NCERT Summary: Introducing Indian Society (Class 12) | Old & New NCERTs for IAS Preparation (Must Read) - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Unique Nature of Sociology

• Sociology is unlike any other subject because everyone already knows something about society.
• Other subjects are taught explicitly, whereas knowledge about society is acquired naturally or automatically.
• Even young children understand social relationships, unlike subjects like History, Geography, Psychology, or Economics.
• Eighteen-year-olds already have substantial informal knowledge about society.

Advantages of Prior Knowledge

• Students are generally not afraid of Sociology.
• Sociology seems approachable because of existing familiarity.

Disadvantages of Prior Knowledge

• Learning Sociology requires “unlearning” existing common sense.
• Prior knowledge is shaped by our social group and environment.
• Common sense is partial – both incomplete and biased.
• Our views are tilted towards our social group's viewpoints and interests.

Self-Reflexivity in Sociology

• Sociology teaches ‘self-reflexivity’ – viewing oneself ‘from the outside’.
• Self-reflexivity involves critical self-inspection.

Social Mapping

• A social map locates individuals based on identities like age, regional or linguistic community, economic class, religious community, caste, or tribe.
• These identities place individuals within a web of social relationships.
• Sociology explains the types of groups in society, their relationships to each other, and what this means for your own life.

Connecting Personal Troubles and Social Issues

• Sociology maps links between “personal troubles” and “social issues” (C. Wright Mills).
• Personal troubles are individual concerns, while social issues affect large groups.

Purpose of the Book

• Introduces Indian society from a sociological perspective.
• Highlights the processes shaping Indian society, moving beyond common sense views.

• India is the second most populous country and is projected to overtake China.
• Sociologists and demographers study population aspects that are socially significant.
• Questions addressed include whether the population is an obstacle or aids development.

Institutions of Caste, Tribe, and Family (Chapter 3)

• Caste: Unique to the Indian subcontinent, has attracted scholarly attention. Examines how caste has changed over centuries and its current meaning.
• Tribe: Explores the concept, types of communities defined as tribes, and how they define themselves in contemporary India.
• Family: Examines the changes in diverse family forms in India due to rapid social change.

Market and Socio-Cultural Dimensions (Chapter 4)

• Market: A powerful institution driving change throughout history.
• Focuses on economic changes brought by colonialism and developmental policies.
• Examines the evolution of different kinds of markets in India and their impacts.

Inequality and Exclusion (Chapter 5)

• Examines inequality and exclusion in the context of caste, tribe, gender, and disability.
• Caste: Analyzes state and oppressed caste efforts to reform or abolish the caste system, and the success of movements resisting caste exclusion.
• Tribe: Looks at tribal movements, their problems, and the reassertion of tribal identities.
• Gender: Addresses the impact of the women’s movement on social institutions.
• Disabled: Investigates society's responsiveness to the needs of the disabled.

Challenges of Diversity (Chapter 6)

• Explores the immense diversity of Indian society and its challenges.
• Encourages stepping outside familiar thinking about unity in diversity.
• Examines India's strengths and weaknesses in managing diversity.
• Discusses how young adults can address communal conflict, regional or linguistic chauvinism, and casteism.
• Stresses the importance of minorities feeling secure for the nation's future.

Practical Component (Chapter 7)

• Provides suggestions for practical activities related to the course.
• Emphasizes that the practical component can be interesting and enjoyable.