Next-GenPSC Logo

    Anthropology Optional — UPSC Notes

    UPSC Anthropology Optional notes for Papers I and II: foundations, human evolution and primates, race, genetics and human growth, archaeological anthropology, culture, family, kinship, economic, political and religious organisation, anthropological theory and methods, Indian society and village studies, tribal India and tribal administration, with every previous-year question (2014–2026) and model answers, in English and Hindi.

    How to study Anthropology OptionalShow

    What UPSC asks most

    Optional Papers I and II (250 marks each): physical, social and archaeological anthropology with theory and methods (Paper I), Indian society, tribal India and tribal administration (Paper II).

    Traps to avoid

    • Writing general sociology without anthropologists, ethnographic examples and fieldwork.
    • Leaving out labelled diagrams in physical anthropology and prehistory answers.

    How to study it here

    1. Read one chapter, then write two of its past questions under time and compare with the model answers.
    2. Keep a list of ethnographies, thinkers and Indian tribes, and practise the standard diagrams (skulls, tools, kinship charts).

    Mains: Optional: define the term with its anthropologist, add an ethnographic or Indian tribal example and a diagram where it helps, and end with present-day relevance.

    Anthropology Optional

    UPSC Anthropology Optional: Papers I and II

    Anthropology Optional Playlist

    29 chapters • 0 completed

    1

    Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Strategy

    3 topics

    2

    Foundations of Anthropology

    4 topics

    3

    Human Evolution: Theories and Concepts

    4 topics

    4

    Primates

    4 topics

    5

    Fossil Hominids

    4 topics

    6

    The Biological Basis of Life

    4 topics

    7

    Prehistoric Archaeology

    4 topics

    8

    Culture and Society

    4 topics

    9

    Marriage

    4 topics

    10

    Family

    4 topics

    11

    Kinship

    4 topics

    12

    Economic Organisation

    4 topics

    13

    Political Organisation and Social Control

    4 topics

    14

    Religion

    4 topics

    15

    Anthropological Theories

    4 topics

    16

    Culture, Communication and Research Methods

    4 topics

    17

    Human Genetics: Methods, Inheritance and Chromosomes

    4 topics

    18

    Population Genetics, Race and Human Variation

    4 topics

    19

    Ecological Anthropology, Epidemiology and Human Growth

    4 topics

    20

    Reproductive Biology, Demography and Applied Anthropology

    4 topics

    21

    Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization

    4 topics

    22

    Demographic Profile and the Traditional Indian Social System

    4 topics

    23

    Caste System and Religions in Indian Society

    4 topics

    24

    Anthropology in India

    3 topics

    25

    Indian Village, Minorities and Social Change

    4 topics

    26

    Tribal Situation and Problems in India

    4 topics

    27

    Weaker Sections, Ethnicity and Tribal Change

    4 topics

    28

    Religion and Tribes; Tribe and Nation State

    3 topics

    29

    Tribal Administration and Applied Anthropology

    4 topics

    Progress (0%)
    0 / 29 complete

    Chapter 11: Kinship

    4 topics•Estimated reading: 12 minutes
    Loading chapter…

    Anthropology Optional: chapter-wise UPSC notes

    Read any chapter as a full page in English or Hindi. 29 chapters · 113 topics.

    1. 1. Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Strategyहिंदी
    2. 2. Foundations of Anthropologyहिंदी
    3. 3. Human Evolution: Theories and Conceptsहिंदी
    4. 4. Primatesहिंदी
    5. 5. Fossil Hominidsहिंदी
    6. 6. The Biological Basis of Lifeहिंदी
    7. 7. Prehistoric Archaeologyहिंदी
    8. 8. Culture and Societyहिंदी
    9. 9. Marriageहिंदी
    10. 10. Familyहिंदी
    11. 11. Kinshipहिंदी
    12. 12. Economic Organisationहिंदी
    13. 13. Political Organisation and Social Controlहिंदी
    14. 14. Religionहिंदी
    15. 15. Anthropological Theoriesहिंदी
    16. 16. Culture, Communication and Research Methodsहिंदी
    17. 17. Human Genetics: Methods, Inheritance and Chromosomesहिंदी
    18. 18. Population Genetics, Race and Human Variationहिंदी
    19. 19. Ecological Anthropology, Epidemiology and Human Growthहिंदी
    20. 20. Reproductive Biology, Demography and Applied Anthropologyहिंदी
    21. 21. Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilizationहिंदी
    22. 22. Demographic Profile and the Traditional Indian Social Systemहिंदी
    23. 23. Caste System and Religions in Indian Societyहिंदी
    24. 24. Anthropology in Indiaहिंदी
    25. 25. Indian Village, Minorities and Social Changeहिंदी
    26. 26. Tribal Situation and Problems in Indiaहिंदी
    27. 27. Weaker Sections, Ethnicity and Tribal Changeहिंदी
    28. 28. Religion and Tribes; Tribe and Nation Stateहिंदी
    29. 29. Tribal Administration and Applied Anthropologyहिंदी