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Kerala PSC Scheduled Castes Development Officer Grade II – SC Development Department

പട്ടികജാതി വികസന ഓഫീസർ ഗ്രേഡ് II – പട്ടികജാതി വികസന വകുപ്പ്

Degree level preliminary and main exams

Syllabus sections: 22

📋 Full syllabus

Mock Tests

Tests coming soon.

About the exam

About the post

Department: Scheduled Castes Development Department
Category No: 027/2026
Method: Direct Recruitment
Pay scale: ₹43,400 – 91,200
Vacancies: 1
Notification: Gazette 30 May 2026; last date to apply was 1 July 2026

Qualification

Essential: M.A., M.Sc., M.Com or MSW degree from a recognised university
Preference: MSW, or a postgraduate degree in Social Welfare, Sociology or Anthropology
Equivalent or higher qualifications declared by Government order are also accepted

Who can apply

Age: 18–40 (usual relaxations apply)
Training: 3 months after appointment

Always confirm the details in the official notification on keralapsc.gov.in before you apply or prepare.

Syllabus · സിലബസ്

22 sections · 105 topics

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Detailed syllabus for Scheduled Castes Development Officer Grade II in the Scheduled Castes Development Department. It is an objective multiple-choice test (OMR/online) for 100 marks with questions in English. The syllabus has 22 modules and does not state the duration. The required qualification is a postgraduate degree or MSW, so the paper is at postgraduate level. Questions may also come from other topics prescribed for the educational qualification of the post.

Module I – Foundations of Sociologyസാമൂഹ്യശാസ്ത്രത്തിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ

6 topics

3 marks›

Sociology: nature, scope and status, sociological imagination
Basic concepts: society, community, association, institution, social structure and social system, status and role, norms and values, culture and subculture
Socialisation and its agencies: family, peer group, school, media, community
Social control: formal and informal
Social groups: primary and secondary, in-group and out-group, reference group
Social processes: cooperation, competition, conflict, accommodation, assimilation

Module II – Sociological Thinkers and Perspectivesസാമൂഹ്യശാസ്ത്ര ചിന്തകരും കാഴ്ചപ്പാടുകളും

5 topics

3 marks›

Auguste Comte: positivism, law of three stages, social statics and dynamics
Karl Marx: historical materialism, modes of production, class conflict, alienation
Emile Durkheim: social facts, division of labour, mechanical and organic solidarity, anomie
Max Weber: social action, ideal types, types of authority, bureaucracy
Perspectives: functionalist, conflict, symbolic interactionist, feminist

Module III – Social Stratification and Casteസാമൂഹിക ശ്രേണീകരണവും ജാതിയും

4 topics

4 marks›

Social stratification: meaning, features, bases (caste, class, gender, race, ethnicity)
Caste system: varna and jati, hierarchy, endogamy, hereditary occupation, purity and pollution, untouchability
Perspectives on caste: G.S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas (sanskritisation, dominant caste), Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille, B.R. Ambedkar
Social mobility: horizontal and vertical, inter-generational and intra-generational, structural mobility

Module IV – Indian Social Structure and Social Changeഇന്ത്യൻ സാമൂഹിക ഘടനയും സാമൂഹിക മാറ്റവും

4 topics

3 marks›

Unity and diversity: religion, language, region, ethnicity, tribe
Family, marriage and kinship: joint and nuclear family, forms of marriage, patriarchy, changing family patterns
Processes of social change: westernisation, modernisation, secularisation, industrialisation, urbanisation, globalisation
Social movements: peasant, labour, women's, tribal and environmental movements, new social movements

Module V – Scheduled Castes: Deprivation, Exclusion and Empowermentപട്ടികജാതികൾ: അവശത, പുറന്തള്ളൽ, ശാക്തീകരണം

7 topics

4 marks›

Scheduled Castes: concept, historical background, untouchability and historical disabilities, changing social position
Deprivation: poverty, landlessness, housing, education, occupation, unemployment, health
Exclusion and discrimination: segregation, economic, educational and occupational exclusion, stigma
Education of SCs: access, enrolment, retention, dropout, first-generation learners, higher education, educational mobility
Livelihood of SCs: employment, skills, self-employment, entrepreneurship, informal labour, livelihood diversification
Vulnerable groups: women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, landless and poor households
Empowerment: social, educational, economic and political participation, community action

Module VI – Social Development, Policy and Welfare Administrationസാമൂഹിക വികസനം, നയം, ക്ഷേമ ഭരണം

