How to Prepare for Indian Society (GS I)

By

Smriti Shah
Faculty of sociology & Indian society,
Vision IAS

Why to Study Society

To develop the perspective on Indian
Social System
To sensitize the governments/public
officials on discourses of Society
To apply best practices of
governance in the eradication of
social problems.

Marks Breakup in Mains & Interview

1000
GS I to IV

275
Interview

250
Essay

Contd..
2013

10 Marker * 4 Ques = 40 Marks (16%)

Q1.Discuss the various social problems which

originated out of the speedy process of
urbanization in India
Q2.Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to
make womens organization free from gender bias. Comment

Q3.Critically examine the effects of

globalization on the aged population in India.
Q4.Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in
the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss.

Previous Year Qs
2014 Paper I

10 M * 5 Ques= 50 Marks

How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class

working woman in India?
Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an
adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.
The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors
rather than social values. Discuss
Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that
are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.
How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates
in the

Paper II 2014
The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting
participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural
hurdles. Examine. (12.5,200 w)

Paper IV 2014
What factors affect the formation of a persons attitude towards social problems?
In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems.
What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society?
How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes? (10, 150 w)

We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against

women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the
number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative
measures to tackle this menace. (10, 150 w)

Contd..

Case Study (20 M)

In our country, the migration of rural people to
towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is
causing serious problems both in the rural as
well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are
becoming really unmanageable. Can you
analyze this problem in detail and indicate not
only the socio-economic but also the
emotional and attitudinal factors responsible
for this problem? Also, distinctly bring out
why
Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas;
Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums;
Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas
taking up petty jobs
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective in controlling this
serious problem of our country?

Essays in Previous years

Q1.

Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a

reality for India? 2014

Q2.

Managing work and home is the Indian

working woman getting a fair deal ?-2012

Q3.

Does Indian Cinema shape our popular

culture or merely reflect it. 2011

Q4.

Preparedness of our society for Indias

global leadership role 2010

Course content [Broad Outlook]

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India

Role of women and women's organization,

Effects of globalization on Indian society

Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &
secularism.
population and associated issues, poverty and developmental
issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

How to Read??
What to Read??
NCERTs; Class XI,
XII ( Indian Society,
Introducing
Sociology)

Social
Change and
Development
in India

Human
Geography

India People
and
Economy

Advanced Level

EPW

Mint ( Newspaper)

Yojana &
Kurukshetra

Class Plan- I
Evolution of Indian Society
Traditional Indian Social System

Salient Features of Indian Society

Agrarian Economy
Patriarchy and its Various Manifestations
Joint Family System
Diversity (Class, Caste, Religion, Ethnic etc.), Unity in
Diversity
Secularism in a Multicultural Society
Representative Democracy

Class Plan- II
Issues Confronting Indian Society
Cultural Lag
Casteization of Politics
Regionalism
Communalism
Religious Fundamentalism
Empowerment of Vulnerable sections of
Indian Society

Class Plan- III

Population and Associated Issues
Basic concepts associated with
population
Demographic Dividend
Analysis of Census 2011 data
Population policies
Reproductive Health

Class Plan- IV
Urbanization: Issues and Measures
Concept
Impact on various sections
Urbanization and related problems

Issues
and Concerns
Migration:
Concept, Causes
and Consequences
Smart Cities: Prospects and Concerns
Satellite towns: A panacea for symmetrical growth
Rural Development : A key measure for De-Migration
Adarsh Village: can it be panacea for all Infrastructural
issues?
Urban Management (Issue of Slums and asymmetrical
growth)

Class Plan- V
Poverty and developmental issues

Factors Responsible for Poverty in

India
Climatic factors
Demographic factors
Population
Economic causes
Social Factors
Sustainable and Inclusive
Development

Class Plan- VI
Globalization
Concept
Different Dimensions
Effects of globalization on Indian
society.
Social, Cultural, Political
Economical

Pros and Cons

Class Plan- VII

Role of women and Women Organisations

Profile of women in India

Nature, Range and Patterns of Womens
work
Women issues: Manifestation
Women issues: Response
Analysis of womens contemporary
situation
Constitutional provisions for women,
women empowerment programmes

All the Best

Folks