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[Question Paper] Sociology Mains 2012

Paper 1 & 2 UPSC Civil Service IAS IPS
Exam
Paper I: SECTION A
Q1. 150 words each
1. Interpretative Sociology
2.
3.
4.
5.

Fact Value and Objectivity

Universalism vs. Particilarism
Comparative Method
Sacred and Profane

Q 2. 30 markers
1. How did the French revolution and Industrial revolution play an important
role in the emergence of Sociology?
2. Show how Durkheim through of totemism demonstrates the reality of
religion.
Q 3. 30 markers
1. Power and authority go together. Examine. Explain the various types of
authority also.
2. Examine how Webers characterisation of capitalism is different from those of
Marx.
Q 4 20 markers
1. Differentiate between the qualitative and quantitative methods of research
2. sometimes workers do not feel attachment for their work. Marks formed a
theory on the situation, discuss that theory.
3. social fact is to be treated as a thing. Discuss

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Paper I SECTION B
Q 5. 12 markers 150 words
1. Stratification of Classes
2. Industrial Democracy
3. Citizenship and Civil Society
4. Millenarian Movements
5. Theory of Cultural Lag-Ogburn and Nimkoff.
1. In our society Hierarchical relations are influenced by social mobility ?
Discuss.
2. In Marxian classification of Society, feudal and slave societies are very
important. How are they different from each other?
3. Are Social movement always influenced by ideologies? Discuss.
1. Discuss the factors leading to growing religious revivalism in the
contemporary world.
2. Describe the important of lineage and descent in kinship and family.
3. Show how family is distinct from household.
1. How so formal and informal organisation of work influence labours mobility ?
Exaplain with examples.
2. What do you understand by nation ? Is the nation same as the state ? Discuss.
3. Revolutionary change have some specific characteristics. Discuss with
examples.

Sociology Mains 2012: Paper 2

SECTION A

1. Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following in not more
than 150 words each:1. Limitations of the dialectical approach to the study on Indian society.
2. Changing rural power structure.
3. Challenges to institution of marriage.
4. Westernization and institutional changes in India.
5. Interaction of little tradition and great iradition.
Q 2. 20 markers

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1. Distinguish between the following:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Tribe and Caste

Affinal kin and Consanguineous kin.
Marriage as sacrament and marriage as contract.
Positional change and structural change.

1. Indian society may be understood as a system of cognitive structures. How

far do you agree with this statement?
2. Comment on the social and cultural determinants of sexual decision of labour.
Q 3. 30 markers
1. Examine the impact of secularization on various religious communities in
India.
2. Has geographic and economic mobility impacted the tribal culture and social
structure ? Give examples.
Q 4. 20 markers
1. Has nuclear family existed in traditional India? Discuss with reference to the
views of I. P. Desai.
2. How have social reform movements in colonial India contributed to
modernization of Indian society?
3. Discuss the factors which contributed to industrial modernization in India.
What are the salient features of new industrial class structure ?

Paper 2 SECTION B
Q 5. 12 markers, 150 words each:1. Demographic perspective of Indian youth.
2. Regional political elites and the democratic process.
3. Education and Dalit empowerment.
4. Constitution as a living document of social change.
5. Education and removal of inequality.
Q 6. 20 markers
1. Critically examine the concepts of nation and citizenship in the context of
globalization.
2. Discuss some social and cultural determinants of infant morality rate. Give

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your suggestions to prevent infanticide.

3. Bring out some positive and negative social consequences of green revolution.
How has green revolution changed the rural social structure?
Q 7. 30 markers
1. Describe those social changes which have contributed to increase of violence
against women. What are the emerging forms of violence against women?
Suggest suitable measures to contain this problem.
2. What are the problems if ageing population? Describe the declining
traditional social support system for the aged. Suggest alternative measures
to support ageing population.
Q 8. 30 markers
1. Have the new economic policy and economic reform led to weakening of
labour class movements? Explain your views with examples.
2. Do you think that some policies and laws relating to environment have
retarded the development process ? Give examples. How can an ideal balance
between environmental protection and development goals be brought about?
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44 comments to [Question Paper] Sociology Mains 2012

Paper 1 & 2 UPSC Civil Service IAS IPS Exam
Sir, Mathematics paper please
Abhishek
how do you know, you did not even take sociology as optional, you did it on
the side as a backup?
Mrunal [3]
@Abhishek, it was some random guy trying to be funny. dont respond to
such comments, I delete them as soon as they come to my notice.

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Siddhartha Jain
Sir Maths paper too.
Caartey
Yes sir
i knew one guy taking MATH and PHYSICS whom i had arranged for paper but
he is not picking my call maybe coz the exam pressure
Either way can you please add math & physics papers to this collection ASAP
after the paper is over ofcourse
Bhandari
Sir, If only 750 to 800 candidates are going to be called for interview , then
what is the use of discussing the cut off marks. Please clarify me Sir.
Ranjana
Can I have the answer of those sociology questions.
Vaishnav Kumar
This year sociology paper was quite simple as compared to the previous paper
of 2011. The Questions in Paper 1 or more or less direct, once again the
emphasis is on the sociological thinkers. Paper 2 has more analysis oriented
questions but they too are manageable if the candidate goes through the
general issues regarding the society as published in the standard newspapers
and magazines. Overall the paper is manageable and simple.
(This is my view and may differ from the others.)
Can anyone out there please tell me the approximate number of students who
wrote sociology as optional this year..Thank you.
Vinod Simha
Hi Mrunal Bhai,
I am a regular follower of your site. Please can you upload the Mathematics
Mains QP of 20 to 30 years old. I want to be familiarize with the pattern as I
am fresher and was trying to opt Sociology and Mathematics as my Optionals.
Thanks in Advance
jayanthi lal

