Sociology

The paper at a glance

Sociology carries the subject code 326. The syllabus described here is the one published for 2026-27.

The whole document is about India. There is no unit on sociological theory, on methods, or on societies outside India; every topic is an Indian institution, inequality, process or movement.

How the syllabus is organised

The document is laid out in two parts — Indian Society, with four units, and Change and Development in India, with five units. The first part describes Indian society as it stands; the second describes how it has been changing. Because both parts number their units from Unit I, always say which part you mean when you refer to a unit.

The syllabus itself is a list of topics only. It does not print question counts, marks, negative marking or timing, and it does not say how many questions come from each part. Read it alongside the exam pattern.

Part 1: Indian Society

Four units, from demographic structure through institutions and inequality to the challenges of a plural society.

Part 2: Change and Development in India

Five units. The first three follow change through culture, the polity and the economy; the fourth adds media and globalisation; the fifth is entirely about social movements.

Caste is the one thread that runs through both parts: as an institution in Part 1 Unit II, as prejudice and exclusion in Part 1 Unit III, as casteism in Part 1 Unit IV, and as caste-based movements in Part 2 Unit V.

What this syllabus does not tell you

The document is a topic list and nothing more. From it you cannot learn:

• how many questions come from each part, or the marks, negative marking and duration — those are on the exam pattern;
• the weightage of any unit, so treat every unit as examinable rather than ranking them;
• which thinkers, studies or laws are meant under headings such as social reform movements and laws; the document names none;
• how difficult the questions will be, or whether they will test definitions or the reading of a passage;
• which books to use; the syllabus names no textbook;
• how much weight a university gives this paper once you qualify — the programmes that accept it are listed below, but the marks or ranking rule each one applies sits in its own admission bulletin.

For anything about attempt rules or numbers of questions, go to the NTA information bulletin and the exam pattern rather than to this list.