Anthropology Optional · Free notes
Anthropology Optional Notes Paper I & II
All 87 free Anthropology Optional notes on LotusArise, in syllabus order: 54 articles for Paper I (General Anthropology) and 33 for Paper II (Indian Anthropology). Each note is written for UPSC Mains, explains concepts for beginners, carries print-friendly diagrams and ends with the previous year questions of its topic.
87
Free notes
21
Syllabus units
2
Papers
2026
PYQs updated to
Jump to
Paper I
Anthropology Optional Paper I notes: General Anthropology
12 units, 54 notes. Open a unit page for its syllabus and all its previous year questions, or go straight to a note.
Paper I · Unit 01
Foundations, Human Evolution and Prehistoric Archaeology
Meaning, scope and branches; relationship with other disciplines; organic evolution; primates; fossil hominids; biological basis of life; prehistoric archaeology and dating. Unit PYQs →
- 1.1Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology: Holism, Comparative Method and Six PhasesMeaning, scope and development of anthropology: definitions, holism, the comparative method, science vs humanities, relevance in India and six phases of growth.
- 1.2Relationship of Anthropology with Other Disciplines: Sociology, History, Psychology, MedicineRelationship of anthropology with sociology, history, economics, psychology, life, medical and earth sciences and humanities, with Indian cases.
- 1.3Main Branches of Anthropology: Social-Cultural, Biological, Archaeological and LinguisticMain branches of anthropology for UPSC: scope and relevance of social-cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic anthropology, with Indian examples.
- 1.4aHuman Evolution and Theories of Organic Evolution: Hominization, Lamarck and DarwinBiological and cultural factors in human evolution, hominization trends, and pre-Darwinian, Darwinian and post-Darwinian theories, with diagrams and UPSC PYQs.
- 1.4bSynthetic Theory of Evolution: Forces, Speciation, Dollo’s, Cope’s and Gause’s RulesSynthetic theory of evolution for UPSC: forces, speciation, punctuated equilibrium, Dollo’s, Cope’s and Gause’s rules, convergence, adaptive radiation, mosaic.
- 1.5aPrimates: Characteristics, Evolutionary Trends, Taxonomy, Adaptations and BehaviourPrimates for UPSC Anthropology: Le Gros Clark’s trends, strepsirhine-haplorhine taxonomy, locomotion, intermembral index, social organisation and behaviour.
- 1.5bFossil Primates, Living Apes, Man–Ape Comparative Anatomy and Erect PostureFossil primates from Purgatorius to Sivapithecus and Gigantopithecus, living apes, man-ape comparative anatomy and skeletal changes of erect posture for UPSC.
- 1.6aOreopithecus, Australopithecus and Paranthropus: Taung Child, Robust Forms and PhylogenyOreopithecus, Taung child, Australopithecus species, Paranthropus diet and lifeways, osteodontokeratic culture, Homo habilis and phylogeny for UPSC.
- 1.6bHomo erectus and Homo heidelbergensis: Java Man, Peking Man, Acheulian and PhylogenyHomo erectus distribution, Java and Peking man, skull and body, Acheulian culture and fire, phylogeny, Homo heidelbergensis and Narmada Man for UPSC.
- 1.6cNeanderthal, Rhodesian Man and Homo sapiens: Cro-Magnon, Grimaldi, Chancelade and OriginsNeanderthal man (La Chapelle, Mount Carmel), Rhodesian man, Cro-Magnon, Grimaldi, Chancelade, out of Africa vs multiregional, and Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA.
- 1.7Biological Basis of Life: Cell, DNA Replication, Protein Synthesis, Mutation and MeiosisCell, DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis and gene expression, gene, mutation, chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis, with worked examples and PYQs.
- 1.8aPrehistoric Archaeology and Dating Methods: Stratigraphy, Radiocarbon, K–Ar, LuminescencePrinciples of prehistoric archaeology, chronology and the Quaternary; relative and absolute dating (C-14, K–Ar, fission track, TL, OSL), worked examples, PYQs.
