Sociology Strategy by UPSC Topper Chandra Mohan Garg: AIR 25 CSE 2016

About Chandra Mohan Garg upsc topper, Chandra Mohan Garg IAS Topper Interview, Chandra Mohan Garg marks, Strategy by UPSC topper Chandra Mohan Garg, UPSC optional subject strategy, books for sociology

Sociology Strategy by UPSC Topper Chandra Mohan Garg: AIR 25 CSE 2016

First thing first so, we will start with What is Sociology? Sociology is the scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture. It is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order, acceptance, and change.

Chandra Mohan Garg is a UPSC topper with rank 25 in Civil Services Examination 2016. He prepares on his own to clear the exam. He chooses Sociology as his optional subject. The optional subject is a very important choice and it will help you to score well if you choose the subject smartly.

So how Chandra prepared for his optional subject and get good marks. We are going to discuss the strategy he used to follow during his optional subject preparation.

Must read: Everything about UPSC exam from scratch.

Chandra’s Optional Subjects Marks

Optional Paper 1: 120
Optional Paper 2: 113
Final Marks: 965

Book List for Sociology Paper 1

Upendra Class Notes – Available in Delhi Bookstores
Aditya Mongra Printed Notes– Available on his Fb Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/838734936170059/)
Vikash Ranjan Book (Fundamentals of sociology): Available in Book Stores.
Haralambos(small one) – Available in bookstores.
Haralambos(the new one) – Selected pages photocopy version available in the market.
IGNOU BA– Can be downloaded from Mrunal website
Ritzer – Printed copy in market

There are two or three books mentioned in each chapter as the syllabus of UPSC is very huge. Since each chapter has many topics and only one source is not enough to cover all the topics even if you will cover them from a specific book then it will not be relevant. From the above sources mentioned you can choose any source according to your convenience. Try to read a topic from a book and not to read a single topic from multiple books until they have something extra.

Also read: The list of books for UPSC CSE Preparation.

Sociology- The Discipline:

Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology: IGNOU BA
The scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences: Aditya Mongra Notes/ Bottomore
Sociology and common sense: Anthony Giddens

Sociology as Science

Science, scientific method and critique: Aditya Mongra Notes
Major theoretical strands of research methodology: Aditya Mongra Notes
Positivism and its critique: Aditya Mongra Notes
Fact value and objectivity: Aditya Mongra Notes
Non- positivist methodologies: Aditya Mongra Notes

Research Methods and Analysis:

Qualitative and quantitative methods: Aditya Mongra Notes
Techniques of data collection: Aditya Mongra Notes
Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity: Aditya Mongra Notes

Sociological Thinkers:

Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle: Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology + IGNOU BA
Emile Durkheim- Division of labor, social fact, suicide, religion, and society: Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology + IGNOU BA
Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism: Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology + IGNOU BA
Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables: Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology + IGNOU BA
Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups: Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology + IGNOU BA
Mead – Self and identity: Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology +Aditya Mongra Notes.

Must see: The strategy for UPSC Prelims.

Stratification and Mobility:

Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation: Haralambos (small) + Fundamentals of sociology /Upendra Notes+Aditya Mongra Notes
Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory: Haralambos (small) + Fundamentals of sociology /Upendra Notes + Haralambos mainly
Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity, and race: Haralambos (small) + Fundamentals of sociology /Upendra Notes + Aditya Mongra Notes / IGNOU
Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility: Haralambos (small) + Fundamentals of sociology /Upendra Notes + Aditya Mongra Notes

Works and Economic Life:

The social organization of work in different types of society- slave society, feudal society, industrial /capitalist society: Fundamentals of Sociology
Formal and informal organization of work: Fundamentals of Sociology
Labour and society: Fundamentals of Sociology

Politics and Society:

Sociological theories of power: Haralambos(small one) + Upendra Notes
Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties: Haralambos(small one)+ Upendra Notes
Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology: Fundamentals of sociology+ Upendra Notes + Aditya Mongra Notes
The protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution: Fundamentals of sociology + Upendra Notes+ Aditya Mongra Notes

Religion and Society:

Sociological theories of religion: Haralambos (small one)
Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults: some part haralambos + Fundamentals of sociology
Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism: secularisation in haralambos(small one) + fundamentals of sociology + Aditya Mongra Notes

Systems of Kinship:

Family, household, marriage: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Haralambos(selectively) + Aditya Mongra Notes
Types and forms of family: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Haralambos(selectively) + Aditya Mongra Notes
Lineage and descent: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Haralambos(selectively) + Aditya Mongra Notes
Patriarchy and the sexual division of labor: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Haralambos(selectively)+ Aditya Mongra Notes
Contemporary trends: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Haralambos(selectively) + Aditya Mongra Notes

Social Change in Modern Society:

Sociological theories of social change: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology
Development and dependency: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology
Agents of social change: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Sindhuri Mam notes
Education and social change: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology + Haralambos (small one)
Science, technology and social change: Upendra Notes + Fundamentals of sociology

Also read: About the journey of Sahil Gupta: UPSC IAS topper.

