(a) The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations. (b) It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure in smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning?

(a) Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do. -Potter Stewart (b) If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher. -A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (c) Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. -Dalai Lama

(a) Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others. - Swami Vivekananda (b) Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work. - Sardar Patel (c) In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so. - Immanuel Kant

(a) Sociology is pre-eminently study of modern societies. Discuss. (b) What is 'value-free sociology'? Clarify. (c) Analyze the importance of qualitative method in social research. (d) Evaluate Marx's ideas on mode of production. (e) Vertical mobility brings structural change even in a closed social system. Comment.

(a) Elucidate the basic premises of Davis' structural-functional theory of social stratification. How far is it relevant in understanding contemporary Indian society? (b) Describe the functional prerequisites of social system as given by Talcott Parsons. Examine in the context of a university as a social system. (c) Is sociology common sense? Give reasons in support of your argument.

(a) Analyze the manifest and latent functions of 'security of the tenure of bureaucrats' in the light of Merton's theory. (b) Describe the basic postulates of scientific method. How far are these followed in sociological research? (c) Hypothesis is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables. Elucidate by giving example of poverty and illiteracy.

(a) Examine Max Weber's method of maintaining objectivity in social research. (b) Participant observation is the most effective tool for collecting facts. Comment. (c) Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion.

(a) Education is a major source of social mobility in contemporary society. Explain. (b) How is Durkheim's theory of religion different from Max Weber's theory of religion? (c) Distinguish between family and household as sociological concepts.

(a) The focal point of Sociology rests on interaction. How do you distinguish it from common sense? (b) Distinguish between fact and value in Weber's Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism. (c) Do you think 'I' and 'Me' are central terms in Mead's work? (d) What is the difference between natural and social inequality? Give examples from caste and class dimensions. (e) What are the new forms of family in developed societies? Discuss.

(a) Is non-positivistic methodology scientific? Illustrate. (b) Explain Durkheim's basic arguments on suicide. Can you analyse high suicide rates of contemporary Indian society with Durkheim's theory? (c) Evaluate if social stratification is functional for society.

(a) Does collapse of functionalism and bankruptcy of Marxism coincide with the rupture of modernity? Discuss. (b) Define patriarchy. How does patriarchy manifest in interpersonal relations? (c) What is the difference between anomie in Merton and Durkheim? Explain.

(a) According to Marx, how are human beings alienated from their human potential and what does he suggest to change this? (b) Schooling does not ensure upward mobility of all members of the society. Discuss with reference to class societies. (c) Discuss the challenges thrown by religious revivalism to a secular nation-state.

(a) Is the theory of cultural lag valid in present times? Discuss. (b) Are social movements primordial in means and progressive in agenda? Explain. (c) Does scientific method make Sociology a science? Illustrate your answer with Durkheim's method. (d) Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection with suitable examples from Indian society. (e) Is social mobility possible in closed systems of stratification? Illustrate from research work.

(a) How can Parsons' AGIL framework be used to analyse key problems in a society? Discuss. (b) What is labour commitment? Discuss it with reference to studies of manufacturing industry. (c) What, according to Pareto, are the basic characteristics of elites? Discuss.

(a) "The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relationship between the two in a society." — C.W. Mills. Explain. (b) What are sects? Discuss their role in multi-religious societies with empirical examples. (c) In what way did Durkheim perceive religion as functional to society?

(a) According to Mead, "We play a key role in our own socialisation." Explain. (b) Bring out the significance of Ethnography in social research. (c) What is 'reserve army of labour'? Present the position of feminist scholars on this.

(a) Differentiate between 'Life-chances' and 'Life-style' with suitable examples. (b) Discuss the issues of access and exclusion in higher education in India. (c) What is civil society? Present a note on civil society engagement with science and technology policy in India. (d) Critique A.G. Frank's 'development of underdevelopment'. (e) How well do you think Tonnies, Durkheim, Weber and Marx predicted the character of modern society? Critique.

(a) What is 'informal labour'? Discuss the need for and challenges in regulating informal labour in the post-industrial society. (b) Feminist scholars argue that 'New media' is masculine and hence reinforces structural hierarchies rather than reconfiguring them. Comment. (c) Discuss the concept of circulation of elite.

