IASNOVA
Immanuel Kant – Duty, Moral Law & Ethical Public Service (Smart Module)
Aristotle – Virtue Ethics, Practical Wisdom & Good Governance (Smart Module)
Plato – Justice, Moral Order & Ideal Governance (Smart Module)
Socrates – Moral Reasoning, Integrity & Ethical Courage (Smart Module)
Kautilya (Chanakya) – Ethics of Raj Dharma & Good Governance (Smart Module)
Sri Aurobindo – Integral Ethics & Transformation for Governance (Smart Module)
Swami Vivekananda – Ethics of Strength, Service & Universalism
Swami Vivekananda – Ethics of Strength, Service & Universalism Character · Fearlessness · Selfless Service · Humanism · Duty · Oneness of Humanity 1. Quick Insight Grid – Vivekananda’s Ethical Vision Value Meaning Governance Relevance Strength Moral courage, fearlessness, willpower…
Gautama Buddha – Ethical Framework for Modern Governance
Mahatma Gandhi: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion towards the Weaker-Sections: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
1. Introduction – Empathy, Tolerance & Compassion in Public Service In a diverse and unequal society, civil servants constantly engage with people from different castes, religions, classes, genders, regions and abilities. Many belong to weaker sections who face structural disadvantages…
Integrity, Impartiality and Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to Public Service: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
1. Introduction Ethical governance rests on four foundational principles — Impartiality, Integrity, Non-Partisanship and Dedication to Public Service. These values ensure that public administration remains fair, neutral, honest, constitutional and citizen-centric, especially in environments where political pressure, social diversity and…
Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
1. Understanding Aptitude in Civil Services Aptitude refers to an individual’s natural or acquired capacity to perform tasks, solve problems, understand situations and deliver outcomes efficiently. In civil services, aptitude represents a combination of mental ability, emotional strength, ethical orientation…
Emotional Intelligence and Ethical Governance: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
1. Utilities of Emotional Intelligence in Governance Emotional Intelligence (EI) plays a transformative role in strengthening administrative efficiency, leadership quality, ethical behaviour, citizen relations and crisis response. Administrators operate in socially complex environments where emotions strongly influence public expectations, grievances,…
Emotional Intelligence I- Concepts, Models, Competencies (Smart Module for UPSC Ethics)
1. Introduction to Emotional Intelligence (EI) Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognise, understand, use and manage emotions in oneself and in others, in ways that support effective thinking, ethical behaviour and constructive relationships. In administration and governance, officials…
Political and Moral Attitude: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Social Influence and Persuasion: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
1. Introduction: Why Social Influence & Persuasion Matter Human behaviour is shaped not only by individual beliefs but also by social expectations, peer pressure, group identity, authority structures, and communication strategies. Even people with strong personal values may act differently…
Influence of Attitude and Relations with Thought and Behavior: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
1. Attitude as the Bridge Between Thought and Behaviour Attitude is a learned and relatively stable evaluation (favourable or unfavourable) of a person, group, event, value or policy. It has cognitive (beliefs), affective (feelings) and behavioural (action tendency) components. Because…
Attitude: Content; Structure and Functions (UPSC Ethics)
1. Understanding Attitude: Meaning & Components (C–A–B Model) In Ethics, attitude refers to a learned and relatively stable mental readiness to respond favourably or unfavourably towards a person, event, idea, policy or institution. It develops through socialisation, learning, observation and…
Strengthening of Ethical and Moral Values in Governance: Smart-Prep Module
Strengthening of Ethical and Moral Values in Governance IASNova Smart-Prep Module for UPSC Ethics (GS-IV) 1. Meaning & Importance of Ethical and Moral Values in Governance Strengthening ethical and moral values in governance means embedding integrity, honesty, fairness, compassion, justice,…
Accountability and Ethical Governance: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Accountability and Ethical Governance IASNova Smart-Prep Module for UPSC Ethics (GS-IV) 1. Meaning & Importance of Accountability in Public Administration Accountability means that public officials are answerable for actions, decisions, performance, and use of public funds. They must justify actions…
Corporate Governance: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Corporate Governance IASNova Smart-Prep Module for UPSC Ethics (GS-IV) 1. Meaning, Purpose & Ethical Foundations of Corporate Governance Corporate governance refers to: • Systems and processes guiding corporate decision-making • Ensuring fairness, transparency, accountability, integrity • Balancing interests of shareholders,…
