FIRST YEAR
MSO-001: Sociological Theories and Concepts
Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each of the sections. Your answers
should be in about 500 words each.
Marks – 100
Section-I
- Explain the relationship between theory and paradigm. [20]
- Compare and contrast the functional approaches of Radcliffe-Brown and
Malinowski. [20] - Explain the concept of liberty in the writings of Isaiah Berlin. [20]
- What is neo-functionalism? Examine its strengths and limitations. [20]
- Discuss the concept of Social Structure as a model. [20]
Section-II
- Examine the relationship between identity and identification. [20]
- What is sovereignty? Discuss the difference between internal and external
sovereignty. [20] - Critically examine the concept of Alienation. [20]
- Explain the functional perspective on social stratification. [20]
- Discuss Foucault’s approach of ‘archaeology of knowledge’ to understand
society. [20]
MSO-002: Research Methodologies and Methods
Section –A
Answer any two of the following questions
- What is phenomenology? Explain with reference to the contribution of Martin
Heidegger. [25] - What is positivism? Discuss Giddens’s critique of positivism. [25]
- Explain the comparative method. Discuss its scope in social science research. [25]
- Discuss the participatory approach to social research. Compare and contrast it with
conventional research methodology. [25] - Critically examine the nature and scope of feminist method in social science research. [25]
Section-B
Write a research report on any one of the following topics in about 3000 words.
- Change in family structure and familial relations in India. [50]
- Significance of open and distance learning in democratization of education. [50]
- Relevance of quantitative method of analysis in sociological research. [50]
You can write this report based either on review of literature, or data collected from the primary
sources.
For review of literature you are to select either two books or four research articles published recently on the selected topic of your choice. Write a review article focusing on the location of the study, methodology followed and the main findings of these studies.
For the primary source you are to collect two case studies and write a report on the selected topic in a comparative framework. While writing the report spell out clearly the objectives and the problems of the study and
- problematise the issue within the existing/available literature,
- elaborate your observations, finding and conclusion coherently, and
- make proper referencing at the end.
MSO-003: Sociology of Development
Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each of the sections. Your answers
should be in about 500 words each.
Marks 100
Section -I
- What is Development? Contrast the evolutionary models of development as
elaborated by Marx and Parsons.[20] - Discuss in detail the concept of Modernization and its various perspectives
with examples.[20] - What is Sustainable Development? Discuss critically the future of
sustainable development in the context of globalization.[20] - What is knowledge/Information Society? Analyze the role of the role of
knowledge and ICTs in empowering communities.[20] - Discuss critically the social dimensions of globalization in India. [20]
Section-II
- Discuss the changing perspectives on women’s development. [20]
- Write a critique of the Marxian perspective of development. [20]
- Describe dependency theory? [20]
- Discuss the role of civil society for the empowerment of the marginalized
sections of the society.[20] - Discuss the Gandhian perspective on development. [20]
MSO-004: Sociology in India
Answer any five question selecting at least two from each Section. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.
Section-I
- Describe and discuss the socio-historical background of the emergence of
Sociology in India.[20] - Discuss with suitable examples the major research trends in Sociology in India. [20]
- Define the concept of caste and discuss the colonial perspective on caste with
suitable examples.[20] - Explain with examples the forces of social and technological changes that
impact the family institution in India.[20] - Distinguish between North Indian and South Indian kinship system. [20]
Section-II
- What are the major agrarian classes in India? Discuss with reference to the
contributions of different Sociologists.[20] - Discuss the main features of middle class in India with suitable examples. [20]
- Discuss critically the concepts of caste, class and gender in India. [20]
- How does migration affect the rural and urban societies both during a social or
natural disaster like an epidemic or earthquake. [20] - Write short notes on any two of the following: [20]
a) Concept of urban and urbanism
b) Globalisation in India
c) Social movements: Old and New
d) Social change and its impact on marriage pattern in India.
SECOND YEAR
MSOE-001: Sociology of Education
Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each Section. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.
Section-I
- Discuss the sociological perspective on education. [20]
- Compare functionalist and conflict approaches towards the understanding of
education.[20] - How does education perpetuate gender inequality in society? Discuss. [20]
- Discuss the relation between education and social mobility. [20]
- How does education help in nation building? Explain. [20]
Section-II
- What is multicultural education? Discuss its relevance in contemporary
society.[20] - “Education is a tool for women’s empowerment”. Discuss. [20]
- Analyse the impact of globalization on higher education in India. [20]
- What do you understand by knowledge society? Describe its relation to
education.[20] - Explain the philosophical foundation of distance education. [20]
MSOE-002: Diaspora and Transnational Communities
Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each Section. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.