- 1.8bPalaeolithic Cultures: Oldowan, Acheulian, Mousterian, Magdalenian and Indian SitesLower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic: tool techniques, Oldowan to Magdalenian, Palaeolithic art, and Indian sites from Attirampakkam to Pahalgam, with PYQs.
- 1.8cMesolithic to Iron Age: Origins of Farming, Harappan Bronze Age and MegalithsMesolithic to Iron Age notes: theories of food production, Bagor, Mehrgarh, Burzahom, Chalcolithic villages, Harappan trade, PGW, megaliths and PYQs.
Paper I · Unit 02
Culture, Society, Marriage, Family and Kinship
Nature of culture and society; ethnocentrism and cultural relativism; marriage, family and household; descent, kinship terminology, filiation and alliance. Unit PYQs →
- 2.1Nature of Culture: Characteristics, Civilization, Ethnocentrism and Cultural RelativismCulture and civilization notes: Tylor to Geertz, attributes of culture, Childe’s criteria, Sumner’s ethnocentrism, relativism and human rights, with PYQs.
- 2.2Nature of Society: Culture, Institutions, Status and Role, Groups and StratificationNature of society notes: society and culture, institutions, status and role, Goffman, social groups, Fried, caste and class, stratification theories, PYQs.
- 2.3Marriage: Definition, Incest Taboo, Regulations, Forms, Mate Acquisition and PaymentsMarriage notes: Gough and Leach on definition, incest taboo theories, exogamy, cousin marriage, polyandry, tribal mate acquisition, bride-wealth and dowry.
- 2.4Family: Universality, Household and Domestic Group, Functions, Types and ChangeFamily notes: Murdock and universality, household vs domestic group, functions, five-criteria types, and impact of urbanisation and feminism in India.
- 2.5aKinship and Descent: Consanguinity, Affinity, Unilineal Descent and Descent GroupsKinship notes: consanguinity and affinity, unilineal, double, bilateral and ambilineal descent, the matrilineal puzzle, lineage, clan, phratry, moiety, kindred.
- 2.5bKinship Terminology, Filiation and Alliance: Murdock’s Systems, Fortes and Lévi-StraussKinship terminology (Morgan, Kroeber, Murdock’s six systems), kinship usages, Fortes’s complementary filiation, descent vs alliance, Purum, Dravidian kinship.
Paper I · Unit 03
Economic Organization
Economic anthropology; formalist-substantivist debate; reciprocity, redistribution and market; subsistence economies; globalisation and indigenous economies. Unit PYQs →
- 3aEconomic Anthropology: Meaning, Scope and the Formalist–Substantivist DebateMeaning, scope and relevance of economic anthropology; formalism vs substantivism (Polanyi, Dalton, LeClair, Schneider) and the Marxist and cultural responses.
- 3bProduction and Exchange: Reciprocity, Redistribution, Kula, Potlatch and GlobalisationReciprocity, redistribution and market; Kula, potlatch, moka and jajmani; six subsistence types; globalisation, FRA and Van Dhan. UPSC Anthropology notes.
Paper I · Unit 04
Political Organization and Social Control
Band, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; power, authority and legitimacy; social control, law and justice in simple societies. Unit PYQs →
- 4aPolitical Organisation: Band, Tribe, Chiefdom, State, Power, Authority and LegitimacyBand, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; Nuer segmentary system; big men and chiefs; Weber and Balandier on power and legitimacy; Indian tribal systems.
- 4bSocial Control, Law and Justice: Sanctions, Dispute Settlement and Customary LawSocial control, Radcliffe-Brown’s sanctions, law from Malinowski to Bohannan, song duels, ordeals and moots, legal pluralism and customary law in tribal India.
Paper I · Unit 05
Religion
Evolutionary, psychological and functional approaches; sacred and profane; myth and ritual; animism to totemism; magic, religion and science; magico-religious functionaries. Unit PYQs →
- 5aApproaches to Religion: Monotheism and Polytheism, Sacred and Profane, Myth and RitualEvolutionary, psychological and functional approaches to religion; monotheism and polytheism; Durkheim’s sacred and profane; myths and rites of passage.
