IAS Main (Written) Exam 2014: Sociology:Syllabus

IAS Main 2014 Exam is round the corner and the candidates should start their preparation for the IAS Main (written) Exam 2014 with all their pumps running in full speed. The candidates should understand the Syllabus thoroughly and then start the preparation by understanding the syllabus in a right direction.

The candidates should also read and see the IAS Toppers Interviews to make full use of their experience for the IAS Exam preparation.us of Sociology Optional Subject as given in the Notification by the UPSC is as Follows.      

         SOCIOLOGY PAPER - I

FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY

1. Sociology - The Discipline:

(a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology. (b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences. (c) Sociology and common sense. 

2. Sociology as Science:

(a) Science, scientific method and critique.(b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology. 
(c) Positivism and its critique. (d) Fact value and objectivity. (e) Non- positivist methodologies.

3. Research Methods and Analysis:

(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods.  (b) Techniques of data collection. (c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.

4. Sociological Thinkers:

(a) Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle. (b) Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society. (c) Max Weber-Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. (d) Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables.(e) Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups. (f) Mead - Self and identity.

5. Stratification and Mobility:

(a) Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. (b) Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory. (c) Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. (d) Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.

6. Works and Economic Life:

(a) Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society, feudal society, industrial /capitalist society. (b) Formal and informal organization of work. (c) Labour and society.

7. Politics and Society:

(a) Sociological theories of power. (b) Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties. (c) Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology. (d) Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.

8. Religion and Society:

(a) Sociological theories of religion. (b) Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults. (c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.

9. Systems of Kinship:

(a) Family, household, marriage. (b) Types and forms of family. (c) Lineage and descent. (d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour. (e) Contemporary trends.

10. Social Change in Modern Society:

(a) Sociological theories of social change. (b) Development and dependency. (c) Agents of social change. (d) Education and social change. (e) Science, technology and social change.

       SOCIOLOGY PAPER - II

INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE

A. Introducing Indian Society:

(i) Perspectives on the study of Indian society:
(a) Indology (GS. Ghurye).(b) Structural functionalism (M N Srinivas).(c) Marxist sociology (A R Desai).
(ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: (a) Social background of Indian nationalism. (b) Modernization of Indian tradition. (c) Protests and movements during the colonial period.(d) Social reforms.

B. Social Structure:

(i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:

(a) The idea of Indian village and village studies. (b) Agrarian social structure – evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.

(ii) Caste System:

(a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille. (b) Features of caste system. (c) Untouchability - forms and perspectives.

(iii) Tribal communities in India:

(a) Definitional problems. (b) Geographical spread. (c) Colonial policies and tribes. (d) Issues of integration and autonomy.

(iv)Social Classes in India:

(a) Agrarian class structure. (b) Industrial class structure. (c) Middle classes in India.

(v) Systems of Kinship in India:

(a) Lineage and descent in India. (b) Types of kinship systems. (c) Family and marriage in India. (d) Household dimensions of the family. (e) Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual
division of labour.

(vi)Religion and Society:

(a) Religious communities in India.  (b) Problems of religious minorities.

C. Social Changes in India:

(i) Visions of Social Change in India:

(a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy.(b) Constitution, law and social change.(c) Education and social change.

(ii) Rural and Agrarian transformation in India:

(a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes. (b) Green revolution and social change. (c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture . (d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.

(iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:

(a) Evolution of modern industry in India. (b) Growth of urban settlements in India. (c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization. (d) Informal sector, child labour. (e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas.

(iv)Politics and Society:

(a) Nation, democracy and citizenship. (b) Political parties, pressure groups , social and political elite. (c) Regionalism and decentralization of power. (d) Secularization

(v) Social Movements in Modern India:

(a) Peasants and farmers movements. (b) Women’s movement. (c) Backward classes & Dalit movement. (d) Environmental movements. (e) Ethnicity and Identity movements.

(vi)Population Dynamics:

(a) Population size, growth, composition and distribution. (b) Components of population growth: birth, death, migration. (c) Population policy and family planning. (d) Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.

(vii) Challenges of Social Transformation:

(a) Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustain-ability. (b) Poverty, deprivation and inequalities. (c) Violence against women.
(d) Caste conflicts. (e) Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism. (f) Illiteracy and disparities in education.

IAS Main (Written) Exam 2014:General Studies III:Tips and Strategy

IAS Main (Written) Exam General Studies III is concerned with the topics related to Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

Proportion of Economy was more in IAS Main (Written) Exam 2013 General Studies Question Paper III. Thirteen Questions out of total twenty five were from Economy Section. Moving to Science and Technology part, four questions were from this part. Sizeable weightage was given to environment and ecology also.Questions from internal security and external security section were simple and comprehendible. Thus, these various findings must be kept into account while strategizing for IAS Main (Written) Exam General Studies III.

