Syllabus: Paper II > 1.2 Palaeo-anthropological evidences from India > Narmada basin (Narmada Man)
Bio-genetic Variability of Indian Tribes — 2016 Paper II
Question · 2016 · Paper II · 10 Marks
Bio-genetic variability of Indian tribes
Model Answer
VAID ICSApproach
Demand of Question: Explain why Indian tribal populations show substantial genetic heterogeneity and identify the demographic processes, markers and adaptive variants that produce it, while rejecting racial typology.
Structuring the Response: State non-homogeneity -> population processes -> classical and molecular markers -> adaptive examples -> contemporary genomic interpretation.
Key Dimensions to Cover: Endogamy, isolation, drift, founder effect and gene flow; ABO/Rh, Hb variants, G6PD, HLA; sickle-cell trait; mtDNA/Y-chromosome/autosomal markers; Indian Genome Variation Consortium; no single ‘tribal genetic type’.
Model Answer
Introduction
Scheduled Tribes are administrative categories, not one biological stock. Their variability reflects ancestry, endogamy, population size, ecology and contact.
Body
Population processes: Endogamy, founder effects and drift can strongly alter allele frequencies in small populations, while migration and intermarriage introduce gene flow.
Markers: Classical studies used ABO, Rh, HLA and red-cell enzymes; molecular work uses autosomal SNPs, mtDNA and Y lineages. The Indian Genome Variation Consortium confirmed extensive inter-population diversity.
Adaptive and disease-related variation: Sickle-cell trait, G6PD variants and other haemoglobinopathies show marked local frequencies, shaped by malaria selection, drift and marriage structure rather than ‘racial essence’.
Contemporary interpretation: Genomic studies show that tribal groups differ greatly in proportions of deep South Asian ancestry and later regional gene flow. Prolonged reproductive isolation can also produce strong founder effects in particular communities. Linguistic affiliation may correlate with some migrations but does not determine a uniform genetic profile.
Conclusion
Thus, tribal bio-genetic diversity is best analysed through population history, endogamy, selection and gene flow. Modern anthropology replaces fixed racial classification with population-specific, clinically and historically meaningful variation.
Want feedback on your answer?
Join the Anthropology workshop or get structured answer-writing guidance from VAID ICS.
UPSC Anthropology Optional 2016 — Paper II
28 questionsSyllabus: Paper II > 9.3 Contributions of anthropology to the understanding of regionalism, communalism and ethnic and political movements
Syllabus: Paper II > 9.2 Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development
5(b) Bio-genetic variability of Indian tribes
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.1 Tribal situation in India > Bio-genetic variability
Syllabus: Paper II > 4. Emergence, growth and development of anthropology in India > Scholar-administrators and tribal studies
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Contributions of the tribal cultures to Indian civilization
1(e) Ethno-archaeological evidences for the survival of hunting-gathering traditions in India
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.3 Ethno-archaeology in India > Survivals and parallels among hunting and foraging communities
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes > Fifth and Sixth Schedules
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.3 Impact of urbanisation and industrialization on tribal populations
Syllabus: Paper II > 8.1 Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies > Islam
1(d) Impact of Jainism on Indian society
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society > Jainism
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Indian village as a social system
4(c) Compare the contribution of L. P. Vidyarthi and D. N. Majumdar to the study of Indian tribes.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > 4. Emergence, growth and development of anthropology in India > Contributions of Indian anthropologists
1(b) Linguistic elements in Indian population
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 2. Demographic profile of India > Linguistic elements and their distribution
6(b) Examine the nature of interplay of little and great traditions in the context of globalization.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.3 Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change > Interplay of little and great traditions
1(a) Significance of Mesolithic findings from Belan Valley
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric > Mesolithic > Belan Valley
Syllabus: Paper II > 9.1 Role of N.G.O.s in tribal development
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.3 Regionalism and demand for autonomy
1(c) Relevance of caste in contemporary Indian politics
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Caste in contemporary politics
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.3 Development of forest policy and tribals > Forest Rights Act, 2006
4(a) Give a detailed appraisal of skeletal remains from Chalcolithic culture of undivided Punjab.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Neolithic-Chalcolithic > Skeletal evidence
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Theories of origin of the caste system
Syllabus: Paper II > 2. Demographic profile of India > Ethnic elements > Racial classification and the Negrito question
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Traditional and changing patterns of settlement
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.2 Social change and contemporary tribal societies > Impact of development programmes and welfare measures
5(d) Tribe as a colonial construct
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.1 Tribal situation in India > Definition and construction of the category 'tribe'
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Tribe-caste continuum and Sanskritization