Mains Sociology 2014 question paper

For each paper: Time Allowed : Three
Hours Maximum Marks : 250
There are EIGHT questions divided in
two Sections and printed both in HINDI
and in ENGLISH.
Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions
in all.
Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory
and out of the remaining, THREE are to
be attempted choosing at least ONE
question from each Section.
The number of marks carried by a
question/part is indicated against it.
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. No
marks will be given for answers written
in medium other than the authorized
one.
Word limit in questions, wherever
specified, should be adhered to.
Attempts of questions shall be counted in
chronological order. 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 Booklet must be
clearly struck off.

Sociology Optional Paper 1: SECTION-A
Q1. Write short answer of the following in
about 150 words each: 10×5=50

1. How is objectivity different from value
neutrality? Discuss with reference to
Weber’s views on methodology.

2. How did the emergence of industrial
society change the family life in Western
Europe?

3. How is sociological approach to human
actions different from that of
psychological approach?

4. In what way biographies could be used
to study social life?

5. How can we use reference group theory
to understand fashion in society?

Q2.Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. Which research technique would be
most suitable for the study of consumer
behaviour and its social correlates?
Explain.20 marks

2. Identify the similarities and differences
between Marx’s theory of ‘alienation’
and Durkheim’s theory of ‘anomie’.20
marks

3. How could one use Merton’s concept of
deviance to understand the traffic
problem in urban India?10 marks

Q3. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. What do you understand by gender?
How does it shape ‘male ‘identity?20
marks

2. “According to Max Weber, ‘class’ and
‘status’ are two different dimensions of
power.” Discuss.20 marks

3. Using Merton’s concepts of ‘manifest’
and ‘latent’ functions, explain the
persistence of corruption in Indian
society.10 marks

Q4. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. How does Weber use the notion of ‘ideal
types’ in his theory of bureaucracy?20
marks

2. In what way ‘interpretative’ method is
different from ‘positivist’ approach in
the study of social phenomena?20 marks

3. Using Mead’s theory of symbolic
interactionism, discuss the stages in the
formation of gender identity.10 marks

Sociology Optional Paper 1: SECTION-B

Q5. Answer the following questions in
about 150 words each: 10×5=50

1. For Marx, class divisions are outcomes
of ‘exploitation’. Discuss.

2. What are the distinctive features of
social organization of work in slave
society? How is it different from feudal
society?

3. Discuss T. H. Marshall’s views on
citizenship.

4. Distinguish between Political Parties and
Pressure

5. “According to Durkheim, the essence of
religion in modern society is the same as
religion in primitive society.” Comment.

Q6. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. “Power is not a zero-sum game”. Discuss
with reference to Weber’s and Parsons’s
views.20 marks

2. Critically examine the functionalist
views on the institution of family. How
do those help us in understanding family
in the present times?20 marks

3. What do you understand by
institutionalization of ‘live-in-
relationship?10 marks

Q7. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. How is religious revivalism different
from communalism? Elaborate with
suitable examples from the Indian
context.20 marks

2. Education is often viewed as an agency
of social change. However in reality it
could also reinforce inequalities and
conservatism. Discuss.20 marks

3. According to Marx, capitalism
transforms even the personal
relationships between men and women.
Critically examine with illustrations
from the contemporary Indian
context.10 marks

Q8. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)
1. How is the increasing use of technology
changing the status of women in Indian
society?20 marks

2. Write a short essay on the Latin
American perspective on ‘dependency’.20
marks

3. What do you understand by social
movement? How has the mobilization by
Scheduled Castes helped them in
constructing a new identity?10 marks

Sociology Optional Paper 2: SECTION-A

Q1.Write short notes with a sociological
perspective on the following in about 150
words each: 10×5=50

1. Gandhi’s efforts on communal harmony

2. Modernisation of Indian traditions

3. Types of kinship systems in India

4. Features of caste system

5. G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach to
understand society in India

Q2. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. Analyse the different views on
integration and autonomy of tribes in
India.20 marks

2. Discuss the social background of Indian
nationalism.20 marks

3. Define Patriarchy. How does it impact
the overall entitlement of a girl child in
India ?10 marks

Q3. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. Give a sociological analysis of the
problems of migrant urban poor.20
marks

2. Discuss the problems of religious
minorities in India.20 marks

3. Write some of the important social
reforms in India for the removal of
untouchability.10 marks

Q4. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. Discuss the status of women among the
emerging urban middle class.20 marks

2. Describe the impact of land reforms on
the peasants of Indian society.20 marks

3. What is the idea of ‘Indian village’?
Explain.10 marks

Sociology Optional Paper 2: SECTION-B

Q5. Write short notes with a sociological
Perspective on the following in about 150
words each: 10×5=50

1. Trends of Infant Mortality Rate among
females10 marks

2. Domestic Violence Act, 2005

3. Dynamics of Contemporary Dalit
movements

4. Impact of privatisation on educational
disparities

5. Rural landless labourers and
development induced displacement

Q6. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. What are the main features of the
second wave of Women’s movement in
the Indian context ?20 marks

2. Discuss the ‘Chipko movement’ as an
example of eco-feminism.20 marks

3. Discuss the impact of globalisation on
the workers in the Informal sector.10
marks

Q7. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. What are the demographic projections
for the ageing population (60+) for the
next decade? What are the implications
for formulating policy for them ?20
marks

2. What are the possible underlying causes
of the spurt of increased violence against
women in public spaces in the last
decade ?20 marks

3. How do caste and class come together in
creating the category of extreme poor ?
10 marks

Q8. Answer the following: (20+20+10
marks)

1. Many caste conflicts are between castes
which are close to each other on the
hierarchical scale.’ Give a sociological
explanation for this phenomenon.20
marks

2. Tribal conflicts based on ethnic
differences often camouflage a struggle
for political and economic advantage.’
Substantiate with examples.20 marks

3. Who are the elites? Discuss their roles in
bringing social transformation.10 marks