MPSC Main - Sociology Syllabus
Updated on: Mar 20, 2013
Paper I
| Standard : Degree | Total Marks : 200 |
| Nature of Paper : Conventional Type | Duration : 3 Hours |
| Note : | 1) | Answers to this paper must be written in English only |
| 2) | This paper will test the candidate's ability to comprehend, to analyse, to interpret, to criticise and to appraise subject matter related to the topics/sub- topics mentioned below. | |
| 3) | It is expected from candidates to study the latest and recent developments and happenings pertaining to the topics/sub- topics mentioned below. |
| Section - A(Marks : 50) | ||
| 1) | Sociology as a Discipline : | |
| .01) | Nature of Sociology asa Social Science :
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| .02) | Emergence and EarlyDevelopment of Sociology :
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| 2) | Basic Concepts in Sociology : | |
| .01) | Social System : Parsonss concept of society as a social system. | |
| .02) | Social Structure : Elements-groups & sub-groups, roles, norms and values. | |
| .03) | Social Institution : Meaning and Characteristics. | |
| .04) | Social Groups : Meaning, Characteristics and Classification of Social Groups. | |
| .05) | Associations : Meaning and Characteristics. | |
| .06) | Organization : Meaning and Types. | |
| .07) | Community : Meaning and Characteristics. | |
| .08) | Society : Meaning and Characteristics. | |
| Section - B(Marks : 50) | ||
| 3) | Culture, Socialization and Personality : | |
| .01) | Culture : Meaning and Characteristics of Culture, Components of Culture,Cultural Relativism, and Ethnocentrism. | |
| .02) | Socialization : Nature of Socialization, Stages in Socialization, Agencies ofSocialization, Anticipatory Socialization and Re-socialization, Significanceof Socialization in Social Life. | |
| .03) | Culture, Socializationand Personality Development : Culture andPersonality Development, Socialization and the Development of Self :Theories of C.H.Cooley, G.H. Mead and Sigmund Freud. | |
| 4) | Social Stratification and Social Mobility : | |
| .01) | Concepts : Inequality, Hierarchy and Social Stratification. | |
| .02) | Forms of SocialStratification : Caste and Class as forms of Closed andOpen Stratification. | |
| .03) | TheoreticalPerspectives on Social Stratification : Functionalistand Conflict. | |
| .04) | Social Mobility : Meaning, Types of Mobility : Vertical and Horizontal, Intra-andInter-generational Mobility, Consequences of Social Mobility. | |
| Section - C (Marks : 50) | ||
| 5) | Economy, Polity, Education, Religion and Society : | |
| .01) | Economy and Society : Characteristics of Feudalistic, Capitalistic and SocialisticEconomy, Social Determinants of Economic Development. | |
| .02) | Polity and Society : Types of Political System : Theocratic, Authoritarian,Democratic and Socialistic. | |
| .03) | Education and Society: Meaning of Education and Role of Education inSociety. | |
| .04) | Religion and Society : Functions and Dysfunctions of religion in society. | |
| 6) | Social Change : | |
| .01) | Social Change : Meaning; Meaning of related concepts such as Progress,Evolution, Revolution, Development and Transformation. | |
| .02) | Endogenous and exogenous sources ofsocial change. | |
| .03) | Development of Science and Technology andtheir impact on society. | |
| 7) | Social Movement : | |
| .01) | Social Movement : Meaning and Characteristics. | |
| .02) | Structural Determinants of SocialMovement. | |
| .03) | Types of Social Movement. | |
| Section - D(Marks : 50) | ||
| 8) | Contributions ofClassicalThinkers : | |
| .01) | Karl Marx : Marxian Dialectics, Theory of Historical Materialism, Theory ofClass Struggle and Theory of Alienation. | |
| .02) | Emile Durkheim : Concept of Social Fact, Theory of Division of Labour,Sociological Explanation of Suicide, Theory of Religion. | |
| .03) | Max Weber : Social Action, Verstehen, Ideal Types, Authority, Bureaucracy,Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. | |
| .04) | Vilfredo Pareto : Logical and Non-Logical Action, Circulation of elites. | |
| 9) | Scientific Study of Social Phenomena : | |
| .01) | Key Terms : Concepts, Variables, Theory and Fact. | |
| .02) | Hypothesis : Sources, Types and Characteristics of usable hypothesis and itsrole in Research. | |
| .03) | Research Process : Major steps in Social Research. | |
| .04) | Research Design : Descriptive, Exploratory and Experimental. | |
| .05) | Issues in SocialScience Research : Objectivity and Value Neutrality, Issueof measurement in social science. | |
| 10) | Aspects of Social Research: | |
| .01) | Sampling : Meaning, Probability and Non-Probability types of sampling. | |
| .02) | Sources of Data : Primary and Secondary. | |
| .03) | Techniques of DataCollection : Observation, Interview, Questionnaire, andInterview Schedule. | |
| .04) | Methods of Research : Social Survey, Case Study and Content Analysis. | |
| .05) | Classification,Interpretation and Presentation of Data : Coding,Tables, Graphs, Statistical analysis, Interpretation, and Report Writing. | |
| Standard : Degree | Total Marks : 200 |
| Nature of Paper : Conventional Type | Duration : 3 Hours |
| Note : | 1) | Answers to this paper must be written in English only |
| 2) | This paper will test the candidate's ability to comprehend, to analyse, to interpret, to criticise and to appraise subject matter related to the topics/sub- topics mentioned below. | |
