Syllabus: Paper I > Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology > Relationship with Other Disciplines
2025 · Paper I
Anthropology Optional Paper I PYQ 2025
Explore 28 official UPSC Anthropology Optional 2025 Paper I questions, organised by section, marks, syllabus and topic. Model answers are coming soon.
Q1(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Mendelian Genetics in Man > Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q1(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Theoretical significance of Purum kinship-system.
Syllabus: Paper I > Kinship > Alliance Theory > Purum kinship system; prescriptive alliance debate
Kinship
Q1(c)
10 Marks 150 words Answer Coming Soon
Osteodontokeratik culture and its makers.
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Early Tool Traditions > Osteodontokeratic culture; australopithecine makers
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q1(d)
10 Marks 150 words Answer Coming Soon
Smell as a signal among non-human primates.
Syllabus: Paper I > Primates > Primate Behaviour > Primate communication and olfactory signalling
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q1(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Culture and embodiment.
Syllabus: Paper I > Nature of Culture > Contemporary Culture Concepts > Embodiment; body and culture
Culture & Society
Q2(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Discuss the Miocene hominoid remains and their significance in evolution.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Fossil Primates > Miocene hominoids: Dryopithecus, Sivapithecus
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q2(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Compare and contrast the symbolic approaches of Clifford Geertz and Victor Turner to understand culture.
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology > Geertz; Turner
Anthropological Theories
Q2(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
How political economy is integrated with ecological and adaptability perspectives in bio-cultural anthropology?
Syllabus: Paper I > Ecological Anthropology > Human Adaptability > Political economy in bio-cultural anthropology
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q3(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
How anthropologists assess the nutritional status of a community? Discuss the significance of intersectionality of ecology, culture, and social inequality in the study of nutritional anthropology.
Syllabus: Paper I > Nutritional Anthropology > Assessment of Nutritional Status > Ecology, culture and social inequality
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q3(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically examine the drawbacks in assuming culture as an 'integrated-closed' system in understanding of contemporary society.
Syllabus: Paper I > Nature of Culture > Critique of the Culture Concept > Holism and bounded-culture critique
Culture & Society
Q3(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Differentiate between pedigree and genealogical analyses. Discuss the history and application of these methods in anthropological studies.
Syllabus: Paper I > Research Methods > Tools of Data Collection > Genealogical method; pedigree analysis
Research Methods in Anthropology
Q4(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Anthropology provides a multidimensional understanding of human beings by bridging the gap between science and humanities. Elucidate.
Syllabus: Paper I > Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology > Relationship with Other Disciplines
Foundations of Anthropology
Q4(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Write a note on Mousterian tool tradition, Mousterian culture and its makers.
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Middle Palaeolithic > Mousterian tradition; Neanderthal makers
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q4(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically examine James Frazer's theory of evolutionism. Elucidate the place of religion in modernity.
Syllabus: Paper I > Religion > Anthropological Approaches to Religion > Frazer; magic, religion and science
Anthropology of Religion
Q5(a)
10 Marks 150 words Answer Coming Soon
Multispecies, Multi-sited and Critical Ethnography.
Syllabus: Paper I > Research Methods > Fieldwork Tradition > Contemporary ethnographic approaches
Research Methods in Anthropology
Q5(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Evolutionary significance of menopause.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Growth and Development > Fertility and Menopause > Human life history
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q5(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Fission track dating method and its applications.
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Chronology and Dating > Absolute dating: fission track
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q5(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Molecular Evidence > Mitochondrial DNA; Out of Africa
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q5(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Foetal origin of adult diseases and contribution of David Barker.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Growth and Development > Developmental Origins of Health and Disease > Barker hypothesis
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q6(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
What are genetic markers? Discuss their applications in understanding population variation, disease association and forensics.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Genetic Polymorphism and Markers > Population variation; disease association; forensics
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q6(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
"The agenda of biological anthropology became more scientific from the middle of the twentieth century." Justify.
Syllabus: Paper I > Development of Anthropology > Branches > New physical anthropology
Foundations of Anthropology
Q6(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Describe briefly the theoretical perspectives in linguistic anthropology to explain the relationship of culture, language and thought.
Syllabus: Paper I > Culture, Language and Communication > Linguistic Anthropology > Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Culture & Society
Q7(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
How the study of variation in forms of marriage led to rethinking on the concepts of social reproduction, kinship and family?
Syllabus: Paper I > Marriage > Types and Forms of Marriage > Social reproduction; kinship and family linkage
Marriage & Family
Q7(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
What are the major theories proposed in support of the origin of food production? How the change in subsistence economy brought revolution during this period?
Syllabus: Paper I > Prehistoric Archaeology > Neolithic > Origin of food production; subsistence economy change
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q7(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically discuss the centrality of the African continent in the narrative of human evolution.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Emergence of Homo sapiens > African fossil record; Out of Africa
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q8(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
How the theories of postmodernism are relevant in promoting social justice and empowerment of marginalised communities?
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Post-Modernism > Critical and engaged anthropology
Anthropological Theories
Q8(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
'Genome-wide Disease Association Studies (GWAS) advanced our understanding of health and disease.' Discuss.
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Disease Association > GWAS; applied human genetics
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q8(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Examine the utility of human remains in forensic analysis. Discuss the facial reconstruction technique.
Syllabus: Paper I > Applications of Anthropology > Forensic Anthropology > Personal identification; facial reconstruction
Applied & Forensic Anthropology
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2025 — Paper I
28 questionsSyllabus: 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