2015
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 3 Sept 07
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 4 Sept 08
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 5 : Sept 09
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 6: Sept 10
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 7: Sept 11
Mains-2015: Challenge – 8: Sept 14
Mains-2015: Challenge – 9: Sept 15
Mains-2015: Challenge – 10: Sept 16
Mains-2015: Challenge – 11: Sept 17
Mains-2015: Challenge – 12: Sept 18
Mains-2015: Challenge – 13: Sept 21
Mains-2015: Challenge – 14: Sept 22
Mains-2015: Challenge – 15: Sept 23
Mains-2015: Challenge – 16: Sept 26
Mains-2015: Challenge – 17: Sept 28
Mains-2015: Challenge – 18: Sept 29
Mains-2015: Challenge – 19: Sept 30
Mains-2015: Challenge – 20: Oct 06
Mains-2015: Challenge – 21: Oct 07
Mains-2015: Challenge – 22: Oct 08
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 23: Oct 09
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 24: Oct 12
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 25: Oct 14
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 26: Oct 19
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 27: Oct 20
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 28: Oct 21
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 29: Oct 22
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 30: Oct 26
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 31: Oct 27
Mains – 2015: Challenge – 32: Oct 29
2013
2014
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
JANUARY
Question 1
Examine the nature of Social Facts as understood by Emile Durkheim. (300 words)
Question 1
What are social phenomena? Distinguish them from psychological phenomena.( 200 words)
Question 2
Discuss the impact of industrialization and urbanization on family in India.( 300 words)
Question 1
Discuss the emerging forms of marriage and family with examples from the West and the East.Can there be family without marriage? Examine (300 words)
Question 2
Comment on the sociological impact of globalization on people working in the Informal sector. (200 words)
Question 1
Comment on the critics’ charge that Immanuel Wallerstein’s dependency theory is simplistic and wrong. (200 words)
Question 2
Write a short note on Indological perspective of G.S. Ghurye. (200 words)
Question 1
Write a note on comparison between Sociology and Economics. (200 words)
Question 2
Comment on the influence of social and cultural factors on family planning in India. (200 words)
Question 1
Critically examine Weber’s theory of Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (300 words)
Question 2
Mahatma Gandhi is often described as revolutionary. Examine this characterization in the light of the theory of social movements. (300 words)
Question 1
Write Short note on Quasi-groups. (200 words)
Question 2
Write in not more than 200 words about Acculturation and integration of tribal communities. (200 words)
FEBRUARY
Question 1
Write a short note on C. Wright Mills’ Power Elite. (200 words)
Question 2
Comment on the changes that the Agrarian Social Structure in India is undergoing. (300 words)
Question 1
Write about Social mobility in open and closed systems. [IAS 2008][200 words]
Question 2
In the context of the caste system, critically examine Louis Dumont’s concept of purity and pollution.[IAS 2009][300 words]
Question 1
Write a note on Objectivity and Value Neutrality in Social Research. (200 words/ IAS 2004)
Question 2
Write a note on S.N.D.P. Movement. (200 words/ IAS 2008)
Question 1
Bring out a comparative analysis of Marxian and Parsonian views of social change and examine the relevance of each view for social development in the contemporary India.(600 words/ IAS 2004/ 60 marks)
Question 2
Mention the Impact of Muslims on Indian Society.(200 words/ IAS 2004)
Question 1
Distinguish between Sex and Gender. Discuss the gender issues with suitable examples (300 words/IAS 2002)
Question 2
Describe the socio-economic factors responsible for communal tensions in India. What suggestions will you give to control them?(300 words/IAS 2003)
Question 1
Discuss the important factors involved in the making of a criminal. (300 words)
Question 2
Evaluate the changing frontiers of caste system in contemporary India. (300 words)
Question 1
Highlight the problem of objectivity and value-neutrality in Social Research. Elaborate, with suitable examples, the limitations associated with the tools of measurements in Social Science Researches. (200 words/ CSM 2003)
Question 2
Examine the conceptual distinction between social inequality and social stratification. How do the nature and forms of the social stratification system determine the patterns of social mobility? (200 words/ CSM 2003)
Question 1
What are micro-sociology and macro-sociology? How could the two be related?(200 words/ IAS ’74)
