Advantages of choosing Sociology optional in UPSC Civil Services Exam

“The country doesn’t deserve anything less than success from us. Let us aim for success”
– Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

        Dear students, we all are striving for success in some way or another and UPSC is one of that platform through which we strive for success and Sociology is one of the optional through which you can enhance your chances to become successful.

        Sociology is extension of our common sense knowledge of social life. As student in some way or another is connected with this society so he/she is having some basic understanding of society. But despite this some basic questions come in our mind regarding the pros and cons of Sociology as optional.

Advantages of Sociology

• How effective is Sociology as an Optional in UPSC?

Sociology is very effective optional. It not only helps you to get good marks in optional paper but is also helpful in Essay and better writing skills.

• What is the success ratio of Sociology in UPSC?

Success Ratio varies- the number of candidates getting selected are around 85 to 240. This ratio, however, can be neglected; this is because there are numerous candidates who score high in their optional but due to not performing well in their GS papers, they are not able to clear Mains.

• Will Sociology help in General Studies also?

Yes definitely, being a generalized topic, it helps in all the four papers of the General Studies. Various sections in which it helps in General Studies has been mentioned below in this Approach paper.

• Why Sociology is a safer optional?

Sociology is considered as a safer optional as it doesn’t require any particular knowledge or academic background for its preparation as an optional. It has been proved many times that candidates without any prior knowledge of Sociology have scored well in their optional paper.

• Who should take Sociology?

Any student can take Sociology as an optional as it deals with society and we all are staying in this society itself. Apart from humanities background, students from technical background can also opt for Sociology as students from this background has an edge in applied aspects of Sociology. Rest of the students who are coming from other streams can also chose Sociology as an optional as it is much generalized in nature and no specialization is required for it.

• Which books can be referred for Sociology?

Being one of the popular optional subject abundant study materials are available. But beginning should always be done with NCERT 11th & 12th.

Other Benefits

1.You will never get very low score in this subject. Regardless of whether or not you have finished the syllabus, you can without much of a stretch compose answers from a general up point of view and it will enable you to score marks unlike other subjects where there are odds of you getting a zero too in your answers.
2.Further, Sociology helps you have a generalized theory on each topic; this means scoring more marks in essays.
3.Better your interview and speaking abilities at different levels.
4.Questions on theories are repeat quite often. So, there's no need to worry about getting shockers in the exam.
5.Aforementioned, no necessity to have a background of Sociology.
6.Syllabus is not very long.
7.Study material is conveniently available.

Syllabus overlap of Sociology with GS papers

General Studies - Paper I
• Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
• Notable highlights of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Impacts of globalization on Indian culture
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

General Studies - Paper II
• Pressure groups and formal/informal associations, their role in the Polity.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
• Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Civil services in a democracy.

General Studies - Paper III
• Comprehensive development and issues emerging from it.
• Land reforms in India.
• Changes in industrial policy, impacts of liberalization on the economy, and their outcome on industrial growth.
• Development and spread of extremism linkage – Naxalism.

General Studies - Paper IV
Human Values- role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values; reformers and administrators, lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders

Essay
It helps with the essay paper since generally at least one essay is asked on social issues.

Interview
We all live in society and by analyzing it we try to make our opinion. Being a Sociology student always give you an edge in maintaining balance in your answers in front of the Interview board members.