5(c) Agricultural practices of the Apatani
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Tribal Economy and Ecology > Apatani agriculture
2024 · Paper II
Anthropology Optional Paper II PYQ 2024
Explore 28 official UPSC Anthropology Optional 2024 Paper II questions, organised by section, marks, syllabus and topic. Model answers are coming soon.
Q1(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Origin of State Societies
Syllabus: Paper II > Political Organization > State Formation > Origin of state societies
Economic & Political Anthropology
Q1(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Digitisation of rural economy
Syllabus: Paper II > Indian Village > Economy and Change > Digitisation of the rural economy
Village India, Urbanisation & Social Change
Q1(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Syro-Malabar Christians
Syllabus: Paper II > Impact of Religions on Indian Society > Christianity > Syro-Malabar Christians
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q1(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Artisan tribes of Jharkhand
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Socio-economic Characteristics > Artisan tribes; Jharkhand
Tribal India
Q1(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Health and Nutrition > Stunting and wasting
Tribal Problems & Displacement
Q2(a)
20 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Critically discuss the recent welfare measures initiated by the Government for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Comment why PVTGs were erroneously called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > PVTGs > Welfare measures; PTG nomenclature
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q2(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
How is PESA Act empowering local self-governance and impacting women's political participation?
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > PESA > Local self-governance; women's participation
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q2(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy.
Syllabus: Paper II > Emergence and Growth of Anthropology in India > Colonial Legacy > Role of Indian anthropologists
Foundations of Anthropology
Q3(a)
20 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Critically describe evidences from Rakhi Garhi and its linkages to Harappan civilization.
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Harappan Civilization > Rakhi Garhi
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q3(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Compare and contrast the approaches of M.N. Srinivas and L.P. Vidyarthi to social change in village India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Indian Village > Village Studies Tradition > Srinivas; Vidyarthi; social change
Village India, Urbanisation & Social Change
Q4(a)
20 Marks Answer Coming Soon
What are the ethical concerns in biological and socio-cultural anthropology because of recent advances in AI and genetic research?
Syllabus: Paper II > Role of Anthropology > Research Ethics > Ethics in genetic and socio-cultural research
Applied & Forensic Anthropology
Q3(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Examine the impact of Forest Policies from 1878 to 2006 on land alienation and deprivation of rights of tribal communities in India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Land Alienation > Forest policies 1878-2006; rights deprivation
Tribal Problems & Displacement
Q4(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Write an essay on the life history of tribal activist and freedom fighter Birsa Munda. What was the impact of his sacrifice on tribal society?
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity, Tribal Movements and Social Change > Birsa Munda; tribal resistance; impact on tribal society
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q4(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
What are the demographic challenges of India's changing population dynamics in the next 50 years?
Syllabus: Paper II > Demographic Profile of India > Population Dynamics > Demographic challenges
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q5(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
B.K. Roy Burman's concept of 'Buffer Zone'
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Administration and Policy > Isolation-Assimilation-Integration > Roy Burman; buffer zone
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q5(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Describe ILO's Convention No. 169 (1989) on Indigenous and Tribal people. Is India a signatory to it?
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribe and Nation-State > International Instruments > ILO Convention 169
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q5(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Agricultural practices of the Apatani
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Tribal Economy and Ecology > Apatani agriculture
Tribal India
Q5(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Status of Sixth Schedule Areas
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > Fifth and Sixth Schedules > Sixth Schedule areas
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q5(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Constitutional Safeguards for Backward Classes
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste and the State > Backward Classes > Constitutional safeguards
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q6(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Custodians of natural resources are the tribals, but they are the most deprived. Critically examine how climate change will impact their survival in future.
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Resources and Deprivation > Climate change and tribal survival
Tribal Problems & Displacement
Q6(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Elucidate the difference between secularism, religiosity, religious fundamentalism and spiritualism from an anthropological perspective.
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Communalism and Secularism > Religiosity; fundamentalism; spiritualism
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q7(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically examine existing paradigms of holistic health for the marginalised sections of society drawing inferences from COVID-19 pandemic.
