All questions in UPSC Sociology, 2019 were driven by CURRENT AFFAIRS!
Questions in UPSC Sociology 2019 were a smart mix of:
- Current Affairs
- Static Portions
- Few offbeat questions
- Highly application based questions
Few more points worth noting:
- Almost every question in UPSC Sociology, 2019 (Paper 2) was influenced by current affairs.
- If you are not able to relate a couple of questions to some current event, let us accept our limitation with humility. Even those couple of questions must be having some contemporary relevance. Just that we are not able to establish the relation. We must, with humility, accept that UPSC question setters start thinking where our thought process ends.
- This, evidently, shows that regular Sociological analysis of current events is IMPORTANT.
Analysis of Paper 2 questions
1 (a). Elaborate Srinivas’ view on religion and society among Coorgs. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Religion is a hot topic of late. Especially religious nationalism.
Source: IGNOU
1 (b). Illustrate the contribution of Tebhaga movement to the peasant struggle in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Peasant movements by farmers from Tamil Nadu in Delhi, long march by farmers in Maharashtra | Women empowerment
Source: IGNOU
1 (c). Examine the changing initiatives of the land tenure system in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Land reform is one of the hurdles to 5 trillion dollar economy
Source: NCERT
1 (d). Write a note on Ghurye’s conception of caste in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Static portion
Source: NCERT [Page no. 88]
1 (e). Comment on the growing assertion of tribal community for autonomy in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Pathalgadhi movement | Ladakh | North East autonomous councils
Source: Click here
2 (a). Critically examine Dube’s contributions to the study of Indian Villages. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Static portion
Source: IGNOU – Click here
2 (b). What is caste politics? Substantiate your answer with examples how identities are defined by caste dynamics. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: 2019 election results
Source: NCERT – Click here
2 (c). Do you think that the Indian saints have brought about social reform and awareness in Indian society? 10 Marks, 150 Words
Trap Question: Include examples of saints from different religions. Do not stick to any one religion
Current Affairs: Active involvement of saints in Lok Sabha elections 2019 (Madhya Pradesh) | Allegations of abuse against Indian saints
Source: NCERT – Click here
3 (a). What is ethno-nationalism? Examine the critical factors responsible for tribal discontent in India. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Same as question no. 1 (e)
Source: IGNOU – Click here
3 (b). Is industrial development in India a bane or boon for agrarian class structure? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Static + Agrarian distress in the last few years [Question no. 1 (b)]
Source: IGNOU – Click here
3 (c). Give an account of Ranajit Guha’s approach in studying ‘subaltern class’ ? 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Adverse impact of GST and Demonetisation on subaltern groups
Source: Click here
4 (a). Define Patriarchy. Does it have a bearing on entitlement of women in Indian family system? Explain. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Static portion: From syllabus topic PATRIARCHY, ENTITLEMENTS AND SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOUR
Source: NCERT – Click here (Definition on page 42)
4 (b). How do you understand the ‘minority’ question? Examine the violence and discrimination against the religious minorities in India. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Reports of mob lynching | Discrimination in jobs, government schemes etc.
Trap Question: Quote instances from different religious minorities
Source: IGNOU – Click here
4 (c). What do you understand by LGBTQ? Comment on the issues concerning their marriage rights. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Issue over sexuality of Dutee Chand (Athelete from Odisha)
UPSC Sociology Current Affairs: STEP-UP Series 2020-2021 [Click here]
5 (a). Comment on the critical issues of commercialisation of higher education in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Institute of Eminence | HEFA
Source: Click here
5 (b). Discuss the challenges in implementing the Rural Development Programmes in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Static + Current Affairs: Syllabus topic: Programmes of rural development
Source: Kurukshetra magazine – April 2019
5 (c). Elaborate urbanism as a way of life in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Consumerism | SDG
Source: NCERT – Click here (Page no. 41)
5 (d). Comment on the changing democratic profile of India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Lok Sabha election: Talks about a presidential style election – one man show | Cross caste voting | Change in vote bank politics
5 (e). Elucidate the concerns of growing urban displacement dynamics in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Extreme weather | Conflict | Global Report on Internal Displacement
Source: Click here
6 (a). Examine the importance of development planning in Indian Mixed Economy, and analyze its problems and prospects. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Congress manifesto to abolish NITI Aayog if it comes to power
Source: NCERT – Click here
6 (b). Highlight the main features of ‘Inter-linking of Rivers Project’. What could be its probable advantages to Indian agriculture . 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Godavri-Cauvery interlinking project
Source: Click here
6 (c). Has reduction of green cover affected ecological degradation leading to global warming? Elaborate your answer with illustration. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Such offbeat questions were asked in UPSC 2015
Current Affairs: Mumbai metro plans of felling 2,646 trees in Aarey Colony
Source: NCERT – Click here
7 (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? 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: RBI report on demonetisation
Source: Click here
7 (b). Discuss the implications of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. Do you think that civil society has a role to play here? Substantiate your answer with examples. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – People’s Movement
Source: Click here
7 (c). Do you agree that social movements are caused opportunity structures that are generated by ‘media’. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Role of media in #MeToo, Sabarimala, Shani Shignapur movement
Source: NCERT – Click here
8 (a). Why has ‘active aging’ become a glocal goal? Do you agree that the role of elderly care-giving is disproportionately gendered in developing countries? Why? 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Economic Survey, 2019 (India demography at 2040)
Source: Click here
8 (b). What is POSH act? “Identification of tormentor by women at workplace does not come easily even today”. Examine the statement with substantive examples from India. 20 Marks, 250 Words
Current Affairs: Complaint of sexual harassment against CJI
Source: Click here
8 (c). What is ‘social security’? Examine recent security measures adopted by the Government in India. 10 Marks, 150 Words
Current Affairs: Ayushman Bharat | Debate on universal pension | Universal Basic Income | Direct income transfer to farmers
Source: IGNOU – Click here
Click here for Sociology and GS Society CURRENT AFFAIRS
Our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/SociologyAndSocialIssues
(you may also search for @SociologyAndSocialIssues in your Telegram)
High role of current affairs in UPSC Mains (Sociology), 2018
Sociology for UPSC 