Syllabus: Paper I > Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology > Relationship with Other Disciplines
Exam Year
UPSC Anthropology Optional PYQs 2025
A map of the 2025 Anthropology Optional paper — Paper I and Paper II questions, recurring themes and model-answer status.
56
Total Questions
I + II
Papers Covered
52
Model Answers Added
4
Answers Pending
Papers in 2025
Themes Asked in 2025
Human Genetics & Human BiologyKinshipPrehistoric ArchaeologyHuman Evolution & PrimatologyCulture & SocietyAnthropological TheoriesResearch Methods in AnthropologyFoundations of AnthropologyAnthropology of ReligionMarriage & FamilyApplied & Forensic AnthropologyIndian Society, Caste & CivilizationEthnicity, Tribal Movements & Social ChangeTribal Development, Policy & SafeguardsTribal Problems & DisplacementTribal IndiaVillage India, Urbanisation & Social Change
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All questions asked in 2025
56 questionsPaper I 28
Syllabus: Paper I > Nutritional Anthropology > Assessment of Nutritional Status > Ecology, culture and social inequality
7(c) Critically discuss the centrality of the African continent in the narrative of human evolution.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Emergence of Homo sapiens > African fossil record; Out of Africa
1(e) Culture and embodiment.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Nature of Culture > Contemporary Culture Concepts > Embodiment; body and culture
Syllabus: Paper I > Nature of Culture > Critique of the Culture Concept > Holism and bounded-culture critique
5(b) Evolutionary significance of menopause.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Growth and Development > Fertility and Menopause > Human life history
5(c) Fission track dating method and its applications.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Chronology and Dating > Absolute dating: fission track
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Growth and Development > Developmental Origins of Health and Disease > Barker hypothesis
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Genetic Polymorphism and Markers > Population variation; disease association; forensics
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Disease Association > GWAS; applied human genetics
Syllabus: Paper I > Applications of Anthropology > Forensic Anthropology > Personal identification; facial reconstruction
Syllabus: Paper I > Religion > Anthropological Approaches to Religion > Frazer; magic, religion and science
1(a) Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Mendelian Genetics in Man > Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Fossil Primates > Miocene hominoids: Dryopithecus, Sivapithecus
5(d) Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Molecular Evidence > Mitochondrial DNA; Out of Africa
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Middle Palaeolithic > Mousterian tradition; Neanderthal makers
5(a) Multispecies, Multi-sited and Critical Ethnography.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Research Methods > Fieldwork Tradition > Contemporary ethnographic approaches
1(c) Osteodontokeratik culture and its makers.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Early Tool Traditions > Osteodontokeratic culture; australopithecine makers
Syllabus: Paper I > Research Methods > Tools of Data Collection > Genealogical method; pedigree analysis
Syllabus: Paper I > Ecological Anthropology > Human Adaptability > Political economy in bio-cultural anthropology
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Post-Modernism > Critical and engaged anthropology
1(d) Smell as a signal among non-human primates.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Primates > Primate Behaviour > Primate communication and olfactory signalling
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology > Geertz; Turner
Syllabus: Paper I > Development of Anthropology > Branches > New physical anthropology
Syllabus: Paper I > Culture, Language and Communication > Linguistic Anthropology > Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
1(b) Theoretical significance of Purum kinship-system.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Kinship > Alliance Theory > Purum kinship system; prescriptive alliance debate
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Neolithic > Origin of food production; subsistence economy change
Syllabus: Paper I > Marriage > Types and Forms of Marriage > Social reproduction; kinship and family linkage
Paper II 28
1(b) Caste domination, factionalism and political power
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Dominant Caste and Power
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribe and Nation-State
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards for STs > ST Criteria
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Development > Programmes and Limitations
Syllabus: Paper II > Emergence and Growth of Anthropology in India
Syllabus: Paper II > Demographic Profile of India > Population Growth
3(b) Examine the environmental and biocultural factors influencing the health of tribals of India.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Health and Nutrition
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste and the State > OBC Classification
Syllabus: Paper II > Impact of Religions on Tribes > Christianity
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Urbanisation and Industrialisation
8(b) Define minority. Elaborate the patterns of linguistic and religious minorities in India.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Minorities
Syllabus: Paper II > Traditional Indian Social System > Sacred Complex
5(e) Lothal dockyard and international trade relations
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Harappan Civilization
Syllabus: Paper II > Palaeo-anthropological Evidence from India > Siwaliks
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > PVTGs
1(c) Regionalism and Autonomy
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity, Regionalism and Social Change
7(b) Discuss the rising ethnic conflicts in India and propose their possible remedial measures.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Ethnic Conflict
Syllabus: Paper II > Development Programmes > Role of NGOs
Syllabus: Paper II > Demographic Profile of India > Racial Classification
1(a) 'Soanian cultural' tradition
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric India
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Socio-economic Characteristics
5(b) Taxonomic status of Ramapithecus in the light of Ramapithecus-Sivapithecus controversy
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Palaeo-anthropological Evidence from India > Siwalik Fossil Primates
Syllabus: Paper II > Indian Village > Village as a Social System
5(c) Tribalism and Pseudotribalism
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Concept of Tribe
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Caste Mobility
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Upper Palaeolithic
5(d) Varnashrama and its contemporary relevance
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Traditional Indian Social System > Varnashrama
1(d) Verrier Elwin's philosophy with respect to Arunachal Pradesh
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Administration and Policy > Isolation–Assimilation–Integration