Home UPSC optional Roadmap To Excel Anthropology In UPSC CSE

Roadmap To Excel Anthropology In UPSC CSE

A good score in optional is sine qua non for success in UPSC Civil Services Examination. Optional subject carries a weightage of 500 marks out of a total 1750 in Civil Services Mains.

Anthropology is not only an interesting subject but also one of the highest scoring optionals with an all time highest being 362/500. Most of the questions asked in mains are direct and repetitive in nature. A score of 300-320 is a realistic possibility in Anthropology with the right approach, guidance and good efforts.

Top Scores in Anthropology

Toppers	Scores
Lakshmi Nagappan (AIR 45, 2018)	362/500
Ayush Sinha (AIR 7, 2017)	350/500
Sachin Gupta (AIR 3, 2017)	339/500
Akshat Jain (AIR 2, 2018)	335/500
P K Sidharth Ramkumar (AIR 4, 2023)	326/500

Approach to Anthropology

Understanding Anthropology as a discipline
Decoding the syllabus
Analysing and mapping PYQs with the syllabus.
Sources and approach to individual units.

Understanding Anthropology as a discipline

To a layman, Anthropology is the science of humanity. It is the study of man in totality. It is the complete, scientific study of what it means to be human, examining our origins, evolution, and diverse cultures across time and space. Anthropology seeks to understand why people behave the way they do, how societies are organized, and how we have changed and adapted as a species. It’s a holistic field that looks at our biology, our cultures, and our past and present to understand the human experience in totality.

Decoding the syllabus

Anthropology optional subject consists of two papers each worth 250 marks. Paper 1 deals with core Anthropology as a subject, while Paper 2 largely deals with Indian Anthropology.

Components of Paper 1

Anthropology as a discipline

- Meaning, scope, and development of Anthropology.
- Relationships with other disciplines.

Sociocultural Anthropology

- Anthropological Theories
- Nature of Culture and Society
- Marriage, Family, and Kinship
- Economic and Political Organisation and Religion

Physical Anthropology

- Genetics and Human Evolution
- Human Variation and Race
- Primates and Hominization
- Modern Human Biology and Health

Archaeological Anthropology

- Studies past human cultures and societies by analyzing the material remains.

Linguistic Anthropology

- Study of the relationship between language, culture, and society.

Applied Anthropology

- Anthropological applications in sports, nutrition etc.

Components of Paper 2

Indian Archaeology
Indian Social System
Indian Village
Tribal Situation in India
Social Change and Contemporary Issues
Applied Anthropology.

For Anthropology Syllabus: Click here

For Chapter Wise PYQ’s and Topicwise Marks Distribution: Click Here

Strategy for beginners

An absolute novice to the subject may give a brief reading of Kerala board 11th textbook for Anthropology

For a thorough understanding of the subject, the following order of units is advised.

PAPER 01

SOCIOCULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

- Unit 6 deals with Anthropological Theories. This unit gives a total picture of Sociocultural Anthropology from a scholarly perspective. Students are advised to focus on understanding the theories rather than mugging up. Linking theories and anthropologists’ views while answering the sociocultural section fetches high marks. Making short notes on each theory comes handy for revision.

Source — History of Anthropological Thought by Upadhyay and Panday

- Units 2.1 to 2.5, 3, 4, 5. These units cover topics such as culture, society, marriage, family, kinship, economic and political organisation and religion. For each topic mug up definitions given by 2-3 scholars. Also quote the name of the relevant anthropologist, tribe and the name of the work. A large portion of these units is covered in Unit 6. Students are advised to use the knowledge from Unit 6 to enhance their understanding and quality of answers.

Source — In Search of Ourselves An Introduction to Social Cultural Anthropology by N K Vaid or Mandar Patki AIR 22, 2019 Notes

- Unit 7 and 8

Source — Mandar Patki AIR 22, 2019 Notes or Anthropology Demystified by Akshat Jain

PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

This section is largely static, repetitive and highly rewarding with less scope for marks deduction. Attempt as many questions as possible from Physical Anthropology.

