Anthropology

UPSC Anthropology 2022

All 16 questions from the 2022 Civil Services Mains Anthropology paper across 2 papers — 800 marks in total. Each question comes with a detailed evaluation rubric, directive word analysis, and model answer points.

16Questions
800Total marks
2Papers
2022Exam year

Paper I

8 questions · 400 marks
Q1
50M 150w Compulsory write short notes Formalist-substantivist debate, Mesolithic art, Radcliffe-Brown, genetic counselling, PRA

Write notes on the following in about 150 words each: (a) Debate between formalist and substantivist approaches (10 marks) (b) Mesolithic rock art in Indian subcontinent (10 marks) (c) Radcliffe-Brown's ideas on status, role and institution (10 marks) (d) Pedigree analysis in genetic counselling (10 marks) (e) Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) (10 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'write short notes' demands concise, information-dense responses of ~150 words per sub-part. Allocate approximately 3 minutes per part (15 minutes total), ensuring each note has a brief definitional opening, 2-3 substantive points, and a concluding link. Structure: (a) contrast formalist (economic rationality) vs substantivist (Polanyi, embedded economy); (b) highlight Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, Patne with themes; (c) define status-role-institution nexus with structural-functionalist lens; (d) explain pedigree symbols, inheritance patterns, risk calculation; (e) contrast PRA (rapid, extractive) with PLA (long-term, empowering). No single conclusion needed; each part must stand independently.

  • (a) Formalist-substantivist debate: Formalists (Herskovits, Firth) apply neoclassical economics universally; Substantivists (Polanyi, Dalton) argue economy is embedded in society; mention 'great transformation' and market vs reciprocity-redistribution
  • (b) Mesolithic rock art: Bhimbetka (hunting scenes, handprints), Adamgarh (faunal themes), Patne (geometric patterns); mention V.S. Wakankar, themes of food procurement, ritual, no domestication evidence
  • (c) Radcliffe-Brown: Status as structural position, role as dynamic performance, institution as standardized role cluster; contrast with Malinowski's functionalism; mention 'social structure' as network of relations
  • (d) Pedigree analysis: Standard symbols (square=male, circle=female, shaded=affected), autosomal/X-linked/Y-linked/mitochondrial inheritance patterns, risk calculation for genetic counselling, mention Indian genetic counselling contexts (thalassemia, sickle cell)
  • (e) PRA vs PLA: PRA (Chambers, 1980s) rapid rural appraisal tools—mapping, transect walks, seasonal calendars; PLA as evolved participatory learning with action-refaction cycles; contrast in time frame, power dynamics, sustainability
Q2
50M elaborate Nature of anthropology, primate social organization, Palaeolithic typo-technology

(a) "Anthropology is the systematic, objective and holistic study of human kind in all times and places". Elaborate the argument. (20 marks) (b) Discuss different forms of primate social organisation. (15 marks) (c) Discuss with suitable examples the typo-technological problems in Indian palaeolithic industry with reference to environmental hypotheses. (15 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'elaborate' in part (a) demands systematic expansion of the definition with supporting arguments, while parts (b) and (c) require 'discuss'—balanced treatment with examples. Allocate approximately 40% word/time to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure: brief integrated introduction → three distinct sections for each sub-part with clear sub-headings → conclusion synthesizing anthropology's unique disciplinary position.

  • Part (a): Systematic nature—scientific method, fieldwork, comparison with history/sociology; Objectivity—etic vs emic, reflexivity debates, Malinowski's contribution; Holism—four-field integration (biological, archaeological, linguistic, cultural); All times and places—diachronic and synchronic dimensions, salvage ethnography
  • Part (b): Solitary/orangutans; Monogamous/gibbons; Polyandrous/tamarins; Polygynous-one-male groups/hanuman langurs; Multi-male multi-female/bonnet macaques; Fission-fusion/chimpanzees; Factors: resource distribution, predation pressure, sexual selection
  • Part (c): Typo-technological problems—overlapping tool types (handaxe vs cleaver), raw material constraints (quartzite vs chert), functional vs morphological classification; Environmental hypotheses—Kenneth Oakley's climatic framework, Dennell's 'Out of Africa' critique, Soanian vs Acheulian distribution linked to Siwalik vs Deccan geology; Specific sites: Hunsgi-Baichbal valleys, Didwana, Belan valley sequence
  • Integration: How biological anthropology (b) and archaeology (c) exemplify the holistic definition in (a)
  • Critical stance: Limitations of the definition—postmodern critique of objectivity, decolonization challenges; problems with environmental determinism in Indian Palaeolithic studies
Q3
50M discuss Matrilineal descent and residence, animal domestication, Neanderthal classification

