Sociology for UPSC

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[For beginners] How to start

UPSC Sociology preparation?

Academics apart, Sociology, and specifically

UPSC syllabus of Sociology, will help you
improve as an individual.

It has made me more democratic as an

individual.

I have become more accommodative to

conflicting views – thanks to critical
perspectives to every Sociological theory.
Many of my long standing doubts have been
resolved. For example, marriage in Indian
context is about union of two families,
whereas in the west marriage is about union
of two individuals. That’s why the
accompanying instability of marriages in
western societies. This is just one example.
Now, I can appreciate why policy makers are
advocating incorporation of humanities in
engineering colleges.

So, welcome to the world of Sociology!

Below is a step by step guide for a beginner

to prepare UPSC Sociology.

========================
Step 1. Develop a genuine interest in the
subject
========================
This is THE most important aspect of UPSC
optional preparation. You have to spend a
good number of days with your optional
subject. Unless you ‘feel like’ studying the
subject matter, it would be difficult.
– Do not read any theoretical aspect at the
outset.
– Read NCERT Class 12th (not 11th) with an
open mind.
– Read this graphics guide to Sociology. (Click
on ‘more buying options’ for cheaper alternative)
It explains basic Sociological concepts
through pictures. It will help you visualize
them, thus enabling easy representation in
actual exams.

How to gauge whether you are interested in

Sociology? [Many aspirants have this doubt]
One of the signs is, you won’t feel like
leaving the topic until you have completed
it. You won’t have an idea of how much time
has passed since you started reading.

========================
Step 2. Go through the syllabus and
previous year questions (after 2008),
exhaustively
========================
It is important to know what you need to
study. It is more important to know what
you DO NOT need to study. Syllabus is very
important. If possible, MEMORISE the
syllabus topics. Relate the topics of Paper 1
and Paper 2. Form mind maps of syllabus.
If you have started reading newspapers,
relate a news item to relevant UPSC
Sociology syllabus topic.

Take this quiz frequently to check your

grasp over UPSC Sociology syllabus.

=======================
Step 3: First reading of related materials
for UPSC Sociology
=======================
This is the first reading. Do not make notes.
You can refer to topic wise IGNOU notes-
Paper 1 | Paper 2

Try to assimilate the concept when you read

it. Relate them to events around you. For
example, if you are working in IT sector,
relate it to Marx’s concept of alienation.

Purchase this book by Haralambos and

Holborn (Blue book). Make a highly selective
reading of this book. Related page nos. of an
old edition are given here. You would need
to read the corresponding pages in your
book. Do not pay much attention to case
studies mentioned in this book. They are not
required anymore. Reading this book would
enable you to develop your own insights.
What you read from readymade notes are
the insights of the person who prepared
those notes. Hope you understand what I am
trying to convey! There is an orange book by
Haralambos and Heald. It is currently not
available online.

For Paper 2 thinkers, please refer to this

book by B.K.Nagla. Quote the findings of
these thinkers in your answers. For example
you can quote G S Ghurye in questions
related to integration of tribes.

You may struggle with definitions of some

terms mentioned in the above sources. Also,
you may find that some topics from syllabus
have not been covered. Do not worry about it
now! They are covered below.

========================
Step 4: Second reading and note making
========================
-Get 2 ring binder files and A4 sheets
-Go through previous year questions again.
This would help you in sticking to the
demand of UPSC exam while making notes
-Go through the sources mentioned in Step
3. Make notes in A4 papers and compile
them in the ring binder file. In future, when
you make value addition to these topics, you
can simply put the A4 sheet at its right place
in the file. Thus, all notes of a particular
topic would be at one place – easy to revise
in the last few days before exam.
-Get this Oxford dictionary for Sociology. It
would help you improve your understanding
of Sociological terms. In many answers you
are required to begin with a definition of the
term mentioned in question. This book
would be handy.

A common problem is Paper 2 getting less

focus than Paper 1. To address this, I have
prepared a combined strategy that groups
related topics form Paper 1 and Paper 2.

