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| 1. | Sociology of Women in Agriculture |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Works & Economic Life: Formal and informal organisation of work Paper 2: Rural and Agrarian Social Structure (changing modes of production in Indian agriculture) |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Flowchart | FEMINISATION OF AGRICULTURE ↓ INVISIBLE LABOUR ↓ AGRARIAN PATRIARCHY ↓ ADVERSE INCORPORATION ↓ OWNERSHIP–LABOUR DISCONNECT |
| Summary of news article | 1. The increasing participation of women in agriculture reflects the feminisation of agriculture, largely driven by male out-migration from rural areas; however, a substantial proportion of women continue to work as unpaid family labour. 2. Despite constituting over 40% of the agricultural workforce, women face structural disadvantages such as limited land ownership, wage discrimination, lack of recognition as farmers, and restricted access to credit and state support. 3. The article highlights how patriarchal norms make women’s agricultural labour economically invisible, demonstrating that increased workforce participation does not automatically translate into empowerment or autonomy. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Bina Agarwal: Focuses on how gender relations shape economic structures, especially property and resource rights. 2. Sylvia Walby: Concept of multiple structures of patriarchy (e.g., household, paid work, state) that collectively maintain male dominance. 3. Ester Boserup – Agricultural modernization often increases gender inequality by marginalising women from productive resources. 4. Maria Mies – Women’s agricultural labour is systematically invisibilised within capitalist-patriarchal systems. 5. Devaki Jain – Women’s contribution to rural economies is undercounted due to gender-biased economic measures. |
| Related keywords | Feminisation of Agriculture; Feminist Political Economy; Devaluation of Women’s Work; Household Mode of Production; Labour Force Participation Paradox |
| Related PYQ | 1. How do sociologists construct gender in their analysis on social inequality? (2022/10 Marks) 2. Examine gender, ethnicity and race as major dimensions of social stratification. (2017/10 Marks) 3. Identify different forms of inequalities associated with agrarian social structure in India. (2024/20 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 2. | Kerala – High Literacy – High Maternal Mortality |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility → Dimensions: class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race Paper 2: Population Dynamics → Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Despite Kerala’s strong health indicators, its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) increased from 18 to 30, indicating emerging challenges in maternal healthcare and social determinants of health. 2. A significant proportion of maternal deaths occurred among women above 30 years of age and those with lifestyle diseases, reflecting changing demographic and epidemiological patterns. 3. The trend highlights the intersection of healthcare access, ageing motherhood, medicalization of childbirth, and social inequalities in health outcomes. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Michael Marmot: Maternal mortality is not caused only by medical factors but by broader social conditions—education, economic status, gender relations, and access to public health. 2. Ann Oakley: Maternal deaths must be examined in the context of women’s roles, medical systems, and social recognition. 3. Ivan Illich: Excessive medical intervention can produce iatrogenic effects and undermine health outcomes. 4. Michel Foucault: Reproductive health is shaped through biopower and medical surveillance of women’s bodies. |
| Related keywords | Maternal Risk Transition; Obstetricisation of Childbirth; Epidemiological Transition; Reproductive Health Inequality; Medicalisation of Reproduction |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the nature of regional variations in sex ratio in India. Stating reasons thereof. (2023 /10 Marks) 2. What are the emerging concerns on women’s reproductive health? (2017/ 10 Marks) 3. How do sociologists construct gender in their analysis on social inequality? (2022 /10 Marks) |
| 3. | Greying With Grace – Ageing |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Population Dynamics → Emerging issues: ageing. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India is undergoing a demographic transition marked by declining fertility rates and birth rates, while the proportion of elderly people is steadily increasing. 2. The article argues that India must move beyond its “young nation” narrative and prepare institutions, welfare systems, and healthcare infrastructure for an ageing population. 3. Growing longevity and population ageing will require significant policy realignment in areas such as social security, elderly care, healthcare, and intergenerational support systems |
| Related thinkers | 1. Frank W. Notestein: Explains the decline in fertility and mortality and its social consequences, including population aging and shrinking workforce. 2. Talcott Parsons: Ageing population challenges functional roles in society and requires adaptations in social institutions. 3. Elaine Cumming & William Henry: Disengagement Theory explains withdrawal of elderly persons from social roles. 4. Peter Laslett: The “Third Age” highlights active and productive ageing after retirement. |
| Related keywords | Ageing Transition; Demographic Dividend Exhaustion; Compression of Morbidity; Age Stratification; Feminisation of Ageing, Third Age, Active Ageing, Disengagement TheoryAgeism |
| Related PYQ | 1. What is ‘Ageing’? Discuss the major problems of aged people in India. (2023 /10 Marks) 2. Is “ageing” an emerging issue in Indian society? Discuss the major problems of the old age people in India. (2021/20 Marks) 3. How is ageing becoming an emerging issue in Indian society? (2016 /10 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
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| 4. | Citizens, Domicile, Migrants – the trilogy |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Politics and Society → Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology, collective action, social movements. Paper 2: Social Change in India → Politics & Society → Nation, democracy, citizenship |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article warns against the rise of provincial citizenship, where rights and opportunities are increasingly linked to domicile and regional identity rather than national citizenship. 2. Growing emphasis on “locals versus migrants” reflects the expansion of nativist politics, creating new forms of exclusion for internal migrants and challenging the constitutional idea of a single Indian citizenship. 3. The phenomenon highlights tensions between regional identity, migration, belonging, and national integration within a federal democratic framework. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Benedict Anderson: National identity is an imagined community transcending local affiliations. 2. T.K. Oommen: Citizenship involves inclusion, belonging and rights. 3. Tajfel and Turner: Explains how group identities such as ‘sons of the soil’ form in opposition to perceived outsiders, fostering in-group solidarity and out-group exclusion. 4. Horowitz: Analyses how ethnic and indigenous identities are mobilised politically to contest resources and power at the subnational level. |
| Related keywords | Provincial Citizenship; Nativism; Internal Colonialism; Ethnic Territoriality; Methodological Nationalism |
| Related PYQ | 1. Analyse the issues related to citizenship in contemporary India. Give suitable illustrations. (2022/10 Marks) 2. What are the reasons and implications of ‘reverse migration’ during the recent pandemic in India? (2021/20 Marks) 3. Is the theory of cultural lag valid in present times? Discuss. (2018/ 10 Marks) |
| 5. | Untouchability Wall |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility: Dimensions: class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. Paper 2: Social Structure: Caste System, Untouchability, Challenges of Social Transformation: Caste Conflict |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Scheduled Caste residents of a village in Tamil Nadu alleged that an “untouchability wall” was constructed to restrict their access, highlighting the persistence of caste-based exclusion despite constitutional safeguards. 2. The incident demonstrates how spatial segregation and social discrimination continue to reproduce caste hierarchies in rural India. 3. The case reflects the gap between legal abolition of untouchability and its continued manifestation in everyday social relations and access to public resources. |
| Related thinkers | 1. B. R. Ambedkar: Untouchability represents institutionalised exclusion maintained through graded inequality. 2. Gopal Guru: Everyday caste humiliation is reproduced through routine social interactions. |
| Related keywords | Spatial Segregation; Social Exclusion; Purity–Pollution Syndrome; Graded Inequality; Everyday Untouchability |
| Related PYQ | 1. What are the various forms of untouchability in India? Critically examine. (2021/ 10 Marks) 2. Explain different forms of untouchability in India. (2022/10 Marks) 3. Caste-like formations are present in non-Hindu religious communities as well. Discuss with examples. (2022/20 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
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| 6. | Rethinking Capitalism and Socialism |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Thinkers: Karl Marx and Max Weber | Politics and Society Paper 2: Thinkers : A.R. Desai, DP Mukherjee | Visions of Social Change in India |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article argues that the contemporary debate between capitalism and socialism is essentially a demand for a more equitable and inclusive economic order rather than a return to traditional socialist models. 2. It highlights how rising inequality, jobless growth, concentration of wealth, and economic insecurity have generated dissatisfaction with unregulated market systems, particularly among youth. 3. The article advocates a pragmatic middle path where markets coexist with welfare measures, emphasizing inclusion, social justice, and state intervention to address structural inequalities. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Karl Marx: Capitalism generates wealth but simultaneously produces class inequality, exploitation, and concentration of economic power. 2. Max Weber: Modern capitalism is rooted in rationalisation, bureaucracy, and market efficiency rather than merely private ownership. 3. T.H. Marshall: Welfare measures are essential for substantive citizenship and social rights within capitalist democracies. 4. C. Wright Mills: Economic and political elites shape public policy and maintain unequal distributions of power. |
| Related keywords | Creative Destruction; Embedded Capitalism; Market Fundamentalism; Social Disembedding; Accumulation by Dispossession |
Flowchart | LIBERALISATION (1991) ↓ ECONOMIC GROWTH ↓ NEW MIDDLE CLASS ↓ RISING ASPIRATIONS – PERSISTENT INEQUALITIES ↓ STATE INTERVENTION – SOCIAL WELFARE ↓ INCLUSIVE GROWTH |
| Related PYQ | 1. Capitalism has brought increasing informalisation of work in society. Substantiate your answer. (2020 /10 Marks) 2. Critically examine the dialectics involved in each mode of production as propounded by Karl Marx. (2021 /20 Marks) 3. What characterises degradation of work in capitalist society according to Karl Marx? (2022 /20 Marks) |
| 7. | Hidden Cost of Artificial Intelligence |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Work and Economic Life: Labour and society | thinkers: Karl Marx; Alienation. Paper 2 Industrialisation and Urbanisation: Evolution of modern industry | Visions of Social Change in India: Technology and social change. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article argues that AI is not entirely automated; it depends on a vast workforce of invisible “ghost workers” who perform data annotation, content moderation, and model training under precarious conditions. 2. Much of this labour is outsourced to workers in developing countries, who often face low wages, job insecurity, digital surveillance, and exposure to traumatic content. 3. The growth of AI raises concerns about new forms of labour exploitation, digital inequality, and the ethical implications of platform-based work in the global economy. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Harry Braverman – Technology often intensifies labour control and deskilling. 2. Shoshana Zuboff – Digital capitalism increasingly operates through surveillance and data extraction. 3. Manuel Castells – Information technologies restructure social and economic life through network societies. 4. World-Systems Theory (Immanuel Wallerstein): Analyses core-periphery divisions; digital labour exploitation mirrors peripheral countries providing cheap labour for the global core tech industry. |
| Related keywords | Digital Taylorism; Algorithmic Labour; Ghost Work; Data Colonialism; Platform Exploitation |
| Related PYQ | 1. What is ‘informal labour’? Discuss the need for and challenges in regulating informal labour in the post-industrial society. (2019 /20 Marks) 2. Capitalism has brought increasing informalization of work in society. Substantiate your answer. (2020 /20 Marks) 3. Explain how ‘Work from Home’ forced us to redefine the formal and informal organisation of work. (2021 /10 Marks) |
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| 8. | Enumerating The Transgenders |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification: Inequality, Research Methods and Analysis: Techniques of data collection; Sampling. Paper 2 Population Dynamics: Population composition | Challenges of Social Transformation: deprivation and inequality | Social Movements |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Karnataka’s sexuality minority survey is a significant step toward generating official data on LGBTQIA+ communities, aiming to improve their visibility in policy formulation and welfare delivery. 2. The survey seeks to address long-standing social exclusion, discrimination, and lack of institutional recognition faced by sexual minorities. 3. The initiative reflects the growing shift toward rights-based citizenship and recognition of diverse gender and sexual identities within contemporary Indian society. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Judith Butler: Gender is socially performed rather than biologically fixed. 2. Axel Honneth: Recognition is essential for dignity and citizenship. 3. Erving Goffman: Stigma shapes social experiences of gender minorities. |
