Anthropology 2023 Paper I 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Write short notes

Q5

Write notes on the following in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 (a) Polygenic Inheritance 10 (b) Prehistoric significance of Rakhigarhi 10 (c) Glottochronology 10 (d) Menopausal symptoms 10 (e) William Ogburn and Cultural lag 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित पर लगभग 150 शब्दों (प्रत्येक) में टिप्पणियाँ लिखिए : (a) बहुजनी वंशागति 10 (b) राखीगढ़ी का प्रागैतिहासिक महत्व 10 (c) भाषाकालक्रमविज्ञान 10 (d) रजोनिवृत्ति के लक्षण 10 (e) विलियम ऑगबर्न एवं सांस्कृतिक अंतराल 10

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Directive word: Write short notes

This question asks you to write short notes. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'Write notes' demands concise, information-dense responses for each sub-part with equal 150-word allocation. Structure each note as: definition/core concept (30-40 words) → key features/mechanisms/examples (80-90 words) → significance/limitation/contemporary relevance (20-30 words). Spend approximately 10-12 minutes per sub-part, ensuring no part is neglected despite varying familiarity.

Key points expected

  • (a) Polygenic Inheritance: Define as multiple gene control of single trait; mention continuous variation, bell curve distribution, heritability; cite skin colour, stature, IQ as examples; note Fisher's polygenic theory and relevance to anthropometry
  • (b) Rakhigarhi: Identify as largest IVC site in India (Haryana); mention 7 mounds, mature Harappan phase, absence of fortification, burial practices with grave goods; significance for indigenous vs. migration debate (Narasimhan 2019 aDNA)
  • (c) Glottochronology: Define as lexicostatistical dating (Swadesh, 1950s); explain core vocabulary retention rate (81% per millennium); mention Swadesh 100/200 word lists; note criticism by Bergsland & Vogt, Lees; cite limitations for Indian language families
  • (d) Menopausal symptoms: Define as cessation of menstruation (12 months); list hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, osteoporosis, cardiovascular risk; mention hormonal mechanism (estrogen decline); note cross-cultural variation (Rajasthan vs. Japanese studies)
  • (e) Ogburn's Cultural Lag: Define as non-material culture lagging behind material culture; explain 4-part typology; cite Indian examples (IT revolution vs. cyber laws, nuclear family vs. joint family values); mention Ogburn's 1922 'Social Change'

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10All five sub-parts demonstrate precise scientific/anthropological definitions: for (a) correctly distinguishes polygenic from pleiotropic; for (b) accurately dates Rakhigarhi (2600-1900 BCE); for (c) correctly states Swadesh's retention formula; for (d) specifies diagnostic criteria; for (e) captures Ogburn's material/non-material distinction without conflating with VeblenMost definitions are broadly correct but with minor inaccuracies—e.g., vague dating for Rakhigarhi, conflating glottochronology with lexicostatistics, or oversimplifying cultural lag as 'slow change'Fundamental errors: describes polygenic as single-gene, places Rakhigarhi outside IVC, treats glottochronology as archaeological method, or confuses menopause with andropause
Theoretical framing20%10Each sub-part embeds appropriate theoretical context: (a) cites Fisher (1918) and Falconer's quantitative genetics; (b) references Shinde's ASI excavations and Harvard collaboration; (c) acknowledges Swadesh's neogrammarian roots; (d) cites Treloar's longitudinal studies or WHO STRAW criteria; (e) connects to Ogburn's technological determinism and critiques by WilleySome theoretical attribution present but incomplete—mentions Swadesh without dating, Ogburn without publication year, or generic 'studies show' without specificityAbsent theoretical grounding; no named scholars, dates, or intellectual traditions; purely descriptive without situating concepts in anthropological theory
Ethnographic / Indian examples20%10Rich India-specific illustrations: (a) cites skin colour variation in Indian populations or stature studies by ICMR; (b) details Rakhigarhi's Mound 7 cemetery with shell bangles and carnelian beads; (c) applies to Dravidian language dating or Shapiro's work on India; (d) references ICMR menopause studies or SWAN data on Indian women; (e) gives precise Indian cases like surrogacy regulation lagging ART technologyGeneric or partially Indian examples—mentions 'Indian languages' without specificity, or 'urbanization in India' without concrete illustrationExclusively Western examples (European skin colour, English menopause studies, American cultural lag) or no examples at all
Comparative analysis20%10Effective comparative moves: (a) contrasts polygenic with Mendelian and mitochondrial inheritance; (b) compares Rakhigarhi with Mohenjo-daro/Harappa on size and fortification; (c) contrasts glottochronology with archaeological dating and radiocarbon; (d) compares symptomatic experience across Indian ethnic groups; (e) distinguishes Ogburn from Sorokin's cyclical theory or Marx's dialectical materialismLimited comparison—perhaps one or two sub-parts show contrastive thinking, others are standalone descriptionsNo comparative dimension; each sub-part treated in isolation without relational analysis to alternative concepts, methods, or sites
Conclusion & applied angle20%10Each 150-word note achieves closure with contemporary relevance: (a) links to GWAS and personalized medicine in India; (b) connects to 'Out of India' vs. AMT debate and national heritage; (c) notes revival in computational phylogenetics for Dravidian dispersal; (d) mentions HRT policy and aging population; (e) applies to AI governance, digital divide, or climate adaptation policyWeak or generic conclusions—'thus it is important' without specific application; some sub-parts end abruptly without synthesisNo concluding element; notes simply stop after description, or irrelevant digression in final sentences; no applied anthropological perspective

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