September 2025

Introduction This response includes short notes on two selected topics: (b) Caste-based affirmative action and (c) Social mobility due to education. Both concepts are crucial in understanding how social change and equity are pursued in stratified societies like India. b. Caste-Based Affirmative Action Definition Caste-based affirmative action refers to special policies and measures designed to […]

Introduction Karin Kapadia’s book, “Siva and Her Sisters: Gender, Caste, and Class in Rural South India”, provides an in-depth anthropological study of women’s lives in Tamil Nadu. One of the key themes explored is how power is negotiated within domestic spaces, particularly in the context of gender, caste, and class relations. Kapadia’s ethnographic work highlights

Introduction Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy. It can be upward or downward and occurs over a person’s lifetime or across generations. In India, social mobility is closely linked to the country’s unique social structure, which includes caste, class, religion, and regional divisions. While modern developments like

Introduction The media is a powerful tool that shapes public opinion, social norms, and cultural values. One of its most significant roles is in the construction and reinforcement of gender roles and identities. Gender is not just a biological fact; it is socially constructed through repeated practices, symbols, and discourses, many of which are produced

Introduction Stratification and marginalisation are key sociological concepts used to understand how societies are structured and how inequalities are produced and maintained. Stratification refers to the division of society into different hierarchical layers or classes based on factors such as wealth, power, occupation, caste, or race. Marginalisation is the process through which certain individuals or

Introduction This response covers short notes on two selected topics: (a) Polygenesis versus Monogenesis and (d) The elite class. Both are important sociological concepts related to human origins and social hierarchy. a. Polygenesis versus Monogenesis Monogenesis Monogenesis is the theory that all human beings have a single origin. According to this view, all races and

Introduction Émile Durkheim, one of the founding fathers of sociology, introduced the concept of solidarity to explain how societies maintain social cohesion and unity. In his seminal work “The Division of Labour in Society” (1893), Durkheim identified two major forms of solidarity—mechanical and organic. He also discussed moral solidarity as a broader concept. These forms

Introduction Authority is a key concept in sociology and political science. It refers to the legitimate power that individuals or institutions hold over others. Authority is different from mere power because it is accepted and recognized by society. The German sociologist Max Weber was the first to classify authority into three distinct types: traditional authority,

Introduction Pastoral communities and shifting cultivators represent traditional modes of subsistence that have been practiced for centuries. These groups live in close relationship with their natural environments and rely on mobility and adaptation to sustain their livelihoods. In the context of social differentiation, both groups demonstrate unique social structures and hierarchies that are shaped by

Introduction Inequality is a central issue in the study of sociology and anthropology. It refers to the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and rights among individuals and groups in society. Inequality can be seen in various aspects of life, including access to education, healthcare, employment, political power, and social recognition. These inequalities often result from