| Related keywords | Heteronormativity; Sexual Citizenship; Minority Stress Theory; Queer Visibility; Recognition Politics, Gender Performativity, Misrecognition, Identity Assertion |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the issues relating to the entitlement of transgender in Indian society. (2018 /10 Marks) 2. What do you understand by LGBTQ ? Comment on the issues concerning their marriage rights. (2019 /10 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 9. | Pink Tax |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification: Inequality | Work and Economic Life: gender wage gap. Paper 2: Population Dynamics: Reproductive health | Challenges of Social Transformation: Violence against women. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article discusses the concept of the “Pink Tax”, where women often pay more than men for similar goods and services due to gendered pricing and marketing strategies. 2. It highlights how such pricing practices reflect structural gender inequality in consumption patterns, even in everyday commodities like personal care products and clothing.3. The issue is linked to broader concerns of economic discrimination, gendered consumer markets, and unequal purchasing power between men and women. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Simone de Beauvoir: Consumer markets reproduce the social construction of women as the “Other”, making femininity a site of economic exploitation. 2. Sylvia Walby: Pink Tax reflects patriarchal structures operating through markets and economic institutions, not merely within families. 3. Pierre Bourdieu: Gendered consumption patterns emerge from socially conditioned tastes, cultural capital, and symbolic distinctions. 4. Thorstein Veblen: Women are often pushed toward conspicuous consumption where appearance and status become social expectations.5. Betty Friedan: Consumer capitalism commercializes femininity and creates gender-specific consumption norms. |
| Related keywords | Pink Tax; Gendered Consumption; Consumer Socialisation; Symbolic Violence in Markets; Commodification of Gender Identity |
| Related PYQ | 1. How do sociologists construct gender in their analysis on social inequality? (2022 /10 Marks) 2. Despite gains from women’s movement and state policy of women empowerment, gender equality is far from achieved. Identify two major challenges that prevent this goal from being reached. (2019 /20 Marks) 3. Discuss how patriarchy shapes the working of economic institutions. (2016 /10 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 10. | ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification: stratification of gender and Inequality | Social Change: Agents of social change Paper 2: Population Dynamics: Maternal Mortality |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article highlights Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement that women empowerment has been a consistent priority of the Modi government, reflected through multiple welfare schemes and policy interventions. 2. It emphasizes initiatives such as SHGs, financial inclusion, skill development, and entrepreneurship programs aimed at enhancing women’s economic participation and self-reliance. 3. The narrative frames women empowerment as a core pillar of “women-led development,” linking it to broader goals of inclusive growth and national development. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Michael Marmot – Social Determinants of Health: Health outcomes as a product of social and economic conditions rather than mere medical care. 2. Glen Elder – Life Course Perspective: Emphasizes the importance of early life and maternal health for lifelong wellbeing and social participation. |
| Related keywords | Gender Mainstreaming; Capability Approach; Empowerment Paradigm; Gender Development Index (GDI); Substantive Equality |
| Related PYQ | 1. How do sociologists construct gender in their analysis on social inequality? (2022 /10 Marks) 2. Comment on the factors behind the changing status of women in urban India. (2016 /20 Marks) 3. Give an account of the consequences and remedies of chronic malnutrition in India. (2020 /10 Marks) |
| 11. | Who silences the dowry victim? |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification: Gender. System of Kinship: Patriarchy and Entitlements. Paper 2: System of Kinship: Family and Marriage. Caste System: Features of caste system. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article critically examines how dowry-related violence persists despite strong legal frameworks, showing that patriarchal norms and caste-community pressures often override formal law. 2. It highlights how victims of dowry violence are frequently silenced—through family pressure, community mediation (panchayats), and social stigma—making justice difficult to access. 3. The piece argues that dowry deaths are not isolated incidents but reflect deeper structural issues involving gender inequality, social conformity, and institutional complicity. |
| Flowchart | DOWRY ↓ AGRARIAN PATRIARCHY ↓ HONOUR NORMS ↓ SOCIAL CONTROL ↓ VICTIM SILENCING ↓ STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE ↓ FEMICIDE |
| Related thinkers | 1. Sylvia Walby: Dowry violence reflects institutional patriarchy operating through family, community, and culture. 2. Ranjana Kumari: Dowry persists because social norms continue to legitimise gender inequality despite legal reforms. 3. Leela Dube: Kinship and marriage structures place women in subordinate positions that facilitate dowry-related control. |
| Related keywords | Patriarchal Bargain; Caste Patriarchy; Honour-Based Social Control; Victim Blaming; Structural Violence |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Violence against women is not only a display of power but also a manifestation of structural inequalities.” Discuss with suitable examples. (2021, 10Marks) 2. Discuss how patriarchy shapes the institution of marriage and family in India. (2018, 10 Marks) 3. Discuss the changing nature of dowry and bride price in contemporary India. (2013, 10 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
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| 12. | Elderly Women: The Quiet Majority |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification: Gender. System of Kinship: Patriarchy and contemporary trends. Paper 2: Population Dynamics → Emerging issues: ageing. System of Kinship: Family and kinship, entitlements. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article highlights how elderly women form the “quiet majority” of India’s ageing population, yet remain structurally invisible in healthcare and policy discourse due to gendered social norms and dependency. 2. It shows that elderly women experience higher morbidity, financial dependence, and limited autonomy in health-seeking behaviour, shaped by lifelong gender inequality and patriarchal family structures. 3. The piece argues for gender-sensitive and inclusive geriatric healthcare systems that recognize ageing as a deeply social and gendered process, not merely a biomedical issue. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Clark Tibbitts – Defined ageing as the survival of a growing number of people who have completed the traditional adult roles of making a living and childrearing. He also distinguished between physical and social ageing. 2. Dean Baker – Criticised the concerns around ageing in the context of the American “Social Security- The Phoney Crisis”. 3. Leela Dube: Patriarchal kinship structures produce cumulative disadvantages for women across the life course. |
| Related keywords | Feminisation of Ageing; Care Deficit; Gendered Life Course; Social Reproduction; Cumulative Disadvantage Theory, Gendered Dependency |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the problems of the elderly in India. What are the emerging patterns of intergenerational relations? (2020, 20 Marks) 2. Examine the impact of urbanization and modernization on family and kinship. (2017, 10 Marks) 3. Discuss how the pattern of patriarchy and economic dependency affects the status of elderly women in India. (2014, 10 Marks) |
| 13. | Tribal ‘Change Leaders’ |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility: Ethnicity and race. Social Change in India: Agents of social change.Paper 2: Tribal Communities in India. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Adi Karmayogi Initiative is a large-scale tribal governance and capacity-building programme aimed at creating a cadre of grassroots “change leaders” in tribal villages for better implementation of welfare schemes. 2. The training uses experiential and participatory methods such as candle-lighting, role-playing, knot-tying, and fishbowl discussions to build leadership, problem-solving, and collective decision-making skills. 3. The initiative reflects a shift towards participatory governance and behavioural change approaches in tribal development, focusing on decentralisation and community-led planning (Village Vision 2030). |
| Related thinkers | 1. Virginius Xaxa: Tribal development must balance integration with cultural autonomy. 2. T.K. Oommen: Marginalised groups require participatory inclusion in development processes. |
| Related keywords | Bureaucratic Socialisation; Governmentality; Organisational Culture; Role Internalisation; Transformative Learning |
| Related PYQ | 1. Examine the role of leadership in social movements and development among tribal communities in India. (2023, 20 Marks) 2. Critically examine the role of NGOs and voluntary organizations in tribal development. (2018, 10 Marks) 3. Discuss the problems of tribal integration in the national society.(2015, 10 Marks) |
| 14. | Migration and Globalisation |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Karl Marx→ Reserve Army. Work and Economic Life: informal labour. Paper 2: Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India: Problems of rural bondage and migration. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Amartya Sen argues that migration is a fundamental driver of globalisation and human advancement, enabling the exchange of skills, ideas, culture, and economic opportunities across regions. 2. He emphasizes that societies historically progress through mobility of people, and restricting migration undermines innovation, diversity, and economic dynamism. 3. The article highlights migration as both an economic and social process that strengthens global interdependence, pluralism, and development outcomes. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Everett Lee: Developed the concepts of Push Factors and Pull Factors as the most important economic factors motivating migration. 2. Myron Weiner: Studied rural migrants, noting that they leave their native places due to lack of employment, landlessness, poverty, and political or religious persecution. 3. Ernst Ravenstein: Migration follows identifiable social and economic patterns. 4. Saskia Sassen: Globalisation creates transnational migration systems.Stephen Castles: Migration is a structural feature of globalisation. |
| Related keywords | Transnationalism; Migration Networks; Cosmopolitanism; Social Remittances; Methodological Nationalism |
| Related PYQ | 1. Examine the social consequences of migration in the context of globalisation. (2022, 20 Marks) 2. Discuss how globalisation has influenced the structure and dynamics of labour markets. (2018, 20 Marks) 3. Explain the linkages between migration and social change in India. (2015, 10 Marks) |
| 15. | Lowering Age of Consent |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Thinkers: Merton-> deviance. Stratification:Gender Paper 2: Visions of social change in India: Constitution, law and social change. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Union Government has opposed proposals to reduce the age of consent from 18 to 16 years, arguing that such a move could weaken child protection frameworks under laws like the POCSO Act. 2. It contends that lowering the age may increase the risk of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and grooming of adolescents, particularly vulnerable girls, under the guise of “consensual relationships.” 3. While acknowledging concerns about criminalisation of adolescent relationships, the Centre maintains that protection of minors must take precedence over calls for legal relaxation, emphasizing that any dilution would undermine child safety |
| Related thinkers | 1. Tulsi Patel: Sociologist who studied women in Rajasthan, concluding that they become mother-in-laws by the age of 35 due to early marriage, demonstrating lack of entitlement over their life decisions. 2. Philippe Ariès – Childhood is a social construct rather than a biological given. 3. Michel Foucault – Sexuality is regulated through legal and institutional mechanisms. 4. Leela Dube – Patriarchal control shapes young women’s life choices. |
| Related keywords | Age Stratification; Social Construction of Childhood; Moral Regulation; Protective Paternalism; Sexual Regulation, Moral Governance, Age-Based Social Control |
| Related PYQ | 1. Critically examine the changing nature of laws relating to gender and sexuality in India. (2023, 20 Marks) 2. Discuss the relationship between patriarchy and sexuality. (2019, 20 Marks) 3. Evaluate the role of law in social change in India. (2015, 10 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 16. | Arya Samaj Marriages |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Religion and Society: religious revivalism. Paper 2: Challenges in social Transformation: Communalism. Religion and Society: religious communities in India. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article explains that Arya Samaj marriages are under judicial scrutiny due to concerns about fake institutions, procedural irregularities, and misuse of simplified marriage processes, especially in interfaith and runaway couples’ cases. 2. Courts have flagged issues such as lack of proper verification of age, consent, identity, and compliance with anti-conversion and marriage registration laws, leading to questions about the validity of certificates issued by some Arya Samaj temples. 3. The controversy reflects a broader tension between personal laws, religious institutions, state regulation, and individual autonomy in marriage, especially in cases involving interfaith unions and protection from family/community pressure. |
