UPSC Mains 2019 Anthropology Optional Paper II questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Anthropology Optional PYQs

1. Phylogenetic position and morphological features of Ramapithecus.

2. Ethno-archaeological analysis of hunting activities of contemporary tribal communities.

3. Distribution of Tibeto-Burman group of languages in India.

4. Use of doctrine of Karma and rebirth in justifying the Varna system.

5. The Jajmani system and contemporary market economy.

6. Describe the Palaeolithic culture with special reference to Soanian tradition. Indicate the problems of describing the Indian Palaeolithic.

   20 marks

7. What has been the contribution of tribal people to the Indian Independence movement?

8. Describe the impact of Buddhism on the tribal populations of India.

9. What kind of society may be reconstructed from the archaeological evidences of Harappan culture?

   20 marks

10. Discuss the impact of media on the social life of Indian villages.

    5 marks

11. Critically assess the existing plans and programmes meant for tribal welfare.

12. Give an account of the contributions of Iravati Karve and 8. S. Guha to the analysis of race and caste in India.

    20 marks

13. What has been the impact of development projects on the environment and livelihood of forest-dwelling tribes?

    5 marks

14. Identify some special programmes for particularly vulnerable Tribal Groups (erstwhile PTGs).

15. Ethnicity and regionalism.

16. Panchayati Raj as a facilitator of social inclusion in rural society.

    10 marks

17. Anthropological understanding of communalism.

18. Issues relating to tribal education.

19. Distribution of Neolithic sites in India.

    10 marks

20. Identify the theoretical concepts that have emerged out of village studies in India.

    20 marks

21. Critically discuss the role of NGOs in tribal development.

    5 marks

22. Describe the impact of industrialization on the economic and social aspects of: India's villages.

23. Discuss how the elements of Little and Great Traditions combine in the emergence of social/political/religious movements, giving any one example to illustrate the issue.

    20 marks

24. Write about the role of colonial administration in the development of Anthropology in India.

    5 marks

25. What are the salient issues faced by pastoral communities in India? Discuss with suitable examples.

    5 marks

26. Discuss with appropriate examples how tribal unrest may be understood as emerging out of an incompatibility between tribes and the nation-state.

    20 marks

27. What has been the impact of non-Hindu religions on the emancipation of Schedule Castes in India?

    5 marks

28. What are the constitutional safeguards to protect the interests of the Indian tribes?

    5 marks