(a) Discuss how the rules of descent contradict the principles of residence in matrilineal society, mentioning suitable examples ? (20 marks) (b) Enumerate the evidence of animal domestication in Indian microlithic industry. (15 marks) (c) Should we still distinguish between 'classic' and 'progressive' Neanderthals ? Discuss the controversy surrounding Neanderthal's position in human evolution. (15 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'discuss' demands a balanced, analytical treatment across all three sub-parts. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, then tackle each sub-part sequentially with clear internal headings, ensuring part (a) addresses the contradiction between descent and residence rules with ethnographic depth; part (b) systematically enumerates domestication evidence from Indian microlithic sites; and part (c) presents both sides of the Neanderthal classification controversy before a synthesizing conclusion.

  • Part (a): Clear exposition of how matrilineal descent (tracing ancestry through female line) contradicts patrilocal/virilocal residence (husband moves to wife's group or wife moves to husband's group), creating structural tension
  • Part (a): Specific ethnographic examples—Nayars of Kerala (visiting husband system), Garos of Meghalaya (matrilineal descent with neolocal/virilocal residence shifts), or Khasis (matrilocal residence with matrilineal descent showing congruence as exception)
  • Part (b): Enumeration of domestication evidence—faunal remains (sheep, goat, cattle) from sites like Bagor, Langhnaj, Birbhanpur; microlithic tools as hunting/cutting implements transitioning to herding; seasonal settlement patterns indicating pastoralism
  • Part (b): Specific Indian sites and phases—Mesolithic-Microlithic transition, Adamgarh Hills, Bhimbetka, and the shift from hunting-gathering to food production in Vindhyan and Ganga plains
  • Part (c): Classic vs. progressive Neanderthal distinction—classic (Western Europe: La Chapelle-aux-Saints) vs. progressive (Southwest Asia: Shanidar, Amud) morphological and behavioral differences
  • Part (c): Contemporary controversy—genetic evidence (Neanderthal genome, interbreeding with Homo sapiens), chronological overlap, and whether distinctions represent clinal variation or separate populations; position in human evolution as sister group vs. ancestor
Q4
50M elaborate Heath-Carter somatotype method, cultural relativism, Kula Ring interpretations

(a) Why Heath and Carter used anthropometric measurements instead of photographs of an individual to assess the somatotype ? Elaborate their method. (20 marks) (b) Discuss the historical and cultural contexts that led to superseding ethnocentrism with cultural relativism in anthropology. (15 marks) (c) Critically examine various anthropological interpretations about the Kula Ring. (15 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'elaborate' in part (a) demands detailed exposition with technical precision, while parts (b) and (c) require 'discuss' and 'critically examine' respectively—meaning analytical depth with balanced argumentation. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, with ~30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure: brief integrated introduction on anthropological methods and theory; body addressing each part sequentially with clear sub-headings; conclusion synthesizing how methodological rigor (a), theoretical evolution (b), and interpretive debates (c) collectively advance anthropological understanding.