6 topics

4 marks›

Social development: objectives, inclusive, sustainable and participatory development
Human development: HDI, social indicators, quality of life, Amartya Sen's capability approach
Poverty: absolute, relative and multidimensional poverty, indicators of deprivation
Social policy: objectives, social justice, welfare, social security, affirmative action
Welfare administration: principles, social audit, transparency, accountability, grievance redressal, community participation
Decentralisation: Panchayati Raj, Gram Sabha, local self-government, participatory planning

Module VII – Rural, Urban and Community Studiesഗ്രാമീണ, നഗര, സാമൂഹിക പഠനങ്ങൾ

4 topics

2 marks›

Rural society: characteristics, agrarian structure, land relations, rural leadership, rural poverty, rural transformation
Urban society: urbanisation, rural-urban migration, slums, informal sector, urban poverty, housing and services
Community organisation: meaning, objectives, mobilisation, participation, leadership, collective action
Participatory methods: PRA, social mapping, resource mapping, transect walk

Module VIII – Constitutional and Legal Provisions for Scheduled Castesപട്ടികജാതിക്കാർക്കുള്ള ഭരണഘടനാ-നിയമ വ്യവസ്ഥകൾ

4 topics

5 marks›

Constitutional basis of social justice: Preamble, equality, fundamental rights, Directive Principles, special safeguards
National Commission for Scheduled Castes: composition, functions, duties, powers, investigation, reporting, advisory role
Reservation and affirmative action: education, employment, political representation
Institutional mechanisms: national and state bodies, district vigilance mechanisms, district administration, police, special courts, role of the welfare department

Module IX – Social Research Methods and Statisticsസാമൂഹിക ഗവേഷണ രീതികളും സ്ഥിതിവിവരശാസ്ത്രവും

7 topics

2 marks›

Scientific method and types of research: exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, evaluation, action research
Research approaches: quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods
Research process: problem, objectives, design, data collection, analysis, reporting
Sampling: probability and non-probability sampling
Tools of data collection: questionnaire, schedule, interview, observation, case study
Statistics: classification, tabulation, measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation
Programme evaluation: baseline and endline, indicators, process, outcome and impact evaluation

Module X – Kerala Society and Social Reformകേരള സമൂഹവും സാമൂഹിക പരിഷ്കരണവും

4 topics

3 marks›

Kerala society: characteristics, traditional social organisation, caste relations and their transformation
Kerala development experience: education, health, land reforms, migration, social mobility, Kerala model
Social reformers: Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, Chattampi Swamikal, Sahodaran Ayyappan, Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi
Reform movements: against untouchability and caste disabilities, temple entry, access to public roads and spaces, access to education, civil and social rights

Module XI – Social Work in Generalസാമൂഹിക പ്രവർത്തനം – പൊതു

3 topics

3 marks›

Social work: concept, purpose, goals, scope, from charity to profession, basic and auxiliary methods, social service, social welfare, social security, social reform, social development, social action
History of social work: UK, USA and India, Poor Laws, Charity Organisation Society, Settlement Movement, Indian social reformers
Social work as a profession: characteristics, values, ethics, competencies, person-in-environment perspective, professional accountability

Module XII – Social Case Workസോഷ്യൽ കേസ് വർക്ക്

7 topics

6 marks›

Social case work: meaning, objectives, scope, relation to other methods, case work vs counselling and psychotherapy, history, family social work, Duvall's family life cycle
Principles: acceptance, individualisation, controlled emotional involvement, non-judgemental attitude, self-determination, confidentiality
Professional relationship: rapport, empathy, trust, boundaries, transference, supervision
Helping process: exploration, multidimensional assessment, goal setting, intervention, termination, follow-up
Skills and techniques: interviewing, counselling, motivational interviewing, reframing, resource utilisation
Tools: genogram, ecomap, case management, recording
Models and fields: psychosocial, functional, problem-solving, systems, crisis intervention, task-centred, solution-focused and family systems models, practice in child care, schools, hospitals, disability, correctional settings, industry, elderly and palliative care

Module XIII – Social Group Workസോഷ്യൽ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് വർക്ക്

6 topics

6 marks›

Social group work: concept, types of groups (treatment, task, developmental), history, objectives
Principles and group processes: Trecker's principles, bonding, conflict, cohesion, norms, subgroups
Leadership and group dynamics: theories and types of leadership, sociometry, stages of group development
Group work process and programme: intake to follow-up, programme media and methods
Recording and supervision in group work
Models and applications: social goals, remedial and reciprocal models, educational, health, community, correctional and life-skills groups, roles and competencies of the group worker

Module XIV – Community Organisation and Social Actionസാമൂഹിക സംഘാടനവും സാമൂഹിക ഇടപെടലും

