On the 31st of August 2025, Sunday the UPSC conducted the Sociology optional paper for the CSE Mains examination. This examination marked a crucial milestone for the students aspiring to it. This paper tested the candidates on a wide array of topics, covering both fundamental and modern issues of sociology. It demanded an understanding of the core principles, analytical thinking and the ability to synthesize sociological knowledge with modern societal issues. For future candidates it is very important to understand the trends and questions of this year to fully understand the subject and the syllabus, underscoring the necessity of mastering the fundamental theories and their application to practical problems.
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2025 |
| Total Optional Subjects in the UPSC CSE Exam | 48 subjects |
| UPSC Sociology Optional Exam Date | 31st August, 2025 (Sunday) |
| UPSC Sociology Optional Paper Duration | Sociology Optional Paper-I (Morning Session – 9 AM to 12 PM) Sociology Optional Paper-II (Afternoon Session – 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM) |
| Total Marks (Sociology Optional) | 500 Marks (250 Marks Each) |
UPSC Mains 2025 Sociology Optional Paper-I
SECTION A
1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
(a) What is common sense? How are common knowledge and sociology related to each other? Explain.
(b) What is the relationship (similarities and differences) between sociology and history in terms of their area of study and methodology? Discuss.
(c) What is a variable in social research? What are their different types? Elaborate.
(d) Can Merton’s reference group theory be relevant in understanding ‘identity making’ in digital world? Explain.
(e) ls the social stratification theory gender-blind? Elucidate.
2. (a) What is positivism? Critically analyze the major arguments against it. 20 Marks
(b) Highlight the main features of historical materialism as propounded by Marx. How far is this theory relevant in understanding contemporary societies? Explain. 20 Marks
(c) What do you mean by reliability? Discuss the importance of reliability in social science research. 10 Marks
3. (a) Compare capability deprivation approach with that of social capital deprivation in understanding chronic poverty. 20 Marks
(b) Are pressure groups a threat to or a necessary element of democracy? Explain with suitable illustrations. 20 Marks
(c) What is hypothesis? Critically evaluate the significance of hypothesis in social research.10 Marks
4. (a) Give an account of the recent trends of marriage in the Indian context. How are these different from traditional practices? 20 Marks
(b) What would you identify as the similarities and differences in the elite theories of Mosca, Michels and Pareto? Discuss their main/crucial issues. 20 Marks
(c) Critically analyze the sociological significance of informal sector in the economy of developing societies. 10 Marks
SECTION B
Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
5. (a) In what way is the scope of sociology unique? Explain.
(b) Does the structural-functionalist perspective on social stratification promote a status quo? Give reasons for your answer.
(c) Do you think that the formal workspaces are free of gender bias? Argue your case
(d) How does Weber’s Verstehen address the objectivity-subjectivity debate in sociology?
(e) To what extent can education and skill development be an agent of social change? Critically analyze.
6. (a) What is science? Do you think that the methods used in natural sciences can be applied to sociology? Give reasons for your answer. 20 Marks
(b) 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. 20 Marks
(c) How can you assess the significance of social movements in the digital era? Explain. 10 Marks
7. (a) What is sampling in the context of social research? Discuss different forms of sampling with their relative advantages and disadvantages. 20 Marks
(b)How do theories of Marx, Weber and Durkheim differ in understanding religion? Explain. 20 Marks
(c) What is the nature of relationship between science and religion in modern society? Analyze with suitable examples. 10 Marks
8. (a) What do you understand by sustainable development? Discuss the elements of sustainable development as proposed in the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals Report-2015. 20 Marks
(b) How do Civil Society Organizations’ such as NGOs’ and Self-Help Groups’ contribute to grassroot level social changes? Discuss. 20 Marks
(c) In what way does queer kinship challenge the traditional kinship system? Substantiate by giving illustrations. 10 Marks
UPSC Mains 2025 Sociology Optional Paper-II
SECTION A
1.Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50
(a) ‘Textual perspective is important in understanding of Indian Social System.’ Discuss. 10 Marks
(b) Justify that the Indian traditions are modernizing. Also discuss its contributing factors. 10 Marks
(c) According to you, which social reform movement has played the most effective role in uplifting the status of women? Explain. 10 Marks
(d) How did Colonial Policies for the tribes affected their socio-economic conditions in India? Discuss. 10 Marks
(e) How would you appropriate to characterise G. S. Ghurye as a practitioner of ‘theoretical pluralism’? 10 Marks
