Which one of the following best reflects the practical, rational and lasting solution?

Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over the last few decades. Analyze the above statement.

Saraswati was a successful IT professional in USA. Moved by the patriotic sense of doing something for the country she returned to India. Together with some other like-minded friends, she formed an NGO to build a school for a poor rural community. The objective of the school was to provide the best quality modern education at a nominal cost. She soon discovered that she has to seek permission from a number of Government agencies. The rules and procedures were quite confusing and cumbersome. What frustrated her most was the delays, callous attitude of officials and constant demand for bribes. Her experience and the experience of many others like her has deterred people from taking up social service projects. A measure of Government control over voluntary social work is necessary. But it should not be exercised in a coercive or corrupt manner. What measures can you suggest to ensure that due control is exercised but well meaning, honest NGO efforts are not thwarted?

Mob violence is emerging as a serious law and order problem in India. By giving suitable examples, analyze the causes and consequences of such violence.

Women's movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view.

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the Government of India's approach to counter the challenges posed by LWE.

A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing industrial chemicals on a large scale. It proposes to set up an additional unit. Many States rejected its proposal due to detrimental effect on the environment. But one State government acceded to the request and permitted the unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition. The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water and crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitations demanding the closure of the plant. In a recent agitation thousands of people took part, creating a law and order problem necessitating stern police action. Following the public outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory. The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who were working in the ancillary units. It also very badly affected those industries which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it. As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling this issue, how are you going to address it?

What are the methods used by the farmers' organisations to influence the policy-makers in India and how effective are these methods?

Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen? Discuss the challenges of this alternative model.

(a) Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affair. (b) Write short notes on the following:

Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.

Give out the major sources of terror funding in India and the efforts being made to curtail these sources. In the light of this, also discuss the aim and objective of the 'No Money for Terror (NMFT)' Conference recently held at New Delhi in November 2022.

What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details.

(a) What are the options available with Rohit to cope with the situation? (b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rohit? (c) Which of the options, do you think, would be more appropriate for Rohit to adopt and why? (d) In the present situation, what are the extra precautionary measures to be taken by the police in dealing with women protesters?

Women's social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.

Civil Society Organizations are often perceived as being anti-State actors than non-State actors. Do you agree? Justify.

The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?

How do you understand disability? Substantiate the need for inclusive policy framework in India in this regard.

To what extent do pressure groups, social movements and corporate lobbies deepen pluralistic democracy in India by representing excluded interests? Analyse whether the growing convergence of corporate wealth and political power poses a threat to the autonomy of formal democratic institutions.

(a) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had cautioned that employing civil disobedience within a constitutional democracy equates to endorsing 'anarchy'. How should modern democracies navigate the ethical dilemmas posed by civil disobedience movements that aim to promote social justice against policies that may raise genuine concerns? (b) In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance? (c) Shakespeare in Henry IV says, "The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just". What ethical implications does this have in governance?

(a) Describe the nature of social organization of work in industrial society. (b) Discuss the importance of 'power elite' in democracy. (c) Is religion playing an important role in increasing fundamentalism? Give reasons for your answer. (d) To what extent is patriarchy a cause for the problems of women? Discuss. (e) Social conflict is both a cause and a consequence of social change. Explain.

(a) Globalization has pushed the labour into informal organization of work. Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (b) Social change can be brought about through development. Illustrate from the contemporary situation of India. (c) Examine the role of protest movements in changing the status of Dalits in India.

(a) Religious pluralism is the order of present-day societies. Explain by giving suitable examples. (b) Discuss the contemporary trends in family as a response to social change in modern society. (c) To what extent revolution replaces the existing order of society? Discuss.

(a) Salient features of A.R. Desai's Marxist Sociology (b) Significance of Village Studies in Indian Sociology (c) 'Isolationism' as a dominant feature of colonial tribal policy (d) Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period (e) Patriarchy as a form of dominance

(a) How has B.R. Ambedkar identified the features of caste system? How is it different from the mainstream treatment of caste features? (b) Discuss Andre Beteille's account of the relationship between caste, class and power as a change from symmetrical to asymmetrical one. (c) Analyse the major components of Land Reform Acts. Show their effectiveness in curbing rural inequality.

(a) Bring out the significance of the difference between family and household. (b) Elucidate the concepts of 'majoritarianism' and 'minoritarianism' in accentuating communal tensions in India. (c) Comment on the increasing significance of caste in politics.

(a) How is the tribal question related with the issues of integration and autonomy in modern India? (b) Comment on the factors behind the changing status of women in urban India. (c) What accounts for the growth and consolidation of the middle classes in modern India?

(a) Write a note on the uneven impact of 'Green Revolution' on rural society. (b) Discuss the emerging forms of 'inequalities' and 'acute poverty' as major challenges of social transformation in India. (c) Discuss the various forms of environmental movements waged in India.

(a) Write a detailed note on the effects of growing slums in urban areas. (b) Discuss the changing nature of the problems of working class in the informal sector of the economy. (c) What are the factors accounting for the resurgence of ethnic identity movements in India?