Book List for Sociology Paper 2

Mahapatra Notes – Class notes available in market or Flavido
Sindhuri Mam Notes- Available in the market or on Flavido
Applied Sociology (Vikash Ranjan) – Available in Market
IGNOU MA Mainly- Download from Mrunal website
Aditya Mongra Notes – Fb Page. Link is above
Dynamic Part – Newspaper, EPW, Yojana periodically for case studies and contemporary examples

If you want you can selectively read Veena Das Essays, Ram Ahuja, B.K Nagla, Nadeem Hussain

Paper 2 is a confusing paper, you will have to refer many resources to clear this paper. We have above mentioned the list of books which Chandra used to follow for his 2nd paper.

Introducing Indian Society:

Perspectives on the study of Indian society: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + Applied Sociology

Indology (GS. Ghurye): Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes
Structural functionalism (M N Srinivas): Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes
Marxist sociology (A R Desai): Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes

Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + Applied Sociology

Social background of Indian nationalism: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes
Modernization of Indian tradition: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes
Protests and movements during the colonial period: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes
Social reforms: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes

Must see: The strategy for UPSC Interview.

Social Structure:

Rural and Agrarian Social Structure: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA* /Applied Sociology

The idea of an Indian village and village studies: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes
Agrarian social structure – the evolution of land tenure system, land reforms: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes

Caste System: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA + Applied Sociology

Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Features of caste system: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Untouchability – forms and perspectives: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA

Tribal communities in India: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA + Applied Sociology

Definitional problems: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Geographical spread: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Colonial policies and tribes: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Issues of integration and autonomy: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA

Social Classes in India: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU + Applied Sociology

Agrarian class structure: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU
Industrial class structure: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU
Middle classes in India: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU

Systems of Kinship in India: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA + Applied Sociology

Lineage and descent in India: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Types of kinship systems: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Family and marriage in India: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Household dimensions of the family: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA
Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour: Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA

Religion and Society: IGNOU (selectively) + Applied Sociology

Religious communities in India: IGNOU (selectively) + Applied Sociology
Problems of religious minorities: IGNOU (selectively) + Applied Sociology

Social Changes in India

Visions of Social Change in India: Mahapatra Notes +Applied Sociology + IGNOU MA + Sindhuri Mam Notes

The idea of development planning and mixed economy: Mahapatra Notes +Applied Sociology + IGNOU MA
Constitution, law and social change: Mahapatra Notes +Applied Sociology + IGNOU MA
Education and social change: Mahapatra Notes +Applied Sociology + IGNOU MA

Rural and Agrarian transformation in India: Mahapatra Notes + Sindhuri Mam+ IGNOU MA + Applied Sociology

Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes: Mahapatra Notes + Sindhuri Mam+ IGNOU MA
Green revolution and social change: Mahapatra Notes + Sindhuri Mam+ IGNOU MA
Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture: Mahapatra Notes + Sindhuri Mam+ IGNOU MA
Problems of rural labor, bondage, migration: Mahapatra Notes + Sindhuri Mam+ IGNOU MA

Industrialization and Urbanisation in India: IGNOU MA + Applied Sociology

Evolution of modern industry in India: IGNOU MA
Growth of urban settlements in India: IGNOU MA
Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization: IGNOU MA
Informal sector, child labour: IGNOU MA
Slums and deprivation in urban areas: IGNOU MA

Politics and Society: Mainly in sync with Paper-1 + Applied Sociology

Nation, democracy, and citizenship: Mainly in sync with Paper-1
Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite: Mainly in sync with Paper-1
Regionalism and decentralization of power: Mainly in sync with Paper-1
Secularization: Mainly in sync with Paper-1

Social Movements in Modern India: Mahapatra + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes + Applied Sociology

Peasants and farmers movements: Mahapatra + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes
Women’s movement: Mahapatra + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes
Backward classes & Dalit movement: Mahapatra + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes
Environmental movements: Mahapatra + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes
Ethnicity and Identity movements: Mahapatra + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes

Population Dynamics: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology

Population size, growth, composition, and distribution: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Components of population growth: birth, death, migration: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Population policy and family planning: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Emerging issues: aging, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology

Challenges of Social Transformation: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology

The crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems, and sustainability: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology + Ram Ahuja, Articles of EPW
Poverty, deprivation and inequalities: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Violence against women: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Caste conflicts: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology
Illiteracy and disparities in education: IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology

You should break the whole syllabus into parts: Chapters- Topics- Sub-topics.

Refer to the previous year question papers.

Be patient, it is difficult to understand sociology but if you will focus on it you can score well on this subject.

Sociology will require 2-3 readings of the topic before you will start understanding it.

As you are combining information from multiple sources, so make sure you will have proper notes on each topic.

Also read: The details of UPSC exam.

If you have any doubt or need guidance you can comment below, our team will try to answer it.

Sociology Strategy by UPSC Topper Chandra Mohan Garg: AIR 25 CSE 2016