Ethical Issues in International Relations & Funding: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Ethical Issues in International Relations & Funding IASNova Smart-Prep Module for UPSC Ethics (GS-IV) 1. Why Ethics Matters in International Relations International relations operate in a grey zone where national interest and moral responsibility often clash. Ethical failures in IR…
Laws, Rules, Regulations & Conscience as Sources of Ethical Resources
Problems and Status of Ethics in Public Administration: Smart UPSC Ethics Module
Problems and Status of Ethics in Public Administration IASNova Smart-Prep Module for UPSC Ethics (GS-IV) Ethical failures in governance arise not only from individual misconduct but also from structural constraints, institutional design flaws, political pressures, and cultural weaknesses. This module…
Ethical Dilemmas and Concerns in Government & Private Institutions: UPSC Ethics
Ethical Dilemmas and Concerns in Government & Private Institutions IASNova Smart-Prep Module for UPSC Ethics (GS-IV) Public administration constantly confronts ethical crossroads where legality, morality, public interest, personal values, and institutional pressures collide. For UPSC, this topic is central to…
Citizen’s Charter (Probity in Governance): Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Citizen’s Charter Introduction A Citizen’s Charter is a public declaration of an organisation’s commitment to its service standards. It specifies the services offered, timelines for delivery, responsibilities of officials, and grievance redressal mechanisms. It strengthens transparency, accountability and citizen empowerment…
Codes of Conduct (Probity in Governance): Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Codes of Ethics (Probity in Governance): Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Right to Information (RTI)- Smart Module for UPSC Ethics Paper
Work Culture (Probity in Governance)- Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Quality of Service Delivery: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Challenges of Corruption: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Challenges of Corruption Introduction Corruption is the misuse of public office for private gain. It erodes trust, diverts development funds, weakens institutions, increases inequality, and undermines ethical governance. Corruption is not only a financial crime—it is fundamentally an ethical failure…
Utilization of Public Funds: Smart Module for UPSC Ethics
Utilization of Public Funds Introduction Public funds are resources collected from citizens through taxes, fees, borrowings and grants. They represent public trust, and their ethical utilization is essential for justice, development and good governance. Misutilization of public funds leads to…
Philosophical Basis of Governance and Probity: Smart Revision Module
Philosophical Basis of Governance and Probity Introduction The philosophical basis of governance and probity refers to the ideas, ethical theories and worldviews that justify why governance must be moral, transparent, just and accountable. Governance is fundamentally an ethical enterprise because…
Information Sharing and Transparency in Government: Smart Preparation Module
Information Sharing and Transparency in Government Introduction Information sharing and transparency in government refer to the open, timely and accurate communication of decisions, policies, rules, data and performance to citizens and other stakeholders. It is the opposite of secretive and…
Concept of Public Service: Smart Preparation Module for UPSC Ethics
Essence of Ethics- Smart Preparation Module for UPSC
Determinants and Consequences of Ethics in Human Actions: UPSC Module
Dimensions of Ethics: Smart Preparation Module for UPSC Exam
Dimensions of Ethics Introduction Ethics is a multi-layered framework that guides human behaviour at various stages of life—individual, interpersonal, institutional, social and global. The concept of “Dimensions of Ethics” helps in understanding the diverse angles from which ethical behaviour can…
Administrators and Reformers — Ethics, Values and Leadership Lessons (Smart Module)
Administrators and Reformers — Ethics, Values and Leadership Lessons Introduction Administrators and reformers are central to value-based governance. While teachers shape personal morality, administrators and reformers apply values in real public life where decisions affect thousands or millions of people.…
Human Values — Lessons from the Lives and Teachings of Great Teachers (Quick Revision Module)
Role of Family, Society & Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values: Smart Preparation Module
Role of Family, Society & Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values Introduction Values such as honesty, empathy, respect, fairness, responsibility, courage and cooperation do not emerge automatically. They are shaped gradually through interaction with three major socialising forces: family, society and…
Ethics in Private and Public Relationships- Smart Revision Module
Reliability and Validity in Sociological Research: Quick Revision Module
