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Sociology Optional Orientation Class CSE 2025
How to choose an Optional Subject for UPSC Mains - IAS Preparation?
- In the initial stage of preparation for Civil Services Examination, many students are confused regarding Optional Subject. Many questions come to the mind of students- which optional subject is the best, which optional subject is the most scoring etc. Although choice of Optional Subject is a subjective issue, however, every candidate should make a rational decision about one of the available options on the basis of facts. A wrong decision may prove to be disastrous hence you should be careful while choosing your Optional.
- With the exam pattern changed, since 2013 when the UPSC has done away with second optional subjects and now a candidate has to choose only one optional subject for UPSC Mains that has two papers for 250 marks each. Yet, it is advised to choose the optional subject for mains well ahead of time, so that the candidate will get sufficient time to complete the Syllabus. Most of the Students obtain Similar Score in General Studies Papers, its Score in Optional Subject & Essay that contributes to Final Selection.
- One should not opt any subject on the basis of blind devotion to the Toppers or Famous YouTubers cum Teachers. One must understand his/her Ability, Interest, and Relevance of the Subject not only for Exam but Life. Students should also assess usefulness of that optional subject in General Studies, Essay and Personality Test before opting.
- Choosing Optional Subject should be based objective criterion, for example, Nature, Scope and Size of the Syllabus, Uniformity and stability in Question Pattern, Relevance of the Syllabic content in day today life in Society, Availability of study material and guidance etc. Always remember, approach of UPSC Optional Subject is different from your academic studies of Subjects. So, before choosing the optional you need to do a careful analysis of Syllabus, Previous Years Pattern, Requirements of Subject (Ideal, visionary, Numerical, Conceptual Theoretical), and Comfort Level with the Subject etc.
- This is the most serious decision of your UPSC-CSE Journey which will determine your Success for career in IAS/Civil Services. That’s why you must think seriously once while taking this decision and take the decision only after getting the correct facts. Never opt for a subject being emotive in your Meanings and Orientations.
Why Sociology is the most Scoring, Safe & Secure Optional Subject?
- When the question arises to choose a subject among the 51 optional subjects for IAS Mains examination, Sociology, of its always tops the list. Sociology is easy to understand and very interesting as the topics covered concern humanity and the very society we are a part of. It’s interesting as well, easy to grasp for science & Commerce background students too. It has definite syllabus and quite limited, only 13 Units. One can cover it within 3 to 4 months. (Commerce Graduate Pradeep Singh, IAS, Completed the Syllabus in 3 Months and got 307 marks in First Attempt and so many others).
- As a matter of fact, in the last few years, Sociology has emerged as one of the highest scoring subjects in Mains examination. When we see the scores of Optional subjects in the past few years in IAS mains exam, many candidates have been scoring 300+ in Sociology. It is noteworthy that candidates securing among top 100 positions, 20 to 30 of them have chosen Sociology as an optional. Its high scoring abilities make it a preferred choice.
- Sociology is the Best and the most Suitable Optional Subject. It’s a Life Subject. You easily understand the Concepts & Facts by relating those to day today life. Sociological Knowledge contribute & add value to all General Studies Papers. Particularly in Paper 1 & Paper 4. It greatly helps one in Essay and Personality Test.
- Sociology Optional is also gaining momentum among list of Optional Subjects with change in trend of UPSC Mains from Conventional Topical Orientation to Conceptual Analysis with Contemporary Orientations and Observations. Further, Sociology helps candidates in writing very good Essay as well as Value Addition in all four General Studies Papers.
- Sociology Optional subject is popular among Civil Service Aspirants, particularly those coming from Science & Commerce background, because of its Conceptual & Theoretical Nature. This subject is also relevant in day today social, economic, political, cultural life. Syllabus of Sociology is also comparatively short with only 13 units in both the papers. There is good interlinkage between Paper 1 and Paper 2 of Sociology Syllabus. Application of Conceptual Theoretical Strands of Paper 1 in Paper 2 of Syllabus and use of Factual Strands of Paper 2 in Paper 1 is quite easy. Every Year there are at least two Essays related with Sociology Syllabus. Sociology Powers aspirants for GS & Interview too.
