UPSC Anthropology is one of the 48 optional subjects listed in the UPSC Civil Service Examination optional syllabus. The UPSC formulated the Anthropology syllabus by taking the IAS examination into account. Anthropology optional paper mainly focuses on assessing the ability of the candidate to understand the subject as science and apply the knowledge in solving the problems experienced by the citizens. The topics included in this UPSC optional subject are mainly related to human evolution, social structures, cultural evolution and development.

 

The aspirants who opt for Anthropology optional in UPSC would find that the syllabus is focused on issues and topics related to the development of the nation and the culture of India. This UPSC optional subject might be easy for the candidates who come from the background of academicians, social workers and sociologists. It is recommended that the aspirants should be familiarised with the syllabus of UPSC Mains to implement better strategies in their preparation. 

 

The UPSC Anthropology Optional Subject consists of two papers (Paper I and Paper II), each carrying 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. As many candidates choose Anthropology as their optional subject for the Civil Services Examination, here is the complete syllabus for the Anthropology Optional paper.

 

UPSC Syllabus for Anthropology Optional: Paper I

1.1 Anthropology: Meaning, Scope and Development

1.2 Relationship with other subjects including Social Science, Behavioural Science, Life Sciences, Medical Science, Earth Science and Humanities.  

1.3 Anthropology: Important branches, their scope and relevance

1.4 Evolution of Humans and Emergence of Man:

Biological and Cultural Factors Involved in Human Evolution

Theories related to Organic Evolution (Pre-Darwinian, Darwinian, and Post-Darwinian)

Synthetic Theory of Evolution

A brief outline of terms and concepts related to evolutionary biology

Doll’s Rule, Cope’s Rule, Gause’s rule, parallelism, convergence, adaptive radiation and mosaic evolution.

1.5 Characteristics of Primate

Evolutionary trend and primate Taxonomy

Primate Adaptation 

Primate Taxonomy

Arboreal

Terrestrial

Primary Behaviour

Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates

Living Major Primates

Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes

Skeletal changes due to improper posture and its imputation

1.6 Phylogenetic Status, characteristics and geographical distribution of:

Plio-preleistocene hominids in South and East Africa: Australopithecines

Homo-erectus: Africa (Paranthropus), Europe (Homo erectus- heidelbergensis), Asia (Homo erectus javanicus, Homo erectus pekinensis)

Neanderthal Man: La-chapelle-aux-saints (Classical type), Mt.Carmel (Progressive type)

Rhodesian man

Homo Sapiens: Cromagnon, Grimaldi and Chancelede

 

1.7 The Biological Basis of Life

 

Cell

DNA Structure and Replication

Protein Synthesis

Gene 

Mutation

Chromosomes

Cell Division

 

1.8 a) Principles of Prehistoric Archeology

Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating Methods

b) Cultural Evolution: Broad Outlines of Prehistoric Cultures

2.1 The Nature of Culture

The concept and characteristics of culture and civilisation

Ethnocentrism vis-a-vis cultural relativism

 

2.2 The Nature of the society

Concept of society

Culture and society

Social institution

Social groups

Social stratification

 

2.3 Marriage

Definition and universality

Laws of marriage

Endogamy

Exogamy

Hypergamy

Hypogamy

Incest taboo

Types of marriage

Monogamy

Polygamy

Polyandry

Group Marriage

Functions of Marriage

Regulations of Marriage 

Preferential

Prescriptive

Proscriptive

Marriage Payments

Bride Wealth

Dowry

 

2.4 Family

Definition and universality

Family, household and domestic groups

Functions of family

Types of family

From the viewpoint of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession

Impact of Urbanisation, industrialisation and feminist movements on family

 

2.5 Kinship

 Consanguinity and Affinity

Types and principles of descent

Unilineal

Double

Bilateral

Ambilineal

Forms of descent groups

Lineage, 

Clan, 

Phratry, 

Moiety and 

Kindred

Kinship terminology (description and classificatory)

Descent Filiation

Complimentary Filiation

Decent and Alliance

 

3.Economic Organisation

Meaning, Scope, and Relevance of Economic Anthropology

Formalist and Substantivist Debate

Principles Governing Production, Distribution, and Exchange

Reciprocity

Redistribution:

