UPSC Sociology Mains Previous Year Questions
Here we are provided subject-wise previous Year’s questions. This will help more understanding of the topic and exam pattern.
Provided questions from 2024 to 2013.
Syllabus for Sociology
- Salient Features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
For Previous year Topic Wise Questions: Mains Topic-Wise Previous Questions
Last Updated on: 30-11-2024
2024 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. What is the concept of a demographic winter? Is the world moving towards such a situation? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. Distinguish between gender equality and gender equity and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q4. Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q5. In dealing with socio-economic issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGOs and private sector would be most productive? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q6. Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q6. What is disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q7. Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q8. Globalization has increased urban migration by skilled, young, unmarried women from various classes. How has this trend impacted upon their personal freedom and relationship with family? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q9. Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
2023 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries of the world. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q4. Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q5. What are the main features of Vedic Society and religion? Do you think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian Society? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark
Q6. What are the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian Society? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark
Q7. Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark
Q8. Does urbanization lead to more segregation and/or marginalisation of the poor in Indian metropolises? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark
Q9. Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark
2022 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. How is the growth of Tier 2 cities related to the rise of a new middle class with an emphasis on the culture of consumption? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q4. Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q5. Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q6. Eliciddate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
2021 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. Examine the role of GigEconomy in the process of empowerment of women in India? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q4. What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q5. How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q6. Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q7. What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
2020 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q4. Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your Answer. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q5. Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q6. How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate on your answer. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
2019 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. What make the Indian Society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. “Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q4. Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q5. What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q6. Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
2018 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, the caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. ‘Despite the implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing’. Explain by giving reasons. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. How is the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q4. ‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q5. ‘Globalisation is generally said to promote cultural homogenisation but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian society.’ Elucidate. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q6. ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.’ Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q7. Discuss whether the formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India? (Answer in 250 words) Mark 15
Q8. Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational district in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.
2017 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint. (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q2. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes(STs)? (Answer in 150 Words) Mark 10
Q3. The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part in the present. Elaborate. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q4. The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What are the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q5. Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
Q6. The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues of employment, but has also created new problems”. Substantiate this statement with examples. (Answer in 250 Words) Mark 15
2016 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Has the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity? (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q2. To what extent has globalisation influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q3. “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q4. Why are the tribals in India referred to as ‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q5. With a brief background of the quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme.” (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q6. What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on a regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
2015 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q2. Critically examine whether a growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the mains cause of population increase in India. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q3. How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes? (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q4. Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q5. Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India? (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
Q6. Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for the assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark
2014 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India?
Q2. Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.
Q3. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.
Q4. How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?
2013 UPSC IAS Sociology Mains
Q1. Discussion 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 women’s 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