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4392 Previous Year Questions • 2016–2026 • Prelims, Mains, Essay, Optionals

Topic:[Sociology] 9. Systems of Kinship: (a) Family, household, marriage. (b) Types and forms of family. (c) Lineage and descent. (d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour. (e) Contem porary trends.24 PYQs
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Sociology - Sociology Paper-I

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2026SociologySociology Paper-IQ.5
(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.
Sociology Optional
2025SociologySociology Paper-IQ.4
(a) Give an account of the recent trends of marriage in the Indian context. How are these different from traditional practices? (b) What would you identify as the similarities and differences in the elite theories of Mosca, Michels and Pareto? Discuss their main/crucial issues. (c) Critically analyze the sociological significance of informal sector in the economy of developing societies.
Sociology Optional
2025SociologySociology Paper-IQ.6
(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.
Sociology Optional
2025SociologySociology Paper-IQ.8
(a) What do you understand by sustainable development? Discuss the elements of sustainable development as proposed in the UNDP's Sustainable Development Goals Report-2015. (b) How do 'Civil Society Organizations' such as 'NGOs' and 'Self-Help Groups' contribute to grassroot level social changes? Discuss. (c) In what way does queer kinship challenge the traditional kinship system? Substantiate by giving illustrations.
Sociology Optional
2024SociologySociology Paper-IQ.1
(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.
Sociology Optional
2024SociologySociology Paper-IQ.8
(a) Modern families have not just become nuclear and neo-local, but also filiocentric. How do you explain this trend? (b) Discuss various theories of social change. Explain the limitations of unilinear theory of social change. (c) Critically examine the World-Systems theory of Immanuel Wallerstein in terms of development and dependency of various nations.
Sociology Optional
2021SociologySociology Paper-IQ.7
(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.
Sociology Optional
2021SociologySociology Paper-IQ.8
(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.
Sociology Optional
2020SociologySociology Paper-IQ.8
(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.
Sociology Optional
2018SociologySociology Paper-IQ.1
(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.
Sociology Optional
2018SociologySociology Paper-IQ.3
(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.
Sociology Optional
2018SociologySociology Paper-IQ.6
(a) Discuss the nature of social organisation of work in capitalist society with reference to the 'Limits of the working day'. (b) Distinguish between family and household with reference to the concept of development of the household. (c) Explain with examples, the explanatory and exploratory designs of social research.
Sociology Optional
2017SociologySociology Paper-IQ.5
(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.
Sociology Optional
2017SociologySociology Paper-IQ.7
(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.
Sociology Optional
2016SociologySociology Paper-IQ.5
(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.
Sociology Optional

Sociology - Sociology Paper-II

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2025SociologySociology Paper-IIQ.4
(a) Who is said to be the pioneer of village studies in India? Illustratively describe contributions of some Indian sociologists on village studies. How their approaches are distinct from each other? (b) Industrial class structure is a function of social structure of Indian society. Do you agree with this statement? Analyze. (c) What is kinship? Briefly explain G. P. Murdock's contribution to the study of the kinship system.
Sociology Optional
2022SociologySociology Paper-IIQ.3
(a) Critically examine Yogendra Singh's thesis on 'Modernisation of Indian Tradition'. (b) Discuss the material basis of patriarchy as an ideological system. (c) Explain different forms of untouchability in India.
Sociology Optional
2022SociologySociology Paper-IIQ.5
(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.
Sociology Optional
2022SociologySociology Paper-IIQ.8
(a) Sociologists argue for democratization of science and technology for inclusive development. Comment. (b) Are traditional social institutions getting weakened as agents of social change in the contemporary society? Substantiate. (c) How do you understand the relationship between patriarchy and social development?
Sociology Optional
2018SociologySociology Paper-IIQ.8
(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.
Sociology Optional