Question 2
What is a “tribe”? Examine the view that the tribes in India are tribes in transition.(200 words/ IAS ’77)
Question 1
Write short note on ‘Relative Deprivation’ (200 words/ IAS 1999)
Question 2
Describe the distinctive features of tribal communities in India. Discuss the factors affecting tribal identity.(300 words/ IAS 2006)
Question 1
Discuss the Class struggle as conceived by Karl Marx(200 words/ IAS 2005)
Question 2
Describe the process of emergence of the middle class in India. What role has the middle class played in national development?(300 words/ IAS 2005)
Analyse the sociological ideas of Pareto. (300 words/ IAS 1964)
Question 2
Discuss the metaphysical and ethical basis of Hindu social organisation. (300 words/ IAS 2002)
Question 1
Bring out Tonnies’ differentiation between ‘Community’ (Gemeinschaft) and ‘society’ (Gesselschaft) and show how this paved the path for Cooley to develop his theory of primary group.(200 words/IAS1965).
Question 2
Write short note on- The share-croppers’ movement in India. (200 words/IAS1991).
Question 1
Bring out the role of Culture in the development of human personality. (200 words)
Question 2
Sociologists would not have objected to proselytization but for its harmful effects on Indian culture’. Discuss critically. (200 words)
Question
What is Merton’s view of relationship between social structure and deviance? In what sense is a deviant also a conformist? (500 words/ IAS 2008)
Challenge 22
Question
Critically evaluate the child welfare programmes in India. Have they benefitted all sections of children in India? (500 words/IAS 2000)
Question
State the meaning and characteristics of an ideal type. What, according to Max Weber, is the use and significance of the ‘ideal type’ in social science research. (200 words)
Question
Elaborate the concept of political elite. Explain how social structural origins of political elites influence their political orientations.(500 words/IAS 2001)
Question
What are the structural conditions under which movements emerge? Discuss with reference to any one theory of genesis of social movements. (200 words)
Question
Elaborate on the social necessity of religion. Discuss the relationship between religion and science. (500 words/ IAS 1999)
Question
In the context of the caste system, critically examine Louis Dumont’s concept of purity and pollution. (300 words/ IAS 2009)
Question
Comment on the reasons why neo-idealists and symbolic interactionists are critical of ‘positivism’ in Sociology. (300 words)
Question
What is the impact of Globalization on the structure and mobilization of the working class in India? (500 words)
Question
Distinguish between probability and non-probability sampling methods. How many types of sampling designs are there? (300 words/ IAS 2009)
Question
Emile Durkheim’s conception of Social Fact was essentially an endeavor by him to create a separate niche and scientific status for sociology. Explain.(200 words)
Question
Critically Examine Emile Durkheim’s Concept of Sacred and Profane and how it can be viewed for Indian Society (250 words)
Question
Examine Emile Durkheim’s Concept of The Division of Labor and how it can be viewed for modern Societies (250 words)
Question
Critically Examine the Concept of Suicide and how is it viewed in Modern Societies especially in india. (250 words)
Question
How Marx understood Sociology through Process of Dialectics and how a common man can understand contemporary Society by Dialectics? Explain with examples.(300words)
Question
Explain Karl Marx”s theory of class struggle. Evaluate the theory in terms of its relevance in explaining contemporary reality. ( 250 words)
Question
Forces of Production changes in Evolutionary manner and Relations of Production changes in evolutionary manner .Explain with Karl Marxs view and use present day examples.(200 words)
Question
Critically Examine Karl Marx’s theory of Alienation. (200 words)
Question
Compare Karl Marx with ED with reference to the framework of DOL.(200 words)
Question
Write Short note on : Social System and Pattern Variables. (200 words)
Question
Bring out a Comparative analysis of Marxian and Parsonian views of Social change and Examine the relevance of each view for Social Development in the Contemporary India. (200 words/CSM 2004)
Question
Write Short note on Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control (200 words/CSM 2010)
Question
To Robert Merton,deviant behaviour is a result of Anomie. Analyse his Sociological theory of deviant behaviour, with a special reference to his formulation of types of Deviance. (250words/ CSM2009)
Question
Write short note on : Robert Merton’s views on latent & Manifest functions. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on: Primary and Reference Groups. (200 words)
Question
