalism essentially lead to decentralization of power? Substantiate your answer with relevant examples.
- Q47.Agrarian & Rural Society
Discuss the role of technology in agrarian change in India.
- Q48.Development, Planning & Education
Explain the sociological significance of the New Education Policy and its thrust on vocationalization and skill development.
- Q49.Population & Social Problems
Is 'ageing' an emerging issue in Indian society? Discuss the major problems of the old age people in India.
- Q50.General Sociology
Underline the socio-cultural factors responsible for India's skewed sex-ratio.
- Q51.Development, Planning & Education
The problem of displacement is inherent in the idea of development. Analyze the statement critically.
- Q52.General Sociology
Rising 'ethnocentricism' is leading to conflict in our society. Assess this statement with appropriate reasons.
- Q53.Politics, Movements & Democracy
Is social democracy a precondition for political democracy? Comment.
- Q54.Religion & Secularism
Discuss the role of social media in communal polarisation. Suggest ways to combat it.
- Q55.Caste System
Urban settlements in India tend to replicate its rural caste-kinship imprints. Discuss the main reasons.
- Q56.Women & Gender
Does "economic empowerment" automatically bring about "substantive empowerment" for women? Briefly describe the main issues in women empowerment in India.
UPSC CSE Mains 2021 — other subjects
Sociology — other years
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