The optional syllabus for UPSC’s IAS exam includes a 250-mark section in sociology, for a total of 500 points. As an IAS officer needs to deal with various aspects of society, sociology as an optional topic in UPSC Mains is popular among hopefuls.
Paper I of the Sociology Optional for UPSC Syllabus
Paper-II of the UPSC optional syllabus for sociology
Sociology for UPSC has a lot of overlap with General Studies. Therefore, IAS hopefuls should study for both exams at the same time. The UPSC Sociology exam can be cracked by solving more questions from previous year’s UPSC question papers and doing mock tests. Students could look at last year’s trends to understand the sociology optional coaching for UPSC success rate in the UPSC exam.
Optional for UPSC Sociology Strategy
Among UPSC aspirants, sociology test series is a popular elective choice. The topic is a hit with candidates from both science and the humanities. This subject is also considered to be highly rewarding, especially if the appropriate preparation and strategy are used.
Pros and Cons of Sociology as an Option
Taking sociology as an alternative in the UPSC test has numerous advantages. There are both pros and downsides to pursuing a sociology option on the IAS exam. In this section, we’ll cover both. Sociology optional coaching online are very much needed for exam.
Optional Advantages of Sociology
Short Sociology optional syllabus and scoring subject: Sociology is a popular subject because it is considered a scoring subject. Additionally, its success rate is high. Candidates can finish the course in four months if they work hard.
There’s no need for context: Candidates of any academic background can choose and study sociology optional. Candidates are expected to have a rudimentary understanding of some of the key ideas in sociology. Family, religion, and other basic concepts are frequently mentioned in the daily publications.
Studying sociology is not required for the Civil Service Main Exam.
Choosing a Second-Choice Mains Subject
In the grand scheme of things, deciding on an optional topic for the Mains Exam is a strategic move that every candidate must make.
- The general interest in the topic.
- Having access to professional guidance for timely syllabus coverage (about 4-5 months).
Information on Sociology as an elective course of study
According to previous patterns, Sociology has been a popular subject among students for several years, with an average of more than 1600 students taking the Mains Examination every year for the last five or more years. (Data sourced from Union Public Services Commission annual reports from previous years.) In the past few years, numerous top-ten and top-one-hundred-place finishers have included students who took Sociology as an elective.
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- Decide after conducting only a few checks.
- Sociology Depending on the candidate’s general interest and comfort level with the subject.
Sociology’s Role in Civil Service Exams
Each of the two papers in Sociology has a 10-chapter syllabus. The syllabus’s most important topics can be divided into the following categories:
- The field of sociology.
- Currents of sociological thought that should not be ignored.
- Institutions of society.
Social issues and solutions are the focus of Paper 2, an Indian Sociology course.
Approach
The following is a general outline of how to prepare for Sociology:
- Knowledge of the fundamentals of classical thought.
- Knowledge of new developments in the field.
- Sociological observation of current events with a critical eye.
Concepts, both conventional and new, and current events, must be assimilated.
Success in the optional Sociology course is dependent on a thorough understanding of the course’s syllabus.
For the sake of clarity, it is vital to highlight that there is no ‘one book’ that covers the entirety of the course. In addition, the current globalized and interconnected world is undergoing rapid change due to the rapid advancement of technology.
Examine Yourself: After successfully preparing for the Optional, candidates can take periodical tests to see if their preparation is in line with the exam’s standards.
