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Sociology

Marx, Weber and Durkheim, then caste, kinship and the Indian village. Notes for both papers, past questions back to 2000, and an AI that has read the same books you’re reading.

  • 30 topics
  • 1,157 past questions
  • 11 standard books
Read the notesPast questions
Ask the Sociology AI
Suggestion: What did Durkheim mean by anomie?. Press Escape to use it.

Ask it whatever you’re stuck on. It answers from the 11 books further down this page and shows you the passage it used.

The whole syllabus, one topic at a time

Tap any topic to open its notes. They’re free with your account.

Fundamentals of Sociology

9 topics
1Sociology: The DisciplineEmergence of Sociology · Scope & Comparison with Social Sciences · Sociology and Common Sense2Sociology as a ScienceScience & Scientific Method · Positivism & Its Critique · Fact, Value & Objectivity3Research Methods and AnalysisQualitative vs Quantitative Methods · Data Collection Techniques · Variables, Sampling & Hypothesis10Stratification and MobilityEquality, Inequality & Hierarchy · Theories of Stratification · Class, Status, Gender & Ethnicity11Works and Economic LifeWork in Slave & Feudal Societies · Industrial Capitalist Society · Formal & Informal Organisation of Work12Politics and SocietyTheories of Power · Power Elite, Bureaucracy & Pressure Groups · Nation, State, Citizenship & Democracy13Religion and SocietySociological Theories of Religion · Types of Religious Practices · Religion & Science14Systems of KinshipFamily, Household & Marriage · Types & Forms of Family · Lineage & Descent15Social Change in Modern SocietyTheories of Social Change · Development & Dependency · Agents of Social Change

Sociological Thinkers

6 topics
4Karl MarxHistorical Materialism · Mode of Production · Alienation5Emile DurkheimDivision of Labour · Social Fact · Suicide (typology)6Max WeberSocial Action · Ideal Types · Types of Authority7Talcott ParsonsSocial System · Pattern Variables · AGIL Framework8Robert K. MertonManifest & Latent Functions · Conformity & Deviance · Reference Groups9G.H. MeadSelf & Identity · I and Me · Symbolic Interactionism

The books behind the answers

These are the books the Sociology AI actually reads. When it uses one, you’ll see a small chip next to the line, and you can open the exact passage.

  • Core TheorySociology Themes and PerspectivesHaralambos & Holborn
  • Core TheorySociologyAnthony Giddens
  • Core TheorySociological TheoryRitzer
  • Core TheorySociology: A Guide to Problems and LiteratureBottomore
  • Indian SociologyIGNOU Sociology Paper 1IGNOU course material
  • Indian SociologyIGNOU Sociology Paper 2IGNOU course material
  • Indian SociologySocial Change in Modern IndiaSrinivas
  • Indian SociologyCaste Class and PowerBeteille
  • Indian SociologySocial Background of Indian NationalismDesai
  • Indian SociologyModernization of Indian TraditionYogendra Singh
  • Indian SociologySocial Problems in IndiaRam Ahuja

What UPSC asked in 2026

Three from the latest paper. All 1,157 are here, sorted by topic, whenever you want to practise.

2026 · Paper I · 10 marksIn what ways do class and caste intersect and overlap in shaping social structure?Open the question2026 · Paper I · 10 marksCritically examine the position of women in the informal economy.Open the question2026 · Paper I · 10 marksDiscuss the role of geographical factors in social change and development.Open the question
See all 1,157 questions

When you’re ready to practise

Get an answer markedWrite an answer by hand, take a photo, and see the marks, what it missed and a model answer.Take a testA short test on one topic, to see what actually stayed with you.Revise with flashcardsShort cards on thinkers, terms and facts, each tied to the past questions it helps you answer.

Not sure where to begin?

Start at the top, with Sociology: The Discipline. It sets up the words and ideas the rest of the syllabus keeps coming back to.

Open Sociology: The Discipline