Economy

This Paper requires the strong fundamentals of economic concepts and their implications on the Society as a whole. The current Government Policies, the basis of taking such decisions and their impact and implications on the nation as a whole. The In-depth knowledge of the economic concept is mandatory for this paper here the NCERT on Indian ECONOMIC Development; NCERT on Macro Economics And NCERT on Micro Economics comes into play. Apart from this the Books the candidates should also have a reading of One Basic Economy Book such as Indian Economy by MISHRA and Puri or Indian Economy by Dutt and Sundaram. In addition to this the candidate should also read thoroughly the Indian economic Survey and The important points and announcement of the Budget and link them with the ongoing economic development process.

Taking up the economy part first, In IAS Main (Written) Exam 2013 General Studies III most of questions were current issues oriented and were correlated to traditional areas of Economics such as new clause of corporate social responsibilities of Company Act 2013 was correlated to the inclusive growth. Pre economic reforms questions did not find more importance in IAS Main (Written) Exam 2013 General Studies III. Candidates should bear it in mind that current issues related to economy are important from point of view of exam. Candidate may proceed accordingly.

Candidate Must focus on following points:

• Emphasis the Basic findamental concepts
• Read thr current issues with backward linkage to the Basic Economic Concepts
• The recent government initiatives will be very useful
• Schemes announced on the independence day and their linkages with different sectors.
• Recent Economic interactions with world
• Current ongoing reforms in economic sector
• Elimination of Policy Paralysis

Environment, Disaster Management, Security issues , Science and Techology

For the Environment and Biotechnology one should keep reading the newspaper for the current updates in the field of Biotechnology, Genetics, new developments in cloning technologies and the likes. For the basic the candidates should read NCERT Books for Science Class VIII, IX, X and also XI & XII for selected topics. The important is the current discoveries and inventions in field of Nano technology and the technologies which can help us in agriculture. For disaster management the candidates should read the fundamental objectives of the disaster managements. The IGNOU booklet on Disaster Management is very useful for this purpose. The candidates should also visit the ndma.gov.in to get a clearer picture and concepts of Disaster Management.

IAS Main (Written) Exam 2013 General Studies III, Questions from Science and Technology and Environment section were current issues oriented. Questions from Disaster Management and security issues were also of current happenings oriented. To sum up, candidate would have to keep in touch with current happening in the areas of economy, Science and Technology, Disaster Management, Environment and security issues and correlate these and develop interdisciplinary and analytical approach.

Following Points can be kept into mind while preparing for this section:-

• Current Development in Science and Technology
• Current Conferences and summits related to Environment and Ecology
• Indian and low carbon growth strategy
• Current Emerging issues related internal securities
• Diseases in news such as Ebola Virus, MERS
• Issues and news related to Disaster Management.

IAS Main (Written) Exam 2014: Commerce:Syllabus

Union Public Service Commission had notified for the Civil Services Examination on 31 May 2014. IAS Prelims 2014 is over and the IAS Main 2014 is scheduled to commence form 14 December 2014. The candidates have very limited time now to prepare for the General Studies as well as the optional Subject.

The candidates are searching for the subjects which are more scoring and easy to cover. Commerce and Accountancy is one of the favourite subject among the Commerce background candidates. The latest trend shows a large number of candidates opting for the Commerce and Accountancy .

The Commerce and Accountancy subject as notified by the UPSC

COMMERCE AND ACCOUNTANCY  PAPER - I

Accounting and Finance

Accounting, Taxation & Auditing

1. Financial Accounting:

Accounting as a Financial Information System; Impact of Behavioural Sciences. Accounting Standards e.g., Accounting for Depreciation, Inventories, Research and Development Costs, Long-term Construction Contracts, Revenue Recognition, Fixed Assets, Contingencies, Foreign Exchange Transactions, Investments and Government Grants, Cash Flow Statement, Earnings Per Share. Accounting for Share Capital Transactions including Bonus Shares, Right Shares, Employees Stock Option  and Buy- Back of Securities. Preparation and Presentation of Company Final Accounts. Amalgamation, Absorption and Reconstruction of Companies.

2. Cost Accounting:

Nature and Functions of Cost Accounting. Installation of Cost Accounting System. Cost Concepts related to Income Measurement, Profit Planning, Cost Control and Decision Making. Methods of Costing: Job Costing, Process Costing, Activity Based Costing. Volume – cost – Profit Relationship as a tool of Profit Planning. Incremental Analysis/ Differential Costing as a Tool of Pricing Decisions, Product Decisions, Make or Buy Decisions, Shut-Down Decisions etc. Techniques of Cost Control and Cost Reduction: Budgeting as a Tool of Planning and Control. Standard Costing and Variance Analysis. Responsibility Accounting and Divisional Performance Measurement.