Reliability & Validity — Ensuring Accuracy in Sociological Research Reliability asks whether a measure yields consistent results; Validity asks whether it measures the intended construct. Reliable tools can still be invalid (consistently wrong). High-quality sociological research maximises both via careful…
Variables, Sampling & Hypothesis (Research Methods): Quick Revision Module
Variables, Sampling & Hypothesis — Research Design Essentials Sociological research transforms abstract concepts into measurable, testable, and representative forms through the triad of variables, sampling, and hypotheses. Together, they constitute the backbone of empirical investigation, bridging theory and observation. 1)…
Techniques of Data Collection — Research Methods & Analysis (Quick Revision Module)
Techniques of Data Collection — Research Methods & Analysis Sociological research depends on systematic data collection to understand and explain social phenomena. Data may be primary (directly collected) or secondary (already available). The choice of technique depends on research aims,…
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods — Research Methods & Analysis (Quick Revision Module)
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods — Research Methods & Analysis Research in sociology is rooted in understanding society through evidence. The twin approaches — quantitative and qualitative — reflect the long-standing methodological divide between positivist and interpretive traditions. While quantitative methods…
Contemporary Trends in Family, Marriage & Kinship: Quick Revision Module
Contemporary Trends in Family, Marriage & Kinship — Systems of Kinship (UPSC Sociology) The institution of family, marriage, and kinship has undergone profound transformations under globalisation, urbanisation, technological change, and gender equality movements. Traditional kinship patterns—based on caste, patriarchy, and…
Patriarchy and Sexual Division of Labour: Quick Revision Module
Lineage and Descent- Systems of Kinship (Quick Revision Module)
Types and Forms of Family: Quick Revision Module
Family, Household & Marriage (UPSC Sociology)
Family, Household & Marriage — Theoretical Perspectives UPSC evaluates clarity on concepts (family/household/marriage), theories (functionalist, conflict, feminist, anthropological), and India-specific scholarship. This upgraded module adds dedicated thinker sections with mechanisms, applications, critiques, and quick-revision visuals. 0) Rapid Concept Recap —…
Science, Technology & Social Change: UPSC Sociology Module
Science, Technology & Social Change — Visual + Explanatory Guide Science and technology (S&T) reshape economies, states, culture and everyday life. This module explains how S&T produces knowledge, drives innovation and capitalism, creates risks that demand reflexive governance, reorganises society…
Education & Social Change: UPSC Sociology Module
Education & Social Change — Visual + Explanatory Guide Education changes society by socialising values, allocating roles, building skills, and sometimes reproducing inequality. This module explains major theories (Durkheim, Parsons, Bourdieu, Bowles & Gintis, Freire, human capital, Inkeles & Smith,…
Agents of Social Change: Quick Revision Module
Development & Dependency: Quick Revision Module
Development & Dependency — Visual+Explanatory Guide 1) Concept of Development — From Economic Growth to Human Capabilities Economic development emphasises rising income, productivity, and structural transformation (agriculture → industry/services). Sociological development goes further: it asks how institutions, culture, power, equality,…
Sociological Theories of Social Change (Advanced & Contemporary): Part 2
Sociological Theories of Social Change (Advanced & Contemporary): Part 2 This part covers: Cyclical/Civilisational (Sorokin, Toynbee), Modernisation & Diffusion (Lerner, Rostow, Inkeles–Smith, Ogburn, Rogers), a note on Dependency & World-Systems (detailed separately), Late-modern/Post- perspectives (Beck, Giddens, Bauman, Castells, Harvey, Bourdieu,…
Sociological Theories of Social Change Part 1: Quick Revision Module
Sociological Theories of Social Change: Part 1 This part covers Classical & Evolutionary (Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, Tönnies), Functionalist Differentiation (Parsons, Smelser), and Conflict & Revolution (Marx/Engels, Gramsci, Dahrendorf). Visual maps and UPSC-ready tables are included for quick recall.…
Labour and Society: Quick Revision Module for UPSC Sociology
Labour and Society This module analyses labour as the central link between economy and society using Marx (surplus value, alienation, labour process), Durkheim (division of labour & anomie), Weber (Protestant ethic, rationalisation), Polanyi (embedded vs disembedded economy), and contemporary thinkers…
Formal & Informal Organisation of Work: Quick Revision Module for UPSC Sociology
Formal & Informal Organisation of Work This module compares formal and informal organisation of work using classic and contemporary sociology: Weber (bureaucracy), Taylor (scientific management), Mayo (human relations), Etzioni (compliance), Keith Hart & ILO (informal economy), Castells (network society), Standing…
Social Organisation of Work — Slave, Feudal & Industrial Capitalist Societies (Smart Revision Module)
