UPSC Mains 2023 Anthropology Optional Paper II questions

26 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Anthropology Optional PYQs

1. Material culture and archaeology

2. Jajmani system: continuity and change

3. Prehistoric rock arts from Uttarakhand

4. Religious pluralism and social solidarity

5. "Tribes are backward Hindus." Critically comment with reference to the contributions of G. S. Ghurye.

6. "Indus Valley was the first settlement of the big civilization." Comment critically.

   15 marks

7. Discuss the basic tenets of Jainism and its impact on Indian society.

   15 marks

8. "Sanskritization is a culture-bound concept." Critically comment to assess the strength and limitation of this concept in developing a theoretical framework to study social change.

   20 marks

9. F Was Mesolithic culture the first step towards sedentary way of life? Illustrate your answer by citing suitable examples.

   15 marks

10. Critically examine the impact of modern democratic institutions on contemporary tribal societies. Illustrate with suitable ethnographic examples.

    15 marks

11. Elucidate the problems faced by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and the major challenges in the formulation of special programmes for their development.

    20 marks

12. peoples of India.

    15 marks

13. Is caste mobility a recent phenomenon? Discuss in the light of Indological and Empirical context.

    15 marks

14. Scheduled areas

15. Village as little republic

16. Dravidian languages and their subgroups

17. Karma and Rebirth

18. Is annihilation of caste possible? Discuss the future of caste system in the light of various proactive measures taken by the Indian State.

    20 marks

19. Distinguishing between ethnic identity and ethnicity, discuss the factors responsible for ethnic conflict in tribal areas.

    15 marks

20. "Siwalik deposits show a variety of Neogene fossil primates." Critically examine.

    15 marks

21. Elucidate the shifting terrains of India's tribal policies in colonial and post-colonial periods.

    20 marks

22. TASTE Critically examine how the displacement of tribal communities due to hydroelectric river dam projects has affected the women in local context.

23. Elucidate the role of anthropology in nation building. Illustrate with suitable examples.

    15 marks

24. Discuss the distribution of tribes in different geographical regions of India. Identify the distinct institutional features of tribal societies of these regions.

    20 marks

25. Critically evaluate the contributions of S. C. Roy to Indian anthropology.

    15 marks

26. How are Other Backward Classes identified? Enumerating the important features, elucidate the recent changes in their social and economic life.

    15 marks