You can follow the above strategy, and you

will observe how you have started relating
topics from Paper 1 and Paper 2. ALWAYS
keep UPSC Sociology syllabus and previous
year question by your side. You are
gradually becoming a pro in UPSC Sociology

========================
Step 5: Value addition and filling the gaps
========================
It is now time to cover the missing topics
and further enrich the content already
made.

Check the sources below. In the first reading

itself jot down points in your A4 sheet, and
attach these sheets at the right place in the
ring binder file. Once you have made notes
from these sources, further reading may not
be required.

Coaching handwritten notes: Upendra Gaur

Sir for Paper 1 &
Mohapatra Sir for Paper 2| PDFs for
unconventional topics | Real world examples
|
Articles with Sociological perspectives | NIOS
topicwise notes |NCERT topic wise notes
| Book list

Note: NCERT Sociology is an undiscovered

treasure. In the first reading you may find it
irrelevant. The more you get accustomed to
nuances of UPSC Sociology, the more respect you
would develop for NCERT. Read all 4 NCERTs now;
make notes and fit them at their designated place
in the ring binder file. Pay special attention to the
language, try to replicate the same in your
Follow
answers in Paper 2. Embed your answers with
examples, case studies etc. given in these NCERTs.
These examples and case studies would act as an
icing on the cake.
Hope you have not forgotten keeping
syllabus and previous year questions by your
side while you make these notes.

========================
Step 6: Keep an eye on current affairs,
Budget, Economic survey, reports,
government schemes etc.
========================
Examples:
Economic survey 2017 has a chapter on Son
meta-preference [UPSC Sociology Syllabus
topic: Patriarchy]

Economic survey 2017 is in pink

color [Useful in women empowerment
topics]

Every year budget has provisions for elderly,

women etc. [Useful for Paper 2]

Topicwise government schemes for UPSC

Sociology Paper 2 can be found here.

Current affairs: Join our telegram

channel https://t.me/sociology_upsc =>
Type “#socioDNA” for all related posts by
me. Current affairs can be found by typing
“#socioCA”

Affordable Tab for

studying online | Compile
all your notes | Read on
the go | Watch videos | Get
peer review online

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0

Tablet (7 inch, 8GB, Wi-Fi +
4G LTE + Voice Calling),
Black

=========================
Time to evaluate yourself
=========================
You already have previous year questions
(mentioned above in Step 2). Attempt
questions of each UPSC Sociology syllabus
topic. You may start from 2008 paper – there
was a pattern change in 2008.

Read toppers’ answer sheets for reference

Refer to blogs of UPSC Sociology toppers. Do

not follow them blindly. Use their strategy to
modify yours if required.

Attend a test series. Stick to its routine

religiously. Form a group of serious
aspirants for discussion.

If you are serious, the worst that can happen

is you being a better individual!

=========================
All you need is:
=========================
Few books:
Sociology syllabus and prev. year questions
||
Sociology through images and graphics ||
Haralambos and Holborn (Blue book) ||
NCERT Class 11th and 12th ||
B.K Nagla for Paper 2 ||
Sociology dictionary by Oxford||

Ring binder file and A4 sheets

Class notes of Paper 1 (Upendra Sir) & Paper

2 (Mohapatra Sir) [Click here for complete
Sociology notes of Upendra Gaur Sir]

Internet connectivity and lots of answer

writing practice. Do revise your own
answers. There are two benefits of doing
this:-
1. Every subsequent revision will reveal to
you the areas you need to improve, how to
further improve that particular answer.
Others can rarely do this for you!
2. You will be in touch with your strong
areas, thus increasing the chances of
replicating them in actual exam.

I have tried to present an exhaustive write

up on how to begin UPSC Sociology
preparation from scratch. Feel free to drop
me a note on musmuna95@gmail.com in
case of any doubt. Remember, no doubt is
silly!

All the best!

Our telegram
channel: https://t.me/sociology_upsc

Subscribe to our Youtube

channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PqF5UDPw8Hk

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Published by Musmuna
We are trying to make UPSC
Sociology preparation accessible to
aspirants even in the remotest
location. If there are any myths
about UPSC Sociology, we aim to
bust them. If there is any
complicated area (Paper 2?), we aim
to simplify it. If Sociology is a
subject that can be prepared by self
study, we aim to facilitate it. Have
any query - academic, motivation-
related or personal? Drop me an
email at musmuna95@gmail.com.
Your identity will not be revealed
under any circumstance.