  • Part (a): Heath-Carter's preference for anthropometric measurements over photographs due to objectivity, reproducibility, and quantification; explanation of the three-component somatotype method (endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy) with height-weight ratio, skinfold thickness, and bone diameter measurements; reference to the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype rating form
  • Part (a): Technical details of the 10 measurements used (height, weight, 4 skinfolds, 2 bone breadths, 2 limb girths) and how these yield the 1-7 scale ratings for each component
  • Part (b): Historical context of 19th-century unilineal evolutionism and ethnocentrism (Tylor, Morgan); Boas's critique of environmental determinism and his 1887 'Mind of Primitive Man'; Malinowski's functionalism and Herskovits's 1972 'Cultural Relativism' as formal doctrine
  • Part (b): Intellectual currents including German historicism (Herder), American historical particularism, and post-colonial consciousness; connection to anti-racist anthropology and UNESCO statements on race
  • Part (c): Malinowski's functionalist interpretation of Kula Ring as reciprocal exchange establishing social solidarity, 'gift' versus 'commodity', and the concept of 'Kula magic'
  • Part (c): Mauss's structuralist elaboration in 'The Gift' (1925) on total prestations and the hau; subsequent interpretations by Weiner (gendered exchange, inalienable possessions), Munn (spatiotemporal transformations), and Damon (reproduction of personhood); critical assessment of these interpretive shifts
Q5
50M 150w Compulsory write short notes Genetic polymorphism, genetic imprinting, pre-natal development, shamanism, household

Write notes on the following in about 150 words each: (a) Balanced and transient genetic polymorphism. (10 marks) (b) Genetic imprinting in human diseases. (10 marks) (c) Stages of human pre-natal development. (10 marks) (d) Shaman, sorcerer and medicine man. (10 marks) (e) Household and domestic group. (10 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'Write notes' demands concise, information-dense responses for each sub-part. Allocate approximately 30 words per mark (150 words × 5 parts = 750 total). Spend roughly 3 minutes per part, prioritizing precise definitions and key distinctions over elaboration. Structure each note as: definition → mechanism/process → example → significance. No introduction or conclusion is needed for this format; dive directly into content for each labeled section.

  • (a) Balanced polymorphism: Define as stable coexistence of multiple alleles (e.g., sickle-cell trait and malaria resistance); contrast with transient polymorphism as temporary, directional selection phase; cite heterozygote advantage for balanced, industrial melanism for transient.
  • (b) Genetic imprinting: Explain parent-of-origin specific gene silencing via methylation; link to diseases—Prader-Willi syndrome (paternal deletion), Angelman syndrome (maternal deletion), Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome; mention uniparental disomy.
  • (c) Pre-natal stages: Germinal (0-2 weeks: zygote, blastocyst, implantation), Embryonic (3-8 weeks: organogenesis, neural tube, limb buds), Fetal (9 weeks-birth: growth, maturation, viability threshold); note critical periods and teratogen sensitivity.
  • (d) Shaman, sorcerer, medicine man: Shaman as ecstatic specialist, soul flight, healing (Siberian, Santhal); sorcerer as malevolent magic user, antisocial power; medicine man as herbalist, empirical knowledge (Vaidya, Ojha); contrast legitimacy and social role.
  • (e) Household vs. domestic group: Household as co-residential, economic unit (UN definition); domestic group as task-oriented, may be dispersed; cite Indian joint family vs. nuclear household; mention Nandi (M.N. Srinivas) domestic cycle.
Q6
50M discuss Social control mechanisms, health and lifestyle diseases, declining age at menarche

(a) Discuss the mechanism of social control in different kinds of political systems. (20 marks) (b) What is meant by health ? Is the burden of life style diseases on the rise ? Justify your answer with suitable examples. (15 marks) (c) Critically evaluate the reasons of reduction in age at menarche in human females over the successive generations. (15 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'discuss' for part (a) requires critical examination with multiple perspectives, while parts (b) and (c) demand explanation and critical evaluation respectively. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget (~400 words) to part (a) given its 20 marks weightage, and roughly 30% each (~300 words) to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief integrated introduction, separate well-demarcated sections for each sub-part with clear headings, and a synthesizing conclusion that connects social control, health transitions, and biological changes as interconnected dimensions of anthropological inquiry.