| Related thinkers | 1. G.S. Ghurye: Defined caste endogamy as the “essence of the caste system”. Reforms targeting marriage rules directly challenge this essential feature. 2. B.R. Ambedkar: Advocated for inter-caste marriages as a radical step necessary for the annihilation of the caste system. 3. Patricia Uberoi: Marriage is increasingly shaped by individual choice and modernity.4. M.N. Srinivas: Inter-caste marriage challenges traditional caste boundaries. |
| Related keywords | Marriage Squeeze; Social Closure; Endogamy; Patriarchal Control of Marriage; Institutionalisation of Intimacy, Marriage Modernisation, Companionate Marriage |
| Related PYQ | 1. Examine the changing nature of marriage and family in contemporary India.(2023, 20 Marks) 2. Discuss the impact of reform movements on the institution of caste and religion in India. (2016, 20 Marks) 3. Examine the role of caste in contemporary marriage practices in India. (2013, 10 Marks) |
| 17. | Navya Initiative – addressing twin marginalisation |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification: Gender. Work and Economic Life: gender wage gap. Paper 2: Social Change in India: Gender Empowerment. Visions of social change in India: Idea of development. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The NAVYA initiative is a joint programme of the Ministries of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Women & Child Development aimed at empowering adolescent girls (16–18 years) in aspirational districts through vocational training and life skills. 2. It focuses on bridging the education–livelihood gap by providing training in both traditional and emerging sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and green jobs under PMKVY 4.0. 3. The initiative reflects a policy shift towards gender-inclusive skilling, employability, and structural empowerment of girls in underserved regions, linking welfare with labour market integration. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Amartya Sen – Poverty is a deprivation of capabilities; education and skill development expand substantive freedoms and opportunities. 2. Bina Agarwal – Genuine empowerment requires enhancing women’s access to productive resources, skills, and economic opportunities. |
| Related keywords | Human Capital Formation; Gender-Inclusive Skilling; Capability Approach; Aspirational Mobility; Vocational Socialisation |
| Related PYQ | 1. Women’s empowerment in India is still a myth. Discuss with reference to the changing political and economic scenario. (2023, 20 Marks) 2. Despite gains from women’s movements and state policies, gender equality is far from achieved. Identify two major challenges that prevent this goal from being reached. (2020, 20 Marks) 3. Discuss the role of education in changing gender relations in India. (2017, 20 Marks) |
| 18. | Marital Disruption – Alienation of Affection |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: System of Kinship: Family, household, marriage | Contemporary trends Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India: Family and marriage in India |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Delhi High Court allowed a spouse to sue a third party for damages for “alienation of affection,” reviving an old common-law tort. 2. While adultery is decriminalized in India, the court clarified it remains a civil wrong that can lead to liability for intentional marital disruption. 3. A three-fold test was established requiring proof of genuine affection, its loss, and a third party’s malicious conduct causing that loss. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Leela Dube notes that Indian kinship systems strictly regulate women’s sexuality to ensure the “legitimacy” of descent and the purity of the patrilineage. 2. Catherine MacKinnon might view such laws as remnants of patriarchal control, where women were historically treated as “property” of the husband. 3. Anthony Giddens: Modern marriages increasingly depend on emotional satisfaction rather than obligation. 4. Ulrich Beck: Individualisation transforms intimate relationships. |
| Related keywords | Reflexive Modernity, Alienation of Affection; Conjugal Rights; Individualisation of Intimacy; Emotional Labour in Marriage |
| Related PYQ | 1. Marriage as a social institution is undergoing significant change in contemporary India.” Discuss. (10M) 2. Examine the impact of modernization on marriage and family patterns in India. (20M) 3. Analyse how changing family laws in India have shaped gender rights and personal relationships. (20M) |
| 19. | Sub-Caste in Census 2027 |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Research Methods and Analysis: Techniques of data collection. Stratification and Mobility: Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation Paper 2: Caste System: Features of caste system |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The upcoming 2027 digital census provides a technological opportunity to collect granular sub-caste data through sophisticated metadata analysis for better policy targeting. 2. Counting only broad administrative categories like SC, ST, and OBC masks internal inequalities and “creamy layer” dominance within these larger social groups. 3. Sub-caste enumeration is essential to fulfill constitutional mandates of social justice, ensuring that the most marginalized sections receive equitable shares of resources. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Nicholas Dirks: Colonial enumeration strengthened caste identities through classification.Bernard Cohn: Census practices transformed social categories into administrative realities. 3. G.S. Ghurye (Features of Caste): Ghurye noted that “Segmental Division of Society” is a core feature; counting sub-castes recognizes these distinct segments that broad categories ignore. 4. Andre Beteille (Caste, Class, and Power): He observed that the “overlap” between caste and class is shifting; sub-caste data is necessary to track how class mobility varies within Jatis |
| Related keywords | Dominant Caste Politics; Ethnicisation of Caste; Enumerative State; Identity Politics; Social Closure |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Is the caste system changing, manifesting itself in new forms or is it dying?” Discuss. (10M) 2. “The caste system is a system of ‘graded inequality’.” Elaborate. (10M) 3. What is the distinctiveness of the feminist method of Social research? Comment. (10M) |
| 20. | Property rights of Minors |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: System of Kinship: Family, household, marriage, Contemporary trends Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India: Family and marriage in India | Lineage and descent in India | Challenges of Social Transformation: Poverty, deprivation and inequalities |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Supreme Court ruled that a sale of a minor’s property by a guardian without court permission is voidable, not void. 2. A minor can challenge such a transaction only within three years of attaining majority, as per Article 60 of the Limitation Act. 3. The court clarified that the limitation period begins from the date the minor turns eighteen, rather than from the date of the sale. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Henry Maine: His theory of “Status to Contract” explains how the legal standing of a minor moves from being a family member to an individual contract-holder. 2. Max Weber: The court’s insistence on “Limitation Acts” reflects “Rational-Legal Authority,” where bureaucratic rules override traditional guardian-ward power dynamics. |
| Related keywords | Guardianship Regime; Legal Pluralism; Parens Patriae; Protective Paternalism; Social Construction of Minority (Minors) |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the impact of statutory laws on the Indian family. (2023, 10M) 2. Write a short note on the following from a perspective: Changing property rights of women and their impact on the family system. (2024, 10M) 3. “The joint family system has explained the social and economic changes that have taken place in India.” Discuss. (2023, 20M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 21. | Sociology of Chhath Puja |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Emile Durkheim (Religion); Religion and Society: theories of religion; Religious communities in modern society; System of Kinship: Family, household, marriage (Roles of family in rituals) Paper 2: Religion and Society: Religious communities in India |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Chhath Puja is a four-day Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, emphasizing gratitude for life and nature. 2. The rituals involve rigorous fasting, holy bathing, and offering prayers at riverbanks during sunrise and sunset without involving priestly intermediaries. 3. Celebrated primarily by the Bihari diaspora, the festival has evolved into a global symbol of cultural identity and ecological consciousness. |
| Flowchart | NATURE WORSHIP – SACRED RITUALS ↓ COLLECTIVE PARTICIPATION ↓ COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS ↓ SOCIAL SOLIDARITY ↓ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION – CULTURAL CONTINUITY |
| Related thinkers | 1. Robert Redfield: His concept of “Great and Little Traditions” explains Chhath as a fusion of Vedic sun worship and localized folk traditions of Bihar. 2. Bronislaw Malinowski: From a functionalist view, the rigorous rituals of Chhath perform the “psychological function” of providing hope and mental strength to the devotees. 3. Victor Turner: Rituals generate communitas and collective solidarity. 4. Clifford Geertz: Religious rituals communicate cultural meanings through symbols. 5. Emile Durkheim: Rituals reinforce collective consciousness. |
| Related keywords | Collective Effervescence; Ritual Solidarity; Sacred Ecology; Civil Religion; |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Religion is a social glue that binds the community.” Explain. (10M) 2. Elaborate on the concept of ‘Little’ and ‘Great’ traditions. (10M) 3. “Discuss the manifestation of ‘Patriarchy’ in religious practices.” (10M) |
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| 22. | Elderly in India |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility: Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation; System of Kinship: Contemporary trends Paper 2: Population Dynamics: Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health; Challenges of Social Transformation: Poverty, deprivation and inequalities |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India’s elderly population is projected to reach 230 million by 2036, signaling a rapid demographic transition with significant socio-economic implications. 2. Regional variations show Southern states and Punjab aging faster, creating diverse challenges in healthcare, financial security, and social support systems. 3. The government is fostering a “Silver Economy” through portals like SAGE and SACRED to promote elderly-centric start-ups and senior citizen re-employment. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Elaine Cumming & William Henry: Disengagement Theory argues that ageing involves a gradual withdrawal from social roles and responsibilities. 2. Leela Dube: Patriarchal kinship structures often create greater vulnerabilities for elderly women than elderly men. |
| Related keywords | Ageing Transition; Active Ageing; Silver Economy; Intergenerational Solidarity; Care Economy. |
| Related PYQ | 1. “The problem of the elderly is not a problem of elderly alone, it is a problem of the entire society.” Explain. (10M) 2. “The issue of elderly is increasingly becoming a concern in Indian society.” Discuss. (20M) 3. Explain the emerging challenges of the elderly population in India. (10M) |
| 23. | Green Fodder Revolution |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Rural and Agrarian Social Structure: The idea of Indian village and village studies ; Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India: Green revolution and social change; Challenges of Social Transformation: Crisis of development: displacement. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India faces a severe green fodder deficit (11–32%), threatening livestock productivity and the livelihoods of over 80 million rural households. 2. Shrinking common grazing lands, climate change, and industrial diversion of crop residues have created a structural crisis for smallholder dairy farmers. 3. A “Green Fodder Revolution” is proposed, focusing on high-yielding varieties, localized fodder banks, and cooperative-led supply chains to secure rural incomes. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Elinor Ostrom: Commons can be sustainably managed through community institutions. 2. Talcott Parsons (Adaptation): The fodder crisis is an environmental challenge requiring the rural “Social System” to adapt through new technologies (hydroponics) to maintain social equilibrium. 3. M.N. Srinivas (Dominant Caste): In some regions, the “Dominant Caste” may control village grazing lands, preventing lower castes and landless laborers from accessing vital fodder resources. |
| Related keywords | Fodder Regime; Agrarian Distress; Commons Degradation; Ecological Modernisation; Social Reproduction of Rural Livelihoods |
| Related PYQ | 1. What do you mean by ‘Green Revolution’ and what are its socio-economic consequences? Discuss. (20M) 2. Write a short note with a perspective: Green Revolution. (10M) 3. Critique the victory narratives of the Green Revolution in the context of Indian society. (20M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 24. | Celebrating Tribal Glory |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Tribal communities in India; Social Movements in Modern India: Tribal movements |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. States have been urged to observe “Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas” on November 15 to honor tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. 2. Celebrations should focus on launching tribal welfare schemes like PM-JANMAN and campaigning for the saturation of individual entitlements. 3. Heritage exhibitions and interactions are encouraged, provided they comply with election model codes where applicable. |
| Related thinkers | 1. K.S. Singh: He extensively studied tribal movements in India, noting that contemporary tribal identity is a result of both historical resistance and modern political mobilization. 2. Surajit Sinha: His theory on “Tribe-Caste Continuum” explains how tribes interact with the mainstream, but commemorative days emphasize the “tribal” end of the spectrum to preserve distinctness. |