(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) Analyze A. R. Desai's views on India's path of development. (b) Examine sociological dynamics of Champaran Peasant Movement in colonial India. (c) How do the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission (2004-2006) ensure food and nutrition security for the Indian masses?

(a) Elaborate the concept of constitutional morality as given by B. R. Ambedkar. (b) Construct a sociological narrative on the increasing trend of child abuse in India. (c) Explain the dynamics of neo-farmers' movement in contemporary India. (d) Assess the role of the State in promoting education of girl child. (e) Elaborate the 'Me Too' Movement and its impact in India.

(a) How do you relate the growth of development of metropolis and its impact on the mental and social life of people in India? (b) Has 'Green Revolution' led to the formation of new power elite in rural India? Elaborate your answer. (c) Write a note on Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development (IHSD) programmes provided for the urban poor.

(a) Has caste system hindered democracy and adult franchise in India? Discuss. (b) Elaborate various forms of Dalit assertions in contemporary India. What are its implications on the Indian political system? (c) With increase in education and economic development is Indian society becoming more secular?

(a) What are the issues relating to male migration and its impact on birthrate? Does it necessarily result in skewed sex ratio? (b) Western patriarchy which surrenders feminine principles is the new development project in India. Do you agree with this view? Why? (c) Assess the impact of ban on 'Triple Talak' on marriage and divorce among the Muslim community in India.

(a) Why is gender a dimension of social stratification? How does gender intersect other dimensions of inequality based on caste, class, race and ethnicity? (b) What are the theoretical models of societal power? Which one of them is most applicable in advanced industrial societies? (c) What is affirmative action? Substantiate theoretical positions on affirmative actions with examples.

(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) What is ethno-nationalism? Examine the critical factors responsible for tribal discontent in India. (b) Is industrial development in India a bane or a boon to agrarian class structure? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (c) Give an account of Ranajit Guha's approach in studying 'subaltern class'.

(a) Do you think that 'demonetization' has accelerated the economic growth in India? How do you understand the informalization of labour, underemployment and gender discrimination in this context? (b) Discuss the implications of 'Swachha Bharat Abhiyan'. Do you think that civil society has a role to play here? Substantiate your answer with examples. (c) Do you agree that social movements are caused by opportunity structures that are generated by media? Why?

(a) Elaborate A. R. Desai's perspective to the study of Indian society. (b) Banning practice of 'Sati' is attributed to annihilation of a major social evil in colonial India. Comment. (c) How do you justify Dumont's deliberate stress on ideology that produced intellectualized account of Indian society? (d) Explain the definitional problems concerning the tribal communities in India. (e) Secularism was an outcome of 20th century humanistic radicalism. Comment on this statement.

(a) Examine the colonial policy of segregation of tribes under the Government of India Act, 1935. (b) Discuss the dynamics of 'migrant workers' in India in the context of Corona pandemic. (c) How does Andre Beteille justify 'middle class in India'?

(a) Elaborate the causes, consequences and other concerns of growth of urban settlements in India. (b) Evaluate the nature and scope of anthropogenic influence on climate in India and also analyze the environmental movements arising out of it. (c) Are the contemporary farmers' movements in India changing their course? Discuss.

(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) 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) 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) Elaborate on M.N. Srinivas's structural-functionalist approach to the study of Indian society. (b) Do you agree that the agrarian class structure in India is changing? Justify your answer with illustrations. (c) Elucidate the challenges of integration for tribal communities in India. (d) In the context of the changing Indian society, how do you view Andre Beteille's conceptions of harmonic and disharmonic social structures? (e) Explain Leela Dube's concept of "Seed and Earth".

(a) Examine whether rural bondage still continues to be a social reality. Give your argument. (b) Define ethnicity. Discuss the factors responsible for the growth of ethnic movements in India. (c) Discuss the changing nature of structure of political elites.

(a) Examine the relevance of corporate social responsibility in a world marked by increasing environmental crises. (b) How is civil society useful in deepening the roots of democracy? (c) What functions does religion perform in a pluralistic society? (d) Analyze critically David Morgan's views on family practices. (e) Does women's education help to eradicate patriarchal discriminations? Reflect with illustrations.

(a) Analyse the perspectives of Isolation, Assimilation and Integration in understanding the trajectories of Indian Tribal Development. (b) Explain the implications and the impact of globalization in situating the changing agrarian class structure in India. (c) Critique the victory narratives of Green Revolution in the context of Indian society.

(a) Citing some case studies, expand the concept of 'Development-induced Displacement'. (b) Examine the concept of 'Cultural Pluralism' in the context of India's Unity in Diversity. (c) Highlight the salient features of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. (d) Analyse the sociological interconnections between Social Media and Mass Mobilization in India. (e) Discuss the nature of regional variations in sex ratio in India, stating reasons thereof.