3. Taxation:

Income Tax: Definitions; Basis of Charge; Incomes which do not form Part of Total Income. Simple problems of Computation of Income (of Individuals only) under Various Heads, i.e., Salaries, Income from House Property, Profits and Gains from Business or Profession, Capital Gains, Income from other sources, Income of other Persons included in Assessee’s Total Income . Set - Off and Carry Forward of Loss. Deductions from Gross Total Income. Salient Features/Provisions Related to VAT and Services Tax.

4. Auditing:

Company Audit: Audit related to Divisible Profits, Dividends, Special investigations, Tax audit. Audit of Banking, Insurance, Non-Profit Organizations and Charitable Societies/Trusts/Organizations.

Financial Management, Financial Institutions and Markets

1. Financial Management:

Finance Function: Nature, Scope and Objectives of Financial Management:
Risk and Return Relationship. Tools of Financial Analysis: Ratio Analysis, Funds-Flow and Cash-Flow Statement. Capital Budgeting Decisions: Process, Procedures and Appraisal Methods. Risk and Uncertainty Analysis and Methods. Cost of capital: Concept, Computation of Specific Costs and Weighted Average Cost of Capital. CAPM as a Tool of Determining Cost of Equity Capital. Financing Decisions: Theories of Capital Structure - Net Income (NI) Approach, Net Operating Income (NOI)  Approach, MM Approach and Traditional Approach. Designing of Capital structure: Types of Leverages (Operating, Financial and Combined), EBIT- EPS Analysis, and other Factors. Dividend Decisions and Valuation of Firm: Walter’s Model, MM Thesis, Gordan’s Model Lintner’s Model. Factors Affecting Dividend Policy. Working Capital Management: Planning of Working Capital. Determinants of Working Capital. Components of Working Capital - Cash, Inventory and Receivables. Corporate Restructuring with focus on Mergers and Acquisitions (Financial aspects only)

2. Financial Markets and Institutions:

Indian Financial System: An Overview Money Markets: Participants, Structure and Instruments. Commercial Banks. Reforms in Banking sector. Monetary and Credit Policy of RBI. RBI as a Regulator.
Capital Market: Primary and Secondary Market. Financial Market Instruments and Innovative Debt Instruments; SEBI as a Regulator. Financial Services: Mutual Funds, Venture Capital, Credit Rating Agencies, Insurance and IRDA.

Commerce and Accountancy  PAPER – II

Organisation Theory and Behaviour, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations Organisation Theory and Behaviour 

1. Organisation Theory:

Nature and Concept of Organisation; External Environment of Organizations - Technological, Social, Political, Economical and Legal; Organizational Goals - Primary and Secondary goals, Single and Multiple Goals; Management by Objectives. 
Evolution of Organisation Theory: Classical, Neo-classical and Systems Approach.
Modern Concepts of Organisation
Theory: Organisational Design, Organisational Structure and Organisational Culture. Organisational Design–Basic Challenges; Differentiation and Integration Process; Centralization and Decentralization Process; Standardization / Formalization and Mutual Adjustment. Coordinating Formal  and Informal Organizations. Mechanistic and Organic Structures.
Designing Organizational structures–Authority and Control; Line and Staff Functions, Specialization and
Coordination. Types of Organization Structure –Functional. Matrix Structure, Project Structure. Nature and Basis of Power , Sources of Power, Power Structure and Politics. Impact of Information Technology on Organizational Design and Structure. Managing Organizational Culture.

2. Organisation Behaviour:

Meaning and Concept; Individual in organizations: Personality, Theories, and Determinants; Perception -Meaning and Process. Motivation: Concepts, Theories and Applications. Leadership-Theories and Styles. Quality of Work Life (QWL): Meaning and its impact on Performance, Ways of its Enhancement. Quality Circles (QC) – Meaning and their Importance. Management of Conflicts in Organizations. Transactional Analysis, Organizational Effectiveness, Management of Change.

Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations

1. Human Resources Management(HRM):

Meaning, Nature and Scope of HRM, Human Resource Planning, Job Analysis, Job Description, Job Specification, Recruitment Process, Selection Process, Orientation and Placement, Training and Development Process, Performance Appraisal and 360° Feed Back, Salary and Wage Administration, Job
Evaluation, Employee Welfare, Promotions, Transfers and Separations.

