UPSC Anthropology Optional Previous Year Question Papers can help aspirants understand the exam pattern and types of questions that are framed for the UPSC Main Examination. The Anthropology Optional consists of two papers, Paper-1 and Paper-2 both carrying 250 marks each. Therefore, practicing Anthropology UPSC Previous Year Question Papers is extremely essential in order to score high in the main examination.

In this article, we provide you with the official Anthropology Optional Paper 1 and Paper 2 PDFs, along with an in-depth topic-wise analysis based on the latest UPSC pattern.

UPSC Anthropology Optional Question Paper 2024

Note: These are the official UPSC question papers as released by the Union Public Service Commission.

Anthropology Optional Questions 2024 (Paper-1)

SECTION ‘A’

1. Write notes on the following in about 150 words each:
(a) Attributes of culture
(b) Harappan maritime trade
(c) Critical perspective on avoidance and joking relationship
(d) Lethal and sublethal genes
(e) Hemoglobin in health and disease

2.(a) Discuss historical particularism as a critical development to the classical evolutionism.
(b) Describe the evidences of food production and domestication of animals with special reference to Mehrgarh. Throw light on its significance.
(c) Critically comment on the lifestyle diseases and their impact on human health.

3.(a) What is meant by karyotype? How does its analysis help in diagnosis of the chromosomal aberrations in man?
(b) Define urbanization and discuss its impact on family in India with examples.
(c) Discuss the contemporary challenges in fieldwork method in anthropological research.

4.(a) Critically discuss the characteristics of the psychological types in the cultures of the American South-West as observed by Ruth Benedict.
(b) Discuss the Acheulian and Oldowan traditions of Indian Paleolithic cultures with suitable illustrations.
(c) What is genetic counseling? Briefly discuss various steps involved in it.

SECTION ‘B’

5. Write notes on the following in about 150 words each:
(a) Chronometric dating
(b) Cultural relevance of the Kula
(c) Heritability and its estimation
(d) Authority and forms of political organization
(e) Single-gene mutation disorders in man

6.(a) Discuss the geographical distribution of Homo erectus. Taking into account its physical features, where does it fit in human evolutionary line?
(b) Discuss the applications of forensic anthropology with suitable examples.
(c) How does Lévi-Strauss look at the Tsimshian myth of Asdiwal? Critically discuss Lévi-Strauss’ theory of structuralism in the light of his study of mythologies.

7.(a) Critically explain the notion of ‘deconstruction’ in the light of the postmodern works of Jacques Derrida.
(b) What is a multifactorial trait? Illustrate your answer with suitable human examples.
(c) Discuss the applicability of various sampling techniques in selecting the study group.

8.(a) Examine critically the concept of social stratification as a basis for sustaining social inequality.
(b) Describe the genetics and inheritance patterns of the ABO and Rh blood groups in man.
(c) Critically discuss the synergistic effect of biological and cultural factors in human evolution.

Anthropology Optional Questions 2024 (Paper-2)

SECTION ‘A’

1.Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each:
(a) Digitisation of rural economy
(b) Origin of State Societies
(c) Syro-Malabar Christians
(d) Artisan tribes of Jharkhand
(e) Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children

2.(a) Critically discuss the recent welfare measures initiated by the Government for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Comment why PVTGs were erroneously called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
(b) How is PESA Act empowering local self-governance and impacting women’s political participation?
(c) Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy.

3.(a) Critically describe evidences from Rakhi Garhi and its linkages to Harappan civilization.
(b) Compare and contrast the approaches of M.N. Srinivas and L.P. Vidyarthi to social change in village India.
(c) Examine the impact of Forest Policies from 1878 to 2006 on land alienation and deprivation of rights of tribal communities in India.

4.(a) What are the ethical concerns in biological and socio-cultural anthropology because of recent advances in AI and genetic research?
(b) Write an essay on the life history of tribal activist and freedom fighter Birsa Munda. What was the impact of his sacrifice on tribal society?
(c) What are the demographic challenges of India’s changing population dynamics in the next 50 years?

SECTION ‘B’

5. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each:
(a) B.K. Roy Burman’s concept of ‘Buffer Zone’
(b) Describe ILO’s Convention No. 169 (1989) on Indigenous and Tribal people. Is India a signatory to it?
(c) Agricultural practices of the Apatani
(d) Status of Sixth Schedule Areas
(e) Constitutional Safeguards for Backward Classes

6.(a) Custodians of natural resources are the tribals, but they are the most deprived. Critically examine how climate change will impact their survival in future.
(b) Elucidate the difference between secularism, religiosity, religious fundamentalism, and spiritualism from an anthropological perspective.
(c) Discuss the contribution of P.K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe.

7.(a) Critically examine existing paradigms of holistic health for the marginalized sections of society drawing inferences from COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Discuss the theories on the origin of caste system and its criticism in India. Differentiate between caste, class, and race.
(c) Elucidate the resurgence of ethno-nationalism from an anthropological lens.

8.(a) Describe the important Paleolithic sites from South India with suitable examples. What is the significance of South Indian Paleolithic cultures?
(b) Distinguish a ‘Theocratic State’ from a secular, liberal, democratic state. Illustrate your answer with examples from tribal and contemporary societies.
(c) Discuss the economic, social, and developmental impacts on tribal communities with special reference to mining.

UPSC Anthropology Optional Question Paper 2024 – Topic-Wise Categorisation

Anthropology Optional Paper-1 (Topic-Wise Categorisation)

1.1 Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology

Q2(a): Discuss historical particularism as a critical development to the classical evolutionism.
Q3(c): Discuss the contemporary challenges in fieldwork method in anthropological research.