(a) How do you account for the increasing significance of religion in public and personal spheres in the context of secularization thesis in India? Explain. (b) In the face of rising global climatic concerns, how do you contextualize the relevance of Chipko Movement and its Gandhian tone? Answer analytically. (c) What actionable measures would you suggest to curb the recurrent child labour menace in India?

(a) Do you think that the decades of Dalit political mobilizations and movements have helped in strengthening India's democracy? Substantiate your arguments with facts. (b) What is 'reverse migration'? Discuss its features, causes and consequences in India. (c) Discuss the phenomenon of rural-urban continuum with suitable examples.

(a) Examine with suitable examples the recent trends in the growth of urban settlements in India. (b) Is there a connection between labour migration and informal sector? Justify your answer with reference to Indian context. (c) Are slums the manifestations of industrialisation and urbanisation in India? Explain. (d) Discuss the changing nature of political elites in India. (e) What is your assessment about the recent farmers' movement in India? Elaborate.

(a) Discuss the major challenges related to women's reproductive health in India. What measures would you suggest to overcome these challenges? (b) What is sustainable development? How can sustainability be achieved in India where livelihood needs conflict with environmental protection? (c) Critically examine the relevance of development planning in India.

(a) Analyse the trilogy between environmental movement, development and tribal identity. (b) To what extent have the legal provisions been effective in curbing violence against women in India? Give your argument. (c) Trace the social and historical origins of Dalit movements in modern India.

(a) Highlight the major contributions of the reform movements in pre-independent India. (b) Identify different forms of inequalities associated with agrarian social structure in India. (c) What are pressure groups? Discuss their role in decision-making in democracy.

(a) Compare capability deprivation approach with that of social capital deprivation in understanding chronic poverty. (b) Are pressure groups a threat to or a necessary element of democracy? Explain with suitable illustrations. (c) What is hypothesis? Critically evaluate the significance of hypothesis in social research.

(a) What is science? Do you think that the methods used in natural sciences can be applied to sociology? Give reasons for your answer. (b) What do you understand by gender-based domestic division of labour? Is it undergoing a change in the wake of increasing participation of women in formal employment? Clarify your answer with illustrations. (c) How can you assess the significance of social movements in the digital era? Explain.

(a) Textual perspective is important in understanding of Indian Social System. Discuss. (b) Justify that the Indian traditions are modernizing. Also discuss its contributing factors. (c) According to you, which social reform movement has played the most effective role in uplifting the status of women? Explain. (d) How did Colonial Policies for the tribes affected their socio-economic conditions in India? Discuss. (e) How would you appropriate to characterise G. S. Ghurye as a practitioner of 'theoretical pluralism'?

(a) The transfer of land from cultivating to the non-cultivating owners is bringing about transformation in Indian society. Justify your answer by giving suitable illustrations. (b) Bring out various factors responsible for declining of village Industries in India. (c) Discuss the social bases of political mobilization in Independent India. Has some change occurred in these during the last 60-70 years? (d) What are the major problems faced by the labour migrants while working in informal sectors of Indian States? Discuss. (e) Do you think that law has been able to abolish child labour in India? Comment.

(a) What are the Private and Public network and support systems operative in Indian society for the aged? Suggest measures to curb down the challenges before care givers of the aged. (b) Educational development is the only Panacea for country's all ills and evils. Critically examine the above statement with reference to NEP-2020. (c) How Dalit movements in India have facilitated their Identity formation? Analyze.

(a) In what ways do class and caste intersect and overlap in shaping social structure? (b) Critically examine the position of women in the informal economy. (c) Discuss the role of geographical factors in social change and development. (d) Although sociology, as a subject of study, overarches all disciplines in social sciences yet it maintains its distinctiveness. Comment. (e) Explain in brief the relationship between social movement, collective action and revolution in bringing about social and political changes.

(a) Examine the challenges of applying micro-level village studies to macro-level village structure of Indian society. (b) Explain the emergence of middle class in agrarian society in India. What have been the socio-structural implications of the emergence of this middle class? (c) When land reform was a paradigm shift, then what type of land reforms would you recommend to make India a more equitable society?

(a) How does the Constitution of India promote education? Do you think that education can be a major instrument of social change? Clarify. (b) Draw the current population pyramid of India. What policy measures would you recommend for population dynamics to achieve sustainability? (c) Compare G. S. Ghurye's and A. R. Desai's approaches used in understanding Indian society.

(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) Differentiate between protests and movements. Discuss some of those movements which changed the fabric of Indian agrarian society during the colonial period. (b) Synchronise the developmental programmes and social change in India, and describe them through visible and lived experiences. (c) Why was the category of 'criminal tribe' created by law during the colonial period in India? Discuss its implications.

(a) Urbanisation in Independent India has been characterized by over-urbanization and rural push. Explain with demographic and sociological dimensions. (b) Give a sociological explanation of violence against women in India. What suggestions would you give to mitigate these violences? (c) Examine the process of formalisation of informal sector to safeguard the interests of marginalised sections of the society.

(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.