| Related keywords | Tribal Ethnicity; Cultural Recognition; Ethnic Revivalism; Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Politics of Recognition |
| Related PYQ | 1. Examine the critical factors responsible for tribal discontent in India. (20M) 2. What is the nature of religious change among tribal communities? Illustrate with two examples from colonial and post-independence times. (20M) 3. Comment on the growing assertion of tribal communities for autonomy in India. (10M) |
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| 25. | Religious Diplomacy |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1:Religion and Society: theories of religion; Religious communities in modern society; Politics and Society: Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Muttaqi visited Darul Uloom Deoband, signaling religious diplomacy to strengthen historical and ideological ties between the Taliban and the seminary. 2. The visit underscores India’s strategic use of soft power and religious networks to engage Kabul while bypassing traditional Pakistani influence. 3. By hosting the Taliban official at the birthplace of Deobandi ideology, India leverages cultural legitimacy to manage regional security and bilateral relations. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Samuel Huntington (Clash of Civilizations): This visit challenges his thesis by showing that religious civilizations are not monolithic and can engage in strategic, cross-cultural diplomacy. 2. Benedict Anderson (Imagined Communities): The Deobandi network creates a sense of belonging among followers in different nations, which the state can tap into for geopolitical ends. |
| Related keywords | Religious Diplomacy; Transnational Religious Networks; Soft Power; Ummah Consciousness; Symbolic Politics |
| Related PYQ | 1. Examine the relationship between minority politics and communalism in India. (20M) 2. Assess the impact of secularization on kinship and community life in India. (20M) 3. Revivalist movements transform both religious institutions and social relations.” Discuss. (10M) |
| 26. | Trends in birth and death rate |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Research Methods and Analysis: Techniques of data collection Paper 2: Population Dynamics: Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health | Visions of Social Change in India: Idea of development planning and mixed economy |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The 2023 Civil Registration System report shows a decline in registered births and an increase in registered deaths compared to the previous year. 2. Over 94% of births and deaths occurred in institutional settings, reflecting the success of government health schemes in digitizing vital events. 3. While birth registrations dropped by several lakhs, death registrations rose significantly, providing critical data for understanding India’s current demographic transition. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Frank Notestein: He theorized the Demographic Transition Model; India’s rising death registration and falling birth registration suggest movement into the later stages of transition. 2. Kingsley Davis: Argued that declining mortality is the primary driver of demographic change, necessitating social adaptations in family size and economic structure. |
| Related keywords | Demographic Transition; Vital Registration System; Population Ageing; Epidemiological Transition; Demographic Momentum |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the factors responsible for declining fertility in India. (10M) 2. Explain the social consequences of an adverse sex ratio in India. (10M) 3. Evaluate India’s family planning programme in the light of regional disparities and reproductive rights. (20M) |
| 27. | Sociology of Femicide |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Dimensions of Social Stratification: Gender | Patriarchy Paper 2: Patriarchy and sexual division of labour | Violence Against Women |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Italy’s Parliament passed a law criminalising gender-based killing of women (“femicide”) with life imprisonment. 2. The law aims to address gender-based violence rooted in patriarchy and discrimination. 3. Italy joins nations like Mexico and Chile in recognising femicide as a distinct crime. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Symbolic Interactionism: At the micro level, meanings attached to gender and relationships shape everyday interactions that may escalate into violence, requiring cultural change alongside legal measures. 2. Feminist Theory: Feminists like Iris Marion Young argue gendered violence is rooted in social structures and institutions, not just individual behaviour. |
| Related keywords | Femicide; Gender-Based Violence; Patriarchal Violence; Culture of Impunity; Structural Violence |
| Related PYQ | 1. To what extent have the legal provisions been effective in curbing violence against women in India? (2024, 20M) 2. Discuss law as an important instrument for women’s empowerment. (2022, 10M) 3. Discuss the material basis of patriarchy as an ideological system. (2022, 20M) |
| 28. | Capital vs Labour Inequality |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation | Theories of Social stratification – Marxist theory Paper 2: Challenges of Social Transformation: Poverty, deprivation and inequalities |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Global income inequality remains high as capital income grows faster than labour income across most countries since 1990. 2. Capital ownership is extremely unequal, with most populations, including India, earning negligible income from capital. 3. Rising economic inequality produces wider social inequalities across nations, affecting health outcomes and social well-being. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Karl Marx: Capital accumulates in the hands of owners while workers receive only wages, leading to exploitation and widening class inequality. 2. Thomas Piketty: When returns on capital grow faster than the economy, wealth becomes increasingly concentrated among asset owners across generations. 3. Pierre Bourdieu: Economic capital converts into educational, cultural, and social advantages, reproducing inequality across generations. |
| Related keywords | Labour Aristocracy; Functional Distribution of Income; Capital Accumulation; Wealth Concentration; Marxian Reserve Army of Labour |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the role of capital in shaping social stratification in contemporary societies. (2022, 20M)2. Critically examine the relevance of Marxian theory of class in understanding contemporary inequality. (2021, 20M) 3. Capitalism has brought increasing informalisation of work in society. Substantiate your answer. (2020, 20M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 29. | Polygamy, State and Society |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Systems of Kinship – Types and forms of marriage Paper 2: Household and Marriage |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Assam proposes a law criminalising polygamy with jail terms, fines, and disqualification from government jobs and electoral participation. 2. The Bill aims to protect women, regulate marriage practices, and applies even to residents marrying outside Assam. 3. Scheduled Tribes and Sixth Schedule areas are exempt due to constitutional protection of customary laws. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Feminist Sociology: Criminalisation seeks to reduce structural vulnerability of women within unequal marital relations. 2. Patriarchy (Sylvia Walby): Polygamy reflects institutional patriarchy where marital arrangements consolidate male dominance over women. |
| Related keywords | Monogamisation of Marriage; Legal Rationalisation; Gender Justice Framework; State Regulation of Family; Uniform Civil Code Discourse |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Patriarchy is both a system of power and a structure of ideology.” Discuss. (10M) 2. “Marriage in India is undergoing change but continuity persists.” Examine. (10M) 3. “Law is an important instrument of social change.” Discuss with suitable examples. (10M) |
| 30. | Scourge of Manual Scavenging |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Democracy | Social Change Paper 2: Untouchability | Constitution, Law and Social Change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Calcutta High Court ordered enhanced compensation for families of workers who died and were injured during manual scavenging operations. 2. The Court directed Union and State governments to revise outdated sewer death compensation norms fixed since 1993. 3. The judgement highlights continued institutional failure in eliminating manual scavenging despite legal prohibitions. |
| Flowchart | CASTE HIERARCHY – UNTOUCHABILITY ↓ OCCUPATIONAL HEREDITARINESS ↓ MANUAL SCAVENGING – SOCIAL EXCLUSION ↓ HUMAN DEGRADATION – STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE ↓ SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| Related thinkers | 1. B.R. Ambedkar: Caste-based occupations reproduce structural humiliation and exclusion. 2. Gopal Guru: Dalit experiences reveal embodied forms of social oppression. 3. Louis Dumont: Manual scavenging reflects the purity–pollution hierarchy where the lowest castes perform ritually degrading labour. 4. M.N. Srinivas: Despite legal reforms, caste-based occupations persist due to structural continuity and limited mobility. |
| Related keywords | Dignity Deficit, Caste Labour Regime, Embodied Inequality, Structural Violence; Occupational Stigma; Dehumanisation |
| Related PYQ | 1. What are the different forms of untouchability still practised in India? Discuss with suitable illustrations. (2024, 10M) 2. What, according to you, are the factors responsible for the continuance of caste system in India? Explain. (2024, 10M) 3. Are Tradition and Modernity antithetical to each other? Comment. (2023, 10M) |
| 31. | Identity In Digital Age |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: G. H. Mead (Self and Identity) | Technology and Social Change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. AI-generated deepfakes increasingly violate personality rights, blurring boundaries between authenticity, privacy, dignity, and commercial exploitation of identity. 2. India follows a privacy–property hybrid approach to personality rights, relying on judicial precedents rather than codified legislation. 3. Fragmented global legal frameworks struggle to regulate transnational AI harms, necessitating ethical standards, platform liability, and international cooperation. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Erving Goffman: AI deepfakes disrupt impression management by severing the link between performed identity and authentic self. 2. Michel Foucault: Digital surveillance and AI reproduction extend disciplinary power over bodies, voices, and identities. 3. Zygmunt Bauman – Identities become fluid and unstable in late modernity. 4. Shoshana Zuboff – Digital identities are commodified through surveillance capitalism. |
| Related keywords | Algorithmic Governance, Personality Rights; Datafication of Identity; Digital Personhood; Commodification of the Self |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Law is an important instrument of social change.” Discuss. (10M) 2. How does modern technology affect social relationships and social control? Examine. (10M) 3. Critically examine the relevance of sociology in understanding contemporary social problems. (10M) |
| 32. | 150 years of Vande Mataram |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Emile Durkheim (Sacred and Profane) | Nation, State, Democracy Paper 2: Social Background of Indian Nationalism | Politics and society: Nation, Democracy | Indology (G. S. Ghurye) |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India commemorates 150 years of Vande Mataram, the national song symbolising unity, resistance, and national identity. 2. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and popularised during the freedom struggle by Tagore and others. 3. The government promotes celebrations linking historical significance with contemporary national spirit and cultural pride. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Benedict Anderson: Nations are imagined communities; songs like Vande Mataram help construct collective imagination beyond face-to-face interactions. 2. Anthony D. Smith: Cultural nationalism emphasises myths, memories, and symbols in forging modern national identity — Vande Mataram exemplifies this |
| Related keywords | Imagined Community; Cultural Nationalism; Collective Memory; Symbolic Mobilisation; Civil Religion |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Ideology is crucial for social transformation in a democracy”. Discuss. (2015, 10M) 2. Examine the social background of growth of Indian nationalism. (2025, 20M) 3. Discuss Marxist approach to the analysis of Indian nationalism. (2015, 20M) |
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| 33. | Social Antidote To Extremism |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Robert K. Merton (Conformity and deviance) | Karl Marx – Class Struggle Paper 2: Regionalism | Problems of Tribes | Democracy | Poverty Alleviation Schemes |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The decline of Left Wing Extremism reflects effective governance, development delivery, and justice-oriented inclusion in affected regions. 2. Addressing historical deprivation and exclusion has weakened ideological support for Naxalism more than coercive security measures alone. 3. Inclusive growth and state legitimacy are presented as sustainable solutions to political violence and extremism. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Ted Robert Gurr: Relative deprivation explains mobilisation into extremist movements when expectations outpace lived realities. 2. Emile Durkheim: Weak state integration produces anomic conditions, enabling violent alternatives to social order. |
| Related keywords | Relative Deprivation; State Legitimacy; Governance Deficit; Political Inclusion; Social Integration . |
