1(e) 'Khap' Panchayat
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Traditional village institutions
Concept of Ethnicity — 2020 Paper II
Question · 2020 · Paper II · 10 Marks
Concept of Ethnicity
Model Answer
VAID ICSApproach
- Demand of Question: Explain ethnicity as a form of collective identity and discuss how ethnic boundaries are created and maintained.
- Structuring the Response: Define ethnicity, contrast major approaches and use Fredrik Barth to show its relational and dynamic character.
Model Answer
Introduction
Ethnicity refers to a sense of collective identity based on perceived common ancestry, history and selected cultural attributes such as language, religion, territory, customs and shared memories. An ethnic group therefore exists not merely through cultural similarity but through consciousness of belonging and differentiation from others.
Major approaches
- Primordial approach: Views ethnicity as rooted in deeply felt attachments based on kinship, language, religion and ancestry.
- Instrumentalist approach: Treats ethnic identity as a resource mobilized by political actors for access to:
- power;
- territory;
- employment;
- resources.
- Constructivist approach: Emphasizes that ethnic identities are historically produced and can change with social circumstances.
Fredrik Barth
In Ethnic Groups and Boundaries (1969), Fredrik Barth shifted attention from cultural content to the maintenance of ethnic boundaries.
Different groups may exchange cultural traits while continuing to maintain distinct identities.
Thus:
Cultural interaction ≠ Disappearance of ethnic boundary
Ethnicity is therefore relational—an identity becomes meaningful in interaction with perceived “others”.
Indian relevance
Ethnicity influences:
- tribal identity movements;
- demands for autonomy;
- language movements;
- regionalism;
- political representation.
Conclusion
Ethnicity is best understood as a dynamic, relational and historically constructed identity, sustained through boundaries, shared symbols and collective political consciousness rather than through cultural isolation alone.
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2020 — Paper II
28 questions5(b) 'Narmada' Man
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.2 Palaeo-anthropological evidences from India > Narmada Man
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Neolithic
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Structure and characteristics
5(c) Concept of 'Dominant' caste
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Dominant caste
5(e) Concept of Ethnicity
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.3 The concept of ethnicity
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10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.3 Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change > Sanskritization
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
1(b) Debates on 'Aryan' invasion
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Post-Harappan cultures > Aryan debate
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.3 Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement
1(d) Dravidian languages
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 2. Demographic profile of India > Linguistic elements > Dravidian family
3(b) Discuss the importance of Ethnoarchaeology in reconstructing the Past citing Indian examples.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.3 Ethno-archaeology in India > Survivals and parallels
Syllabus: Paper II > 9.1 Tribal policies, plans and programmes of tribal development
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Impact of globalization on Indian villages
Syllabus: Paper II > 8.1 Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies > Hinduism
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society > Islam
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.2 Impact of development programmes and welfare measures on tribals
1(c) Contribution of K. S. Singh to Indian Anthropology
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 4. Emergence, growth and development of anthropology in India > Contributions of Indian anthropologists
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.2 Problems of the tribal communities > Land alienation
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.1 Tribal situation in India > Linguistic characteristics of tribal populations
5(d) Linguistic minorities in India
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Caste conflict and violence
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.3 Regionalism and demand for autonomy
1(a) Contribution of Robert Bruce Foote to Indian Archaeology
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric archaeology in India
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Traditional and changing patterns of settlement
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes > Sixth Schedule
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric archaeology in India