All the candidates must prepare themselves for a victory coming along their way & to prepare with the best for the exam. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission conducts the UPPSC Exam in three tiers: Prelims, Mains & Interview. To appear for Mains, candidates must qualify the prelims first.
After clearing the Prelims, candidates get a chance to appear for the mains exam. A Total of eight papers are conducted including two optional papers for which UPPSC offers the candidates an opportunity to opt for their Optional Subject out of a list of subjects. Candidates as per their interest and convenience can opt the subject. Other six exams remain common for all. The most important is that all the eight papers are taken in account for merit calculation.
This article is all focused on the latest exam pattern of UPPSC, Syllabus, and every detail about the exam and Optional Subject – Anthropology. Candidates who are to appear for the mains exam must go through the detailed UPPSC syllabus and exam pattern before they plan out the wining strategy.
Anthropology Syllabus for UPPSC PCS
Here is the complete topic wise explanation of the syllabus of the Anthropology Optional subject of the UPPSC PCS Mains exam. The syllabus has been officially issued by the Uttar Pradesh Public Services Commission & Candidates can check the below-mentioned table for reference:
| Paper 1- Anthropology Paper UPPSC PCS | |
| Anthropology | Its meaning, scope and development. |
| Relationship with other disciplines: History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences. | |
| Main branches of Anthropology: their scope and relevance | |
| Human Evolution and emergence of Man | Organic Evolution; Theories of evolution- Pre- Darwinian, Darwinian and Post- Darwinian Period. Modern Synthetic Theory of evolution. |
| Principles of systematic and taxonomy: Major primate taxa, Systematics of Hominoidea and Hominidae; Comparative Anatomy of man and Apes; Skeletal changes due to erect posture and its implications. | |
| Origin and Evolution of Man: Phylogenetic status, characteristics and distribution of the following: Pleistocene fossil primate Oreopithecus, South and East African Hominids- Plesianthropus, Australopithecus africanus, plesianthropus, Australopithecus robustus and related species | |
| Emergence of Homo | Homo erectus and contemporaries |
| Neanderthal Man in Europe: La-Chapelle-aux-Saints (Classical type). Mt. Carmelites (Progressive type). | |
| Rhodesian man. | |
| Homo sapiens sapiens (Upper Pleistocene), Cromagnon Man, Chancelade and Grimaldi. | |
| Human Genetics | Meaning, scope and branches, its relationship with other sciences. |
| Methods for the study of genetic principles in man-family study (Pedigree analysis, Twin study, Foster child, co-twin method, cytogenetic method, Immunological method, D.N.A. technology. | |
| Mendelian Genetics in man-family study, single factor, multi factor, polygenic inheritance in man, concept of genetic polymorphism and selection. Mendelian populations- Hardy-Weinberg Law, Inbreeding, Genetic Load, Genetic implications of Consanguineous and cousin marriages. | |
| Chromosomes and Chromosomal aberrations in man; Genetic counseling. | |
| Concept of Race | Race and racism, racial classification; Ethnic groups of mankind:- characteristics and distribution. |
| Ecological Anthropology | Concept and methods; Bio-cultural adaptation. |
| Human Growth and Development | Concept and factors affecting growth and development, methods of growth studies. |
| Biological and Socio-ecological factors influencing fecundity, fertility, natality and mortality. | |
| Applications of Physical Anthropology and Human Genetics. | |
| Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology | Broad outlines of prehistoric cultures- i. Paleolithic, ii.Mesolithic iii.Neolithic, iv.Chalcolithic, v.Copper-Bronze age. |
| Dating Methods: Relative and Absolute. | |
| The Nature of Culture | Concept and characteristics of culture and civilization; ethnocentrism and cultural relativism |
| The nature of society: Concept of Society; Society and Culture; Social Institutions; Social Groups; and Social Stratification. | |
| Marriage: Definition and Universality; Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo); Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy); Functions of marriage; Marriage regulations (Preferential); Marriage payments (bride, wealth & dowry). | |
| Family, Household and Domestic Group: Definition and universality; functions and Types (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); Impact of urbanization. | |
| Kinship: Consanguinity and Affinity; Principles and types of descent (Unilineal, Double, Bilateral, Ambilineal); Forms of descent groups (Lineage, clan, phratry, moiety and kindred); Kinship terminology (descriptive and classificatory). | |
| Economic Organization | Meaning, Scope and relevance of economic anthropology; Formalist and Substantivist debate; Principles governing Production, Distribution and Exchange (reciprocity, redistribution and market) in communities subsisting on hunting & gathering fishing, swiddening, pastoralism, Horticulture and Anthropology. |
| Political Organization | Band, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; concepts of power, Authority, Legitimacy; Social Control, Law and justice in simple societies. |
| Religion | Anthropological approaches to the study of religion (evolutionary, psychological and functional) monotheism and polytheism; myths and rituals; forms of magico-religious beliefs in tribal and peasant societies (animism, animatism, fetishism, naturalism and totemism); religion, magic and science distinguished, magico religious functionaries (priest, shaman, medicine man, sorcerer and witch). |
