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(Download) UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024 - Sociology (Paper-1)

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024

SOCIOLOGY (Paper-1)

  • Exam Name: UPSC IAS Mains SOCIOLOGY (Paper-I)
  • Marks: 250
  • Year : 2024
  • Time Allowed: 3 Hours

खण्ड A SECTION A 

Q1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10x5=50

(a) Discuss the nature of Sociology. Highlight its relationship with Social Anthropology. 
(b) Analyse the changing nature of caste as a status group. 
(c) Marriage as an institution has undergone a radical transformation from 'ritual' to 'commercial' in its outlook. Explain the factors behind this change. 
(d) Democracy needs a vibrant culture of civil society in order to strengthen its foundation of citizenship. Comment. 
(e) What are the 'basic and irreducible' functions of the family as proposed by Talcott Parsons ? Explain. 

Q2. (a) Sociology is the product of European enlightenment and renaissance. Critically examine this statement. 
(b) Do you think 'objectivity' is an over-hyped idea in sociological research? Discuss the merits and demerits of non-positivist methods. 
(c) What is social mobility? Critically examine the classification of 'closed'and ‘open’ models of social stratification.  

Q3.(a) How do you view and assess the increasing trend of digital ethnography and use of visual culture in sociological research? 
(b) Describe the main idea of Max Weber's book, "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' as a critique of Marxism. 
(c) Critically explain the salient features of 'alienation' as propounded by Karl Marx. 

Q4. (a) What do you understand by 'mixed method' ? Discuss its strengths and limitations in social research.
(b) Define the concept of 'gig' economy and discuss its impact on labour market and workers' social security net. 
(c) Critically assess the impact the impact of technological advancement and automation on the nature of work and employment. 

खण्ड B SECTION B 

Q5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10x5=50 

(a) Describe various characteristics of a 'social fact'. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim? 
(b) Explain G.H. Mead's idea of development of 'self' through the ‘generalised other'. 
(c) Describe the differing principles of work organization in feudal and capitalist societies. 
(d) How is 'power' different from 'authority'? Discuss various types of authorities as theorized by Max Weber. 
(e) Critically examine the roles of science and technology in social change. What is your opinion on their increasing trend in 'online' education and teaching ? 

Q6. (a) Underline the role of social media in contemporary social movements and describe its challenges. 
(b) How does a multicultural society accommodate diversities of all kinds – ethnic, linguistic and religious ? Discuss its major challenges. 
(c) Discuss the concept of animism and differentiate it from naturism. 

Q7. (a) Do modernization and secularization necessarily go together? Give your views.
(b) How do you understand the phenomena of the mushrooming of sects and cults in contemporary society? Discuss the factors responsible for the trend.
(c) Discuss the dimensions of power in the construction and maintenance of social hierarchies in a society.

Q8. (a) Modern families have not just become nuclear and neo-local, but also filiocentric. How do you explain this trend? 
(b) Discuss various theories of social change. Explain the limitations of unilinear theory of social change. 
(c) Critically examine the World-Systems theory of Immanuel Wallerstein 

 

(Download) UPSC MAIN EXAM : 2024 - PSYCHOLOGY (Paper-2)

(Download) CS (MAIN) EXAM : 2024 Psychology (Paper 2)

  • Exam Name : CS (MAIN) EXAM : 2024 Psychology (Paper II)

  • Marks: 250

  • Time Allowed : Three Hours

खण्ड 'A' SECTION ‘A’ 

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 

1.(a) Distinguish hallucinations and delusions with suitable examples. 
1.(b) Evaluate the current status of career counselling in India. 
1.(c) What is ergonomics? Explain the benefits of ergonomics in the work place with suitable examples. 
1.(d) Write a note on transference versus countertransference in the context of 10 psychodynamic therapies. 
1.(e) Describe 'revolving door phenomenon' in the context of community based mental health services. 

2.(a) Evaluate effectiveness of ABCD Model in the treatment of psychological disorders. 
2.(b) Why are norms needed for psychological tests? Explain the uses and limitations of 15 percentile ranks in this context. 
2.(c) What is community consciousness? How can it be aroused for handling social problems. 
 