Market:

Economic Practices in Various Communities

Subsistence Hunting and Gathering:

Fishing:

Swiddening (Slash-and-Burn Agriculture):

Pastoralism:

Horticulture:

Agriculture:

Globalisation and Indigenous Economic Systems

 

4. Political Organisation and Social Control

Band, Tribe, Chiefdom, Kingdom and State

Concepts of Power, authority and Legitimacy

Social control, Law and Justice in simple societies

 

5. Religion

Anthropological approaches to the study of religion

Evolutionary

Psychological

Functional

Monotheism and Polytheism

Sacred and Profane

Myths and Rituals

Forms of Religion in tribal and peasant societies

Animism 

Animatism

Fetishism

Naturism 

Totemism

Religion, magic and science distinguished

Magico-religious functionaries

Priest

Shaman

Medicine man

Sorcerer

Witch

 

6. Anthropological Theories

Classical Evolutionism

Tylor

Morgan

Frazer

 

 

Historical Particularism

Boas

Diffusionism

British

German

American

Functionalism

Malinowski

Structural- Functionlism

Radcliffe- Brown

Structuralism

L’evi-strauss and E.Leach

Culture and Personality

Benedict

Mead

Linton

Kardinar

Cora-du Bois

Neo-evolutionism

Childe

White

Steward

Sahlins and Service

Cultural Materialism

Harris

Symbolic and Interpretive Theories

Turner

Schneider

Geertz

Cognitive Theories

Tyler

Conklin

Post-modernism in Anthropology

 

7. Culture, Language and Communication

Nature, origin and characteristics of Language

Verbal and Non-verbal communication

Social contex of language use

 

8. Research methods in Anthropology

Fieldwork tradition in anthropology

Distinction between technique, method and methodology

Tools of data collection

Observation

Interview

Schedules

Questionnaire

Case study

Genealogy

Life-history

Oral-history

Secondary sources of Information

Participatory methods

Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data

 

9.1 Human Genetics

Methods and Application

Methods for Study of Genetic Principles in Man-family

Pedigree analysis

Twin Study

Foster Child

Co-twin methods

Cytogenetic method

Chromosomal

Karyo-type analysis

Biochemical methods

Immunological methods

DNA technology 

Recombinant Technologies

 

9.2 Mendelian genetics in

Man-family study

Single factor

Multifactor

Sub-lethal 

Polygenic inheritance in man

 

9.3 Concept of genetic polymorphism and section

Mendelian population

Hardy-weinberg Law

Causes and changes which brings down:

Frequency-mutation

Isolation

Migration

Selection

Inbreeding

Genetic drift

Consanguineous and non-consanguineus mating

Genetic Load

Genetic effect of consanguineous and cousin marriages

 

9.4 Chromosomes and chromosomal aberration in man, methodology

Numerical and Structural aberration (Disorders)

Sex chromosomal aberration

Klinefelter (XXY)

Turner (XO)

Super female (XXX)

Intersex 

Other syndromic disorders

Autosomal aberration

Down syndrome

Patau

Edward

Cri-du-chat syndromes

Genetic imprints in:

Human disease

Genetic screening

Genetic counselling

Human DNA profiling 

Gene Mapping

Genome study

 

9.5 Race and Racism, biological basis of the morphological foundation of morphological variation of non-metric and characters.

Racial criteria

Racial Traits (Concerning heredity and environment)

Biological foundation of 

Racial classification

Racial differentiation 

Race crossing in Man

 

9.6 Age, sex and population variation as genetic marker

ABO

Rh blood groups

HLP Hp

Transferring

GM

Blood Enzymes

Physiological Characteristics

Hb level

Body fat

Pulse rate

Respiratory functions

Sensory perceptions

In different cultural and socio-economic groups

 

9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology

Bio-cultural Adaptations

Genetic

Non-genetic factors

The Physiological responses to environmental stresses of Man

Hot dessert

Cold

High altitude climate

 

9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology

Health and Disease

Infectious and non-infectious disease

Nutritional Deficiency related disease

Concept of Human Growth and Development

Stages of Growth-pre-natal, natal, infant, childhood, adolescence, maturity, senescence