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal and Marginalised Communities > Health > Holistic health paradigms; COVID-19
Tribal Problems & Displacement
Q6(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Discuss the contribution of P.K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe.
Syllabus: Paper II > Role of Anthropology in Tribal Development > Action Anthropology > Bhowmick; Lodha; denotified tribes
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q7(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Discuss the theories on the origin of the caste system and its criticism in India. Differentiate between caste, class, and race.
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Origin Theories > Caste, class and race distinction
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q7(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Elucidate the resurgence of ethno-nationalism from an anthropological lens.
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Ethno-Nationalism > Resurgence of ethno-nationalism
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q8(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Describe the important Paleolithic sites from South India with suitable examples. What is the significance of South Indian Paleolithic cultures?
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Palaeolithic India > South Indian Palaeolithic sites
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q8(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Distinguish a “Theocratic State” from a secular, liberal, democratic state. Illustrate your answer with examples from tribal and contemporary societies.
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribe and Nation-State > Forms of State > Theocratic versus secular-liberal-democratic state
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q8(c)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Discuss the economic, social, and developmental impacts on tribal communities with special reference to mining.
Syllabus: Paper II > Developmental Projects and Displacement > Mining > Economic, social and developmental impacts
Tribal Problems & Displacement
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2024 — Paper II
28 questions1(d) Artisan tribes of Jharkhand
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Socio-economic Characteristics > Artisan tribes; Jharkhand
5(a) B.K. Roy Burman's concept of 'Buffer Zone'
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Administration and Policy > Isolation-Assimilation-Integration > Roy Burman; buffer zone
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity, Tribal Movements and Social Change > Birsa Munda; tribal resistance; impact on tribal society
1(e) Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Health and Nutrition > Stunting and wasting
Syllabus: Paper II > Emergence and Growth of Anthropology in India > Colonial Legacy > Role of Indian anthropologists
5(e) Constitutional Safeguards for Backward Classes
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste and the State > Backward Classes > Constitutional safeguards
Syllabus: Paper II > Demographic Profile of India > Population Dynamics > Demographic challenges
1(a) Digitisation of rural economy
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Indian Village > Economy and Change > Digitisation of the rural economy
Syllabus: Paper II > Role of Anthropology > Research Ethics > Ethics in genetic and socio-cultural research
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Land Alienation > Forest policies 1878-2006; rights deprivation
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal and Marginalised Communities > Health > Holistic health paradigms; COVID-19
5(b) Describe ILO's Convention No. 169 (1989) on Indigenous and Tribal people. Is India a signatory to it?
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribe and Nation-State > International Instruments > ILO Convention 169
Syllabus: Paper II > Indian Village > Village Studies Tradition > Srinivas; Vidyarthi; social change
Syllabus: Paper II > Developmental Projects and Displacement > Mining > Economic, social and developmental impacts
1(b) Origin of State Societies
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Political Organization > State Formation > Origin of state societies
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Origin Theories > Caste, class and race distinction
6(c) Discuss the contribution of P.K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > Role of Anthropology in Tribal Development > Action Anthropology > Bhowmick; Lodha; denotified tribes
2(b) How is PESA Act empowering local self-governance and impacting women's political participation?
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > PESA > Local self-governance; women's participation
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > PVTGs > Welfare measures; PTG nomenclature
3(a) Critically describe evidences from Rakhi Garhi and its linkages to Harappan civilization.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Harappan Civilization > Rakhi Garhi
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Ethno-Nationalism > Resurgence of ethno-nationalism
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Communalism and Secularism > Religiosity; fundamentalism; spiritualism
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Palaeolithic India > South Indian Palaeolithic sites
5(d) Status of Sixth Schedule Areas
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > Fifth and Sixth Schedules > Sixth Schedule areas
1(c) Syro-Malabar Christians
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Impact of Religions on Indian Society > Christianity > Syro-Malabar Christians
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribe and Nation-State > Forms of State > Theocratic versus secular-liberal-democratic state
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Resources and Deprivation > Climate change and tribal survival