2. (a) Do you think that in a society like India orthogenetic changes take place through differentiation? Do you observe continuities in the orthogenetic process? Elaborate your answer with suitable examples. 20 Marks
(b) ‘Agrarian class structure has been undergoing changes due to modern forces.’ Critically examine. 20 Marks
(c) How same sexed marriages are responsible for population dynamics in India? Discuss. 10 Marks
3. (a) What do you mean by nation building? What is the role of religion in nation building? Elaborate your answer. 10 Marks
(b) Do you think that new economic reforms of British rule have disrupted the old economic system of India? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. 20 Marks
(c) Describe the main features of Indian new middle class. How is it different from the old middle class? 20 Marks
4. (a) Who is said to be the pioneer of village studies in India? Illustratively describe contributions of some Indian sociologists on village studies. How their approaches are distinct from each other? 20 Marks
(b) ‘Industrial class structure is a function of social structure of Indian society.’ Do you agree with this statement? Analyze. 20 Marks
(c) What is kinship? Briefly explain G. P. Murdock’s contribution to the study of the kinship system. 10 Marks
SECTION B
5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50
(a) ‘The transfer of land from cultivating to the non-cultivating owners is bringing about transformation in Indian society.’ Justify your answer by giving suitable illustrations. 10 Marks
(b) Bring out various factors responsible for degeneration of village Industries in India. 10
(c) Discuss the social bases of political mobilization in Independent India. Has some change occurred in last 60 to 70 years? 10 Marks
(d) What are the major problems faced by the labour migrants while working in informal sectors of Indian States? Discuss. 10 Marks
(e) Do you think that law has been able to abolish child labour in India? Comment. 10 Marks
6. (a) In what respects have the constitutional provisions changed the socio-economic and political conditions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India? Critically examine. 20 Marks
(b) Discuss the trend of urbanization in India. Do you think that Industrialization is the only precondition of urbanization? Give your arguments. 20 Marks
(c) Which measures would you suggest for preventing caste conflicts in India? Justify your argument. 20 Marks
7. (a) What are the Private and Public network and support systems operative in Indian society for the aged? Suggest measures to curb down the challenges before care givers of the aged? 20 Marks
(b) “Educational development is the only Panacea for country’s all ills and evils.” Critically examine the above statement with reference to NEP-2020. 20 Marks
(c) How Dalit movements in India have facilitated their Identity formation? Analyze. 10 Marks
8. (a) Is it possible to have sustainable development in India? Cite major environmental issues and suggest a few measures to achieve the sustainability. 20 Marks
(b) Do you think that forced displacement of labourers has caused their deprivation and resultant inequalities during the recent past years? Elaborate. 20 Marks
(c) What are the Indian government’s schemes launched for poverty alleviation after United Nation’s Declaration of ‘Sustainable Development Goals – 2015’? Briefly describe. 10 Marks
UPSC Mains 2025 Sociology Optional Papers PDF
The Sociology Optional Paper for the UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 has been conducted, and the Question Paper PDF is now available. This paper acts both as a question bank and a precious source material for the Sociology optional subject. Candidates can go through the Sociology question paper to evaluate the topics and the level of questions, which will help them understand what is expected in the exam. For ease of access, the link to download the PDF of the UPSC Mains 2025 Sociology Optional question paper is given below.
How to Download the UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 Sociology Optional Papers?
To download the UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 Sociology Optional Papers, follow these steps:
- Visit the Official UPSC Website: Go to the official website of the Union Public Service Commission at upsc.gov.in
- Navigate to the Examination Section: Look for the ‘Examinations’ tab in the main menu and click on it.
- Select ‘Previous Year Papers’: Within the Examinations section, find the link for ‘Previous Year Papers’ papers.
- Locate the 2025 Mains Examination Papers: Look for the section dedicated to the 2025 Civil Services Mains Examination.
- Find the Sociology Optional Paper: Scroll through the list of available papers to locate the Sociology Optional Paper.
- Download the PDF: Click on the link for the Sociology Optional Paper to open it. Then, you can download the PDF file by clicking the download icon or using the ‘Save As’ option from your browser.
- Save for Reference: Once downloaded, save the document in a folder for easy access and future reference.
The UPSC Mains 2025 Sociology Optional paper has provided exam-takers with the material needed to analyze the exam and prepare appropriately in the future. Don’t forget to download the Sociology Optional question paper using the link provided. Make sure to follow for more updates and insights on the UPSC Mains Optional examinations.