Section-1
- Briefly examine the nature of Jewish Diaspora. [20]
- Describe the migration patterns of Indian Diaspora to the Gulf region. [20]
- What are the five patterns of Indian emigration? [20]
- Describe the historical context of Indian emigration during colonial times. [20]
Section-II
- Discuss the role of Bollywood in the representation of the Indian diaspora. [20]
- Write a note on the socio-cultural linkages between Indian diasporas. [20]
- Discuss the nature of transnational networks among Punjabi diaspora. [20]
- Why are Indians considered a model minority in the USA. [20]
MSOE-003: Sociology of Religion
Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each Section. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.
Section-I
- Describe and discuss the sociological perspective on religion. [20]
- Discuss the elements of soul and sacrifice in religious beliefs. [20]
- What is the “okka”? Discuss with examples. [20]
- Explain T.N. Madan’s view of non-renunciation with suitable example. [20]
- Explain Weber’s perspective on the origins of the spirit of capitalism. [20]
Section-II
- Explain phenomenology of religion with special reference to Peter Bergers’
view.[20] - Discuss the main features of communalism and fundamentalism. [20]
- Discuss Clifford Geertz’s approach to the understanding of religion. [20]
- What is a pluralist society? Describe any one of the major religious teachings. [20]
- Describe the Indian experience in the realm of secularism and secularization. [20]
MSOE-004: Urban Sociology
Answer any five question selecting at least two from each Section. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.
Section-I
- Describe the ecological park theory with suitable examples. [20]
- Define the concept of city and discuss the town/city distinction according to the
Indian Census.[20] - What are pre-industrial cities? Describe and discuss its features with an example. [20]
- Discuss the meaning of New Urban Sociology? What does it constitute? [20]
- How does the forces of technological and socio-cultural changes in society
impact the family. Discuss with examples.[20] - Analyse the different aspects of social change in rural areas in India with
reference to life-style and social mobility.[20]
Section-II
- How has the occupational structure changed after economic liberalization,
privatization and globalization in urban India.[20] - Which is more acute-urban poverty or rural poverty in India? Discuss critically
with examples.[20] - In what ways does urban ecology and environment impact the lives of people
living in cities? Discuss [20] - Discuss critically the role and responsibility of media in urban governance. [20]
INDIA: DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT (MPS-003)
Answer any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions from
each section. Each question carries 20 marks.
SECTION-I
- Critically examine the working of the federal system in India.
- Discuss the main challenges of ethnicity for the nation-state in India.
- Discuss the importance of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in Indian
democracy. - What are the non-party institutions of participation? How do they complement the
democratic process? - Write short notes on the following in about 250 words each:
a) Caste in Indian Democracy
b) Identity Politics in India
SECTION-II
- Critically analyse the role of media in shaping public policies and public opinion.
- Comment on the following in about 250 words each:
a) Sustainable Development
b) Gender and Development - Discuss the factors for the growth of regionalism in India.
- Discuss the changing notions of civil society and its importance in contemporary
era. - Write short notes on the following in about 250 words each:
a) Language and politics in India
b) Economic Consequences of Migration
MPA-016: DECENTRALISATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE
This Assignment consists of Section- I and Section- II. There are five questions in each
Section. You have to answer a total of five questions in about 500 words each. It is
necessary to attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20
marks.
SECTION-I
1) Discuss the importance of decentralisation and suggest necessary measures for
strengthening decentralised development in India. [20]
2) Describe the administrative decentralisation in contemporary scenario. [20]
3) “The Bhagidari programme of Delhi Government has promoted the GovernmentCitizens partnership”. Comment. [20]
4) Examine the partnership among local authorities and special purpose agencies in
education sector. [20]
5) Explain the concept of empowerment and highlight the problems and constraints in
achieving empowerment. [20]
SECTION-II
6) “Owing to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, the PRIs are functioning as
effective institutions of local self-governance at the grassroots level”. Examine. [20]
7) Explain the organisational structure of Urban Local Government. [20]
8) Describe the resources of local bodies. [20]
9) “Municipalities in urban areas are functioning as an effective institution of local- self
government”. Comment. [20]
10) Define sustainable development and enumerate its major challenges to sustainable
development and environment. [20]