- Unit 1.7 deals with basics of biology. Although questions are rarely asked from this unit, it is crucial to read this unit for better understanding of biological anthropology, especially for students without biological background.
- Unit 9.1 to 9.8 and Unit 10 form the core of Physical Anthropology. Good understanding of the topics and illustrations with diagrams will fetch good marks. For topics like Race and Racism mug up physical characteristics of major races of the world.
- Units 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 are short and simple units with very few topics. The questions from these units are largely repetitive. Prepare Question – Answer format notes including graphs and diagrams for PYQs from this unit.

PRIMATES and HUMAN EVOLUTION

- Units 1.4, 1.5, 1.6. These units, especially units 1.5 and 1.6 require some mugging up of facts. It is advised to make one pager notes for each topic with relevant diagrams for better retention.

APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY

- Unit 12 deals with Applications of Anthropology in the fields of sports, nutrition, forensics etc. Students are advised to make notes on all PYQs from this unit.

Primary source for Physical Anthropology — P Nath or Narayan Amit AIR 70, 2021 Notes.

- Units 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 deal with meaning, scope and development of anthropology, and its main branches, relationships with other disciplines. A good understanding of the entire Paper 1 of Anthropology makes this unit easier. The questions asked are largely static and repetitive. Question – answer format notes of PYQs from this unit would suffice.
- Unit 1.8 deals with Archaeology. It is advised to study this unit along with the Indian Archaeology unit from Paper 2.

PAPER 02

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY

- Unit 1.8 of Paper 1 deals with Archaeology of the world in general while Units 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 deal with Indian Archaeology.

Archaeology carries high weightage in the exam. Prepare notes for each topic under subheadings like climate, tool technology (practice diagrams of tools), prominent sites, archaeologist and locate the sites on map.

Prepare 15 marker notes on Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man.

Source – Archaeological Anthropology by D K Bhattacharya or Narayan Amit AIR 70, 2021 Notes.

- Unit 2 Demographic and Linguistic Profile

Make notes and memorise the classifications given by Risley, B S Guha & S S Sarkar and their scholarly criticism.

Source Nadeem Hussain or Anthropology Demystified.

- Unit 3 Indian Social System

This section is largely static, prepare a note on each topic. Quote works and views of sociologists like M N Srinivas, Ghurye, Louis Dumont wherever relevant.

While answering a concept, always quote the relevant anthropologist name, the name of publication, name of the tribe or village where the study was conducted.

Quote examples and contemporary relevance to substantiate your answer.

Use schematics to explain concepts like Sacred Complex, Nature Man Spirit Complex, Tribe Caste Continuum, Universalization and Parochialisation.

Source: Nadeem Hussain or Anthropology Demystified.

- Unit 4 Emergence and Growth of Anthropology in India

Completely static and factual unit. Make a note on important anthropologists, their works and contribution and mug up.

Source: Anthropology Demystified and internet for other previously asked anthropologists.

- Unit 5 — Prepare a short note on each topic mentioned, substantiate your answers using relevant case studies. Quote important works of Anthropologists like Robert Redfield. Give contemporary relevance.

For questions on linguistic and religious minorities, quote constitutional provisions, govt schemes where necessary.

Source: Nadeem Hussain or Anthropology Demystified.

- Unit 6 — Tribal Situation in India

Primary source Tribal India by Nadeem Hasnain and Anthropology Demystified. Quote case studies and recommendations from the Xaxa committee report. Use Annual Report by Ministry of Tribal Affairs for latest data and govt schemes.

- Unit 7 — Source Nadeem Hussain, Anthropology Demystified, XAXA committee report and Annual Report by MoTA.
- Unit 8 — Source Tribal Culture of India by LP Vidyarthi, Nadeem Hasnain and relevant examples and case studies.
- Unit 9 — Source Nadeem Hasnain, govt schemes for tribes, more specifically for PVTGs.

Govt resources for value addition — census data, schemes and policies for the welfare of tribals, Annual Reports of MoTA, Yojana Magazine January 2014 and July 2022 editions.

For answer structuring students can take the help of Anthropology Demystified by Akshat Jain.

In Paper 2 inculcate the following things to not make your answer look like a GS answer.

1. Always quote names of relevant anthropologists, their publication, tribe/village name on which they worked etc.
2. Case studies (can be sourced from Xaxa report).
3. Interlinkage with theories of Paper-I
4. Contemporary relevance of the question and link it with current affairs

Use diagrams/Schematics for better presentation.

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Roadmap To Excel Anthropology In UPSC CSE

Top Scores in Anthropology

Approach to Anthropology