- 5bForms of Religion, Magic and Functionaries: Totemism, Magic vs Religion, Shaman and WitchNotes on animism, animatism, fetishism, naturism and totemism, Frazer’s magic, religion vs magic vs science, and priest, shaman, sorcerer and witch in India.
Paper I · Unit 06
Anthropological Theories
Classical evolutionism, historical particularism, diffusionism, functionalism, structuralism, culture and personality, neo-evolutionism, cultural materialism, symbolic, cognitive and postmodern theories. Unit PYQs →
- 6aClassical Evolutionism: Tylor, Morgan and Frazer on Survivals, Ethnical Periods and MagicClassical evolutionism notes: unilinear stages, psychic unity, survivals, Tylor on culture, Morgan’s ethnical periods and family, Frazer, critique and legacy.
- 6bHistorical Particularism: Franz Boas, Cultural Relativism, Fieldwork and RaceHistorical particularism of Franz Boas: critique of the comparative method, cultural relativism, fieldwork, four fields, race, language and culture, students.
- 6cDiffusionism: British Heliolithic, German Kulturkreis and American Culture Area SchoolsDiffusionism: Elliot Smith’s heliolithic school, Graebner and Schmidt’s Kulturkreis, Wissler and Kroeber’s culture areas, critique, acculturation, globalisation
- 6dFunctionalism: Malinowski’s Trobriand Fieldwork, Theory of Needs and InstitutionsMalinowski’s functionalism: Trobriand fieldwork, participant observation, basic, derived and integrative needs, the institution, magic, myth, kula and critique.
- 6eStructural-Functionalism: Radcliffe-Brown on Social Structure, Function and KinshipRadcliffe-Brown’s structural-functionalism: social structure, function, Andaman Islanders, mother’s brother, joking, Nuer, Tallensi, Leach, Gluckman and Merton.
- 6fStructuralism: Lévi-Strauss on Kinship, Myth and Models, and Leach’s Kachin OscillationStructuralism of Lévi-Strauss and Leach: linguistic roots, models, alliance and atom of kinship, myth, totemism, Kachin gumsa-gumlao, Dumont and critique.
- 6gCulture and Personality: Benedict, Mead, Basic and Modal Personality, National CharacterCulture and personality: Benedict’s patterns, Mead and the Freeman debate, Kardiner and Linton’s basic personality, Du Bois’s Alor, national character studies.
- 6hNeo-Evolutionism: Childe’s Revolutions, White’s Energy Law and Steward’s Cultural EcologyNeo-evolutionism notes: Childe’s Neolithic and Urban Revolutions, White’s C = E × T, Steward’s multilinear evolution and culture core, Sahlins and Service.
- 6iCultural Materialism: Marvin Harris on Infrastructure, Emic and Etic and the Sacred CowMarvin Harris’s cultural materialism: infrastructure, structure and superstructure, emic and etic, India’s sacred cow debate, pigs, potlatch, war, and critique.
- 6jSymbolic and Cognitive Anthropology: Turner, Geertz, Schneider, Conklin and TylerTurner’s symbols and social drama, Schneider’s American kinship, Geertz’s thick description and cockfight, and cognitive anthropology from Conklin to Tyler.
- 6kPostmodernism in Anthropology: Writing Culture, Reflexivity, Orientalism and CritiquePostmodern anthropology: Writing Culture, crisis of representation, reflexivity, Orientalism, feminist critique, multi-sited ethnography, Appadurai, critics.
Paper I · Unit 07
Culture, Language and Communication
Nature, origin and characteristics of language; verbal and non-verbal communication; social context of language use. Unit PYQs →
- 7Culture, Language and Communication: Design Features, Sapir–Whorf and SociolinguisticsLanguage and culture for UPSC Anthropology Optional: Hockett’s design features, origin of language, kinesics, proxemics, Sapir–Whorf and sociolinguistics.