| 3) | It is expected from candidates to study the latest and recent developments and happenings pertaining to the topics/sub- topics mentioned below. |
| Section - A (Marks : 50) | ||
| 1) | Historical Moorings : | |
| .01) | Traditional Hindu Social Organization. | |
| .02) | Impact of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity on Indian Society. | |
| .03) | Impact of Colonial Rule on Indian Society. | |
| .04) | Diversity and Unity in Indian Society. | |
| 2) | Basic Institutions : | |
| .01) | Marriage : Marriage among different religious groups - changing trends; The problem of Dowry. | |
| .02) | Family : Structural and Functional aspects - its changing forms; Domestic violence, and the problems of aged and singles. | |
| .03) | Kinship : Features of Kinship system in India; Regional variations in kinship system. | |
| .04) | Caste : Origin of the caste system; Cultural and structural views about caste; Views of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on caste system; Caste among Muslims and Christians, Rise of Caste Consciousness; Issues of equality and social justice; Mandal Commission Report - the issue of defining social backwardness, Creamy Layer. | |
| .05) | Religion : Religions in India - Statistical Profile; conversions; secularism; Problems of religious minorities; Religious Fundamentalism; Communal violence. | |
| Section - B (Marks : 50) | ||
| 3) | Agrarian Structure and Change : | |
| .01) | Concept of Peasant Society ; Characteristics of Rural Society. | |
| .02) | Land tenure Systems; Land Reforms; Green Revolution; Social Consequence of Land Reforms and Green Revolution; Emerging Agrarian Classes in India; and Caste, Class & Power- their interrelationship & changing power dynamics in Maharashtra. | |
| .03) | Cooperative Movement and its Role in Rural Development with special reference to Maharashtra. | |
| .04) | Globalisation and Indian Agriculture. | |
| 4) | Urbanisation and Industrialisation : | |
| .01) | Urbanisation : Growth and Trends. | |
| .02) | Industrialisation : Growth, Diversification and Decentralisation, Khadi and Village Industry. | |
| .03) | Urbanization, Industrialization and their Social Consequences. | |
| .04) | Issues of Underdevelopment and Growth of Slums | |
| .05) | Urbanisation and Industrialisation - their Environmental Consequences. | |
| 5) | Tribal (Adivasi) Society : | |
| .01) | Terms and their meaning : Tribe, Adivasi, Girijan and Vanavasi. | |
| .02) | Distinctive Features of Tribal Communities in India and their geographical spread. | |
| .03) | Problems of Tribal Communities : Land Alienation, Displacement of Adivasis due to Development Projects, Education, and Adivasi Identity. | |
| .04) | Tribal Policy - isolation, assimilation and integration. | |
| .05) | Tribal Development Programmes with special reference to Maharashtra | |
| Section - C (Marks : 50) | ||
| 6) | Polity, Education and Population Dynamics : | |
| .01) | Political System : Political Parties and their Social Bases; Regionalism, Rise of Regional Parties; Decentralization of Power-Panchayati raj and Nagarpalikas; 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments-Empowerment. | |
| .02) | Educational System : Directive Principles of State Policy and Education; Educational Problems of Disadvantaged Sections-Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Muslims and Women; Privatization of education - issues of access to education, merit, quality, and social justice; General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and emerging issues, Challenges in Higher Education today. | |
| .03) | Population Dynamics : Population Size, Growth, Composition and Distribution; Birth Rate, Death Rate and Migration; Determinants and Consequences of Population Growth; Issues of age at marriage, sex-ratio, infant mortality rate; Population Policy and Family Welfare Programme. | |
| 7) | Social Development : | |
| .01) | Changing Conception of Development : Economic Growth; Social Development; Human Development; Sustainable Development. | |
| .02) | Perspectives on Development : Liberal; Marxian; Ecological. | |
| .03) | Theories of Development and Underdevelopment : Modernisation; Centre-Periphery; World-systems theory; Regional Imbalance - with special focus on Maharashtra. | |
| 8) | Gender and Society : | |
| .01) | Social Construction of Gender : Biology vs. Gender; Patriarchy as an Ideology and Practice; Religion, Caste, Class and Gender Relations. | |
| .02) | Feminist Thought : Liberal, Marxian, Socialist and Radical, Non-Brahmanic Perspective. | |
| .03) | Personal Laws and Gender Justice : Hindu Code Bill, Christian Law, Muslim Personal Law, Customary Law and Tribal Women. | |
| Section - D (Marks : 50) | ||
| 9) | Social Movements : | |
| .01) | Selected Social Reformers- their ideology and work: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Mahatma Phule, M.G. Ranade, Prabodhankar Thakare, Maharshi Karve, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Maharshi Shinde and Babasaheb Ambedkar. | |
| .02) | Social Movements : Peasant Movement, Trade Union Movement and Adivasi Movement. | |
| .03) | New Social Movements : Environmental Movement, Women's Movement and Ethnic Movement. | |
| 10) | Social Welfare and Social Legislation : | |
| .01) | Social Legislation as an instrument of Social Change; Human Rights. | |
| .02) | Programmes of Social Welfare in Maharashtra : Women and Children; Labour; and Youth. | |
| .03) | Non-Government Organizations and their Role in Social Welfare. | |