Mock Test Paper - 3 (Sociology Optional Paper- II): Questions | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

​Please read each of the following instructions before attempting the questions 

1. There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed in ENGLISH. 
2. Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all. Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each section. 
3. The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it. 
4. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. 
5. No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one. Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to. Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. 
6. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Time Allowed: Three Hours
Maximum Marks: 250

Section-A

Q1. Write short answers, with a sociological perspective, on the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 × 5 = 50)
(a) Elaborate on A.R. Desai’s dialectical approach to studying Indian society.
(b) (PYQ) Do you agree that the agrarian class structure in India is changing? Justify your answer with illustrations.
(c) Discuss the role of education in addressing social inequalities in India.
(d) Explain the concept of ‘dominant caste’ as proposed by M.N. Srinivas.
(e) (PYQ) Explain Leela Dube’s concept of “Seed and Earth”.

Q2.
(a) Critically examine Yogendra Singh’s thesis on the modernization of Indian tradition in the context of 2024-2025. (20 marks)
(b) Analyze the changing dynamics of family structures in urban India with suitable examples. (20 marks)
(c) Discuss the challenges faced by religious minorities in India and suggest measures to address them. (10 marks)

Q3.
(a) Examine the impact of land reforms on India’s agrarian transformation in post-independence India. (20 marks)
(b) Discuss the sociological significance of caste-based political mobilization in contemporary India. (20 marks)
(c) (PYQ) Discuss the challenges during village studies in India. (10 marks)

Q4.
(a) Analyze the role of Indian nationalism in shaping social cohesion in post-independence India. (20 marks)
(b) Critically examine the interplay between globalization and caste dynamics in India. (20 marks)
(c) Discuss the sociological implications of urbanization on rural communities in India. (10 marks)

Section-B

Q5. Write short answers, with a sociological perspective, on the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 × 5 = 50)
(a) Discuss the role of technology as an instrument for women’s empowerment in India.
(b) Examine the concept of ‘digital divide’ in the context of India’s development.
(c) Analyze the growth of the gig economy in India and its sociological implications.
(d) (PYQ) Discuss the role of pressure groups in strengthening democracy.
(e) Discuss the role of NGOs in addressing poverty in rural India.

Q6.
(a) Examine whether bonded labor continues to persist as a social reality in India. Provide arguments. (20 marks)
(b) Define social movements. Discuss the factors contributing to the rise of environmental movements in India with examples from 2024-2025. (20 marks)
(c) Discuss the changing role of political elites in India’s democracy. (10 marks)

Q7.
(a) (PYQ) “Instead of promoting equality in society, the present system of education itself has contributed to increased socio-economic disparities.” Comment. (20 marks)
(b) Analyze the recent trends in reverse migration in India and their social consequences. (20 marks)
(c) Discuss the forms of deprivation faced by slum dwellers in urban India. (10 marks)

Q8.
(a) Bring out the key issues addressed by tribal movements in India with recent examples. (20 marks)
(b) Critically examine the tension between development and environmental sustainability in India. (20 marks)
(c) Discuss the changing nature of India’s service sector workforce. (10 marks)