Social Organisation of Work — Slave, Feudal & Industrial Capitalist Societies This module explains how work is socially organised across major historical formations—slave, feudal, and industrial capitalist—using lenses from Marx (relations of production, exploitation, alienation), Weber (authority, status, rationalisation), Durkheim…
Protest, Agitation, Social Movements, Collective action, Revolution: Quick Revision Module
Block 1: Protest, Agitation, Social Movements & Collective Action This block covers (1) key distinctions among protest, agitation, collective action; (2) classical foundations (Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Le Bon, Blumer); (3) strain & relative-deprivation theories (Smelser, Gurr, Davies); and (4) resource…
Nation, State & Citizenship: Quick Revision Module
Nation, State & Citizenship This module explains three pillars of political sociology: the Nation (imagined solidarity), the State (institutional authority), and Citizenship (rights & membership). We integrate Weber, Renan, Gellner, Anderson, Hobsbawm, A. D. Smith on nation; Weber, Marx/Gramsci/Poulantzas, Parsons,…
Pressure Groups & Political Parties: In-Depth Quick Revision Module
Pressure Groups & Political Parties This module explains how pressure groups (interest/advocacy organizations) and political parties convert demands into policy and power. It integrates pluralist (Dahl, Truman, Lindblom), elitist critiques (Mills, Domhoff), and core party theories (Duverger, Sartori, Lipset &…
Bureaucracy: In-depth Quick Revision Module
Bureaucracy Bureaucracy is the institutional core of modern governance. Sociologists explain its rational-legal design (Weber), dysfunctions (Merton, Gouldner, Crozier), organizational pathologies (Parkinson’s Law, Peter Principle), and contemporary shifts (street-level discretion, New Public Management, post-bureaucratic/network governance). Indian illustrations anchor concepts to…
Power Elite Theory: In-Depth Quick Revision Module
Sociological Theories of Power: Quick Revision Module
Causes and Barriers of Social Mobility: Quick Revision Module
Causes and Barriers of Social Mobility Social mobility depends on various personal, structural, and institutional factors that facilitate or restrict movement within the hierarchy. Sociologists distinguish between enabling causes (drivers of movement) and barriers (constraints that sustain inequality). Flowchart —…
Sources of Social Mobility: UPSC Sociology
Sources of Social Mobility Sources of mobility refer to the structural and cultural mechanisms that enable individuals or groups to move within the social hierarchy. Sociologists have identified both institutional and technological factors that open channels of advancement and alter…
Types of Social Mobility: UPSC Sociology
Open and Closed Social Mobility: UPSC Sociology
Dimensions of Stratification — Gender (Quick Revision Module for UPSC Sociology)
Dimensions of Stratification — Gender Gender stratification refers to the unequal distribution of power, privileges, and opportunities between men and women, rooted not in biology but in social organization. Gender becomes a social construct that institutionalizes patriarchy, shaping roles, work,…
Dimensions of Stratification — Ethnicity and Race (Quick Revision Module for UPSC Sociology)
Dimensions of Stratification — Ethnicity and Race Ethnicity and Race are socially constructed dimensions of stratification based on perceived cultural or biological differences. They create systems of inclusion and exclusion, influencing identity, life chances, and power. While race historically justified…
Dimensions of Stratification — Class and Status (Quick Revision Module for UPSC Sociology)
Dimensions of Stratification — Class and Status Class and Status are two principal dimensions of social stratification that determine people’s life chances, power and prestige. While class derives from economic relations, status derives from social honor and prestige. Together they…
Weberian Theory of Social Stratification: UPSC Sociology
Weberian Theory of Social Stratification Max Weber provided a multidimensional model of stratification that broadened Marx’s economic view. While Marx emphasized ownership, Weber added the dimensions of status (prestige) and party (power). Thus, inequality stems not only from property relations…
Marxist Theory of Social Stratification: UPSC Sociology
Structural Functionalist Theory of Social Stratification: UPSC Sociology 1
Structural Functionalist Theory of Social Stratification The Structural Functionalist perspective views stratification as an inevitable and functional aspect of social systems. Each position in society fulfills certain necessary functions, and stratification ensures that the most qualified individuals occupy the most…
Equality, Inequality, Hierarchy, Exclusion, Poverty, And Deprivation: UPSC Sociology I
Social Stratification & Mobility — Module 1 Scope: Equality · Inequality · Hierarchy · Exclusion · Poverty · Deprivation — with full thinker explanations, Indian illustrations, tables, and flowcharts. 1) Concept of Equality Equality means institutional arrangements that guarantee equal…
Symbolic Interactionism: UPSC Sociology Paper 1
Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis: UPSC Sociology Paper I
Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis Ethnomethodology (Harold Garfinkel) investigates the members’ methods by which ordinary people produce and sustain social order in real time. It treats order as an ongoing accomplishment, made visible through practical reasoning, talk, and mundane routines. Conversation…
Phenomenological Sociology: UPSC Sociology Paper I
Phenomenological Sociology Phenomenological Sociology is a major non-positivist approach that studies how individuals construct and experience the social world through consciousness, perception, and everyday interaction. Rooted in the philosophy of Edmund Husserl and developed by Alfred Schutz, it views society…
Non-Positivist Methodologies in Sociology: UPSC Module
Non-Positivist Methodologies in Sociology Non-positivist methodologies arise from the view that human social life is constituted by meanings, symbols, lifeworlds, and power, which cannot be exhaustively captured by natural-science models of law-like causation. They prioritize understanding (Verstehen), interpretation, reflexivity, and…
Fact, Value, and Objectivity in Sociology: UPSC Module
Positivism and Its Critique: UPSC Sociology I
Positivism and Its Critique in Sociology Positivism established sociology as a science of society, modeled on the natural sciences and oriented to observation, measurement, causality, and prediction. From Auguste Comte to Émile Durkheim, and later the Vienna Circle (Logical Positivism),…
Postmodern and Poststructuralist Research Methodology in Sociology: UPSC Module
Postmodern and Poststructuralist Research Methodology in Sociology The Postmodern and Poststructuralist strand of research methodology emerged in the late 20th century as a radical critique of science, reason, and universal truth. It challenges all “grand narratives” that claim to explain…
Feminist Research Methodology in Sociology: UPSC Module
Feminist Research Methodology in Sociology Feminist Research Methodology challenges the male-centered bias of traditional sociology and redefines how knowledge is created, validated, and applied. It insists that gender is a central category of analysis and that research must aim not…
Critical and Emancipatory Research Methodology in Sociology: UPSC Module
Interpretivist Research Methodology in Sociology: UPSC Module
Interpretivist Research Methodology in Sociology The Interpretivist strand of research methodology emerged as a reaction against the rigidity of positivism. It emphasizes meanings, motives, and subjective understanding of human actions rather than discovering universal laws. Associated mainly with Max Weber,…
Positivist Research Methodology: UPSC Sociology
Positivist Research Methodology in Sociology The Positivist strand is the earliest and most influential tradition in sociological methodology. Rooted in the model of natural sciences, it views society as an objective reality governed by discoverable laws. Thinkers like Auguste Comte…
Major Theoretical Strands of Research Methodology: UPSC Sociology I
Major Theoretical Strands of Research Methodology Research methodology in sociology is shaped by different theoretical traditions—each offering distinct assumptions about reality (ontology), knowledge (epistemology), and methods (techniques of inquiry). The five dominant strands are Positivist, Interpretive, Critical, Feminist, and Postmodern.…
Science, Scientific Method, and Critique (UPSC Sociology – Paper I)
Science, Scientific Method, and Critique (Sociology) Can sociology be a science? What does a scientific method look like for studying human meanings, institutions, and power? This module explains the logic of scientific inquiry in sociology, its classic forms (positivism), alternative…
Sociology and Common Sense: UPSC Sociology
Sociology and Common Sense Sociology and common sense both deal with understanding human behavior, but they differ in their method, objectivity, and purpose. While common sense is based on everyday experiences, intuition, and beliefs, sociology seeks systematic, scientific, and verifiable…
Comparison of Sociology with Other Social Sciences: UPSC Module
Comparison of Sociology with Other Social Sciences Sociology shares its domain with several social sciences like Anthropology, Psychology, Political Science, Economics, and History. Each discipline studies human behavior, but from different angles. Sociology occupies a unique position as a synthetic…
Scope of the Subject (Sociology): UPSC
Scope of the Subject (Sociology) Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of society — its structures, institutions, processes, and meanings. The scope of sociology defines its subject matter, boundaries, and interrelations with other disciplines. It seeks to understand social…
Modernity and Social Changes in Europe and Emergence of Sociology as a Discipline
Karl Marx: Theory of Class Struggle for UPSC Sociology
Karl Marx: Theory of Alienation for UPSC Sociology
Karl Marx: Theory of Historical Materialism & Mode of Production for UPSC Sociology
Robert K. Merton’s Theory of Reference Groups: UPSC Sociology
Robert K. Merton’s Theory of Reference Groups A comprehensive, exam-ready module on Merton’s Reference Group Theory — with explanatory paragraphs, visual flowcharts, and responsive tables for fast conceptual recall for UPSC Sociology. 1️⃣ Background and Origins Merton developed the Reference…