| Anthropological theories | i. Classical evolutionism-Tylor,Morgan and Frazer. ii. Diffusionism-British, German andAmerican. iii.Functionalism- Malinowski, Structural functionalism- Radcliffe- Brown. iv.Structuralism- Levi-Strauss. v.Culture and Personality-Benedict, Mead, Linton,Kardiner and Cora-du-Bois. vi. Neo-evolutionism- Childe, White, Steward. vii. Cultural Materialism(Harris). |
| Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology | Field work tradition in anthropology; Distinction between technique, method and methodology; Tools of Data collection Observation, Interview, Schedule, Questionnaire, Case history, Case study and Genealogy; Secondary sources of information. |
| Controlled comparison and cross cultural study. | |
| Paper II : Anthropology UPPSC PCS | |
| Emergence and Development of the Indian Culture and Civilization: | Prehistoric (Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic-Chalcolithic); Protohistoric (Indus Civilization). |
| Demographic profile of India: | Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population and their distribution. |
| The structure and function of traditional social system: | Vernasharam, Purushartha, Karma, Rina and Rebirth. |
| Caste system in India | Structure and characteristics; Varna and Caste, Dominant Caste, Caste mobility, Jajmani system, Tribe-caste continuum. |
| Sacred Complex and Nature-Man-Spirit Complex. | |
| Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society including tribals | |
| Emergence, growth and development of anthropology in india | Contribution of early Scholars-Administrators. Contribution of IndianAnthropologists toTribal- Caste studies. |
| Aspects of Indian Village: | Social, economic, polity and religion, Changing patterns of settlement and inter-caste relations. Sanskritization, Westernization and Modernization. Panchayati Raj and Social change. |
| Tribal situation in India | Linguistic and socio-economic characteristics of the Tribal populations and their distribution, Bio-genetic variability. |
| Problems of tribal communities: Land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, poor educational facilities, unemployment, health and nutrition. | |
| Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement and problems of rehabilitation, New forest policy and tribals. Impact of Urbanization and Industrialization on tribal populations. | |
| Problems of exploitation and deprivation | Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. |
| Social change and contemporary tribal societies: Impact of modern democratic institutions, development programmes and welfare measure on tribals and weaker sections and women participation | |
| The concept of Ethnicity: Ethnic conflicts and political developments, Unrest among tribal communities; Pseudo-tribalism; Social change among the tribes during colonial and post- independentIndia. | |
| History of Administration of Tribal Areas | Tribal policies, plans, programmes of tribal development and their implementation. |
| Role of N.G.O. in tribal development. | |
| Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development | |
Go through the complete course of the Anthropology subject & come up with a comprehensive approach.
Download the PDF format UPPSC PCS Anthropology Syllabus here!
UPSC Beginners Program
Get UPSC Beginners Program - 60 Days Foundation Course SuperCoaching @ just
People also like
UPPSC PCS Anthropology Exam Pattern
The Prelims Exam is of 400 marks and qualifying in nature. For the main exam, all the papers are important and conducted in subjective mode. Total of 8 eight papers out of two are optional. Check the exam pattern below:-
- There will be two optional papers- Anthropology.
- Paper 1- Anthropology
- Paper 2- Anthropology
- Both the papers will be of 200 marks each with a duration of 3 hours each. Descriptive in nature.
Check out the UPPSC Civil Services exam pattern and marking scheme & prepare with the most accurate near exam approach.
How can you prepare for UPSC PCS Anthropology Optional Subject?
If you want to have results in the exam, you got to prepare for the exam with the right approach and previous papers are the beginning of a preparation regime. For candidates reference it is important to go through the papers so that you can understand the topic wise overall weightage of the topics for the exam.
Candidates should focus on your optional subject as it is a matter of priority and can turn tables around! Solve as many question papers as possible to get an exact idea of the question trends. You can learn more precise details about how to answer the questions to score maximum.
It will help candidates to get more familiar with the subject, they can prioritize their weak topics and deduce a proper plan to cover entire subject.
Enroll for Anthropology Course here!
Previous Years Question Papers for UPPSC PCS Anthropology Optional Subject
It is recommended to the candidates to solve the UPPSC Previous Year Question Paper for better understanding of the topics and concepts. From the table below you can Download all Anthropology Papers for free today!
| UPPSC Anthropology PYPs | ||
| Year | Paper I | Paper II |
| 2014 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2015 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2016 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2017 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2018 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2019 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2020 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
| 2021 | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – I | UPPSC Anthropology Paper – II |
Enroll for Anthropology Full Course for UPPSC here!
For more relevant expert curated study materials for different optional subjects, previous year papers, mock tests, test series, practice sets you can download our mobile application TestbookApp.