What are the reactions of Robert Merton to the functionalism pioneered by social Anthropologists ?Indicate the limitations of his ides of latent functions. (200 words)
Question
Power and authority go together . Examine . Also explain the various types of Authority. (200 words)
Question
Define Ideal type and explain Weber’s concept of Verstehen for understanding Social Phenomenon? (200 words)
Question
Critically examine Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism? (200 words)
Question
Critically analyze the contributions of G.H Mead to Symbolic Interactionism? (200 words)
Question
Describe the importance of lineage and descent in kinship and family. (200 words)
Question
What you mean by marriage and family? Discuss the Structural and functional changes in family in modern society. (200 words)
Question
Discuss the meanings and significance of culture in Human society. Critically bring out the role of culture in the development of Personality. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on: Social Consequences of increase in the rate of Divorce. (200 words)
Question
In our society Hierarchical relations are influenced by Social Mobility . Explain How? (200 words)
Question
Explain how open and closed systems of stratification are undergoing transformation in the emergence of new hierarchical social order in societies. (200 words)
Question
Socialization and social control are complimentary to each other in maintaining Social Order – Elucidate your answer with appropriate illustrations. (200 words)
Question
How do formal and informal organization of work influence labors mobility ? Explain with examples. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on feminization of labor in informal sector. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on Social Determinants of Economic Development. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on Self Help Group as an informal organization from a sociological perspective. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective : Citizenship and Civil Society. (200 words)
Question
Collective action in politics can bring integration and disintegration in society “ . Comment. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on bureaucracy in New capitalist economy. (200 words)
Question
Are social Movements always influenced by ideologies ? Discuss. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective :Millenarian Movements. (200 words)
Question
What are the Structural elements of a social Movement ? state how a social movement comes to its end . illustrate your answer with example. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on : ideology and strategy of Social Movement. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on : Protest Movements. (200 words)
Question
Discuss in detail the Mass Media and education on Indian Society. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on : Privatization of Education and Equality of Opportunity? (200 words)
Question
“Education is induction into learners culture”. Examine the statement in Society today? (200 words)
Question
Write short note on : Youth Culture. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on” Positive Religion. (200 words)
Question
Define Sect, Cult and Religion . In what way do Weber’s views on religion differ from those of Durkheim. (200 words)
Question
“Science has empirical means to logical ends and Religion has non empirical means to logical ends .” Comment. (200 words)
Question
Critically examine functional and dysfunctional aspects of Religion. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on: Science and social Responsibility. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on: Social Impacts of New Technologies in India. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Theory of cultural lag –Ogburn and Nimkoff. (200 words)
Question
Revolutionary changes have some specific characteristics “. Discuss with examples. (200 words)
Question
Social Support Mechanism needs to be strengthened for effective implementation of development programmes” .Comment (200 words)
Question
Define Social Policy. Evaluate the performance of social policy in modernization of developing Societies. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective : Reliability and Validity. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective : Utility and Reliability in Social Research. (200 words)
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective : Comparative method. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Fact, value and Objectivity. (200 words)
Question
Comment on the reasons why neo idealists and symbolic interactionists are critical of Positivism in Sociology. (200 words)
Question
Write short note on “ problem of Objectivity in Research. (200 words)
Question
What can Sociology show about our Action ? Discuss the Practical significance of Sociology. (200 words)