Paper I · Unit 08
Research Methods in Anthropology
Fieldwork tradition; technique, method and methodology; tools of data collection; analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. Unit PYQs →
- 8aFieldwork Tradition in Anthropology: Participant Observation, Ethics and MethodologyFieldwork for UPSC Anthropology Optional: Malinowski to multi-sited ethnography, Indian tradition, participant observation, emic-etic, ethics and methodology.
- 8bTools of Data Collection: Observation, Schedule, Genealogy, PRA and Analysis of DataAnthropology Optional notes on tools of data collection: observation, interview, schedule vs questionnaire, case study, genealogy, PRA, analysis, ethnography.
Paper I · Unit 09
Human Genetics, Race and Ecological Anthropology
Methods of human genetics; Mendelian genetics; Hardy-Weinberg and polymorphism; chromosomal aberrations; race and racism; genetic markers; ecological and epidemiological anthropology. Unit PYQs →
- 9.1Human Genetics Methods: Pedigree, Twin Study, Karyotype, Biochemical and DNA TechnologyAnthropology Optional notes on methods of human genetics: pedigree analysis, twin and adoption studies, heritability, karyotype, biochemical and DNA technology.
- 9.2Mendelian Genetics in Man: Pedigrees, Single-Factor, Lethal and Polygenic InheritanceMendelian genetics in man for UPSC Anthropology Optional: pedigrees, autosomal and X-linked patterns, ABO, lethal genes, polygenic traits and worked crosses.
- 9.3Hardy–Weinberg Law and Genetic Polymorphism: Gene Frequency, Drift and ConsanguinityHardy-Weinberg law, genetic polymorphism, drift, gene flow, consanguinity and genetic load for UPSC Anthropology Optional, with worked Indian examples.
- 9.4Chromosomal Aberrations: Down, Turner, Klinefelter, Imprinting and Genetic CounsellingChromosomal aberrations for UPSC Anthropology Optional: non-disjunction, Down, Turner, Klinefelter, imprinting, screening, counselling, DNA profiling, genome.
- 9.5Race and Racism: Racial Criteria, Classifications, Indian Races and the Genetic ViewRace and racism for UPSC Anthropology Optional: racial criteria, heredity and environment, Risley, Guha, Sarkar, Lewontin, ANI-ASI, race crossing.
- 9.6Genetic Markers: ABO, Rh, HLA, Haptoglobin, G6PD and Physiological VariationAnthropology Optional notes on genetic markers: ABO, Rh, HLA, haptoglobin, transferrin, Gm, G6PD, and variation in Hb, body fat, pulse, lungs and senses.
- 9.7Ecological Anthropology: Biocultural Adaptation to Heat, Cold and High AltitudeAnthropology Optional notes on ecological anthropology: methods, biocultural adaptation, Bergmann and Allen rules, and responses to heat, cold and altitude.
- 9.8Epidemiological Anthropology: Health, Disease, Thrifty Gene and MalnutritionEpidemiological anthropology for UPSC Anthropology Optional: health and illness, epidemiological transition, infectious and lifestyle diseases, malnutrition.
Paper I · Unit 10
Human Growth and Development
Stages of growth; factors affecting growth and development; ageing and senescence; physique and somatotypes; methods of growth study. Unit PYQs →
- 10aHuman Growth and Development: Stages, Growth Curves, Secular Trend and FactorsHuman growth for UPSC Anthropology Optional: growth vs development, stages, Scammon’s curves, adolescent spurt, secular trend and factors affecting growth.
- 10bAgeing and Somatotypes: Theories of Ageing, Heath–Carter Method and Growth Study DesignsAgeing and senescence, theories of ageing, longevity and LASI data, Sheldon and Heath–Carter somatotyping with a worked somatochart, and growth study designs.
Paper I · Unit 11
Bioevents, Fertility and Demography
Menarche, menopause and other bioevents; fertility patterns; demographic theories; factors influencing fecundity, fertility, natality and mortality. Unit PYQs →
- 11aBioevents, Fertility and Mortality: Menarche, Menopause, Fecundity and Their DeterminantsMenarche, menopause and bioevents, fecundity vs fertility, differentials, CBR to MMR worked, Bongaarts, natural fertility, mortality, NFHS-5 and SRS 2024 data.
