Hi Everyone!

My journey in UPSC has been long. And along with it someone who has
been a constant companion is my optional: “Sociology”

Why I chose it?

Because I fell for it . I developed a deep interest in the subject once

I understood the basics. And it was a wonderful trip together ending on
a happy note!

Strategy:

As I had no basic idea about Sociology, I bought the basic book

first: “Sociology Themes and Perspectives: M Haralambos and R
M Heald” – the orange small book. This gave me a detailed idea
about the subject. I developed an interest in the subject.
I took 3 months course in Sociology from Upendra Gaur in Delhi.
I made my basic notes using above class notes
My sources:
▪ Haralambos & Holborn Sociology themes and
perspectives 8th Edition : selected chapters. I have
mentioned the chapters along with specific page nos
which I read from Haralambos (big Blue one)
▪ Various study material provided by Upendra Sir
▪ Essential Sociology by Seema and Nitin Sangwan: only
selected chapters specific to paper 2.
▪ Dynamic portion value addition for Paper 2 from Vamshi
Sir’s notes and test series answers
▪ Topper’s IAS test series answers
 ▪ Specific chapters from IGNOU used during intial notes
making.
▪ Visited many sociological websites to get an insights on
various topics
▪ Telegram group of friends where we would do
sociological analysis of all the current events and write
sociological answers

I made extensive notes for major topics as per syllabus and stuck
to it and revised it diligently
Writing frequent test series helped me put my knowledge into
perspective. If you just keep reading you won’t understand how to
produce it in answers. Hence repeated revisions have to be
followed by writing Q&A. That helps to structure your answers as
well as knowledge. Hence answer writing is irreplaceable.
Below mentioned is the link to the drive where I have uploaded my
self-scanned handwritten notes for various topics.
How to use the notes:
o THINKERS:
▪ Use them as the basic notes from which you yourself
can make your own notes
▪ You will not be able to understand thinkers in the first
round of reading if you are doing self-study
▪ You need to read each thinker at least twice and then
watch some videos on the thinkers in YouTube to
understand better.
▪ Don’t panic, thinkers are bit tough but once you get a
grasp it becomes enjoyable.
▪ For thinkers: Start with August Comte, even if he is not
mentioned in syllabus, because without understanding
 the philosophy of the “father of sociology” you cannot
move forward
▪ Then Start with E.Durkheim, and move on to Karl Marx
▪ Next you should read Talcott Parsons which should be
followed by Merton. Because without understanding
Parsons, you cannot understand Merton
▪ Read Max Weber next
▪ Finish with G.H.Mead: my notes are not sufficient to
study Mead, find some other resources as well. I
followed some parts from Sangwan
For certain topics like Stratification, Women related issues,
Religion and Society I extensively followed Haralambos(big blue
one). The drive contains a pdf mentioning the part I followed from
Haralambos. So use that part as well along with notes
For paper 2, certain topics may be read from Sangwan. The drive
contains a pdf mentioning the syllabus I followed from Sangwan.
But you may take your own liberty to use your own discretion.

My preparation journey was 3 years long. Hence, I have made use of

extensive resources from various places to value add. Mentioning all
of this here is not possible as I don’t even remember half of those. I
have just laid out the basic things I did. Don’t follow anything blindly
because that never works.

The notes are especially for those aspirants who have no idea where
to start from, feeling clueless and doing self-study. This may help give
you a base.

Those who have already did coaching and have their own notes it may
not be that beneficial for you.
At the end, all the very best. Kindly help each other and prevent any
misuse of the notes. Avoid any misuse of the notes.