| Related PYQ | 1. Critically examine the role of development policies in addressing the problem of left-wing extremism in India. (2023, 20M) 2. Discuss the socio-economic causes of left-wing extremism in India. (2018, 10M) 3. Examine the relationship between tribal deprivation and the growth of Naxalite movement in India. (2015, 10M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 34. | Infant Deaths In Tribes |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Problems of tribal communities | Population Dynamics (Infant Mortality), Reproductive Health of Women | Systems of Kinship: Patriarchy and Entitlements |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Persistent infant deaths in Melghat reflect chronic malnutrition, weak maternal healthcare, and systemic governance failures despite decades of interventions. 2. Officials cite co-morbidities, poor connectivity, staff shortages, and administrative silos as major contributors beyond nutrition alone. 3. Experts stress integrated healthcare, community participation, behavioural change, and infrastructure development to break intergenerational malnutrition. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Andre Béteille: Persistent inequality in tribal regions reflects unequal access to resources rather than cultural backwardness. 2. M.N. Srinivas: Developmental interventions fail when they ignore local social structures and everyday realities of tribal life. |
| Related keywords | Structural Violence; Tribal Marginalisation; Health Inequality; Social Determinants of Health; Development-Induced Exclusion |
| Related PYQ | 1. How did Colonial Policies for the tribes affect their socio-economic conditions in India? Discuss. (2025, 10M) 2. Human development approach affirms that education and health-care growth are more important than economic growth. Discuss this issue in the light of post-liberalized Indian society. ( 2015, 20M) |
| 35. | Menstrual Leave Policy |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Patriarchy, Gender dimension of stratification | Work and Economic Life (Formal and Informal organisation of work), Labour and Society Paper 2: Reproductive health of women | Violence Against Women | Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India: Problems of rural labour |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Karnataka approved one day of paid menstrual leave per month for women employees across government and private sectors. 2. The policy is praised as progressive but debated for being symbolic and potentially reinforcing workplace gender bias. 3. Experts emphasise addressing menstrual health through medical care, awareness, and stigma-free workplace flexibility. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Sylvia Walby: Menstrual leave reflects institutional patriarchy negotiating women’s bodily needs within formal employment structures. 2. Ann Oakley: Menstruation-related stigma is socially constructed, not biologically determined, shaping workplace exclusion. |
| Related keywords | Menstrual Citizenship; Reproductive Justice; Gendered Embodiment; Care Economy; Substantive Equality |
| Related PYQ | 1. The role of science and technology in addressing age-old taboos and superstitions. (2023, 10M) 2. How do you understand the relationship between patriarchy and social development? (2022, 10M) 3. According to Durkheim, “The major function of education is the transmission of society’s norms and values.” Discuss. (2020, 20M) |
| 36. | Social Reform Vs. Religion |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Religion and Society – Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism Paper 2: Challenges of Social Transformation – Constitution, law and social change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Supreme Court observed that social reform measures should not “hollow out” religion while hearing the Sabarimala reference case concerning women’s entry into the temple. 2. The nine-judge bench debated the balance between individual rights under Article 25 and the autonomy of religious denominations under Article 26 of the Constitution. 3. The hearing examined whether courts and the State can intervene in religious customs for social welfare and reform without damaging essential religious practices. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Louis Dumont (Purity and Pollution) : Dumont explained that Indian social hierarchies are shaped by notions of ritual purity. Restrictions on women’s entry are connected to symbolic ideas of purity associated with menstruation. 2. Sylvia Walby’s Patriarchy Theory : argued that institutions reproduce male dominance through customs and traditions. The exclusion of women from temple entry reflects patriarchal control within religion. |
| Related keywords | Religious Autonomy; Social Reform vs Religious Freedom; Essential Religious Practices Doctrine; Constitutional Morality; Denominational Rights |
| Related PYQ | 1. Evaluate the tension between state intervention and religious freedom in India. (2023, 20 Marks) 2. What are the limits of law as an agent of social reform? (2021, 20 Marks) 3. “Social reform movements often clash with established religious institutions.” Comment. (2019, 15 Marks) |
| 37. | Urbanisation With A Heart |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems, and sustainability | Industrialization and Urbanisation in India: Growth of urban settlements in India |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Rapid urbanisation in India is intensifying cardiovascular diseases due to pollution, sedentary lifestyles, stress, and inequitable access to healthcare. 2. Fragmented urban planning prioritises profit over health, clustering hospitals in affluent areas while marginalised populations face higher cardiovascular risks. 3. Integrating health into urban planning through walkability, green infrastructure, public transport and equity-focused governance can reduce chronic urban health crises. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Henri Lefebvre’s “Right to the City” highlights how urban planning prioritising capital accumulation marginalises citizens’ health and well-being, evident in profit-driven hospital clustering. 2. David Harvey’s urban political economy explains how neoliberal urbanisation commodifies land and services, producing health inequities across class and spatial lines. |
| Related keywords | Urban Resilience; Risk Society; Environmental Justice; Climate Adaptation; Socio-Spatial Vulnerability |
| Related PYQ | 1. Elaborate urbanism as a way of life in India. (2019, 10M) 2. Examine with suitable examples the recent trends in the growth of urban settlements in India. (2024, 10M) 3. Discuss some of the striking issues of development induced imbalances that need urgent attention. (2017, 20M) |
| 38. | Dalit Movement And Constitutionalism |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Caste System: Untouchability- forms and perspectives | Visions of Social Change in India: Constitution, law and social change | Social Movements in Modern India: Dalit movements |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Mahad Satyagraha challenged caste exclusion by asserting Dalit rights to public resources, laying early foundations of human rights discourse in India. 2. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar linked dignity, equality and fraternity to constitutional ethics through non-violent resistance, Buddhist morality and rejection of Brahmanical hegemony. 3. Mahad redefined nationalism as gendered, anti-caste and rights-based, influencing constitutional morality and India’s democratic imagination. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Feminist sociology emerges in Mahad 2. 0, as Ambedkar foregrounded women’s inclusion, anticipating gender–caste intersectionality. 2. T.H. Marshall’s citizenship theory resonates with Mahad’s demand for civil and social rights prior to political rights. |
| Related keywords | Social Exclusion; Assertion Politics; Civil Rights Movement; Counter-Hegemony; Dalit Public Sphere |
| Related PYQ | 1. Explain different forms of untouchability in India. (2022, 10M) 2. What does Dr. B.R Ambedkar mean by the concept of “Annihilation of Caste”? (2021, 10M) 3. How Dalit movements in India have facilitated their Identity formation? Analyze. (2025, 10M) |
| 39. | Sociology Of Organ Trade |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Robert K. Merton – conformity and deviance Paper 2: Challenges of Social Transformation: Poverty, deprivation, and inequalities |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The death of a poor woman in Andhra Pradesh exposed a large interstate illegal organ-trafficking network exploiting financially vulnerable communities through deception and forged medical procedures. 2. Brokers, doctors, and hospitals colluded to monetise poverty, violating medical ethics and transplant laws while targeting marginalised individuals. 3. The case reveals how structural inequality, healthcare commodification, and weak regulation enable organised medical crime. |
| Flowchart | POVERTY & ECONOMIC DISTRESS ↓ STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITY ↓ ORGAN TRAFFICKING NETWORKS – COMMODIFICATION OF THE BODY ↓ BIO-CAPITALISM – EXPLOITATION OF MARGINALISED GROUPS ↓ MEDICAL ETHICS FAILURE ↓ STATE REGULATION & SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| Related thinkers | 1. Paul Farmer’s concept of structural violence explains how poverty and inequality pushed Yamuna into life-threatening organ sale decisions. 2. Karl Marx’s theory of commodification helps analyse how human organs become tradable objects under capitalist healthcare markets. |
| Related keywords | Organ Trafficking; Medical Exploitation; Structural Vulnerability; Body Commodification; Victimisation of Marginalised Groups |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Anomie is rooted in social structure”. Explain with reference to R.K. Merton‘s contribution. (2015, 10M) 2. Can we equate ‘poverty’ with ‘poor living‘? Elaborate your answer. (2017, 10M) 3. Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion. (2016, 10M) |
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| 40. | Ageing And Pension Protection |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Works and Economic Life: Formal and informal organization of work Paper 2: Population Dynamics:Emerging issues: ageing |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India’s ageing population exposes pension exclusion, as most elderly workers remain in the informal sector without retirement security. 2. Pension reforms show a shift from welfare-based assistance to contributory, inclusion-oriented schemes like APY, NPS and e-SHRAM. 3. Digital platforms and labour reforms aim to integrate informal workers, though awareness gaps and digital exclusion persist. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Peter Townsend’s theory of relative deprivation explains how elderly informal workers face insecurity despite economic growth. 2. Karl Polanyi’s concept of social protection highlights pensions as a corrective response to market disembedding of labour. |
| Related keywords | Social Security Regime; Welfare State; Decommodification of Labour; Intergenerational Contract; Financialisation of Social Protection |
| Related PYQ | 1. What is ‘Ageing’? Discuss the major problems of aged people in India. (2023, 10M) 2. What is social security? Examine the recent security measures adopted by the Government of India. (2019, 10M) 3. Discuss the problems of elderly in India. What are the different perspectives to solve their problems? (2015, 10M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 41. | Religion In Economics |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Politics and Society: Nation, state, citizenship, democracy | Religion and Society: Secularisation Paper 2: Politics and Society: Nation, democracy, and citizenship |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article revisits the idea of the “Hindu rate of growth” and examines whether India has structurally moved beyond low-growth economic stagnation. 2. It analyses post-1991 reforms and recent policy shifts to assess changes in productivity, investment, and long-term growth trajectories. 3. The debate highlights the social consequences of growth patterns, including inequality, employment quality, and structural transformation. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Karl Polanyi: Economic growth is sustainable only when markets remain embedded within social institutions rather than operating autonomously. 2. Max Weber: Economic development depends not only on resources but also on institutions, rational bureaucracy, and the organisation of economic life. 3. Amartya Sen: The success of an economy should be judged by the expansion of human capabilities and freedoms, not merely GDP growth. 4. Andre Béteille: Economic growth does not automatically ensure equality; societies must balance growth with distributive justice and opportunity. 5. Yogendra Singh: India’s development trajectory reflects the interaction of tradition and modernity rather than a simple shift from one to the other. |
| Related keywords | Hindu Rate of Growth; Nehruvian Socialism; Developmental State; Licence-Permit-Quota Raj; Economic Liberalisation |
| Related PYQ | 1. Do modernization and secularization necessarily go together? Give your views. (2024, 10M) 2. What do you mean by nation building? What is the role of religion in nation building? Elaborate your answer. (2025, 20M) 3. Examine different understandings of secularisation in India. (2022, 10M) |
| 42. | Law Against Social Boycott |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Max Weber – Authority | Politics and Society: Nation, state, citizenship, democracy Paper 2: Social change in modern India: Law and Social Change | Politics and Society: Nation, democracy, and citizenship |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Karnataka has tabled a Bill criminalising social boycott imposed by caste panchayats or community groups against individuals or families. 2. The law defines multiple forms of boycott, including denial of work, services, participation, and social relations. 3. It provides punishment, victim compensation, and appoints officials for prevention, prohibition, and redressal. |
| Related thinkers | 1. B.R. Ambedkar – Social boycott is a mechanism through which caste power is maintained. 2. Pierre Bourdieu – Symbolic power enables dominant groups to enforce compliance without physical coercion. 3. M.N. Srinivas’ concept of dominance helps explain why socially powerful castes impose boycotts to maintain control. 4. Emile Durkheim’s social facts perspective treats boycott as a coercive collective practice external to the individual. |
| Related keywords | Symbolic Violence; Exclusionary Control; Ostracism; Social Exclusion; Caste Panchayat; Collective Sanctions |
| Related PYQ | 1. Distinguish between people being socially excluded and people excluding themselves socially in societies. (2013, 10M) 2. Discuss the dimensions of power in the construction and maintenance of social hierarchies in a society. (2024, 10M) 3. “Power is not a zero-sum game”. Discuss with reference to Weber‘s and Parsons‘views. (2014, 20M) |