- 11bDemographic Theories: Malthus, Demographic Transition, Wealth Flows and India’s PolicyDemographic theories for UPSC Anthropology Optional: Malthus, biological theories, demographic transition, Caldwell’s wealth flows and India’s policy.
Paper I · Unit 12
Applications of Anthropology
Sports and nutritional anthropology; anthropology in equipment design; forensic anthropology; applied human genetics; statistical methods. Unit PYQs →
- 12aApplied Anthropology: Sports, Nutrition, Ergonomic Design and Forensic IdentificationApplied anthropology for UPSC Anthropology Optional: kinanthropometry, nutritional status, anthropometry in design, forensic identification and Indian law.
- 12bApplied Human Genetics and Statistics: Paternity, Eugenics, DNA Medicine and ReproductionUPSC Anthropology Optional notes on applied human genetics: paternity, genetic counselling, eugenics, DNA medicine, reproductive genetics and statistics.
Paper II
Anthropology Optional Paper II notes: Indian Anthropology
9 units, 33 notes. Open a unit page for its syllabus and all its previous year questions, or go straight to a note.
Paper II · Unit 01
Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization
Prehistoric and protohistoric India; Indus civilization; tribal contributions; Siwalik and Narmada evidence; ethno-archaeology in India. Unit PYQs →
- 1.1aPrehistoric India: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic CulturesPrehistoric India for UPSC Anthropology Optional: Soanian vs Acheulian, Bhimbetka rock art, Ganga Mesolithic, Neolithic regions and Inamgaon, with PYQs.
- 1.1bIndus Civilization: Pre-Harappan Roots, Harappan Cities and Post-Harappan CulturesIndus Civilization for UPSC Anthropology Optional: Early Harappan origins, seals and script, crops, Rakhigarhi DNA, decline, OCP, PGW and megaliths, with PYQs.
- 1.1cTribal Contributions to Indian Civilization: Vedic Roots, Jagannath and State FormationHow tribal cultures shaped Indian civilization: genes and language, Vedic and epic texts, Jagannath, tribal kingdoms, ecology, arts, and the debate.
- 1.2Palaeo-anthropological Evidences from India: Siwaliks, Ramapithecus and Narmada ManSiwalik subdivisions and fossil primates, Sivapithecus, the Ramapithecus debate, the seed-eaters model, and Narmada Man: features, dating and status.
- 1.3Ethno-archaeology in India: Analogy, Living Foragers, Herders, Crafts and MegalithsEthno-archaeology in India: concept, analogy, and survivals among hunters, fishers, herders, peasants, craftspeople and living megalith builders.
Paper II · Unit 02
Demographic Profile of India
Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population and their distribution; factors influencing the structure and growth of India’s population. Unit PYQs →
- 2aEthnic and Linguistic Elements of India: Racial Schemes, Ancestry and Language FamiliesEthnic and linguistic elements of India: Risley, Guha and Sarkar, the Negrito debate, ANI-ASI genetics and the four language families with Census 2011 data.
- 2bIndian Population Structure and Growth: Sex Ratio, Fertility, Tribal Demography and PolicyIndia’s population for Anthropology Optional: growth since 1901, fertility and mortality factors, missing girls, tribal demography and population policy.
Paper II · Unit 03
Indian Social System and Caste
Varnashrama, purushartha, karma, rina and rebirth; caste structure and theories of origin; dominant caste, mobility, jajmani; sacred complex; impact of other religions. Unit PYQs →
- 3.1Traditional Indian Social System: Varnashrama, Purushartha, Karma, Rina and RebirthVarna, ashrama, purushartha, karma, rebirth and rina for Anthropology Optional: the texts, how they fit together, and critiques from Weber to Ambedkar.