  • Part (a): Mechanisms of social control in band societies (egalitarian, informal sanctions like gossip, ostracism), tribal societies (age-grade systems, ritual authority, big man/chief systems), chiefdoms (redistribution, hereditary authority, ritual sanctions), and state systems (codified laws, judiciary, police, ideological apparatus)
  • Part (a): Distinction between internalized control (shame, guilt) and externalized control (punishment, surveillance) across political systems, with reference to E.A. Hoebel's law-ways and Radcliffe-Brown's sanction theory
  • Part (b): WHO definition of health as complete physical, mental and social well-being; critique of biomedical vs. holistic anthropological perspectives; rising burden of lifestyle diseases (NCDs) with Indian data (NFHS-5, ICMR-NCDIR studies)
  • Part (b): Examples of diabetes, CVD, obesity in urban India (Delhi, Mumbai), rural transition, demographic-epidemiological transition model, and socio-cultural factors (dietary changes, sedentarism, stress)
  • Part (c): Secular trend in menarche timing (from ~16-17 years in 19th century to ~12-13 years today); biological factors (improved nutrition, reduced disease load, body fat hypothesis/Frisch-Revelle hypothesis)
  • Part (c): Environmental endocrine disruptors (BPA, phthalates), psychosocial stress, father absence hypothesis (Belsky-Draper), and critical evaluation of genetic vs. environmental determinism with Indian studies (e.g., ICMR studies on adolescent health)
Q7
50M discuss Evolutionary forces and human diversity, fieldwork tradition, White-Steward-Sahlins cultural evolution

(a) Discuss the role of evolutionary forces in creating human diversity. (20 marks) (b) Write the historical development of field work tradition in anthropology till recent times. (15 marks) (c) Discuss the approaches of Leslie White, Julian Steward and Marshall Sahlins in the light of cultural evolution. (15 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'discuss' demands a critical, multi-faceted examination with balanced coverage across all three sub-parts. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure: brief integrated introduction → systematic treatment of (a) with mechanisms and outcomes, (b) as chronological narrative from armchair to multi-sited, (c) as comparative theoretical analysis → synthesizing conclusion linking evolution, methodology and theory.

  • Part (a): Mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow as primary forces; clinal vs. racial variation; lactase persistence, sickle-cell trait, skin pigmentation gradients as exemplars
  • Part (a): Balancing vs. directional selection; founder effect in population isolates; neutral theory vs. adaptationist perspectives
  • Part (b): Evolution from speculative evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan) to intensive fieldwork (Boas, Malinowski); post-war national traditions (British social anthropology, American cultural anthropology); decolonization critiques; contemporary multi-sited, digital and collaborative ethnography
  • Part (c): White's energy-capture universalism and technological determinism; Steward's cultural ecology and multilineal evolution with culture core concept; Sahlins' synthesis in 'Evolution and Culture' distinguishing specific vs. general evolution
  • Part (c): Critical comparison of their stances on progress, environment-technology nexus, and whether evolution is unilinear or multilineal
Q8
50M discuss Socio-cultural demographic theories, blood group and HLA systems, anthropometry in design

(a) Discuss the contemporary population problems in the light of various socio-cultural demographic theories. (20 marks) (b) What do you understand by blood group systems ? How is HLA system different from those based on red cell antigens ? (15 marks) (c) Discuss how anthropological knowledge of the human body may be used in designing equipments and articles of human use. (15 marks)

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'discuss' requires a comprehensive, analytical treatment across all three parts. Structure with a brief integrated introduction, then address each sub-question sequentially with clear headings: (a) population theories with contemporary problems, (b) blood group systems with HLA distinction, and (c) anthropometry in design. Conclude by synthesizing how biological and cultural anthropology converge in addressing human welfare.