1.2 Relationship with Other Disciplines

(No question asked in 2024)

1.3 Main Branches of Anthropology

Q6(b): Discuss the applications of forensic anthropology with suitable examples.

1.4 Human Evolution and Fossil Evidence

Q6(a): Discuss the geographical distribution of Homo erectus. Taking into account its physical features, where does it fit in human evolutionary line?

1.5 Prehistoric Cultures

Q1(b): Harappan maritime trade
Q2(b): Describe the evidences of food production and domestication of animals with special reference to Mehrgarh. Throw light on its significance.
Q4(b): Discuss the Acheulian and Oldowan traditions of Indian Paleolithic cultures with suitable illustrations.
Q5(a): Chronometric dating

1.6 Genetics and Evolution

Q1(d): Lethal and sublethal genes
Q1(e): Hemoglobin in health and disease
Q3(a): What is meant by karyotype? How does its analysis help in diagnosis of the chromosomal aberrations in man?
Q5(c): Heritability and its estimation
Q5(e): Single-gene mutation disorders in man
Q7(b): What is a multifactorial trait? Illustrate your answer with suitable human examples.
Q8(b): Describe the genetics and inheritance patterns of the ABO and Rh blood groups in man.

1.7 Human Growth and Development

Q2(c): Critically comment on the lifestyle diseases and their impact on human health.

1.9 Concepts of Society and Culture

Q1(a): Attributes of culture
Q1(c): Critical perspective on avoidance and joking relationship
Q5(b): Cultural relevance of the Kula

1.10 Marriage, Family and Kinship

Q3(b): Define urbanization and discuss its impact on family in India with examples.

1.11 Economic and Political Organization

Q5(d): Authority and forms of political organization

1.13 Theories of Culture and Society

Q4(a): Critically discuss the characteristics of the psychological types in the cultures of the American South-West as observed by Ruth Benedict.
Q6(c): How does Lévi-Strauss look at the Tsimshian myth of Asdiwal? Critically discuss Lévi-Strauss’ theory of structuralism in the light of his study of mythologies.
Q7(a): Critically explain the notion of ‘deconstruction’ in the light of the postmodern works of Jacques Derrida.
Q8(a): Examine critically the concept of social stratification as a basis for sustaining social inequality.

1.14 Research Methods in Anthropology

Q7(c): Discuss the applicability of various sampling techniques in selecting the study group.

1.15 Applications of Anthropology

Q4(c): What is genetic counseling? Briefly discuss various steps involved in it.
Q8(c): Critically discuss the synergistic effect of biological and cultural factors in human evolution.

Anthropology Optional Paper-2 (Topic-Wise Categorisation)

2.1 Evolution and Growth of Indian Anthropology

Q2(c): Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy.

2.2 Palaeoanthropology in India

Q3(a): Critically describe evidences from Rakhi Garhi and its linkages to Harappan civilization.
Q8(a): Describe the important Paleolithic sites from South India with suitable examples. What is the significance of South Indian Paleolithic cultures?

2.3 Ethno-archaeology in India

Q1(b): Origin of State Societies

2.4 Demographic and Ecological Issues

Q1(e): Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children
Q4(c): What are the demographic challenges of India’s changing population dynamics in the next 50 years?
Q6(a): Custodians of natural resources are the tribals, but they are the most deprived. Critically examine how climate change will impact their survival in future.

2.5 Caste System and Social Stratification

Q7(b): Discuss the theories on the origin of caste system and its criticism in India. Differentiate between caste, class, and race.
Q3(b): Compare and contrast the approaches of M.N. Srinivas and L.P. Vidyarthi to social change in village India.

2.6 Impact of Christianity on Tribes

Q1(c): Syro-Malabar Christians

2.7 Tribal Situation in India

Q1(d): Artisan tribes of Jharkhand

2.8 Problems of SCs, STs and Minorities

Q2(a): Critically discuss the recent welfare measures initiated by the Government for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Comment why PVTGs were erroneously called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
Q5(e): Constitutional Safeguards for Backward Classes

2.9 Developmental Projects and Their Impact

Q3(c): Examine the impact of Forest Policies from 1878 to 2006 on land alienation and deprivation of rights of tribal communities in India.
Q8(c): Discuss the economic, social, and developmental impacts on tribal communities with special reference to mining.

2.10 Role of NGOs and Government

Q2(b): How is PESA Act empowering local self-governance and impacting women’s political participation?

2.11 Tribal Movements and Leaders

Q4(b): Write an essay on the life history of tribal activist and freedom fighter Birsa Munda. What was the impact of his sacrifice on tribal society?
Q6(c): Discuss the contribution of P.K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe.

2.12 Contributions of Indian Anthropologists

Q5(a): B.K. Roy Burman’s concept of ‘Buffer Zone’
Q6(c): Contribution of P.K. Bhowmick (duplicate but cross-listing for relevance)

2.13 Constitutional and Legal Safeguards

Q5(b): Describe ILO’s Convention No. 169 (1989) on Indigenous and Tribal people. Is India a signatory to it?
Q5(d): Status of Sixth Schedule Areas

2.14 Contemporary Issues

Q6(b): Elucidate the difference between secularism, religiosity, religious fundamentalism, and spiritualism from an anthropological perspective.
Q7(a): Critically examine existing paradigms of holistic health for the marginalized sections of society drawing inferences from COVID-19 pandemic.
Q7(c): Elucidate the resurgence of ethno-nationalism from an anthropological lens.
Q8(b): Distinguish a ‘Theocratic State’ from a secular, liberal, democratic state. Illustrate your answer with examples from tribal and contemporary societies.

2.15 Application of Anthropology in India