NCERT offers 24-week free online Sociology course with certificate on SWAYAM: Here is what school students should know

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in association with SWAYAM under the Government of India initiative, has launched a course on ‘Sociology’ for school-level students that can be accessed online without charge. The course has 24 weeks of study content to familiarize the student with basic concepts in sociology.

Open to school students, the course aims to move learners beyond common-sense views of society and develop a sociological way of thinking. The enrollment for the programme started on September 22, 2025, and conclude on March 6, 2026. Students who successfully complete the final assessment with the required score will be awarded a course completion certificate by SWAYAM.

What the Sociology course aims to teach

The introductory Sociology course focuses on helping students understand what sociology is and how sociologists study society. Learners will be introduced to the sociological perspective, which encourages questioning ideas that are often taken for granted in everyday life. The course explains how sociology differs from common sense by using concepts, theories, and research methods to understand social reality.

Within the initial courses, students are encouraged to understand the concept of society used in the course. Also, students are expected to become familiar with the area or subject matter of sociology. Later on, students are able to learn key terms used in the study that help explain the behavior of human beings. Students will also be able to understand how society affects individuals.

Detailed syllabus and course structure

The course is divided into five chapters, each covering key areas of sociology.

Chapter 1 looks at sociology and society, defining the discipline and explaining its relevance.

Chapter 2 deals with social groups and social stratification: the caste, class, race, ethnicity, gender, and status.

Chapter 3 introduces major social institutions which include family, marriage, economy, politics, religion, and education.

Chapter 4 covers culture and socialization to help the students grasp values, norms, and how people socialize into members of society.

Chapter 5 introduces sociological research methods and explains how sociologists study the social world.

Each chapter includes assignments, followed by a final assessment at the end of the course.

Important dates, eligibility, and assessment details

The course in Sociology commenced on September 22, 2025, and is expected to conclude on March 6, 2026. Enrollment will end on February 20, 2026. Exam registration will end on March 2, 2026. The date of the examination is on March 3, 2026, though this will depend on the seats available.

The final assessment will be conducted between March 3 and March 6, 2026. Students who score 60 percent or more in the final assessment will receive a course completion certificate. Learners are advised to check their hall ticket for the final exam date.

Instructor and study material

The course will be taught by Dr Tasongwi Newmei from NERIE, Shillong. He has an extensive academic background in sociology and has been associated with teacher training, research, and academic programmes for several years.

Students will use NCERT’s “Introducing Sociology” textbook for Class XI as the main reference material, which is freely available on the official NCERT website.
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