3.(a) Discuss rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in Indian context. 
3.(b) What is learned helplessness? How will you explain depression using the concept of learned helplessness? 
3.(c)Explain situation focussed and competency focussed preventive mental health approaches. Discuss in the context of mentally challenged persons.  

4.(a) What are the components of Vroom's theory of motivation? How can it be used to increase the performance of workers? 
4. (b) Explain various psychological principles underlying effective teaching-learning process. Illustrate your answer with the help of suitable examples. 
4. (c) How will you construct an achievement test in Arithmetics for the fifth standard? 

खण्ड 'B' SECTION 'B' 

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 

5.(a) Explain multilevel marketing with the help of suitable examples.
5.(b) Describe the psychological approaches that can be utilised to motivate disadvantaged groups to move towards development. 
5.(c) What is implicit prejudice? How does it differ from explicit prejudice? Explain with 10 the help of examples. 
5. (d) Discuss the impact of rapid technological growth on degradation of environment in 10 Indian context. 
5. (e) To what extent the role of ideology is critical for understanding terrorism?

6. (a) What are the prevalent forms of gender discrimination in Indian society? Discuss the measures that can be taken to eradicate them. 
6. (b) Differentiate between relative deprivation and prolonged deprivation. Discuss the psychological consequences of relative deprivation. 
6. (c) Discuss the role of mass media and information technology in fostering values and spreading positivity. Design a program for college students in this context.  

7. (a) What is social integration? Explain the psychological measures that can be taken to achieve the goal of social integration. 
7. (b) ow can people be motivated and trained for entrepreneurship? What specific issues would you consider while motivating and training women for entrepreneurship ? Elaborate. 
7.(c) Discuss the psychosocial consequences of short-term and long-term exposure to noise. 

8. (a) Discuss the role of media in the present scenario of antisocial behaviour? Considering Indian context in view suggest some measures to regulate media.
8. (b) What do you mean by positive health of defence personnel? How can psychologists be trained to work with defence personnel in promoting positive health?
8. (c) Explain the interrelation between achievement motivation and entrepreneurial behaviour? Discuss the role of child rearing practices in the development of achievement motivation and entrepreneurial behaviour.

 

(Download) UPSC MAIN EXAM : 2024 - PSYCHOLOGY (Paper-1)

(Download) CS (MAIN) EXAM : 2024 Psychology (Paper 1)

  • Exam Name : CS (MAIN) EXAM : 2024 Psychology (Paper I)

  • Marks: 250

  • Time Allowed : Three Hours

खण्ड -A / SECTION — A 

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

(a) What makes psychology a science? Discuss. 
(b) Citing relevant examples, explain independent, dependent and mediating variables. 
(c) Describe data collection methods in psychology with special reference to observation and survey methods. 
(a) Differentiate between growth and development. Explain the principles of life span development in the context of developmental ecology. 
(e) How do the principles of classical conditioning help in the formation of likes and preferences? Discuss. 

2. (a) Describe the diversity in the disciplinary thoughts with special reference to structuralism, functionalism and behaviourism. 
(b) Citing relevant studies, describe the emergence and development of cognitive psychology. 
(c) Explain the assumptions of two-way ANOVA. With the help of an example, illustrate main and interaction effects. 

3. (a) Discuss the signal detection theory (SDT) with reference to perceptual vigilance task performance. 
(b) Does punishment work in all situations? Discuss the pros and cons of punishment. 
(c) Is reconstructed memory accurate? Describe the process of reconstruction, citing research evidence. 

4. (a) Differentiate between classical and operant conditioning. Discuss their applications with suitable examples. 
(b) How do various monocular and binocular cues help us with depth perception? Discuss with the help of examples. 
(c) Differentiate between the processes of memory and forgetting. Also, discuss multistore model and meta-memory as innovations in the study of memory. 

खण्ड - B / SECTION — B 

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 

(a) Citing research evidence, explain the components of working memory. 
(b) What are the main differences between James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories of emotion? Explain. 
(c) Differentiate between intelligence and aptitude. Also, discuss the main features of a good intelligence test. 
(d) Describe the biological and socio-cultural determinants of personality. Illustrate your answer with the help of Indian studies. 
(e) Is cognitive dissonance effective in changing attitude? Discuss in the light of research evidence. 