5 topics

5 marks›

Concepts: community organisation, community development, social action, types of community, Brint's concept, Hart's Community Triangle, history
Values: social justice, participation, self-reliance, empowerment, Gandhian approaches
Process: entry, rapport building, community study, needs assessment, planning, mobilisation, evaluation, phase-out
Social action: awareness building, advocacy, negotiation, conflict management, campaigns
Skills and models: PRA, capacity building, networking, Rothman's models, asset-based and rights-based approaches

Module XV – Rural and Tribal Community Developmentഗ്രാമീണ-ഗോത്ര സാമൂഹിക വികസനം

4 topics

4 marks›

Community development: concept, principles, philosophy
Rural development: rural poverty, indebtedness, migration, self-help groups, cooperatives, local self-government
Tribal development: livelihoods, dependence on land and forest, displacement, rights-based approaches, tribal self-governance
Participatory and sustainable development: PRA, asset-based development, convergence, monitoring, roles of the social worker

Module XVI – Social Welfare Administrationസാമൂഹിക ക്ഷേമ ഭരണം

4 topics

4 marks›

Administrative process: planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, budgeting, evaluation
Human service organisations: formal and informal structure, bureaucratic and human relations approaches, personnel management, financial management, MIS, materials management
Voluntary organisations: registration as Society, Trust or Company, memorandum, constitution and bye-laws, governing boards, meetings and minutes, legal compliance
Welfare and protection administration: programme delivery, beneficiary identification, convergence, monitoring, grievance redressal

Module XVII – Social Legislation, Social Policy and Advocacyസാമൂഹിക നിയമനിർമ്മാണം, സാമൂഹിക നയം, അഡ്വക്കസി

4 topics

3 marks›

Law and rights: rule of law, social legislation, fundamental rights and duties, Directive Principles, UDHR
Protective legislation: laws for women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons and Scheduled Castes
Rights institutions: NCSC, Human Rights Commissions, legal aid, public interest litigation, Lok Adalats
Social policy and advocacy: policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, advocacy, lobbying, networking, rights-based practice

Module XVIII – Scheduled Caste Development and Social Work Practiceപട്ടികജാതി വികസനവും സാമൂഹിക പ്രവർത്തന പ്രയോഗവും

3 topics

3 marks›

SC Development Department: role, institutions, national and Kerala initiatives, scholarships, hostels, skill and livelihood schemes, housing, social security
Social work practice with SCs: needs assessment, individual, group and community interventions, counselling, referral, awareness, convergence, participatory evaluation
Role of the SC Development Officer: coordination, identifying service gaps, facilitating entitlements, case management, grievance redressal, reporting, empowerment

Module XIX – Indian Social Systemഇന്ത്യൻ സാമൂഹിക വ്യവസ്ഥ

5 topics

8 marks›

Caste and hierarchy: social structure, social stratification
Concepts of caste, class, tribe and gender
Poverty, inequality, social exclusion, social disabilities
Social mobility and social change
Contributions of Andre Beteille, Louis Dumont, S.C. Dube, M.N. Srinivas

Module XX – Scheduled Castes in Keralaകേരളത്തിലെ പട്ടികജാതികൾ

4 topics

8 marks›

Situation of SCs: institutional discrimination, stigma, exclusion, vulnerability, marginalisation, structural inequality
Constitutional provisions, safeguards and directives for SC welfare, social reform movements
Schemes, institutions and grievance mechanisms for SCs
Laws and bodies: Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, NCSC, Scheduled Caste Sub Plan

Module XXI – Social Justice, Inclusivity and Fundamentals of Empowermentസാമൂഹിക നീതി, ഉൾക്കൊള്ളൽ, ശാക്തീകരണത്തിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ

4 topics

8 marks›

Caste and justice: caste-based movements, caste dynamics, reservation, protective discrimination, affirmative action
Rights: social justice, human rights, women's rights
Inclusive governance: social inclusion, disability inclusion, gender sensitivity, rights-based and ethical governance
Participation: community engagement, partnership with NGOs and civil society, social empowerment

Module XXII – Bias and Exclusion in Developmentവികസനത്തിലെ പക്ഷപാതവും പുറന്തള്ളലും

5 topics

9 marks›

Equity, equality and social justice, PRA and Robert Chambers
Participatory development, decentralisation, Panchayati Raj
Bias and exclusion in development, "last first" policy approaches
Types of bias: urban, institutional, elite, gender, professional, project-area, seasonal
Development approaches: capability approach, basic needs approach, human development indicators, HDI, GDI, inclusive development

See the full syllabus with exam pattern and marks ›