- 3.2aCaste System in India: Structure, Varna and Jati, Dumont and Theories of OriginCaste system for Anthropology Optional: structure, Ghurye’s features, varna vs jati, Dumont and his critics, origin theories from Risley to Ambedkar.
- 3.2bCaste Dynamics: Dominant Caste, Mobility, Jajmani and Tribe-Caste ContinuumDominant caste, caste mobility, jajmani debates, tribe-caste continuum and the future of caste for Anthropology Optional: Srinivas, Bailey, Sinha, Fuller.
- 3.3Sacred Complex and Nature-Man-Spirit Complex: Gaya, Pilgrimage and the MalerVidyarthi’s sacred complex (Gaya: sacred geography, performances, specialists) and nature-man-spirit complex (Maler), with Kashi, Puri, sacred groves and PYQs.
- 3.4Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity: Caste, Composite Culture, ConversionImpact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society: sramana revolt, Sufism, composite culture, Syro-Malabar, Dalit conversion, PYQs.
Paper II · Unit 04
Emergence and Growth of Anthropology in India
Contributions of 18th, 19th and early 20th century scholar-administrators; contributions of Indian anthropologists to tribal and caste studies. Unit PYQs →
- 4aAnthropology in India: Asiatic Society, Scholar-Administrators, Risley and Colonial CensusGrowth of anthropology in India: Asiatic Society, scholar-administrators Risley, Thurston and Hutton, census, colonial classification, phases and PYQs.
- 4bIndian Anthropologists on Tribe and Caste: S.C. Roy, Elwin–Ghurye Debate, Bose and KarveIndian anthropologists on tribe and caste: S.C. Roy, Elwin-Ghurye debate, Haimendorf, Majumdar, Vidyarthi, Bose, Sinha, K.S. Singh, Karve, Srinivas.
Paper II · Unit 05
Indian Village and Social Change
Village studies and agrarian relations; linguistic and religious minorities; Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization; little and great traditions; Panchayati Raj and media. Unit PYQs →
- 5.1Indian Village: Village Studies, Little Republic, Agrarian Relations and GlobalisationIndian village for Anthropology Optional: little republic debate, village studies of Srinivas, Dube and Bailey, agrarian relations and globalisation.
- 5.2Linguistic and Religious Minorities in India: Status, Sachar Report and SafeguardsMinorities in India for Anthropology Optional: definitions, Muslims and the Sachar report, Christians, Sikhs, linguistic minorities, safeguards and OBCs.
- 5.3aSanskritization, Westernization and Modernization: Models, Critiques and Indian ChangeSanskritization, Westernization and Modernization for UPSC Anthropology Optional: Srinivas, models, critiques, Yogendra Singh, Rudolphs, Singer and PYQs.
- 5.3bLittle and Great Traditions, Panchayati Raj and Media: Social Change in Rural IndiaLittle and great traditions (Redfield, Marriott, Singer), Panchayati Raj, PESA and women, and media and social change for UPSC Anthropology Optional, with PYQs.
Paper II · Unit 06
Tribal Situation in India
Bio-genetic, linguistic and socio-economic variability of tribes; problems of tribal communities; development projects, displacement, forest policy, urbanisation and industrialisation. Unit PYQs →
- 6.1Tribal Situation in India: Bio-genetic Variability, Languages and Socio-economic LifeTribal situation in India for Anthropology Optional: ST concept, Census 2011 distribution, bio-genetic variability, tribal languages, economy and institutions.
- 6.2Problems of Tribal Communities: Land Alienation, Indebtedness, Education, Health and MarketsProblems of tribal communities for Anthropology Optional: land alienation, poverty, debt, education, under-employment, health, nutrition and tribal markets.
- 6.3aDevelopment Projects and Tribal Displacement: Rehabilitation, Niyamgiri and Land LawTribal displacement by dams, mines and industries: Cernea and Scudder-Colson models, Narmada, Niyamgiri, Polavaram cases, R&R problems and the 2013 Act.
- 6.3bForest Policy, Urbanization and Industrialization: Tribes from the Forest Acts to FRA 2006Forest policy and tribes from 1865 to the Forest Rights Act and 2023 amendment, JFM, Godavarman, and the impact of mining, industry and towns on tribals.