(a) In the light of judicial intervention on 'Live-in relationships', discuss the future of marriage and family in India. (b) How, according to Merton, are deviant subcultures generated? (c) How is terrorism a new form of asymmetrical warfare? What are some of the challenges in trying to win the war on terrorism?

(a) How did the intellectual forces lead to the emergence of sociology? Discuss. (b) Is sociology a value-free science? Discuss. (c) Methodology is a system of rules, principles and procedures, which forms scientific investigation. Comment. (d) 'Ideal Types' of Max Weber are mental constructs, they do not correspond to the reality. Give your views. (e) Analyse the relevance of 'Pattern variables' in the study of social change.

(a) In the context of globalisation, has the scope of sociology been changing in India? Comment. (b) Discuss the importance and sources of hypothesis in social research. (c) What are the problems in observing social facts in Durkheim's views? (d) State the reasons for the various religious beliefs and practices in pre-modern societies. (e) Does the institution of marriage continue to be sacred in Indian society? Comment.

(a) Discuss the new labour codes and their impact on formal and informal labour in India. (b) According to Mills, "Elites rule in institutional terms rather than psychological terms." Comment. (c) Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of social survey method in social research.

(a) Technology has accelerated the process of development and dependency. Discuss. (b) Phenomenological perspectives in sociology reject many of the assumptions of positivism. Comment. (c) Critically assess the Marxian theory of 'Alienation'.

(a) How does Marx view social conflict as an essential element in social change? (b) What is the impact of gender division of labour on the development of society? (c) Examine how social movements come to an end. Illustrate with examples.

(a) Europe was the first and the only place where modernity emerged. Comment. (b) Do you think ethnomethodology helps us in getting reliable and valid data? Justify your answer. (c) Discuss the challenges involved in collecting data through census method. (d) Explain whether Durkheim's theory of Division of Labour is relevant in the present day context. (e) Critically examine Max Weber's theory of Social Stratification.

(a) From the viewpoint of growing importance of multidisciplinarity, how do you relate sociology to other social sciences? (b) How far are sociologists justified in using positivist approach to understand social reality? Explain with suitable illustrations. (c) How is sociology related to common sense?

(a) How do qualitative and quantitative methods supplement each other in sociological enquiry? (b) Critically examine the dialectics involved in each mode of production as propounded by Karl Marx. (c) Do you agree with Max Weber's idea that bureaucracy has the potential to become an iron cage? Justify your answer.

(a) Explain the emerging challenges in establishing gender equality in the informal sector. (b) Critically examine the relevance of Vilfredo Pareto's theory of Circulation of Elites in the present scenario. (c) Critically compare the views of E.B. Tylor and Max Muller on Religion. (d) What is cult? Explain the growth of cults in the contemporary world. (e) Do you think Talcott Parsons gave an adequate theory of social change? Justify your answer.

(a) Elucidate the main problems and challenges faced by the migrant labourers in the recent 'Lockdown period'. (b) Explain how political parties and pressure groups are dialectically related to each other in terms of achieving their goals. (c) Give your comments on the growth of religious revivalism in the present day context.

(a) Explain how the pattern of patriarchy is being altered in a family and at the workplace in the present context. (b) Critically examine the contribution of dependency theories in understanding the present global scenario. (c) Explain the growing salience of ethnicity in the contemporary world with illustrations.

(a) Discuss the changing nature of kinship relations in the contemporary world. (b) Describe the role of Science and Technology in enabling us to face the challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. (c) Highlight the roles and functions of civil society in a democratic system.

(a) Caste system studies in India have been dominated by the "book-view" initially. How did the entry of "field-view" bring about a balance in the study of Indian caste system? Discuss. (b) What does Dr. B. R. Ambedkar mean by the concept of "Annihilation of caste"? (c) Discuss different forms of kinship system in India. (d) Critically examine briefly the phrase "Little Republics" as used to denote India's villages. (e) Caste-like formations are present in Non-Hindu religious communities as well. Discuss with examples.