| 43. | Organ Donation – Gender Lens |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Systems of Kinship: Patriarchy and sexual division of labour Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India: Violence against women | Patriarchy and entitlement |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India shows high posthumous organ donation intent, with women consistently more willing to donate organs after death than men across most States. 2. Despite higher female donor willingness, men dominate organ recipients, revealing gendered asymmetries in the transplant ecosystem. 3. The gap reflects systemic disconnects between intent, healthcare execution, and gendered patterns of health risks and care access. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Talcott Parsons’ sick role explains differential expectations from men and women in health and illness contexts. 2. Ann Oakley’s gender socialisation theory helps explain women’s greater altruism and caregiving orientation. |
| Related keywords | Gendered Altruism; Ethics of Care; Feminisation of Care Work; Body Politics; Gift Relationship Theory |
| Related PYQ | 1. Is patriarchy a key to understanding different forms of inequalities in Indian society? Elaborate. (2024, 10M) 2. Is patriarchy a key to understanding different forms of inequalities in Indian society? Elaborate. (2022, 20M) 3. Write a short note with a perspective: Feminization of poverty. (2015, 10M) |
| 44. | Intimate Partner Violence |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India: Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour | Challenges of Social Transformation:Violence against women | Population Dynamics:Reproductive health |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Intimate partner violence is a major but under-recognised public health risk, contributing to chronic illness, disability, and mental health disorders among women. 2. Evidence shows partner violence outweighs obesity, smoking, and alcohol as a health risk for South Asian women. 3. Medical systems often treat symptoms while missing violence as the root cause, demanding a paradigm shift in healthcare training. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Intersectionality theory explains compounded vulnerability where gender intersects with poverty, region, and marital dependence. 2. Medicalisation critique shows how symptoms are treated while social causes remain ignored. |
| Related keywords | Patriarchal Violence; Coercive Control; Gender-Based Violence; Structural Violence; Medicalisation of Social Problems |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the major challenges related to women’s reproductive health in India. What measures would you suggest to overcome these challenges? (2024, 10M) 2. To what extent have the legal provisions been effective in curbing violence against women in India? Give your argument. (2024, 20M) 3. What are the emerging concerns on women’s reproductive health? (2017, 10M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 45. | Women, Time & AI |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Work and Economic Life: Formal and Informal Organisation of Work | Social Mobility Paper 2: Patriarchy and entitlements | Technology and Social Change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Women in India face double shifts — paid work plus unpaid housework — limiting time for AI upskilling. 2. Time-poverty leaves women with 10 fewer hours weekly for self-development, affecting competitiveness in an AI-driven future. 3. Policies need to value women’s time via childcare, transport, and flexible training to reduce gendered labour gaps. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Judith Butler’s gender performativity helps explain how women’s roles are socially constructed and reinforced, affecting time-use patterns and status in society. 2. Arlie Hochschild’s concept of “second shift” directly applies — women shoulder domestic labour after formal work hours, deepening gendered inequality. |
| Related keywords | Time Poverty; Digital Gender Divide; Algorithmic Bias; Technological Exclusion; Feminisation of Precarious Work |
| Related PYQ | 1. Comment on the factors behind the changing status of women in urban India. (2016, 20M) 2. Define patriarchy. Does it have bearings on women’s entitlement in Indian family system? Explain. (2019, 20M) 3. What is the impact of gender division of labour on the development of society? (2020, 20M) |
| 46. | Caste-Neutrality And Structural Hierarchies |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Caste System, Challenges of Social Transformation – Caste conflicts |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article argues that “caste-neutrality” is not truly neutral because caste discrimination in India operates through deep structural hierarchies, especially in higher education institutions. Simply treating everyone the same ignores historical oppression faced by SCs, STs, and OBCs. 2. It defends the UGC’s targeted anti-discrimination regulations by invoking the idea of substantive equality under Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. The article says equality sometimes requires differential protections for historically marginalized groups. 3. The real issue, according to the article, is not definitions alone but weak institutional enforcement — lack of independent complaint systems, poor accountability, delayed inquiries, and inadequate monitoring of caste discrimination cases in universities. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Louis Dumont’s “Homo Hierarchicus” explained caste as a hierarchy based on purity and pollution. 2. M. N. Srinivas’s Dominant Caste Theory showed how dominant castes exercise social and institutional power. |
| Related keywords | Caste Blindness; Formal Equality vs Substantive Equality; Institutional Discrimination; Dominant Caste Hegemony; Standpoint Epistemology |
| Related PYQ | 1. Analyse the changing nature of caste as a status group. (2024, 10 Marks) 2. How do you understand the relationship between caste and class in India? (2023, 20 Marks) 3. Discuss the views of Louis Dumont on the Indian caste system. (2021, 20 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 47. | Hidden Impact of Delayed Puberty |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 2: Population Dynamics: Reproductive health |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Delayed puberty refers to the late onset of physical changes of adolescence, and while many cases are due to natural late development, some may result from hormonal disorders, poor nutrition, chronic diseases, or genetic conditions. 2. The condition can affect adolescents emotionally and socially, causing low self-esteem, anxiety, embarrassment, bullying, and reduced confidence during important developmental years. 3. Early medical evaluation is important if puberty signs are absent or progressing slowly, as timely diagnosis and treatment can address underlying causes and reduce psychological stress. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Erving Goffman’s theory of stigma explains how adolescents with delayed puberty may experience embarrassment, social exclusion, bullying, and damaged self-identity due to visible bodily differences. 2. Charles Horton Cooley’s concept of the looking-glass self shows how children develop self-esteem through others’ perceptions, making peer comparison crucial during adolescence. |
| Related keywords | Body Normativity; Adolescence Socialization; Stigma of Bodily Difference; Medicalization of Development; Youth Identity Formation |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss the major challenges related to women’s reproductive health in India. What measures would you suggest to overcome these challenges? (2024, 10M) 2. Construct a narrative on the increasing trend of child abuse in India. (2018, 10M) 3. What are the emerging concerns on women’s reproductive health? (2017, 10M) |
| 48. | Limits of household stability |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Thinkers: Talcott Parsons – Social system | Works and Economic Life: industrial capitalist society | Systems of Kinship: Family, Household. Paper 2: Social Classes in India: Middle classes in India | Systems of Kinship in India: Household dimensions of the family |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article argues that Indian households, long considered a pillar of economic stability, are increasingly under pressure due to rising living costs, stagnant incomes, growing debt, and job insecurity. 2. It highlights that household consumption — a major driver of India’s economy — is weakening as families struggle to balance savings, healthcare, education, housing, and everyday expenses. 3. The piece stresses that sustainable economic growth requires stronger income growth, better social security, and policies that reduce financial vulnerability among middle- and lower-income households. |
| Related thinkers | 1. David Harvey’s concept of neoliberalism highlights how fiscal discipline and investment-led growth reduce welfare protections, compelling households to individually absorb economic insecurities. 2. Ulrich Beck’s Risk Society thesis explains how modern economies increasingly transfer systemic risks from institutions to individuals, making households responsible for managing financial uncertainty. |
| Related keywords | Social Reproduction; Household Risk Transfer; Debt-Driven Consumption; Financialisation of Everyday Life; Precariatisation of the Middle Class |
| Related PYQ | 1. Describe the main features of the Indian new middle class. How is it different from the old middle class? (2025, 10M) 2. Elaborate the salient features and the role of the middle class in India’s democracy and development. (2023, 20M) 3. How has the New Economic Policy (1991) affected the lifestyle and life-chances of new middle class in India. (2018, 20M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
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| 49. | Coorg’s Land Record System |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Thinkers: Robert K. Merton – Latent and manifest functions | Social Change in Modern Society: Agents of social change | Systems of Kinship: Lineage and descent Paper 2: Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:Agrarian social structure—evolution of land tenure system, land reforms. | Systems of Kinship in India: Lineage and descent in India. |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article explains Coorg’s unique “Jamma” land tenure system, where ancestral land records often remained in the names of original grantees even after ownership changed across generations. 2. This outdated system created problems in inheritance, property transfers, loans, mutation processes, and legal recognition of ownership for present-day landholders. 3. To resolve these issues, the Karnataka government amended land laws to allow correction and modernisation of records, improving transparency and aligning Kodagu’s system with broader state land administration practices. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Ferdinand Tönnies’s distinction between Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft explains the shift from community-based customary ownership to formal, impersonal legal-bureaucratic systems. 2. Max Weber’s concept of legal-rational authority explains the transition from traditional customary land arrangements to modern bureaucratic land administration based on codified records and legal clarity. |
| Flowchart | TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS ↓ CUSTOMARY LAWS ↓ MODERN STATE – LEGAL RATIONALITY ↓ LAND REFORMS ↓ SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION |
| Related keywords | Customary Law; Legal Pluralism; Community-Based Resource Governance; Traditional Authority Structures; Institutional Persistence |
| Related PYQ | 1. Analyze critically David Morgan’s views on family practices. (2023, 10M) 2. Discuss the main features of Land Reforms in post-independence India. (2023, 10M) 3. Discuss the role of Technology in agrarian change in India. (2021, 10M) |
| 50. | Womaniya Initiative |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Works and Economic Life:Industrial capitalist society | Systems of Kinship: Patriarchy and sexual division of labour Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India:Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour | Visions of Social Change in India: Law and social change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The PIB release highlights the “Womaniya” initiative under the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), which promotes women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups by providing easier access to government procurement opportunities. 2. The initiative aims to strengthen women-led enterprises through better market access, digital participation, and increased financial independence by connecting them directly with government buyers. 3. It reflects the government’s broader emphasis on women-led development, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth, especially in rural areas. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Feminist sociology highlights that women’s economic empowerment requires institutional access, financial inclusion, and dismantling patriarchal barriers that historically restricted women entrepreneurs from formal markets. 2. Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of social and cultural capital explains how initiatives like Womaniya help women entrepreneurs gain networks, institutional legitimacy, and market confidence. |
| Related keywords | Women-Led Development; Feminisation of Labour Force; Economic Empowerment; Gendered Division of Labour; Capability Approach |
| Related PYQ | 1. What is ‘reserve army of labour’? Present the position of feminist scholars on this. (2019, 10M) 2. Critically assess the impact of technological advancement and automation on the nature of work and employment. (2024, 10M) 3. 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. (2025, 20M) |