  • Part (a): Application of demographic transition theory, Malthusian theory, and cultural theories (e.g., Caldwell's wealth flows, Easterlin's relative cohort size) to India's population challenges—ageing, fertility decline, migration, urbanization
  • Part (a): Critical analysis of how socio-cultural factors (son preference, dowry, female education, religious norms) interact with demographic outcomes in Indian context
  • Part (b): Clear definition of ABO and Rh systems as red cell antigen-based; explanation of HLA as tissue/lymphocyte antigen system with role in immune recognition and transplant compatibility
  • Part (b): Systematic comparison: chromosome location (HLA on Chr 6 vs. blood groups), polymorphism level, inheritance pattern, clinical significance beyond transfusion
  • Part (c): Ergonomic application of anthropometric data (ISAK standards, NHANES Indian adaptations) in designing workspaces, military equipment, agricultural tools, and consumer products
  • Part (c): Specific Indian examples: LCA Tejas cockpit design, railway seat dimensions, PPE sizing during COVID-19, and gender-disaggregated data needs

Paper II

8 questions · 400 marks
Q1
50M 150w Compulsory write short notes Indian anthropology diverse topics

Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50 (a) Pit-dwellers of Kashmir (b) Varna and Buddhism (c) Dharma versus Religion (d) Safeguards for linguistic minorities in India (e) Westernisation and Modernisation

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'write short notes' demands concise, information-dense responses for each sub-part with precise terminology and focused coverage. Allocate approximately 30 words per sub-part (150 words total ÷ 5 parts), spending roughly 3-4 minutes on each note. Structure each note as: definitional opening (1 line), core content with specific facts/theories (2-3 lines), and a concluding significance statement (1 line). Prioritize factual accuracy and named sources over elaborate analysis given the word constraint.

  • (a) Pit-dwellers of Kashmir: Burzahom and Gufkral sites; Neolithic culture; pit dwellings with rammed earth floors; domesticated sheep/goat; birch bark artifacts; no pottery initially; later mud-brick structures
  • (b) Varna and Buddhism: Buddha's critique of Brahmanical varna; doctrine of karma replacing birth-based status; sangha as egalitarian alternative; practical compromises with existing social order; Upali the barber and Sunita the sweeper as exemplars
  • (c) Dharma versus Religion: dharma as duty/righteousness/ cosmic order vs. religion as faith-based system; no equivalent term in Indian tradition; dharma encompasses ethics, law, social obligation; Rajiv Dhavan's constitutional distinction
  • (d) Safeguards for linguistic minorities: Article 29-30 protection; Article 350B Special Officer; Eighth Schedule languages; Official Language Act 1963; state reorganization on linguistic basis; Gorkhaland/Mizo examples
  • (e) Westernisation and Modernisation: M.N. Srinivas's distinction; Westernisation as cultural borrowing from West; Modernisation as universal structural changes; Yogendra Singh's critique; Indian modernity as selective adaptation
Q2
50M illustrate Indian anthropologists and caste system

(a) Illustrate the contribution of Irawati Karve to Indian Anthropology. Make a special mention of her literary contribution. 20 (b) What are the arguments for excluding Narmada Man from Homo erectus category? 15 (c) Critically describe Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's argument on the origin of Indian caste system. 15

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'illustrate' demands concrete examples and evidence-based elaboration across all three parts. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget to part (a) given its 20 marks, focusing on Karve's regional studies and literary works; 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, three distinct sections with clear sub-headings, and a synthesizing conclusion that connects Indian anthropological traditions across physical and social anthropology.

  • Part (a): Irawati Karve's foundational contributions—regional anthropology of Maharashtra, kinship studies (Hindu Society: An Interpretation), and her literary works (Yuganta, Bhovara) that bridged anthropology and Marathi literature
  • Part (a): Her methodological innovations combining Indological and anthropological approaches, and her role in establishing anthropology at University of Pune
  • Part (b): Narmada Man (Hathnora) discovery context—calvaria found by Sonakia in 1982, Middle Pleistocene dating controversies
  • Part (b): Arguments for exclusion—archaic features suggesting Homo sapiens affinity, lack of definitive erectine traits, debate over whether it represents evolved Homo erectus or early archaic Homo sapiens
  • Part (c): Ambedkar's thesis in 'Annihilation of Caste' and 'Who Were the Shudras?'—caste as endogamous enclosed class, Brahmanical imposition theory, rejection of racial and occupational origin theories
  • Part (c): Critical engagement with Ambedkar—his argument that caste originated from priestly class monopoly and religious sanctions, not from race or economic factors alone
Q3
50M critically evaluate Archaeology and Indian anthropologists