Paper II · Unit 07
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs
Exploitation, deprivation and constitutional safeguards; social change in contemporary tribal societies; ethnicity, unrest, regionalism, autonomy, pseudo-tribalism; tribal movements. Unit PYQs →
- 7.1Exploitation and Deprivation of SCs, STs, OBCs: Safeguards, Schedules and PoA ActExploitation and deprivation of SCs, STs and OBCs; Articles, PoA Act, Mandal, Fifth and Sixth Schedules, with PYQs for UPSC Anthropology Optional.
- 7.2Social Change in Contemporary Tribal Societies: Democracy, Development and WelfareImpact of democratic institutions, PESA, tribal development programmes, TSP to PM-JANMAN, and welfare on tribes and weaker sections, with UPSC Anthropology PYQs.
- 7.3aEthnicity, Ethnic Conflict and Regionalism: Tribal Unrest, Autonomy, National IntegrationConcept of ethnicity, theories, ethnic conflict, tribal unrest, regionalism and autonomy movements in India, with Indian cases and PYQs for UPSC Anthropology.
- 7.3bPseudo-Tribalism and Social Change among Tribes: Colonial Rule to Post-Independence IndiaTribalism and pseudo-tribalism, tribe as a colonial construct, and social change among Indian tribes from colonial rule to today, with PYQs.
- 7.4Tribal Social Movements in India: Santal Hul, Birsa Munda, Tana Bhagat and JharkhandTribal social movements for Anthropology Optional: typologies, K.S. Singh’s phases, Santal Hul, Birsa Munda, Tana Bhagat, Jharkhand statehood and Niyamgiri.
Paper II · Unit 08
Religions, Tribes and the Nation-State
Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies; tribe and nation-state in India and other countries. Unit PYQs →
- 8.1Impact of Religions on Tribal Societies: Hinduization, Christianity, Islam and BuddhismImpact of Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism on tribal societies for Anthropology Optional: absorption, conversion, Sarna revival and ST status.
- 8.2Tribe and Nation-State: Indigenous Rights, Settler States and India ComparedTribe and nation-state for UPSC Anthropology Optional: ILO 107 and 169, UNDRIP and India’s stand, with the USA, Canada, Australia and Africa compared.
Paper II · Unit 09
Tribal Administration and Development
History of tribal administration, policies, plans and programmes; PVTGs; role of NGOs; anthropology in tribal and rural development; regionalism, communalism and ethnic movements. Unit PYQs →
- 9.1aTribal Administration in India: History, Policies, Sub-Plan and DAPSTHistory of tribal administration, tribal policies, Five Year Plans, Tribal Sub-Plan and DAPST, committees and schemes for UPSC Anthropology Optional.
- 9.1bParticularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and NGOs: Criteria, Distribution, PM-JANMAN, RolesPVTGs for Anthropology Optional: Dhebar to PVTG, criteria, distribution, island tribes, PM-JANMAN, habitat rights, and the roles and critiques of NGOs.
- 9.2Role of Anthropology in Tribal and Rural Development: Applied, Action, Policy and CasesRole of anthropology in tribal and rural development: applied and action anthropology, Indian policy, cultural factors, SIA, cases and critiques.
- 9.3Anthropology of Regionalism, Communalism and Ethnic Movements: Riots, Recognition, PolicyHow anthropology explains regionalism, communalism and ethnic and political movements: fieldwork, riot systems, recognition politics and Indian cases.
LotusArise IAS
Take Anthropology offline
Printable editions of the notes and question bank, plus the free strategy guides.
PDF · ₹499
Complete Anthropology Optional Notes (PDF)
Both papers in one printable set, for offline revision alongside the free notes on this site.
PDF · ₹59
Question Papers with Topic-wise PYQs (PDF)
Every Anthropology paper with the questions sorted by syllabus topic, in a single download.
Free
Strategy and booklist
How to plan both papers, what to read for each unit, and how to practise answer writing.