| 51. | UGC Rules Against Caste Discrimination |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility: Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation | Social Change in Modern Society: Agents of social change Paper 2: Caste System: Untouchability- forms and perspectives | Visions of Social Change in India: Constitution, law and social change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced new regulations to curb caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions by making anti-discrimination mechanisms mandatory on campuses. 2. The rules require universities and colleges to establish Equal Opportunity Centres and equity committees to handle complaints, promote inclusion, and ensure quicker grievance redressal for students from marginalised communities. 3. Institutions violating the regulations may face strict penalties, including loss of UGC recognition, restrictions on offering courses, and withdrawal of grants, reflecting a shift from advisory guidelines to enforceable rules |
| Related thinkers | 1. B. R. Ambedkar viewed caste as a system of graded inequality institutionalised through social exclusion. 2. Gopal Guru – Institutional spaces reproduce caste hierarchies through everyday practices. 3. Pierre Bourdieu – Educational institutions often reproduce social inequalities. |
| Related keywords | Epistemic Exclusion, Hidden Curriculum, Social Reproduction, Institutional Discrimination; Hidden Curriculum of Caste; Affirmative Action |
| Related PYQ | 1. What are the different forms of untouchability still practised in India? Discuss with suitable illustrations. (2024, 10M) 2. Explain different forms of untouchability in India. (2022, 10M) 3. What, according to you, are the two fundamental axes of social discrimination in Indian society? Are they changing? (2017, 20M) |
| 52. | Language and Regionalism |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Politics and Society: theories of power | Social Change in Modern Society: Education and social change. Paper 2: Politics and Society:Regionalism and decentralisation of power |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The proposed Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 seeks to strengthen the use of Malayalam in administration, education, official communication, and public services across Kerala. 2. The Bill proposes making Malayalam mandatory in government offices and official records while also promoting its use in digital platforms, signboards, and educational institutions to preserve linguistic identity and cultural heritage. 3. Opposition outside Kerala has emerged over concerns that similar language-focused laws could encourage linguistic regionalism and create challenges for migrants, non-Malayalam speakers, and interstate mobility in education and employment |
| Related thinkers | 1. Louis Althusser’s concept of ideological state apparatuses explains how schools become instruments for transmitting dominant linguistic and cultural identities through compulsory language policies. 2. Benedict Anderson’s concept of imagined communities explains Kerala’s attempt to strengthen Malayalam as a shared cultural identity through its use in administration, education, judiciary, and digital governance. |
| Related keywords | Linguistic Nationalism; Cultural Hegemony; Identity Politics; Ethnolinguistic Mobilisation; Pluralist Citizenship |
| Related PYQ | 1. What do you understand by decentralisation of power? What is its role in strengthening the roots of democracy in India? Elaborate. (2024, 20M) 2. Does regionalism essentially lead to decentralization of power? Substantiate your answer with relevant examples. (2021, 10M) 3. To what extent does nation building depend on strengthening of pluralities in Indian society? (2017, 20M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 53. | Equality, Oligarchy vs. Growth |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility: Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation | Thinkers: Karl Marx -Class struggle Paper 2: Challenges of Social Transformation: Poverty, deprivation, and inequalities |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article argues that economic equality should not be seen as an obstacle to growth; instead, excessive concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few oligarchic groups poses a greater threat to sustainable economic development. 2. It highlights that high inequality weakens social trust, limits entrepreneurship, reduces opportunities for talented individuals, and encourages political and regulatory capture by powerful economic elites. 3. The piece stresses that more equal societies can support broader-based growth, stronger public investment in health and education, and healthier democratic institutions by preventing wealth from translating into disproportionate political power. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Thomas Piketty’s theory of capital accumulation supports the article’s claim that unchecked inequality can strengthen inherited privilege and weaken democratic and economic balance. 2. C. Wright Mills’s concept of the power elite explains how economic and political elites shape public discourse by portraying equality as anti-growth or anti-entrepreneurship. |
| Related keywords | Oligarchic Capture; Wealth Concentration; Social Mobility; Elite Domination; Democratic Deficit |
| Related PYQ | 1. Social stratification is claimed to contribute to the maintenance of social order and stability in society. Critically assess. (2022, 20M) 2. What is the difference between natural and social inequality? Give examples from caste and class dimensions. (2018, 10M) 3. Discuss the emerging forms of “inequalities” and “acute poverty” as major challenges of social transformation in India. (2016, 20M) |
| 54. | Haryana Sex Ratio Turnaround |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility: Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India:Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Haryana’s sex ratio at birth has shown improvement and has risen above the national average, reflecting the impact of sustained awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement against sex-selective practices. 2. The state government attributed the progress to initiatives such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, improved monitoring of illegal prenatal sex determination, and greater community participation in promoting the value of the girl child. 3. Despite the improvement, officials and experts noted that challenges such as deep-rooted social preferences for male children and regional disparities still require continued policy attention and social reform efforts |
| Flowchart | SON PREFERENCE ↓ PATRIARCHAL SOCIALISATION ↓ SEX RATIO IMBALANCE ↓ NORMATIVE CHANGE ↓ GENDER EQUALITY |
| Related thinkers | 1. Michel Foucault’s concept of governmentality directly relates to Haryana’s use of surveillance, pregnancy tracking, monitoring of ultrasound centres, and inter-state raids to regulate illegal sex selection practices. 2. Robert K. Merton’s latent function concept explains how informers’ incentives and monitoring systems indirectly altered social behaviour regarding sex-selective practices. |
| Related keywords | Missing Women; Son Preference; Gender Bias in Demography; Patriarchal Bargain; Demographic Masculinisation |
| Related PYQ | 1. Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health. (2016, 10M) 2. What are the causes and solutions for the low female sex-ratio in the DEMARU States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Gujarat? (2017, 10M) 3. Underline the socio-cultural factors responsible for India’s skewed sex ratio. (2021, 10M) |
| 55. | SHE Marts – Gender Budgeting |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: System of Kinship – Patriarchy and sexual division of labour, Social Change in Modern Society – Education and social change Paper 2: Social Changes in India – Visions of Social Change in India – Education and social change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Union Budget announced a plan to establish one girls’ hostel in every district to improve access to higher education for women, particularly in STEM disciplines. 2. A new initiative called “SHE Marts” will support women entrepreneurs and self-help groups by providing community-owned spaces to market and grow their businesses. 3. These measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen women’s financial independence and expand opportunities for education, employment, and entrepreneurship across India. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Pierre Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital Theory : The girls’ hostel initiative can be linked to Bourdieu’s idea that education increases cultural and social capital, helping women gain better opportunities and reduce inequality. 2. Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory : The article reflects attempts to reduce gender-based economic inequalities by giving women greater access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship. |
| Related keywords | Gender Mainstreaming; Women-Led Development; Capability Approach; Spatial Mobility and Empowerment; Gender-Responsive Budgeting |
| Related PYQ | 1. Education is a major source of social mobility in contemporary society”. Explain. (2017, 10M) 2. Assess the role of the State in promoting education for girl children. (2022, 10M) 3. Does “economic empowerment” automatically bring about “substantive empowerment” for women? Briefly describe the main issues in women empowerment in India. (2018, 20M) |
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| 56. | Fewer Women Leaders, More Women Workers |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: System of Kinship – Patriarchy and sexual division of labour, Stratification and Mobility – Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has increased from 33. 9% in 2022 to 40% in 2025, but it still remains below the global average and several emerging economies. 2. Despite greater participation in the workforce, women remain severely underrepresented in leadership positions across academia, corporate boards, and managerial roles. 3. The article argues that India’s economic growth and development goals cannot be achieved without improving women’s representation in labour-intensive industries, governance, and decision-making institutions. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Max Weber’s Life Chances explained that social groups have unequal access to opportunities and resources. The article demonstrates how women’s life chances remain limited in higher managerial and academic positions. 2. Simone de Beauvoir’s Feminist Theory argued that society constructs women as the “Other” and limits their autonomy through social expectations. The article reflects how cultural norms continue to restrict women’s advancement in public and professional life. |
| Related keywords | Glass Ceiling; Vertical Gender Segregation; Token Representation; Gendered Leadership Gap; Sticky Floor Effect |
| Related PYQ | 1. Write a short note with a perspective on gender disparity in industrial class structure. (2021, 10 Marks) 2. Discuss the concept of the ‘glass ceiling’ in the context of women’s employment. (2020, 10 Marks) 3. What is the ‘reserve army of labour’? Present the position of feminist scholars on this. (2019, 15 Marks) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 57. | 84% waste-pickers from SC, ST, OBC |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility – Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation Paper 2: Caste System – Features of caste system – Untouchability – forms and perspectives |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. Around 84.5% of the waste pickers surveyed under a government profiling exercise belong to SC, ST, and OBC communities, showing the strong link between caste and sanitation-related occupations. 2. The data highlights how marginalized communities continue to face poor working conditions, social stigma, economic insecurity, and limited access to welfare and formal employment. 3. The government initiative aims to identify waste pickers and improve their access to social security, healthcare, skill development, and rehabilitation measures. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Jan Breman: Informal labour is characterised by vulnerability and social insecurity. 2. Gopal Guru: Occupational stigma and caste are deeply intertwined. 3. Erving Goffman (Stigma Theory) : Waste pickers experience social stigma and discrimination because society associates their occupation with impurity and low social status. 4. Louis Dumont (Purity and Pollution Theory) : Sanitation and waste-related occupations are socially stigmatized because of caste notions of purity and impurity in Indian society. |
| Related keywords | Occupational Stigma, Labour Precarity, Caste Occupation Nexus, Intersectionality; Structural Inequality |
| Related PYQ | 1. Social stratification is claimed to contribute to the maintenance of social order and stability in society. Critically assess. (2022, 20M) 2. Modernisation presupposes class society; however caste, ethnicity and race are still predominant. Explain. (2019, 20M) 3. What is the difference between natural and social inequality? Give examples from caste and class dimensions. (2018, 10M) |
| 58. | Infertility, Mental Health, Self and Identity |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: System of Kinship – Family, household, marriage, Stratification and Mobility Paper 2: Systems of Kinship in India – Family and marriage in India |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article highlights that infertility in India is not only a medical issue but also a major mental health concern, with social stigma, anxiety, depression, and family pressure deeply affecting couples, especially women. 2. It explains that patriarchal norms often place the blame for infertility on women, even though medical science shows that male and female factors contribute almost equally to infertility cases. 3. The article stresses the need to integrate mental health support, counselling, and social awareness into fertility treatment to reduce stigma and improve reproductive wellbeing. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Erving Goffman (Stigma Theory): Couples facing infertility often experience shame, social isolation, and discrimination due to societal attitudes. 2. Simone de Beauvoir (Feminist Theory): The article reflects how patriarchal societies equate womanhood with motherhood, placing emotional burdens on women. |
| Related keywords | Medicalisation of Infertility; Pronatalist Norms; Stigma and Social Identity; Biographical Disruption; Reproductive Citizenship |
| Related PYQ | 1. What are the emerging concerns on women’s reproductive health? (2017, 10M) 2. Examine the role of family, caste and patriarchy in reproductive decision-making in India. (2023, 20M) 3. What are the social implications of medical technologies? (2018, 10M) |