2. Industrial Relations (IR):

Meaning, Nature, Importance and Scope of IR, Formation of Trade Unions, Trade Union Legislation, Trade Union Movement in India. Recognition of Trade Unions, Problems of Trade Unions in India. Impact of Liberalization on Trade Union Movement. Nature of Industrial Disputes : Strikes and Lockouts , Causes of Disputes, Prevention and Settlement of Disputes. Worker’s Participation in Management: Philosophy, Rationale, Present Day Status and Future Prospects.
Adjudication and Collective Bargaining. Industrial Relations in Public Enterprises, Absenteeism and labour Turnover in Indian Industries and their Causes and Remedies. 
ILO and its Function

CMAT September 2014: What happened on first day

CMAT (Commmon management aptitude test) is being conducted by AICTE for admission in management institutes. CMAT for the month of September 2014 was started on 25th September 2014 and it will end on 29th September 2014. For the aspirants whose exams are still to be conducted, a first day exam analysis will be really helpful. We have brought the same for you.

Overall CMAT examination has a moderate level of difficulty. And this time it was no different. CMAT September 2014 examination was a easy to moderate level exam. The toughest sections were Language comprehension and General Awareness; while the other two sections (Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning) were relatively easier. In a way, it will make the examination scoring as Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning are seen as the tough sections and them being easier makes the task easy for candidates. General Awareness is a section where either you know the answer or you do not. Language Comprehension was surprisingly tough.

Let us now see what was the nature of questions in each of the section.

Quantiative Aptitude: There were questions from Number system, Mensuration, Allegations & Mixtures, Ratios and Proportion. Mostly questions are  from elementary mathematics.

Logical Reasoning: Comparatively it was an easy section too. It had questions from Relations, Sequences & Series, True and False. It was a scoring section as well.

Language Comprehension: It was a tough section. Many students remained clueless abotut he length of the passages. Every Reading Comprehension passage had 4-5 questions. There were questions from Paracompletion, Sentence Correction and English Grammar.

General Awareness: It was a moderate level section. Regular brushing up of current affairs would have helped aspirants in cracking it.

Overall paper was easier than its counter parts.

Click here for CMAT Study Material

Click here for CMAT Question papers

Click here for CMAT General Awareness

Loyola Institute of Business Administration: MBA Admissions 2015 anounced

Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA) Chennai was established in 1979 and has invited applications for its PGDM and other management programmes for the academic session 2015-16. The application process at LIBA was started on September 15, 2014 and will close on 26th January 2015 for PGDM batch 2015-17.

Important dates for admission at LIBA:

• Openign date of registration: 15th September 2014
• Closing date of registration: 26th January 2014

Eligibility Criteria for admission at LIBA:

• One needs to be a graudate in any discipline.
• CAT and XAT Scores will be accepted.

How to Apply for admission at LIBA:

Aspirants who want admission at LIBA should apply to LIBA by registering online at their website by giving their CAT/XAT-ID and details of DD/IMS/ Net Banking receipt.
Candidates need to fill up the LIBA application form by clicking on LIBA registration link to create and receive by email a unique LIBA-ID and password. Candidates should login with this LIBA-ID and password to complete the application form and upload the photo and signature (Not exceeding 50 KB).

Selection process for admission at LIBA:

Register online for CAT 2014 or XAT 2015. 
Candidate will be shortlisted for GD & PI on the basis of their performance in CAT 2014/ XAT 2015. LIBA will decide the section-wise as well as total cut-off marks which will be used for short-listing the candidates to be called for Written Ability Test, Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Due weightage will be awarded to academic profile and work experience during the GD process.

Seats at LIBA: 120

Click here to visit LIBA website

Click here for MBA Notification & Alerts

NMAT 2015: Registration date extended to 4th October 2015

NMIMS, School of Business Management (SBM) invited applications for admission to MBA & PGDM/PGDBM Programmes for academic year commencing from June 2015. The admission for all the Programmes will be through NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) conducted by NMIMS. For NMAT - 2015, candidates can apply for more than one Programme and more than one campus.

NMIMS has extended the last date of registration to 4th October 2014 which previously was 24th September 2014. It is a good news for the aspirants as they get more time to register themselves for the NMAT 2015 examination.

Test Structure for NMAT 2015:

NMAT would be an objective type multiple-choice test.
• Type of Questions: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning.
• There shall be no negative marking for wrong answers.
• If the candidate is not satisfied by his/her NMAT score in first attempt he/she may schedule for a re-take by visiting www.pearsonvue.com/nmims & logging in with the allotted username and password.

Click here for full NMAT 2015 notification

Click here for NMAT 2015 Selection Process