(a) Make a critical appraisal of Megalithic tradition in India with special reference to North-East India. 20 (b) Assess the contributions of S. C. Dube in Indian village studies. 15 (c) Describe the methods adopted by Sir Herbert Hope Risley in classifying Indian populations. What are the criticisms against Risley's classification? 15

Answer approach & key points

Begin with a brief introduction acknowledging the three distinct themes: material culture, village studies, and colonial ethnography. Allocate approximately 40% of content to part (a) on Megalithic tradition given its 20 marks, with 30% each to parts (b) and (c). For (a), critically appraise by examining both achievements and limitations of scholarship; for (b), assess Dube's specific methodological and theoretical innovations; for (c), describe Risley's anthropometric methods before evaluating colonial critiques. Conclude by synthesizing how these three strands represent evolving anthropological approaches to Indian society.

  • Part (a): Define Megalithic tradition (menhirs, dolmens, cairn circles, stone circles) and distinguish between sepulchral and non-sepulchral types; emphasize Northeast India's unique living megalithic cultures (Khasi, Jaintia, Naga) versus peninsular India's archaeological remains
  • Part (a): Critically appraise dating problems, lack of iron association in some Northeastern cases, and debate between indigenous development versus diffusionist explanations; mention scholars like Gurdon, Hutton, and recent AMS dating challenges
  • Part (b): Assess Dube's contribution through 'Indian Village' (1955) and 'India's Changing Villages' (1958); highlight his focus on inter-village networks, planned change, and departure from isolated community studies
  • Part (b): Evaluate Dube's methodological shift from functionalism to applied anthropology, his work in Shamirpet, and critique of his 'sanskritization' framework and top-down development approach
  • Part (c): Describe Risley's anthropometric methods (nasal index, cephalic index) and use of photography; explain his racial typology (seven main types) and caste-race equation in 'The Tribes and Castes of Bengal' (1891)
  • Part (c): Critique Risley's scientific racism, circular reasoning (using caste status to define race), ignoring environmental plasticity; mention later critiques by Guha, Majumdar, and contemporary genetic studies refuting his typology
Q4
50M elucidate Globalisation, proto-history and religion

(a) "Globalisation, on one hand has provided opportunities and on the other hand thrown challenges to Indian villages." Elucidate. 20 (b) Describe briefly the proto-history of Gujarat. Discuss the significance of Gujarat proto-history in international trade. 15 (c) Critically examine 'Indigenisation of Christianity' in India. 15

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'elucidate' demands clear explanation with examples. Structure: brief introduction defining globalisation's dual impact; Part (a) ~40% word budget (20 marks) — opportunities (remittances, market access, technology) vs challenges (agrarian distress, cultural erosion, migration); Part (b) ~30% (15 marks) — Harappan sites (Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur), their maritime trade infrastructure, bead-making, and connection to Mesopotamia; Part (c) ~30% (15 marks) — critical examination of indigenisation (Brahmanic rituals in Catholicism, Hindu-style church architecture, Dalit Christianity, critiques by Lancy Lobo and Rowena Robinson). Conclude with integrated synthesis on cultural adaptation versus homogenisation.

  • Part (a): Globalisation opportunities — NRI remittances transforming village economies (Kerala model), ICT-enabled agricultural markets, rural BPOs; challenges — land alienation, farmer suicides, de-peasantisation, erosion of jajmani relations
  • Part (a): Theoretical grounding — articulation of modes of production (Srinivas' 'Westernisation' vs 'Globalisation from below'), Jan Breman on labour casualisation
  • Part (b): Gujarat proto-historical sites — Lothal (dockyard, bead factory), Dholivira (water management, signboard), Rangpur (rice cultivation), their dating and cultural sequence
  • Part (b): International trade significance — Mesopotamian texts mentioning 'Meluhha', carnelian bead export, cotton textiles, maritime technology enabling Indian Ocean trade network
  • Part (c): Indigenisation manifestations — Hindu-style church architecture (e.g., Velankanni), Sanskritisation of liturgy, caste-retention in Syrian Christianity, Dalit Christian assertion
  • Part (c): Critical examination — Lancy Lobo's critique of 'Hindu-Christian syncretism' masking power structures; Rowena Robinson on gender and conversion; tension between inculturation and dilution of core tenets
  • Integrated dimension: Comparative thread — how all three parts illustrate cultural adaptation/resistance to external forces (economic, archaeological, religious)
  • Synthesis: Anthropological insight on 'glocalisation' — selective appropriation versus structural domination across economic, material and religious domains
Q5
50M 150w Compulsory write short notes Tribal studies and regional issues

Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50 (a) Regionalism as an opportunity and threat to national integration (b) Issues of tribal agricultural labourers (c) Major problems of nomadic and semi-nomadic groups (d) Role of the Governor in the Fifth Schedule areas (e) Austroasiatic languages

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'write short notes' demands concise, information-dense responses for each sub-part with balanced coverage. Allocate approximately 30 words per sub-part (150 words total), spending roughly 10-12 minutes per note. Structure each note with a precise definition, 2-3 analytical points, and one concrete example. No introduction or conclusion is needed for the aggregate; begin directly with sub-part (a). Prioritize conceptual clarity over elaboration—examiners reward precise terminology and specific illustrations over generic descriptions.

  • (a) Regionalism: Define regionalism; explain opportunity (cultural preservation, administrative efficiency, development) and threat (secessionism, linguistic conflicts, uneven development); cite examples like Dravidian movement or North-East insurgency
  • (b) Tribal agricultural labourers: Land alienation, bonded labour, low wages, lack of tenancy rights, seasonal unemployment, exploitation by moneylenders; mention Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006
  • (c) Nomadic/semi-nomadic groups: Sedentarization pressure, loss of grazing lands, criminalization under colonial laws (Criminal Tribes Act legacy), lack of citizenship documents, educational exclusion; cite Banjara, Golla, or Dhangar communities
  • (d) Governor's role in Fifth Schedule: Powers under Article 244, Tribes Advisory Council, regulation of money-lending, prohibition or restriction of land transfer from tribals to non-tribals, submission of annual reports to President; mention PESA extension limitations
  • (e) Austroasiatic languages: Mon-Khmer branch (Khasi, Nicobarese) and Munda branch (Santhali, Mundari, Ho); geographic distribution in North-East and Central India; mention Grierson's classification and current endangered status
Q6
50M discuss Tribal development and policies

(a) Discuss the objectives of Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs). How far have these objectives been achieved? 20 (b) Compare the functioning of traditional 'Tribal Council' with that of 'Gram Sabha' under PESA. 15 (c) Explain how British policies impacted the major resources of the tribals. 15

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'discuss' for part (a) requires presenting multiple perspectives with critical evaluation, while 'compare' in (b) and 'explain' in (c) demand analytical juxtaposition and causal exposition respectively. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, and 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, three distinct sections for each sub-part with internal conclusions, and a synthesizing conclusion that links tribal development continuity from British era to post-Independence ITDPs and PESA.

  • Part (a): ITDP objectives including area-based integrated development, removal of exploitation, infrastructure provision, and livelihood security; assessment of achievement gaps citing Dandekar Committee findings and NITI Aayog evaluations
  • Part (a): Critical evaluation of ITDP performance regarding displacement, land alienation, and failure of convergence between line departments in ITDP areas like Bastar or Koraput
  • Part (b): Traditional Tribal Council characteristics—consensus-based decision making, kinship-based membership, customary law jurisdiction, and resource management functions in tribes like Gond or Munda
  • Part (b): Gram Sabha under PESA (1996)—constitutional status, powers over minor forest produce, land acquisition consent, and planning; contrast with Tribal Council in terms of democratic representation versus customary authority
  • Part (c): British policies—Permanent Settlement, zamindari system, forest reservation through Indian Forest Act 1878/1927, and land revenue policies—and their impact on tribal land, forest, and water resources
  • Part (c): Specific resource impacts: loss of shifting cultivation lands, restricted access to minor forest produce, commercial exploitation of timber, and disruption of traditional irrigation systems in tribal belts
Q7
50M discuss Tribal policies and social issues