(a) What is identity politics? Discuss the main trends in Dalit movements in India. (b) Is Indian society moving from "Hierarchy" towards "differentiation"? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples. (c) Discuss the salient features of 'new middle class' in India.

(a) Delimit the scope of Sociology in relation to other social sciences. (b) How does a researcher achieve objectivity in interpretative research? (c) The difference between information and data in social science is subtle. Comment. (d) Durkheim argued that society is more than the sum of individual acts. Discuss. (e) How do sociologists construct gender in their analysis on social inequality?

(a) What are the shortfalls of positivist philosophy that gave rise to the non-positivist methods of studying social reality? (b) Critically examine how Durkheim and Merton explicate Anomie. (c) Suggest measures to minimize the influence of the researcher in the process of collecting data through focus group discussion.

(a) What characterizes degradation of work in capitalist society according to Marx? (b) Social stratification is claimed to contribute to the maintenance of social order and stability in society. Critically assess. (c) What is reliability? Explain the different tests available to social science researcher to establish reliability.

(a) Critically examine the relevance of Durkheim's views on religion in contemporary society. (b) Discuss various theoretical perspectives on the family. (c) Explain the implications of feminization of work in the developing societies. (d) Write a note on global trends of secularization. (e) Trace the trajectory of development perspectives on social change.

(a) According to Mead the idea of self develops when the individual becomes self-conscious. Explain. (b) Analyse the nature of transition from ideology to identity politics in India. (c) How do little tradition and great tradition coexist in contemporary Indian society?

(a) Critically analyse Parsons views on society as a social system. (b) Discuss how 'environmentalism' can be explained with new social movements approach. (c) Illustrate with examples the role of pressure groups in the formulation of social policies.

(a) What is the distinctiveness of the feminist method of social research? Comment. (b) Discuss the relationship between sociology and political science. (c) How does the dramaturgical perspective enable our understanding of everyday life? (d) Is reference group theory a universally applicable model? Elucidate. (e) Do you think that the boundary line between ethnicity and race is blurred? Justify your answer.

(a) Explain how economic globalization has brought changes in the patterns of employment in the 21st century. (b) Do you think that the social media has brought significant changes in the forms of protest? Argue your case. (c) Assess critically A. G. Frank's 'theory of development of underdevelopment'.

(a) What is Taylorism? Analyze its merits and demerits. (b) What are new religious movements? Elaborate emphasizing their forms and orientations. (c) Examine the role of science and technology in addressing age-old taboos and superstitions.

(a) Discuss the nature of Sociology. Highlight its relationship with Social Anthropology. (b) Analyse the changing nature of caste as a status group. (c) Marriage as an institution has undergone a radical transformation from 'ritual' to 'commercial' in its outlook. Explain the factors behind this change. (d) Democracy needs a vibrant culture of civil society in order to strengthen its foundation of citizenship. Comment. (e) What are the 'basic and irreducible' functions of the family as proposed by Talcott Parsons ? Explain.

(a) Sociology is the product of European enlightenment and renaissance. Critically examine this statement. (b) Do you think 'objectivity' is an over-hyped idea in sociological research? Discuss the merits and demerits of non-positivist methods. (c) What is social mobility ? Critically examine the classification of 'closed' and 'open' models of social stratification.

(a) How do you view and assess the increasing trend of digital ethnography and use of visual culture in sociological research? (b) Describe the main idea of Max Weber's book, 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' as a critique of Marxism. (c) Critically explain the salient features of 'alienation' as propounded by Karl Marx.

(a) Describe various characteristics of a 'social fact'. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim? (b) Explain G.H. Mead's idea of development of 'self' through the 'generalised other'. (c) Describe the differing principles of work organization in feudal and capitalist societies. (d) How is 'power' different from 'authority' ? Discuss various types of authorities as theorized by Max Weber. (e) Critically examine the roles of science and technology in social change. What is your opinion on their increasing trend in 'online' education and teaching?

(a) What is positivism? Critically analyze the major arguments against it. (b) Highlight the main features of historical materialism as propounded by Marx. How far is this theory relevant in understanding contemporary societies? Explain. (c) What do you mean by reliability? Discuss the importance of reliability in social science research.