! View all posts by Musmuna

' June 10, 2018

(
)
○ Do you need to modify your strategy for
UPSC Prelims, 2019?

○ UPSC Sociology: NCERT topicwise notes

for those extra marks

19 thoughts on “[For
beginners] How to start
UPSC Sociology
preparation?”

Deepak kumar d "

June 13, 2018 at 6:33 pm

clear and simple explanation make it easier

to understand. The best website to rely on
for sociology optional. All the important
notes and materials are available, reliable
and credible. Hats off to you.

! Like

#
Musmuna "
June 14, 2018 at 12:22 am

Thanks!

! Like

Laxmikanta Mishra "

June 15, 2018 at 10:21 am

Please tell me the sequence of study. I am

fresher. NIOS, IGNOU, NCERT.Which I will
study first. Should I not study NIOS. I
directly study IGNOU material. Which is
better for paper 2: Sinduri madam notes/
Mahapatra sir notes.Because I have already
Sinduri madam notes.

! Like

#
Musmuna "
October 31, 2018 at 8:45 pm

Please use NIOS only for topics that are

missing in standard sources. Or if you are
struggling with some concept.
Sorry for the delayed response!

! Like

Pingback: UPSC Sociology: NCERT

topicwise notes for those extra marks
– Sociology for UPSC

RASHI KESARWANI "

June 28, 2018 at 2:22 pm

Finally i found .. best website for upsc

sociology optional, You made it very easy to
understand everything related to sociology
optional. Best for beginners Thank you so
much… great work ..

! Liked by 1 person

Pingback: 15 days to UPSC Mains –

time to be more of YOURSELF –
Sociology for UPSC

Pingback: [For beginners] How to

smartly use current affairs in UPSC
Sociology? – Sociology for UPSC

Sumit haritwal "

October 4, 2018 at 9:45 am

Thanks a lot…. Last time i have appeared for

cse17 interview n i got 123 marks in paper 1
n 145 in paper 2 but that time i have not
satisfied with my sociology preparation but
one day i got ur link n i was manage each n
every single topic of sociology syllabus n
easily covered with the help of ur site.. So i
m thankful to u n hope i will give my best
after 2 days 7/10/18 cse 18 optional exam..

! Like

#
Musmuna "
October 4, 2018 at 3:20 pm

All the best! May you succeed!

! Like

Varun "
October 31, 2018 at 2:48 pm

Thank you for this. The best blog on

sociology from the viewpoint of a newbie.

Could you tell us when should NIOS material

be used ?

! Like

#
Musmuna "
October 31, 2018 at 8:44 pm

Thanks Varun!
You can go through NIOS only for topics
that are not covered in standard sources.

! Like

Trisa "
November 10, 2018 at 2:57 pm

Hey! This was really a big doubts-solver for

me. I just have one question-is Nitin
Sanghwan’s book good? Is it sufficient if I
only read that book?

! Like

#
Musmuna "
November 11, 2018 at 1:59 pm

That book is better used as gap filler, not

to form foundations of Sociological
perspective.

! Like

ANAND "
November 25, 2018 at 7:58 pm

My fear of preparation without coaching is

gone. Now I’m ready to prepare myself .
Really excellent works you have done. Do I
need to cover all topics in Nagala book ?

! Like

#
Musmuna "
November 25, 2018 at 11:18 pm

You can cover only the thinkers

mentioned in Paper 2. If time permits,
you can go through others – you can use
their studies/ findings in your answers.

! Liked by 1 person

ANAND
November 26, 2018 at 12:54 pm

Thanks for your reply, that too

promptly.

! Like

Pingback: Sociological analysis of

BUDGET 2019 (Feb) – Sociology for
UPSC

Stulsyan "
July 6, 2019 at 4:14 pm

Thank you So much You amazingly

explained everything about sociology, how
to start and from where to refer for each
topic

! Like

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