1(b) Caste domination, factionalism and political power
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Dominant Caste and Power
2025 · Paper II
Anthropology Optional Paper II PYQ 2025
Explore 28 official UPSC Anthropology Optional 2025 Paper II questions, organised by section, marks, syllabus and topic. Model answers are coming soon.
Q1(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
'Soanian cultural' tradition
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric India
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q1(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Caste domination, factionalism and political power
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Dominant Caste and Power
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q1(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Regionalism and Autonomy
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity, Regionalism and Social Change
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q1(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Verrier Elwin's philosophy with respect to Arunachal Pradesh
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Administration and Policy > Isolation–Assimilation–Integration
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q1(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Characteristics and communication between Little and Great Traditions
Syllabus: Paper II > Traditional Indian Social System > Sacred Complex
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q2(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Discuss the palaeoanthropological significance of Siwaliks of India giving its subdivisions, fossil primate fauna and major primate fossil localities.
Syllabus: Paper II > Palaeo-anthropological Evidence from India > Siwaliks
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q2(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Delineate the major features of S. S. Sarkar's classification of Indian populations. Was his classification better than Risley? Explain.
Syllabus: Paper II > Demographic Profile of India > Racial Classification
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q2(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Evaluate the impact of Christianity on Scheduled Tribe societies of North-East India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Impact of Religions on Tribes > Christianity
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q3(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Describe the distinctive features and distribution of Upper Palaeolithic of India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Upper Palaeolithic
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q3(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Examine the environmental and biocultural factors influencing the health of tribals of India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Health and Nutrition
Tribal Problems & Displacement
Q3(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Highlight the significant contributions of B. S. Guha, Irawati Karve and S. R. K. Chopra to Indian Anthropology.
Syllabus: Paper II > Emergence and Growth of Anthropology in India
Foundations of Anthropology
Q4(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
What are the different types of caste mobility in India? Highlight the various factors responsible for it.
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste System in India > Caste Mobility
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q4(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Elucidate the role of demographic and social factors for population growth in India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Demographic Profile of India > Population Growth
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q4(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically examine the concept of Scheduled Tribe (ST) and mention the limitations of administrator's criteria.
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards for STs > ST Criteria
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q5(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal communities of India
Syllabus: Paper II > Problems of Tribal Communities > Urbanisation and Industrialisation
Tribal Problems & Displacement
Q5(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Taxonomic status of Ramapithecus in the light of Ramapithecus-Sivapithecus controversy
Syllabus: Paper II > Palaeo-anthropological Evidence from India > Siwalik Fossil Primates
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q5(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Tribalism and Pseudotribalism
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Concept of Tribe
Tribal India
Q5(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Varnashrama and its contemporary relevance
Syllabus: Paper II > Traditional Indian Social System > Varnashrama
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q5(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Lothal dockyard and international trade relations
Syllabus: Paper II > Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Harappan Civilization
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q6(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
"The village was not merely a place where people lived; it had a design in which were reflected the basic values of Indian civilization." Who said this? Elaborate.
Syllabus: Paper II > Indian Village > Village as a Social System
Village India, Urbanisation & Social Change
Q6(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Discuss the role of NGOs in the socioeconomic and political development of weaker sections and the manner in which they facilitate other stakeholders.
Syllabus: Paper II > Development Programmes > Role of NGOs
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q6(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Trace the history and describe the methods of formulating the lists of OBCs, both at the State and National levels.
Syllabus: Paper II > Caste and the State > OBC Classification
Indian Society, Caste & Civilization
Q7(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Identify the contemporary limitations in the process of tribal development. How can anthropological knowledge contribute in this process?
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Development > Programmes and Limitations
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q7(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Discuss the rising ethnic conflicts in India and propose their possible remedial measures.
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Ethnic Conflict
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q7(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically evaluate the concept of Nation-State and describe its impact on indigenous societies.
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribe and Nation-State
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Q8(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Describe the nature of traditional socioeconomic interdependence among the Toda, Kota, Kurumba and Irula tribes of Nilgiri Hills. Highlight the changes occurring in these interrelationships.
Syllabus: Paper II > Tribal Situation in India > Socio-economic Characteristics
Tribal India
Q8(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Define minority. Elaborate the patterns of linguistic and religious minorities in India.
Syllabus: Paper II > Ethnicity and Social Change > Minorities
Ethnicity, Tribal Movements & Social Change
Q8(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
What are the identifying criteria for PVTGs in India? Examine their current status, nomenclature and distribution.
Syllabus: Paper II > Constitutional Safeguards > PVTGs
Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
Plugin content area ends here · site footer rendered by the theme.
UPSC Anthropology Optional 2025 — Paper II
28 questionsSyllabus: 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