PYQ Browser
4392 Previous Year Questions • 2016–2026 • Prelims, Mains, Essay, Optionals
Topic:[Sociology] A. Introducing Indian Society: (i) Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society: (a) Indology (G. S. Ghure). (b) Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas). (c) Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai). (ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: (a) Social background of Indian nationalism. (b) Modernization of Indian tradition. (c) Protests and movements during the colonial period. (d) Social reforms.20 PYQs
Clear Topic Filter ✕All Exams
Year
Sociology - Sociology Paper-II
18 shown2026•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.2
(a) Indological approach, advocated by G. S. Ghurye, focuses on the study of Indian society through Indian texts. How can Indological approach be useful in the study of other society? Comment in detail.
(b) Examine how Indian Nationalism was a result of 'Akhand Bharat'/Indian Subcontinent's socio-cultural and political consciousness.
(c) How does A. R. Desai argue that Indian social classes must be studied through the colonial mode of production? Elucidate.
Sociology Optional
2026•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.4
(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.
Sociology Optional
2026•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.5
(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.
Sociology Optional
2026•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.8
(a) How has colonial rule transformed Indian society? If it (Indian society) had not undergone colonial rule, then what type of Indian society would have been there? Elaborate.
(b) How have the women's movements made the presence of women in every moment felt and more women participation in various fields? Discuss.
(c) Where would you locate the tribal community in the Varna system of India? Discuss.
Sociology Optional
2025•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.1
(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'?
Sociology Optional
2024•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.2
(a) Differentiate between 'Western' and 'Indological' perspectives on the study of Indian society. Bring out the major aspects of G. S. Ghurye's contribution to 'Indological' approach.
(b) What are the definitional problems involved in identifying tribes in India? Discuss the main obstacles to tribal development in India.
(c) What, according to Andre Beteille, are the bases of agrarian class structure in India? Analyse.
Sociology Optional
2024•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.8
(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.
Sociology Optional
2023•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.1
(a) Highlight the significant features of A.R. Desai's 'Dialectical Perspective' to study Indian Society.
(b) The decade of 1950s was the golden period of village studies in Indian Sociology. Explain the statement.
(c) Analyse the differences between the attributional and interactional approach in studying the caste system.
(d) Are Tradition and Modernity antithetical to each other? Comment.
(e) Discuss the main features of Land Reforms in post-independence India.
Sociology Optional
2022•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.1
(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".
Sociology Optional
2022•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.2
(a) Critically examine G.S. Ghurye's Indological approach to the understanding of Indian society.
(b) Elaborate on the changing nature of caste system with suitable illustrations.
(c) Discuss the problems of religious minorities in India and suggest measures to solve them.
Sociology Optional
2022•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.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
2022•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.4
(a) Examine the social background of growth of Indian nationalism.
(b) Explain how land reforms brought about desired agrarian transformation.
(c) Discuss the challenges during village studies in India.
Sociology Optional
2022•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.6
(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?
Sociology Optional
2020•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.1
(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.
Sociology Optional
2020•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.8
(a) Colonial administrators helped to construct the very traditionalism which marked the Indian society as 'backward'. Comment critically.
(b) What were the salient features of the India's Population Policy (2000)? How far its goals have been achieved?
(c) Point out the main causes of 'child labour' in India. How far the State policies have succeeded in its elimination?
Sociology Optional
2018•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.1
(a) Write a note on G. S. Ghurye's Indological perspective of understanding Indian society.
(b) Give a critical analysis of Andre Beteille's study of Tanjore village.
(c) Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Discuss.
(d) Write a note on the changing roles of middle-class women in India.
(e) Discuss the growth of religious sects in India.
Sociology Optional
2018•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.2
(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?
Sociology Optional
2016•Sociology•Sociology Paper-II•Q.1
(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
Sociology Optional
Sociology - Sociology Paper-I
2 shown2017•Sociology•Sociology Paper-I•Q.1
(a) Write a critique of the structural and functional perspective used by M.N. Srinivas in the understanding of Indian society.
(b) Which is more significant, the principle of 'hierarchy' or the principle of 'difference', in intercaste relations in the present day?
(c) What are the distinct features of Islam as practised in India, and how have they changed over time?
(d) How have the struggles against untouchability changed their forms and perspectives from Gandhian to Ambedkarite positions?
(e) Write a short note on 'changing means of production and increased rural poverty.'
Sociology Optional
2017•Sociology•Sociology Paper-I•Q.2
(a) The main objectives of socio-religious movements during the colonial rule in India were reforming and synthesizing Hinduism. Write on any two such important movements.
(b) Discuss Yogendra Singh's thesis on Modernisation of Indian Tradition, and evaluate its applicability in the present day context.
(c) What are the changes in the cultural and structural aspects of the caste system since independence?
Sociology Optional