(a) In what way is the scope of sociology unique? Explain. (b) Does the structural-functionalist perspective on social stratification promote a status quo? Give reasons for your answer. (c) Do you think that the formal workspaces are free of gender bias? Argue your case. (d) How does Weber's Verstehen address the objectivity-subjectivity debate in sociology? (e) To what extent can education and skill development be an agent of social change? Critically analyze.

(a) What is sampling in the context of social research? Discuss different forms of sampling with their relative advantages and disadvantages. (b) How do theories of Marx, Weber and Durkheim differ in understanding religion? Explain. (c) What is the nature of relationship between science and religion in modern society? Analyze with suitable examples.

(a) Discuss the relationship between religion and science in modern society. Do they necessarily remain in conflict? (b) Is 'interpretativism' more effective than 'positivism' in analysing social reality? Discuss. (c) How does Emile Durkheim conceptualize religion as a 'social fact'? Explain.

(a) Elaborate major sociological theories of power. How do power elite shape the political process in modern societies? (b) Evaluate the socio-economic impacts of migration on rural households. (c) 'The methods of sociology are inadequate in understanding the complex social phenomena'. Discuss.

(a) The major challenge for sociology researchers is to analyze social reality objectively. Critically analyze. (b) Explain the concept of 'definition of the situation' and its significance in sociology. (c) In what way the concept of 'patriarchal bargain' be applied to the institution of marriage? Comment. (d) How does Max Weber's 'theory of authority' shape bureaucracy? Analyse. (e) How do different theories explain social dimensions of social movements? Discuss.

(a) Discuss the intellectual origins of sociology and the historical antecedents of its evolution as a distinct field of study. (b) Critically analyse the mode of production debate from different perspectives. (c) How does the rise of new 'cults' and 'sects' influence intercaste relations?

(a) Compare and critically assess 'the grounded theory' with 'theory-driven research method' in sociology. (b) According to Weber how do class, status and power interact to produce and sustain social inequality? (c) Compare the social organisation of work in industrial capitalism and platform capitalism.

(a) Discuss the challenges faced by the aged people in receiving 'elder care'. (b) Examine the transiting social movements from physical movements to virtual movements in 21st century India. (c) Clarify how the family planning programmes have taken a political 'U'-turn in present India. (d) How do Louis Dumont and Andre Beteille differ in their approaches in understanding caste system in India? Explain. (e) Bring out the debates of 'insiders' and 'outsiders' approaches in understanding Indian society.

(a) Explain how sociology has emerged as a distinct discipline based on rationality and scientific temper. (b) Examine ethnomethodological and phenomenological perspectives as critique of positivism. (c) Illustrate with example the significance of variables in sociological research. (d) Critically analyse Talcott Parsons' conception of 'Pattern Variables'. (e) Can we equate 'poverty' with 'poor living' ? Elaborate your answer.

(a) Discuss distinct sociological method adopted by Emile Durkheim in his study of 'suicide'. (b) Analyse Marxian conception of historical materialism as a critique of Hegelian dialectics. (c) Examine epistemological foundations of qualitative methods of social research.

(a) What is Weberian critique of Marxist notion of social stratification ? (b) Examine gender, ethnicity and race as major dimensions of social stratification. (c) How can one resolve the issue of reliability and validity in the context of sociological research on inequality ?

(a) What do you understand by 'informalisation of labour' ? Write your answer with special reference to India. (b) Discuss the changing interface between state and civil society in post-independent India. (c) Give an assessment of Durkheimian notion of 'sacred' and 'profane' in sociology of religion. (d) Examine 'patriarchal bargain' as gendered division of work in contemporary India. (e) Assess the role of mass media as an agent of social change.

(a) Trace the changing nature of organisation of work in capitalist society over the years. (b) What is new in 'new social movements' ? Elaborate your answer with special reference to India. (c) Examine the dynamics of pressure groups in multi-party political system.

(a) Examine the relationship between the contemporary trends in marriage and changing forms of family. (b) Discuss the regional variations of kinship system in Indian society. (c) Problematise the concept of secularism in the present context.