UPSC Anthropology Syllabus: A fundamental component of biology is anthropology. Candidates with a background in science can take anthropology as an elective. All of the social, biological, and archaeological facets of anthropology are covered in the optional UPSC Syllabus for anthropology. It becomes crucial to comprehend the Anthropology Optional Syllabus if you choose to make it an optional subject in the main exam.
We shall examine the UPSC Anthropology Syllabus and Exam Pattern in detail in this article. This will assist you in comprehending the key subjects you need to concentrate on to pass the UPSC Mains exam.
UPSC Anthropology Syllabus Overview
The study of humans is central to the UPSC Anthropology Syllabus. The syllabus covers a wide range of topics, including history, culture, and society. Due to the abundance of study materials accessible, anthropology is a very popular optional subject because it is simple to prepare for.
You can view the overview of the UPSC Anthropology Optional Syllabus in the table below to gain a better grasp of the key subjects covered in the subject.
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UPSC Anthropology Syllabus Overview |
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| Paper | Topic |
| UPSC Anthropology Syllabus Paper I | Evolution of Anthropological thought |
| Nature and scope of Anthropology | |
| Main Branches of Anthropology | |
| Methods of Anthropology | |
| Application of Anthropology | |
| Relation of Anthropology with other social sciences and natural sciences | |
| Human Evolution and Human Fossil Records | |
| The biological basis of life | |
| Nature of human language and its classification | |
| Characteristics of Language, its structure, and linguistic typology | |
| Basic concepts of Genetics and molecular structure of DNA | |
| Mendelian inheritance, Linkage, and Crossing over | |
| Blood groups, Rh factor, and their distribution | |
| ABO, Rh blood group systems, and their distribution | |
| DNA Fingerprinting and its applications | |
| Comparative Anatomy and primate taxonomy | |
| Skeletal changes in the transition from primate to hominid | |
| Concepts of Homo sapiens and Homo erectus | |
| Theories of Organic Evolution: Darwinism, Synthetic theory of evolution | |
| Recent advances in the study of Human Evolution | |
| Concepts of race and racism, Misconceptions of race | |
| Race as a biological and cultural concept | |
| Growth and Development of Anthropology in India | |
| Anthropometry and its applications in anthropological studies | |
| Definition, scope, and development of Prehistoric Archaeology | |
| Cultural Evolution and Typology | |
| Characteristics of Paleolithic and Neolithic Tools | |
| Salient features of Mesolithic and Chalcolithic cultures of India | |
| Geographical distribution and characteristics of various types of Megaliths | |
| Definition, meaning, and scope of Archaeological Anthropology | |
| Historical Development of Archaeological Anthropology | |
| Application of Anthropology in the reconstruction of the Indian history | |
| UPSC Anthropology Syllabus Paper II | Indian Anthropology: Its development and its present status |
| Ethnographic approach and its importance in the study of Indian society and culture | |
| Village studies, Urban Anthropology, and Rural-Urban continuum | |
| Social Change and processes in Tribal societies and the impact of globalization | |
| Socialization and education in tribal societies | |
| Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and other religions on tribal societies | |
| Structure and functions of the Indian family | |
| Impact of industrialization, urbanization, and globalization on the Indian family | |
| Kinship systems and social organization in India | |
| Caste system in India: Characteristics, functions, and dynamics | |
| Impact of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and other religions on the caste system | |
| Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: Social, Economic, and Political Aspects | |
| Concept of Tribe, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes | |
| Issues of Integration and autonomy of ethnic groups | |
| Impact of globalization on Indian society | |
| Changing aspirations of Indian youth and their implications for society | |
| Issues of identity among religious, linguistic, and ethnic minorities in India | |
| Problems of insurgency and naxalism in India: Causes and solutions | |
| Indian Anthropology and Contemporary World Issues: Environment and Ecology, Health and Nutrition, Human Rights, Science and Technology in Society | |
| Tribal Development and Welfare Programs in India | |
| Panchayati Raj and Social Development in India | |
| Anthropological Perspectives on Culture and Society | |
| Ecological Anthropology: Concept, scope, and methods | |
| Environmental and Developmental Issues | |
| Environmental Movements and Their Impact | |
| Sustainable Development and Environmental Conservation | |
Important Topics in UPSC Anthropology Syllabus
Check out the essential readings in Anthropology that you need to read to pass the IAS exam.
- Holism
- Society
- Family
- Marriage
- Tribal topics
- Neolithic revolution
- Copper bronze age
- Culture, civilization
- Linguistic anthropology
- Relevance of anthropology
- Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Cultures
- Language, culture, and communication
- Branches of anthropology, various dating techniques
- Research methodology – Genealogical method, observation, techniques of data interpretation, fieldwork significance in anthropology
UPSC Anthropology Exam Pattern
Three phases make up UPSC recruitment: a preliminary exam, a main exam, and an interview. For Papers VI and VII, the applicants select the optional subjects they wish to take.
The UPSC Anthropology exam pattern for the IAS mains exam is as follows:
- For the optional subject of anthropology, there will be two papers.
- There would be 250 marks on each paper, for a total of 500 marks.
- Negative marking does not exist.
- There would be questions with objective answers in every paper.
| UPSC Anthropology Exam Pattern | |||
| Sl. No. | Mains Paper | Subject | Marks |
| 1. | Paper VI | Anthropology Optional Paper-I | 250 |
| 2. | Paper VII | Anthropology Optional Paper-II | 250 |
| Total Marks | 500 | ||
| Time Duration | 3 hours | ||
Preparation Tips for UPSC Anthropology
Applicants with a background in science or engineering are more likely to select the UPSC anthropology optional topic. It is simple to score rather well on the entire exam if one is very interested in anthropology. Particularly in UPSC, anthropology is a topic that calls for a foundational understanding of chemistry and physics. Here are some pointers for strategically covering the UPSC anthropology subject in preparation.
- Candidates should thoroughly review the Anthropology UPSC Optional Syllabus before beginning their preparation to determine which subjects they must cover. The syllabus covers several topics; applicants need to know how to strategically arrange their studies and prepare for them.
- Since each topic is related to the others, applicants should concentrate on covering each one in detail.
- The UPSC NCERT books are advised for preparation on Anthropology.
- Once you begin your preparation, make sure to include all of the pertinent details and points in your Anthropology Optional Notes. You need to write down all of the key terms, ideas, and terms. This will help with last-minute editing.
- It is required to complete the UPSC civil services examination series’ past year question papers, mock exams, test series, etc.
- Make time to go over your work; if you have prepared anything throughout the day, make revisions before going to bed. You must constantly edit the notes because an optional paper is a descriptive kind of writing.