(a) Discuss the views of G. S. Ghurye and Verrier Elwin on the approach towards tribal populations. What are the policies of the Government of India towards Indian tribal populations? 20 (b) Discuss the issues and solutions related to the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe populations in India. 15 (c) Explain the social and religious consequences of contact between tribal and non-tribal populations. 15

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'discuss' for part (a) and 'discuss'/'explain' for parts (b)-(c) requires a balanced, analytical treatment with evidence-based arguments. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, with 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure as: brief introduction framing tribal policy debates → body addressing each sub-part sequentially with clear sub-headings → conclusion synthesizing contemporary relevance and future directions.

  • Part (a): Ghurye's 'backward Hindus' integrationist stance versus Elwin's 'protective isolationism' and later 'middle way'; critical comparison of their philosophical and policy implications
  • Part (a): Evolution of government policies from colonial isolation to post-Independence integration (Panchsheel, Fifth Schedule, Sixth Schedule, PESA 1996, FRA 2006)
  • Part (b): Specific issues for SCs (untouchability, manual scavenging, caste atrocities) and STs (land alienation, displacement, forest rights, cultural erosion); intersectional challenges where applicable
  • Part (b): Constitutional and legislative solutions (PoA Act 1989, SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act amendments, reservation policies, tribal sub-plans, Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana)
  • Part (c): Social consequences: acculturation, detribalization, emergence of middle class, gender role changes, breakdown of traditional authority structures (jhum to settled cultivation)
  • Part (c): Religious consequences: conversion movements (Christian missions, Hinduization/ Sanskritization), revitalization movements (Tana Bhagat, Birsa Munda, Jharkhand movement), syncretism and resistance
  • Synthesis across parts: Critical engagement with whether current policies address the fundamental tension between integration and preservation that Ghurye-Elwin debate represents
  • Contemporary applied angle: Recent judicial interventions (Supreme Court on FRA, eviction orders), tribal assertion movements, and the unresolved question of development versus displacement
Q8
50M compare Tribal movements and development

(a) Compare the nature of tribal movements between North-East and Central India. Briefly mention the current status of existing tribal movements in these areas. 20 (b) Briefly describe the anthropological perspective on development. How have anthropologists contributed in India's rural development? 15 (c) How can a balance be struck between livelihood concern and environmental degradation in the context of shifting cultivation? 15

Answer approach & key points

The directive 'compare' in part (a) demands systematic juxtaposition of tribal movements across two regions, while parts (b) and (c) require 'describe' and analytical 'how' respectively. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget to part (a) given its 20 marks, with 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure: brief introduction framing tribal movements and development anthropology; body addressing each sub-part sequentially with clear sub-headings; conclusion synthesizing insights on tribal agency, sustainable development, and policy implications.

  • Part (a): Compare nature of tribal movements—North-East (ethnic/identity-based, autonomy demands, insurgency linkages like Naga, Mizo, Bodo movements) vs Central India (land alienation, forest rights, anti-colonial/neo-colonial resistance like Birsa Munda, Bhil, Gond movements)
  • Part (a): Current status—North-East (peace accords, Sixth Schedule implementation, residual militancy) vs Central India (Maoist influence, FRA 2006 mobilization, mining displacement protests)
  • Part (b): Anthropological perspective on development—cultural relativism, participatory approaches, critique of top-down modernization, indigenous knowledge systems, S.C. Dube's 'Development Anthropology'
  • Part (b): Anthropologists' contributions—M.N. Srinivas (village studies), Robert Chambers (participatory rural appraisal), Tribal Sub-Plan formulation, action research in watershed management, PESA implementation
  • Part (c): Shifting cultivation (jhum) context—Northeast India, tribal livelihood dependence, ecological degradation narrative
  • Part (c): Balancing mechanisms—zonal alternation, reduced cycle period, agroforestry integration, government support (NEC, Ministry of Tribal Affairs schemes), community forest rights under FRA, organic jhum products market linkage

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