Choosing Between Anthropology and Public Administration for UPSC - Testbook.com

A Glimpse into Anthropology

Anthropology has consistently shown good performance and success-rate in UPSC exams. If you have a background or interest in biology, you may find Anthropology easier to grasp. Despite the extensive syllabus, it often includes predictable and straightforward questions. It is recommended to review the syllabus and read a few chapters from the books provided below to get a feel for the subject.

Suggested Reading List for Anthropology

1. An Introduction to Social Anthropology by Mazumdar & Madan

2. Physical Anthropology by B M Das

3. Anthropological Thoughts by Upadhyay & Pandey

4. NCERT Books (XI & XII) Indian Society and Social Changes

5. Anthropology by Ember & Ember

6. Indian Tribes by R C Verma

7. Human Biology by Harrison Et. al

8. In search of Ourselves by N K Vaid

9. Who Cares for Tribal Development by N K Vaid

10. Modernization of Indian Traditions by Yogendra Singh

11. Other Cultures by John Beattie

12. Social Change in Modern India by M N Srinivas

13. An Outline of Indian Pre-history by D K Bhattacharya

14. Tribal India By Nadeem Hussnain 15. Indian Anthropology by Nadeem Hussnain

For better preparation for the upcoming UPSC exam, consider checking the following links related to Anthropology optional subject:

Understanding Public Administration

Public Administration is one of the most preferred optional subjects for UPSC. It is considered interesting and relevant, especially from the Civil Service Exam perspective. This subject has been a popular choice for many years, although its popularity seems to have diminished slightly in recent years.

Recommended Reading List for Public Administration

1. New Horizons in Public Administration by Mohit Bhattacharya

2. Public Administration in Theory and Practice by Dr. M P Sharma and Dr B L Sadana

3. Administrative Thinkers by R Prasad, V S Prasad and P Satyanarayana

4. ARC Reports

5. IIPA Notes

6. IGNOU Notes

7. Indian Public Administration Institutions and Issues by Ramesh K Arora & Rajni Goyal

8. Management of Organizational Behaviours by Paul Hersey

9. Administrative Reforms in India by S R Maheshwari

Ultimately, it is crucial to choose a subject that you are comfortable with. Read a few chapters from the books to see which of these two subjects interests you more. Also, compare the success rates of these optional subjects before making your final decision.

Check the following links to assist in your preparation:

The above details should assist candidates in preparing for UPSC 2022.

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