6.(a) How do heuristic and algorithm differ as problem-solving strategies? Illustrate the role of mental set in reasoning with the help of experimental evidence. 
(b) Explain the biological and cultural bases of emotion. Do people reveal their emotions through non-verbal cues? Discuss. 
(c) Explain the main components of emotional intelligence. What does the research evidence suggest about the role of training in its enhancement? Discuss. 

7. (a) Distinguish between between psychoanalytic and humanistic approaches to personality. Discuss in detail the recent developments in the applications of these approaches. 
(b) Citing relevant examples, explain how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation differ. Referring to relevant studies, describe the factors influencing intrinsic motivation. 
(c) Discuss the functions of REM sleep and major theories of dreaming. 

8. (a) How do Skinner and Chomsky differ in their approach to language development? Also, discuss the processes and outcomes of bilingualism and multilingualism in Indian context. 
(b) Critically evaluate the positive and negative effects of modern computer technology and artificial intelligence on human behaviour. 
(c) What advice would you give to a civil servant to reduce prejudice and discrimination in Indian society? Discuss. 

 

(Download) UPSC (MAIN) EXAM:2024 PHILOSOPHY (Paper 2)

(Download) CS (MAIN) EXAM:2024 PHILOSOPHY (Paper 2)

  • Exam Name: CS (MAIN) EXAM : 2024 Philosophy

  • Paper :2

  • Year : 2024

  • Marks: 250

  • Time Allowed : Three Hours

खण्ड 'A' SECTION 'A' 

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

1.(a) Briefly discuss Plato's concept of justice. 
1.(b) Present a brief account of origin and development of Social Contract Theory.
1.(c) Discuss the main factors responsible for caste discrimination. 
1.(d)  Present an exposition of the concept of alienation as propounded by Marx.
1.(e) Compare socialism and communism as two distinct political ideologies.

2. (a) Delineate the central tenets of Humanism. How does advent of enlightenment in Europe pave the way for Humanism? Discuss.
2. (b) Critically evaluate the concepts of liberty and equality as political ideals. 
2. (c) Present an exposition of Gandhi's views on secularism as one of the foundational principles of democracy. 

3. (a) Do you agree with the view that Aristotle was more successful than Plato in steering a 20 middle course between 'Statism' and 'individualism' ? Discuss with arguments.
3.(b) On what grounds would you accept or reject the idea of capital punishment as an effective deterrent ? Discuss. 
3.(c) Is economic development a necessary condition, sufficient condition, both or neither, in order to achieve social progress? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 10+5=15 

4. (a) Discuss gender equality as a necessary condition to achieve empowerment of women. Also examine the role of women empowerment in curbing the menace of female foeticide. 
4. (b) What insights does the Arthaśāṣtra offer with regard to the concept of sovereignty? Does it have any relevance in the modern times? Critically discuss. 
4. (c) Discuss the role of ethical principles of tolerance and coexistence for the rise of multicultural societies. 

खण्ड 'B' SECTION 'B' 

5.Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

5. (a) Can there be a religion without morality? Discuss. 
5.(b) Write a note on the notion of absolute truth in the context of religion. 
5.(c) Discuss the concept of liberation (Apavarga) according to Nyāya-Vaiseṣika. 
5. (d) Discuss the role of reason in religion. 
5. (e) Explain the analogical nature of religious language 

6. (a) Is it necessary to adhere to the notions of immortality of soul and rebirth in order to have a robust conception of liberation? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 
6. (b) How does the notion of God in Spinoza's philosophy embedded in his metaphysics of substance and attributes? Critically discuss. 
6. (c) "The problem of evil is a direct offshoot of how God is conceptualised in a system." Critically discuss. 

7.(a) State and evaluate Buddhism as a religion without God. 
7.(b) What kind of epistemic justifications are possible with regard to claims to revelation? Discuss with your own comments. 
7.(c) Present an exposition of ontological proof for the existence of God along with its criticism. 

8. (a) Distinguish between cognitivist and non-cognitivist account of religious language. Does the cognitivist account lead to any contradiction? Answer with reference to the 10+10=20 philosophical views of R. B. Braithwaite. 
8. (b) "In order to be conceived as the ultimate cause of the world, God must necessarily have some form of physical manifestation." Do you agree with this view? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 
8. (c) Discuss the main features of religious experience according to Advaita Vedanta. 
 