Factors affecting:

Growth and Development of genetic

Environmental

Biochemical

Nutritional

Cultural

Socio-economic

Ageing and senescence

Theories and observations

Biological and chronological longevity

Human Physique

Somatoypes

Methodologies for Growth Studies

11.1 Importance of Menarche, menopause and other bioevents to fertility

Fertility patterns and differentials

 

11.2 Demographic theories

Biological

Social 

Cultural

 

11.3 Biological and socio-ecological factors

Fecundity

Fertility

Natality

Mortality

Applications of Anthropology

Anthropology of

Sports

Nutritional Anthropology

Anthropology in designing of defence and other equipments

Forensic Anthropology

Methods and Principles of Personal identification and applied human genetics

Paternity diagnosis

Genetic Counselling and Eugenics

DNA Technology in Diseases and Medicine

Serogenetics

Cytogenetics in reproductive biology

UPSC Syllabus for Anthropology Optional: Paper II

1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilisation

Prehistoric

Palaeolithic

Mesolithic

Neolithic

Neolithic-chalcolithic

Protohistoric

Indus Civilisation

Pre-Harappan, Harappan and Post-Harappan cultures

Inputs of the Tribal Cultures to Indian Civilisation

 

1.2 Palae

Anthropological evidences from India with special reference to Siwaliks and Narmada basin

Ramapithecus

Sivapithecus

Narmada Man

 

1.3 Ethno-archaeology in India

The concept of Ethno-archeology

Survivals and Parallels among the:

Hunting

Foraging

Fishing

Pastoral

Peasant Communities (including arts and crafts-producing communities)

Demographic Profile of India

Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian Population and their distribution

Indian Population (Elements influencing its structure and growth)

 

3.1 The structure and nature of the traditional Indian social system

Varnashram

Purushartha

Karma

Rina

Rebirth

 

3.2  Caste system in India

Structure and characteristics of 

Varna and caste

Theories of the origin of the caste system,

Dominant caste

Caste mobility

Future of the caste system

Jajmani System

Tribe-case continuum

 

3.3 Sacred Complex and Nature-Man-Spirit Complex

 

3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society

Emergence, growth and development in India

Contributions of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century scholar-administrators

Contributions of Indian anthropologists to tribal and caste studies

 

5.1 Indian Village

Importance of Village Study in India

Indian village as a social system

Traditional and changing patterns of settlements and inter-caste relations

Agrarian relations in Indian villages

Impact of Globalisation on Indian Villages

 

5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status

 

5.3 Indigenous and Exogenous Processes of socio-cultural Change in Indian Society

Sanskritisation

Westernisation

Modernisation

The interplay of little and great traditions

Panchayati Raj and social change

Media and social change

 

6.1 Tribal situation in India-bio-genetic variability, linguistic and socio-economic characteristics of the tribal populations and their distribution.

 

6.2  Problems of the tribal communities

Land Alienation

Poverty

Indebtedness

Low literacy

Poor education facilities

Unemployment

Under-employment

Health and nutrition

 

6.3Developmenal projects and their impact on tribal displacement and problems of rehabilitation

 

Development of forest policy and tribals

Influence of urbanisation and industrialisation on tribal populations

 

7.1 Issues of exploitation and deprivation of 

Scheduled castes

Scheduled tribes 

Other Backward classes

Constitutional safeguards for

Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes

 

7.2 Social change and contemporary tribal societies

Influence of modern democratic institutions

Development of programmes 

Welfare measures on tribals

Weaker sections

 

7.3 The concept of ethnicity

Ethnic conflicts and political developments

Chaos in tribal communities

Regionalism and demand for autonomy

Pseudo-tribalism

Social change among the tribes during colonial and post-independent India

8.1 Influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on Tribal societies

 

8.2 Tribe and nation-state (a comparative study of tribal communities in India and other countries)

 

9.1 History of administration of 

Tribal areas

Tribal policies, plans

Programmes of tribal development and their implementation

The Concept of PTGs (Primitive Tribal Groups), their distribution, special programmes for their development

Role of N.G.Os in tribal development

 

9.2 Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development

 

9.3 Contributions of anthropology in:

Regionalism

Communalism

Ethnic and political movements