- With the change in Exam pattern in 2013, the questions in other popular optional i.e. Psychology, Geography, Public Administration, Political Science, etc. has become unpredictable and dynamic. Whereas, in Sociology Optional, there is stability and predictability in Question Pattern. In recent times with contemporary orientation it has become easier in comparison to other Optional subjects. So, in changed Scenarios, THE SHORTEST SYLLABUS & PREDICTABILITY IN QUESTION PATTERN helps students to score up to 70 percent of 750 Marks (Sociology+ Essay) with basic understanding of sociological theories, concepts & facts.
- In comparison to Other Humanities subjects like Geography, Public Administration, Political Science etc., Sociology has also been safe & secure optional because of limited number of thinkers & theories (Only six thinkers & six major theoretical strands). Subject like Geography, Public Administration, Psychology, Political Science etc. are Specialist in nature with big syllabic content which requires regular Updating.
Which Optional Subject has the highest Success Rate in UPSC Civil Service Main Exam? What UPSC Annual Report Says about performance of Optional Subjects?
Before choosing an Optional Subject, students must be familiar with the authentic facts regarding the Success Rate of the Optional Subject in the Civil Services Examination. The Success Ratio of various optional subjects is given in UPSC Annual Report. SOCIOLOGY Optional has the highest Success Rate as per Annual Report of UPSC from 2014 to 2022. UPSC Civil Services Aspirants must choose Optional Subject only after going through it.
Why Sociology is So Popular Optional Subject among Students coming from science (Engineering and Medicine) and Commerce Academic Backgrounds?
- Relatively Short Syllabus, predictability in Question Pattern, It’s relevance in Essay and GS Papers as well as Social Life, makes Sociology the most suitable subject for Students with science (Engineering and Medicine) and Commerce Background. Jagriti Awasthi, IAS (Engineering), Arvind Singh, IAS (Engineering), Ashish, IAS (Engineering) Aman Akash, IFS (Mathematics), Pradeep Singh, IAS (Commerce), Sameer Saurabh, IAS (Engineering), Vinayak Chamadia, IAS (Engineering), Abhilasha Abhinav, IAS (Engineering), Animesh Ranjan, IAS (Engineering), Anshul Singh, IAS (Engineering), Shahnaz Illyas, IPS (Engineering), Areeba Nomaan, IPS (Computer Science Engineer), Deepanshu Khurana, IFS (Engineering)and Many Others from Non Humanities Academic backgrounds have achieved Excellence in Civil Services with Sociology Optional.
- Scientific Nature of the Subject and Observation of Social Facts in day today Social life makes it easier to Comprehend the Subject. Students need not to refer Many Books, Reports & Research Papers, Surveys etc. (as one need to do in Other Optional Subjects like Geography, Public Administration, Political Science, Psychology, History etc.) In Sociology.
Orientation for Revision and Answer Writing for Sociology
Dear Aspirants,
In sociology optional, there are limited number of theories & only six thinkers. There are limited number of concepts & facts. UPSC-IAS aspirants should understand concepts, thinkers/theories & social facts and simply do brainstorming on possible solution/answer of the question in examination. Do more and more topical backward linkage and forward linkage. Do more and more theoretical-conceptual and factual co-relation.
Every individual has Sociological imaginations. While doing preparation or revision, you should simply colour your Sociological Imaginations with Concepts & Theories of the Sociological Thinkers & Structural facts.
Application of Theory and Concepts with reference to Indian social facts are common type of analytical writing. In Sociology UPSC Evaluators expect you to apply sociological theories (sometimes called “perspectives” or “arguments”) to empirical phenomena called social facts.
In Paper 1 try to write 2 to 3 Current Social, Economic, Political, Educational, Religious, Cultural Social Facts referring to General Studies Syllabus.
However, Never try to write more than five Sentences of Current Relevance. You are writing Sociology Answers, so Visibility of Sociological Keywords are Important. Just to bring Novelty in Answers, apart from doing Co-relation You can write few Current points.
Note: Sociology is systematic and scientific study of Society-social structure, system and Interaction in systematic manner. So systematize your answer with theoretical, conceptual orientation on structure, system & interaction. Please don’t make it a Current Affairs note writing phenomena. Don’t get into trap of Social-Media sensation of Current-Sociology. It’s a bad trap. Focus on Theories, Concept and Social Facts – traditional and modern related to the past and contemporary society.
How to Structure Answer in Sociology? – Vikash Ranjan
- UPSC OPTIONAL or GENERAL STUDIES LEVEL writing is different than writing in high school, college and university because you are Expectedto THINK in little more complex ways. Apart from developing your capacity to obtain knowledge, understanding, and application, UPSC – COMPETITIVE WRITING pushes you up towards the more complex skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation while structuring the answers.
