Sociology · OPSC OAS
| Paper | Focus | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper‑I | Foundations · theory, thinkers, methods | 250 | 3 h |
| Paper‑II | Indian society · Odisha-specific examples | 250 | 3 h |
Paper‑I theory & methods
📌 Sociology: the discipline core
Sociology as science & interpretative discipline · impact of Industrial & French Revolution · relation with history, economics, political science, psychology, anthropology.
🔬 Scientific study of social phenomena
Objectivity & value neutrality · measurement in social science · elements of scientific method: concepts, theory, fact, hypothesis · research designs: descriptive, exploratory, experimental, content analysis.
📊 Techniques of data collection
Participant / quasi‑participant observation · interview, questionnaire, schedule · case study · sampling (size, reliability, validity) · scaling: social distance, Likert scale.
🧠 Pioneering contributions
- Marx: historical materialism, alienation, class struggle
- Durkheim: division of labour, social fact, religion & society, suicide
- Weber: social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic
- Parsons: social system, pattern variables
- Merton: latent/manifest functions, anomie, conformity/deviance, reference groups
👪 Marriage & family
Types and forms of marriage · family structure & function · personality & socialisation · social control · lineage, descent, property · changing structure in modern society · divorce, role conflicts.
📐 Social stratification
Hierarchy, inequality · theories: Marx, Davis & Moore, Melvin Tumin’s critique · forms & functions · class: conceptions, class‑in‑itself / for‑itself · caste & class · caste as a class.
🔄 Social mobility
Open / closed models · intra‑ & inter‑generational · vertical / horizontal · mobility & social change.
💰 Economic system
Sociological dimensions of economic life · impact of economic processes · division of labour & exchange · pre‑industrial / industrial · industrialisation & social change · social determinants.
⚖️ Political system
Nature of power (personal, community, elite, class, organisational, masses) · authority & legitimacy · pressure groups & political parties · voting behaviour · democratic / authoritarian participation.
📚 Educational system
Education & culture · equality of opportunity · mass education · universalisation of primary education · community & state intervention · education as social control / change · modernisation.
🕊️ Religion
Origins of religious beliefs · sacred & profane · functions & dysfunctions · monistic / pluralistic · organised / unorganised · semitism & antisemitism · sect, cult · magic, religion & science.
🚺 Social change & gender
Social construction of gender · equality vs. differences · impact of globalisation · emergence of feminist thought · gender issues.
Paper‑II Indian society · Odisha context
🏛️ Historical moorings
Traditional Hindu social organisation · socio‑cultural dynamics through ages · impact of Buddhism, Islam & the West · factors in continuity & change.
🧬 Caste system
- Origin · cultural & structural views · mobility in caste
- Caste among Muslims & Christians · change & persistence
- Equality & social justice · Gandhi & Ambedkar on caste
- Caste and Indian polity · Backward Classes Movement, Mandal Commission
- Dalit consciousness, backward caste movement
📊 Class structure
Agrarian & industrial class structure · emergence of middle class · classes among tribes · elite formation in India.
💍 Marriage, family & kinship
Marriage among religious & tribal groups · changing trends · family: structural & functional aspects · regional variations in kinship · impact of legislation & socio‑economic change · generation gap.
🌾 Agrarian social structure
Peasant society & agrarian systems · land tenure (historical) · land reforms & green revolution · feudalism / semi‑feudalism debates · emerging agrarian class · peasant movements.
🏭 Industry & society
Path of industrialisation · occupational diversification · trade unions & human relations · market economy & social consequences · economic reforms: liberalisation, privatisation, globalisation.
🗳️ Political processes
Democratic system in traditional society · political parties & social base · elites & orientations · regionalism, pluralism & national unity · decentralisation · Panchayati Raj, Nagarpalikas · 73rd & 74th amendments.
📖 Education
Directive Principles & primary education · educational inequality & change · education & social mobility · community & state intervention · universalisation of primary education · Total Literacy Campaigns · problems of disadvantaged groups.
⛪ Religion & society
Size, growth, regional distribution of religious groups · educational levels · problems of minorities · communal tensions · secularism · conversions · religious fundamentalism · reform movements.
🌿 Tribal societies
Distinctive features & geographical spread · problems: land alienation, health, nutrition, education · tribal development after independence · policy: isolation, assimilation, integration · identity issues.
📈 Social change & development
Endogenous & exogenous sources · resistance to change · sanskritisation & modernisation · agents: mass media, education, communication · structural contradictions · migration, population growth, policy & welfare programmes.