(Download) UPSC (MAIN) EXAM:2024 PHILOSOPHY (Paper 1)

(Download) CS (MAIN) EXAM:2024 PHILOSOPHY (Paper 1)

  • Exam Name: CS (MAIN) EXAM : 2024 Philosophy

  • Paper : 1

  • Year : 2024

  • Marks: 250

  • Time Allowed : Three Hours


खण्ड A SECTION A 

Q1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10x5= 50 

(a) Differentiate between Plato's and Aristotle's conceptions of form. 
(b) How does Kant respond to Hume's scepticism with regard to a priori judgments? Discuss. 
(c) What arguments are offered by Moore to prove that there are certain truisms, knowledge of which is a matter of common sense? Critically discuss. 
(d) Why does later Wittgenstein think that there cannot be a language that only one person can speak a language that is essentially private ? Discuss. 
(e) How does Kierkegaard define truth in terms of subjectivity? Critically discuss. 

Q2. (a) Is rejection of Locke's notion of primary qualities instrumental in Berkeley's leaning towards idealism? In this context, also discuss how Berkeley's subjective idealism is different from the absolute idealism proposed by Hegel. 
(b) How does Spinoza establish that God alone is absolutely real with his statement – “Whatever is, is in God” ? Critically discuss. 
(c) Critically examine Kant's objections against the ontological argument for the existence of God.  

Q3.(a) Explain Russell's notion of incomplete symbols. Also explain how this notion leads to the doctrine of logical atomism. 
(b) Is the sentence "All objects are either red or not red" meaningful in the same way as "This page is white" is, according to the logical positivists? Discuss with arguments. 
(c) Among the rationalists, whose account of mind-body problem is compatible with the notion of human freedom and free will? Critically discuss. 

Q4. (a) What do the existentialist thinkers mean by the slogan "existence precedes essence"? How is human existence related to human freedom according to them ? Discuss. 
(b) Why does Husserl think that essences exhibit a kind of continuity between consciousness and being? Discuss. 
(c) Explain the nature of the two dogmas that Quine refers to in his paper "Two Dogmas of Empiricism'. 

खण्ड B SECTION B 

Q5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10x5=50  

(a) Do you think Cārvāka's philosophy is positivistic in nature? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 
(b) Explain the six reasons offered by the Naiyayikas to prove the existence of the self. 
(c) Do these two sentences "Air does not have heat" and "Air is not fire" refer to the same type of absence or abhāva, according to the Vaiśesikas? Discuss. 
(d) How does Bhāṭṭa's view of nature of word-meaning and sentential-meaning differ from Prābhākara's view ? Critically discuss. 
(e) "In Visiṣṭādvaita philosophy, the relationship between God and the world is parallel to that between an individual self and its body." Critically discuss. 

Q6. (a) Differentiate between the Cārvākas' refutation of self as transcendental category and the Buddhist rejection of ātmā. 
(b) How do the two schools of Buddhism arrive at two opposed conclusions, namely "everything is void" and "everything is real" from the same doctrine of Pratityasamutpada? Answer with arguments. 
(c) What is the distinction between Bhavabandha and Dravyabandha, according to the Jainas ? Discuss. 

Q7. (a) Present an account of evolution of Prakṛti as propounded in Sāmkhyakārikā. In this context, also explain the difference between buddhi, mahat and ahamkāra. 
(b) "So long as there are changes and modifications in citta, the self is reflected therein, and, in the absence of discriminative knowledge, identifies itself with them." Present an appraisal of Yoga Soteriology in the light of the above statement. 
(c) "Our Yoga is a double movement of ascent and descent." Discuss the above statement in the context of Sri Aurobindo's conception of Integral Yoga. 

Q8. (a) How do I know that I know? Answer this question with reference to the Naiyāyikas, the Bhāṭṭa Mīmāmsākas and the Prabhakaras. 
(b) "A candidate who is never seen to be studying during the day time secures a high position in a competitive exam." How would the Bhāṭṭa Mīmāmsākas and the Naiyayikas explain the success of this candidate? Discuss. 
(c) On what grounds do the Prabhakaras and the Naiyayikas reject memory as a source of knowledge ? Discuss. 

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