- After Completion of Class focus on Revision & Listing of “Topic wise Keywords Conceptual Terms, Theoretical Dimensions and social facts” for writing a good answers.
- You should not stuck on 3 to 4 Peripheral-Non-sociological Questions in each paper of Sociology Optional. You have to write 19 Questions, out of which 15 to 16 Questions will be “Direct Topical Questions” related to “Fundamentals of Sociology in Paper 1 and “Indian Social Structure and Change” in Paper 2. Give your best in answer of such questions. and try to manage Peripheral-Non-sociological Questions with application of Theoretical-conceptual strands.
- Be more careful in Structural part of your Answer. Structure your Answers in Parts:- First Part- Introduction, Second Part- Main Body – Thesis, Antithesis (Critique/Limitation) & Third Part- Conclusion – Synthesis.
- In Introduction directly address the question, brie_ly explain the key Concept or Theoretical dimension. Avoid writing much on background and glorifying the thinkers academic achievement. It should Constitute 20 Percent of the total length of the Answer.
- In Thesis Part elaborate on the concept or theory or social fact asked in the question. Highlight the Thinkers, Scholars View or Perspective to enrich and substantiate the Answer. If the Question has Keywords like “Discuss”, “Describe”, “Explain”, “Elaborate” etc., then Thesis Part must be detal and Antithesis (Critique or Limitations) should be brief. If the Question has Keywords like “Critically Examine” or “Critically Analyse” etc., then Thesis part should be brief and Antithesis should be discussed in detail.
- In Antithesis Part try to write a Critique to Main Theoretical – Conceptual Arguments asked in questions. By writing Antithesis, you present alternative explanations or views on the topic on which the question has been asked. Length of thesis and Antithesis part will depend on demand of the question.
- Conclusion or Synthesis Part must re_lect your overall Conceptual-Theoretical-Applied Understanding of not only the topic rather the Subject. Don’t write your personal opinion about the Theme or the Topic or the Issues in this part. Rather try to give academic and applied insights and try to make it more contemporary by giving references and describing relevance.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Sociology Answer Writing: Vikash Ranjan
- FLAWED ARGUMENTS: Avoid three common flawed sociological arguments: arguing only from the perspective of the individual while ignoring social conditions, attributing patterns in behaviour to “human nature,” and explaining behaviour as caused by “society” in general without looking at the societal processes at work.
- EXCESSIVE SUMMARIZING/LACK of ANALYSIS:Your task is to move beyond mere summary to help a reader understand your evaluation and analysis of the Social Facts/Concepts/Theory.
- LACK OF AN ADEQUATELY COMPLEXTHESES: A good thesis moves your reader beyond a simple observation. It asserts an arguable perspective that requires some AS work on your part to demonstrate its validity.
- LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPPORT: A well-crafted thesis requires substantiation in the form of acceptable evidence. Often, if your thesis doesn’t make a complex, arguable claim, the act of substantiation becomes difficult. Take care to develop a thesis that will require purposeful use of evidence.
- USE OF UNRELIABLE ELECTRONIC SOURCES: Take care to rigorously evaluate your sources, particularly ones from the Internet. Avoid Using of Unnecessary Current Facts as Suggested by Telegram Innovators. The Purpose of hyper Sociological Linkage of Current News with the Theory is to Impress Students for building Telegram Audience for Marketing and Business.
- USE OF PERSONAL OPINION OR ANECDOTES: Personal opinions or anecdotes generally do not qualify as rigorous and appropriate sociological evidence in support of a claim. Your opinion does not qualify as data.
- IMPROPER USE OF A THEORY: If you are applying or testing a particular theory, be sure you have a good understanding of this theory.
- EXCESSIVE QUOTING: When quoting a source in order to provide evidence, use only the relevant part of the quotation. When you establish a claim/assertion and provide textual support, be sure to explain the relationship between the quotation and the assertion. Your reader can’t read your mind.
- SHIFTING VERB TENSE: Take care to shift verb tense only when necessary. Science’s strong sense of timing requires that you accurately reflect that research was performed in that past and that certain knowledge is current.
- PASSIVE VOICE: Use active voice as often as possible. Active voice generally is more concise and lively than passive voice.
- REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR BY HIS/HER FIRST NAME: It is customary and respectful to refer to the author using his/her last name.
Enroll now in our Sociology Optional Programme for CSE 2025-26