| 59. | Guidelines on Gender Stereotypes |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: System of Kinship – Patriarchy and sexual division of labour Paper 2: Social Changes in India – Visions of Social Change in India – Constitution, law and social change |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Supreme Court is revisiting its 2023 handbook on gender stereotypes, arguing that the document was too academic and disconnected from everyday realities faced in Indian courts. 2. The move came after criticism of insensitive judicial observations in sexual assault cases, leading the Court to emphasize practical gender-sensitivity training for judges instead of only theoretical guidelines. 3. The discussion highlights the judiciary’s broader effort to reform patriarchal language, challenge gender bias in legal reasoning, and make the justice system more sensitive to survivors’ experiences. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Simone de Beauvoir (Feminist Theory): Gender stereotypes are socially constructed and reinforce women’s subordinate position in society. 2. Judith Butler (Gender Performativity): Gender roles are produced and repeated through language, behaviour, and institutions like courts. |
| Related keywords | Gender Stereotyping; Feminist Jurisprudence; Patriarchal Bias in Law; Gender Sensitisation; Transformative Constitutionalism |
| Related PYQ | 1. Discuss law as an important instrument for women’s empowerment (2022, 10M) 2. To what extent have the legal provisions been effective in curbing violence against women in India? Give your argument. (2024, 20M) 3. How is gender socialization different from sex differentiation? (2014, 10M) |
| 60. | Eliminating Inequality Through Higher Education |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility – Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation, Social Change in Modern Society – Education and social change Paper 2: Visions of Social Change in India – Illiteracy and disparities in education |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article argues that higher education is essential for reducing economic inequality, improving social mobility, and helping India achieve inclusive economic growth. 2. VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan emphasized that despite India’s economic growth, unequal access to quality higher education continues to widen social and income disparities. 3. The discussion highlights the need for greater public investment in education, increased enrolment, research support, and technological innovation like AI-based learning to strengthen the economy and create opportunities for all sections of society. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Amartya Sen (Capability Approach): Education expands human capabilities, freedoms, and opportunities for a better quality of life. 2. Talcott Parsons (Meritocracy Theory): Educational institutions allocate roles in society based on skills and achievement, supporting economic productivity. |
| Flowchart | HIGHER EDUCATION ↓ KNOWLEDGE & SKILL FORMATION ↓ HUMAN CAPITAL – EMPLOYABILITY ↓ SOCIAL MOBILITY ↓ REDUCTION OF INEQUALITY ↓ INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT |
| Related keywords | Human Capital Theory; Equality of Opportunity; Educational Mobility; Capability Approach; Social Reproduction Theory |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Education is a major source of social mobility in contemporary society.” Explain. (2017, 10M) 2. How do inequalities in access to education affect social justice? (2024, 10M) 3. Examine the relationship between literacy and social transformation in India. (2019, 10M) You can get ALL questions in this PDF evaluated. To contact email us musmuna95@gmail.com OR message us on Telegram CLICK HERE |
| 61. | ‘Poverty Is The Only Caste’ – Myth or Reality |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility – Concepts – equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation Paper 2: Challenges of Social Transformation – Poverty, deprivation and inequalities |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article challenges the claim that “poverty is the only caste” by showing that caste-based inequality continues even among people with similar income levels. The Telangana caste survey reveals that poor General Caste children access private education far more than equally poor SC/ST children. 2. Telangana’s Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) scientifically measures caste inequality using 42 social and economic indicators across 242 caste groups, showing that SCs/STs remain significantly more backward than General Castes. 3. The article argues that social justice policies should be based not only on population size but also on measurable levels of backwardness and deprivation within caste groups. |
| Related thinkers | 1. B. R. Ambedkar: Caste is not merely an economic category but a system of graded inequality that structures opportunities, dignity, and social mobility. 2. André Béteille: Economic class and caste overlap, but caste retains an independent influence on status, power, and life chances. 3. Sukhadeo Thorat: Even in modern markets and institutions, caste-based exclusion continues to shape access to education, employment, and resources. 4. Pierre Bourdieu: Social and cultural capital inherited through family and community reproduce inequalities across generations beyond income differences. 5. M. N. Srinivas: Modernisation changes the form of caste but does not necessarily eliminate caste-based hierarchies and advantages. |
| Flowchart | POVERTY ↓ ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION ↓ INCOME BASED INEQUALITY ↓ BUT CASTE ↓ STATUS DISCRIMINATION EXCLUSION ↓ MULTIPLE INEQUALITIES |
| Related keywords | Caste-Class Intersectionality; Social Reproduction of Inequality; Structural Inequality; Caste Capital; Myth of Class Reductionism |
| 62. | Quiet Demographic Revolution |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Social Change in Modern Society – Development and dependency, Agents of social change. Paper 2: Population Dynamics, Population size, growth, composition and distribution |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. India is undergoing a silent demographic transition: fertility rates are falling, dependency ratios are improving, and the working-age population is currently dominant, creating a potential “demographic dividend” for economic growth. 2. The article argues that this dividend is not automatic. Persistent inequalities based on caste, gender, region, education, and employment opportunities may prevent India from converting its young population into productive human capital. 3. India’s demographic window is also time-bound. By the 2040s–2050s, aging population trends will intensify, meaning India must urgently invest in health, skilling, urbanisation, and inclusive development before the opportunity narrows. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Thomas Robert Malthus’s Malthusian Theory of Population argued population grows faster than resources, leading to crises unless controlled. The article indirectly engages with this debate by discussing population as both opportunity and challenge. 2. Kingsley Davis’sTheory of Demographic Transition explains how societies move from high fertility and mortality to low fertility and ageing populations during modernization. |
| Related keywords | Demographic Dividend; Demographic Transition Theory; Age Structural Transition; Dependency Ratio; Second Demographic Dividend |
| Related PYQ | 1. “Education is a major source of social mobility in contemporary society”. Explain. (2016, 20M) 2. How is ageing becoming an emerging issue in Indian society? (2016, 10M) 3. Does India’s demographic dividend present a window of opportunity? Comment. (2020, 20M) |
| 63. | Test of Labour Reforms – Noida Workers’ Protest |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Works and Economic life – Formal and informal organization of work, Labour and Society Paper 2: Industrialization and Urbanisation in India – Working class – structure, growth, class mobilization |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The workers’ protests in Noida and other industrial regions highlight growing dissatisfaction over low wages, poor working conditions, and weak implementation of labour protections in India. 2. The article argues that the new labour codes can improve productivity, formalisation, and worker welfare only if backed by strong enforcement and institutional support. 3. It emphasizes the need for better wage policies, stronger social security coverage, support for small enterprises, and skill development to ensure labour reforms benefit workers fairly. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Guy Standing’s Precariat Theory described the “precariat” as a growing class of insecure workers lacking stable income and social protections. Gig workers and contractual labourers in the protests reflect this emerging class. 2. Michel Foucault’s Disciplinary Power showed how institutions regulate workers through surveillance, rules, and control over bodies and productivity. Factory discipline and labour regulation in the article reflect these power relations. |
| Flowchart | Marxist AnalysisCAPITAL ↓ LABOUR CONTROL – EXPLOITATION ↓ WORKER RESISTANCE – CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS ↓ COLLECTIVE STRUGGLE |
| Related keywords | Labour Precarity; Informalisation of Labour; Collective Bargaining; Labour Rights and Social Justice; Regulatory Enforcement Deficit |
| 64. | Railways App for Female Staff |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Works and Economic life – Formal and informal organization of work Paper 2: Challenges of Social Transformation – Violence against women |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The article discusses the launch of the SHINE initiative/app by Indian Railways to strengthen workplace safety and empowerment for women employees, particularly by enabling confidential reporting of sexual harassment and improving institutional support systems. 2. It highlights how digital grievance mechanisms, mentorship, and gender-sensitive workplace reforms can improve women’s participation, leadership, and confidence in traditionally male-dominated sectors like railways and public administration. 3. The initiative reflects a broader shift toward gender-inclusive governance and organisational culture, aligning with the POSH Act, Vishaka Guidelines, and efforts to create safer and more equitable public workplaces for women |
| Related thinkers | 1. Max Weber’s Bureaucracy Theory emphasized formal rules, rational procedures, and institutional accountability. The SHINE initiative reflects bureaucratic mechanisms for grievance redressal and workplace justice. 2. Judith Butler’s Gender Performativity argued that gender roles are socially constructed and reinforced through institutions. Initiatives promoting women’s participation challenge traditional masculine workplace norms. |
| Related keywords | Gender Sensitisation; Organisational Culture; Safe Workplace Environment; Gender Mainstreaming; Institutional Support Mechanisms |
| Related PYQ | 1. Do you think that the formal workspaces are free of gender bias? Argue your answer. (2025, 10M) 2. What is the ‘reserve army of labour’? Present the position of feminist scholars on this. (2019, 10M) 3. Elaborate the ‘Me Too’ Movement and its impact in India. (2018, 20M) |
| 65. | ‘Dominant caste men used sexual violence as tool’ |
| Related Syllabus Topic(s) | Paper 1: Stratification and Mobility – Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race Paper 2: Caste System , Social Changes in India – Challenges of Social Transformation – Violence against women, Caste conflicts |
| Link to news article | Click here |
| Summary of news article | 1. The Supreme Court is reviewing its 2023 Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes after objections from some judges. 2. The controversy centred on references linking sexual violence to the reinforcement of caste hierarchies, which critics viewed as overly generalised. 3. An expert committee has been tasked with drafting revised, more context-sensitive gender-sensitivity guidelines. |
| Related thinkers | 1. Kimberlé Crenshaw — Intersectionality Theory : Crenshaw explained that discrimination cannot be understood through a single axis alone. Dalit women experience overlapping caste and gender oppression simultaneously. 2. Michel Foucault — Power and Discipline : Foucault viewed institutions like courts and law as sites where power operates through discourse, classification, and regulation of bodies and identities. |
| Related keywords | Caste Atrocity; Sexual Violence as Social Control; Dominant Caste Patriarchy; Intersectionality; Structural Violence |
| Related PYQ | 1. Elaborate the concept of constitutional morality as given by BR Ambedkar (2018, 10M) 2. What, according to you, are the factors responsible for the continuance of the caste system in India? Explain. (2014, 10M) 3. “Many caste conflicts are between castes which are close to each other on the hierarchical scale”. Give an explanation for this phenomenon. (2014, 20M) |
| Important Sociology Pointers | |
| Women-led development | India’s development discourse is shifting from “women’s development” to “women-led development”, where women are not merely welfare beneficiaries but active drivers of economic growth, innovation, and nation-building. Women’s empowerment is directly with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. |
| Paternity Leave | India urgently needs a formal paternity leave framework to promote shared parenting and reduce the unequal caregiving burden placed on women. |
| Paid Leave for Adoptive Mothers | The Supreme Court of India held that adoption is part of reproductive autonomy under Articles 14 and 21, emphasizing that motherhood and caregiving are not limited to biological childbirth. Adoptive mothers are now entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave irrespective of the child’s age. |
| Trust-Based Governance – Jan Vishwas | The Jan Vishwas Bill aims to decriminalise minor offences by replacing imprisonment with civil penalties, warnings, or administrative actions to improve “ease of doing business” and “ease of living”. |
| Middle Class Vulnerability | Economic growth has not ensured upward mobility, stable employment, or social security for the emerging middle class. The World Bank suggests shifting from a “poor vs non-poor” measurement to assessing how far people are from a dignified standard of living. |
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