_{Here is the detailed structure of the syllabus for the UPSC sociology optional subject:}

1. Foundations of Sociology:
- Introduction to Sociology: Nature, scope, and concerns of sociology; relationship with other social sciences.
- Sociology as Science: Positivism, interpretivism, and critical sociology; methodology and research methods.
- Basic Concepts: Social structure, social action, social interaction, social change, social control, socialization, social stratification, social mobility, social networks, and social institutions.
- Sociological Thinkers: Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Talcott Parsons, Robert K. Merton.

2. Sociology of Indian Society:
- Indian Society: Structure and dynamics; social problems and social change.
- Caste System: Perspectives on caste; social mobility; caste in politics and modern India.
- Class System: Agrarian class structure; industrial class structure; class struggle and social change.
- Systems of Kinship: Lineage and descent; types of family; marriage and divorce; changing family patterns.
- Religion and Society: Social functions of religion; religious revivalism and communalism.
- Political System: Power, authority, and legitimacy; political modernization; political elites; grassroots democracy.

3. Social Change in Modern Society:
- Modernization and Social Change: Modernity and its consequences; theories of social change; social impact of technological change.
- Development and Dependency: Theories of development; dependency and world systems theory; impact of globalization on society.
- Perspectives on Social Change: Evolutionary, functionalist, conflict, and post-modern perspectives; social movements and social change.

4. Systems of Stratification:
- Dimensions of Social Stratification: Class, caste, gender, ethnicity, and race; theories of social stratification.
- Social Inequality: Poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion; concepts of equality, equity, and social justice.
- Mobility and Marginalization: Social mobility; types of mobility; marginalization and social exclusion.

5. Social Demography and Population Dynamics:
- Demographic Theories: Malthusian, demographic transition, and demographic dividend.
- Population Dynamics: Fertility, mortality, and migration trends; population policies and programs.

6. Sociological Theories and Concepts:
- Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism: Key concepts and their application in understanding society.
- Socialization: Agents of socialization; role of family, school, peer groups, and media.
- Social Control and Deviance: Forms of social control; theories of deviance; crime and punishment.
- Social Movements: Types of social movements; theories of social movements; role of social movements in social change.

7. Research Methodology and Statistics:
- Approaches to Sociological Research: Quantitative and qualitative methods; survey, observation, interview, and case study.
- Sampling Techniques: Probability and non-probability sampling; sampling errors.
- Data Collection and Analysis: Data sources; data interpretation; data presentation; statistical techniques in sociology.

8. Indian Sociological Thinkers:
- G.S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas, Yogendra Singh, Dipankar Gupta, A.R. Desai, Andre Beteille, Leela Dube.

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