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sir,
can u please provide the electrical engineering last 20 years papers
Mrunal [4]
Not possible. I suggest you file RTI to UPSC, ask them to give you that
data in CD/DVD format.
you can get the printed version in market or ask someone to look fr them
and send you.. i had those of mech engg by satish publications i bought it
a couple of years agothey publish fr electrical engg as well
tarun
mrunal bhai , can you please give an analysis on the socio. paper , if
possiblethanks :) and keep up the good work :) thanks again
vasu@@@@
2014 ics mains pattern will be changed discussing about it???
Amrita
hi mrunal,
can u please give an analysis of socio paper.
Over all i found this year the paper was quite easy. But an analysis with
previous years would be a great help. If it is possible for u only than do the
analysis.
Also thank u for uploading the paper.
venkatesh
awesome work mrunal.if possible plz provide the analysis for pub ad and
socio.plzz deeply waiting for it..
Baldev
As per my analysis of UPSC over the years, have to say this is one of the
easiest Sociology papers in decades! If one were to use thinkers and case
studies smartly, this paper is indeed quite easy. Also those who made notes
would have enjoyed every moment of the 360 minutes of the papers. But i
agree that simple questions alone do not make for a high scoring optional. On
the contrary, difficult questions are most scoring as there you have a chance
to stand out of the herd. So i would say that even though the paper was easy,
the scores may not be too high. Average score might be in the range of

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280-300 marks out of 600.

Public Administration people dont loose heart! The paper was no doubt
tough, but the scoring would be fine. Just keep going. I wont be surprised if
the topper is from Pub Ad as one of the optionals.
Vivek
i am agreed with you Baldev. A person who has watched Satyamev Jayate
all episode must have been able to answer atleast 5 long answers.
abhinav
mrinal sir ..great job.can you please provide Download) Civil Services
(Main) Exam, 2012 Urdu paper. i will be very greatful to u
deepak
sir can you upload civil engineering mains paper please.
thank you
deepak
sir can you upload civil engineering mains paper of 2012
rajat
whoeva is saying socio paper was easy either they are not socio students or
they are faking..because socio is about substantiating sociologically nd not
general studies typ..paper is neva easy or hard..u make it 1..nd bdy in easy
paper getting marks is nt easy..its written paper boss nt objective!!!
rahul
i agree with this statement.i too gave the paper.answering a quation
in sociology langauage is diferrent than answering a gs questionit may
sound easy about answering about caste,religion or familiy..but tell u wat
this paper was tricky :)
Ivan Ivanovich
@rajat thanks for the explanation. was wondering if it really was easy as
supposed by others. sociology is very misleading. all the topics are known,
but connecting them to sociological theories is a tough task.
Dhivya Loganathan

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I completely concede with Rajat,Rahul and Ivan.The paper (especially

paper 2) looks easy but all of them demanded answers written
sociologically.Especially for the first time takers we felt like being in no
mans land.Nevertheless after a years study on varied subjects one can
give definitely decent answers to all of them.
rajat
sociology guys join me at rajatsaxenas323@gmail.com [5] if u
wish..we cn make further plans dere
Subha
Please can you upload the compulsory bengali paper of 2012 ??
rajat
bengali paper is given by few students..tough to get bt it wil be uploaded
in sumtym
rajat
what are ur optionals bdy
varun
sir , plz upload the EE paper, as i am preparing with full flow in it, cant wait to
get the paper.
Rishabh
good job uploading this! Could you please upload Psychology UPSC Mains
2012 Question Paper. Im tired of searching over the net.
Btw I got hold of them on upsc portal but the print is awfully bad. Thanks
varun
sir m b tech in EE, and do not wish to change the stream.but im confused
between pub admin n political science as 2 optional..as i hv to manage them
with my job also. will u plz suggest
krishna
dear bhandari who gave you the info tat only

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750 -800 students will be called for interview

shalinee
I am a regular visitor of your site,,,,such a great effort with smartness:)
A very good article i have gone through was,,the types of IAS aspiring
candidates,,it was such a great article,,no body has written it ,such a great eye
opening article!
Mrunal,,,You have a great potential!
Kissen
Please Mrunal upload the Management Papers of this year. I am unable to
find that in any online site or forum
Thanks a lot
Mrunal [6]
sorry Im not in touch with any player who has Management optional.
if it is emergency, file R.T.I, else wait for UPSC to upload it on their official
website.
M U Rauf
Hello Mrunal!
Id be grateful if you could arrange a Physics question paper. Its not available
anywhere on the net. Im sure itll help many others too.
Kiran
Hi ,
This is kiran, Iam from Computer science background, Can any one please
help me in choosing the subjects for MAINs.
Jyeshtha
hello mrunal sir,
please tell me the word limit for 2,12,20 and 30 markers in Sociology and
Geography mains.
Raajveer Sahani
Ive completed my graduation with a private university named EIILM

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UNIVERSITY. Does UPSC accept the degree of EIILM UNIVERSITY. Plz reply
as soon as possible. Thanx & Regards.
Gaurav
hello
I am preparing for civil services and have not decided my optional subject yet.
i am counting on either pub ad or sociology. can you please throw some light
on the marks moderating aspect as some students mentioned me that UPSC
reduce some marks in these subjects to keep a fair competition. please
suggest which subject is best for me. although i have engineering background
but i am choosing these subjects just because of less syllabus and general
approach.
thank you
lovely
may i have list of books for sociology? from where i could find out the
solutions of these questions of sociology mains 2012? any link? please help.
thank you.

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