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UPSC CSE Mains 2019 — Anthropology Questions with Answers
All 56 Anthropology previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2019, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Anthropology as a timed test →- Q1.Linguistic Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: The relationship between Linguistics and Social-Cultural Anthropology.
- Q2.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Cultural Relativism.
- Q3.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Pastoralism in India.
- Q4.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Cultural Materialism.
- Q5.Prehistoric Archaeology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Relative Dating Methods.
- Q6.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Discuss the evolutionary significance of bipedalism and erect posture.
- Q7.Anthropological Theories
How did Radcliffe-Brown and Levi-Strauss study kinship in terms of social structure?
- Q8.Prehistoric Archaeology
Elucidate Mesolithic culture and associated rock art with examples from India.
- Q9.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Discuss social stratification according to any three major approaches.
- Q10.Physical & Biological Anthropology
"Europeans are closer to Neanderthals." Critically discuss in view of the African origin of humankind.
- Q11.Prehistoric Archaeology
Discuss briefly the major traditions in the Upper Palaeolithic culture of Europe.
- Q12.Physical & Biological Anthropology
With reference to the somatoscopic and morphometric characteristics commonly used for racial classification, make critical comments as to whether 'Race' is a valid concept.
- Q13.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Critically explain the anthropological approaches to religion.
- Q14.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
Differentiate between transient and balanced genetic polymorphism. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples from human populations.
- Q15.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Adaptive primate radiation.
- Q16.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Implications of mutation in evolution.
- Q17.Prehistoric Archaeology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Olduvai Gorge.
- Q18.Applied & Forensic Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Anthropological inputs in facial reconstruction.
- Q19.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Genetico-environmental factors affecting human growth.
- Q20.Anthropological Theories
Examine critically the contributions of Victor Turner and Clifford Geertz in anthropology.
- Q21.Physical & Biological Anthropology
"Human adaptations are always bio-cultural in nature." Discuss with reference to human adaptation to high-altitude climate.
- Q22.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Discuss the methods of studying human growth with their merits and demerits.
- Q23.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Discuss how indigenous people encounter globalization.
- Q24.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
"Applied human genetics has come to touch every sphere of human life." Discuss in light of recent advances in molecular anthropology.
- Q25.Research Methods & Fieldwork
Evaluate participant observation in producing anthropological knowledge.
- Q26.Prehistoric Archaeology
Discuss with examples the Megalithic culture of India in the archaeological context.
- Q27.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Discuss the bio-cultural factors influencing fertility in light of the relationship between fecundity and fertility.
- Q28.Research Methods & Fieldwork
Discuss phenomenology as a research method in anthropological studies.
- Q29.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Phylogenetic position and morphological features of Ramapithecus.
- Q30.Prehistoric Archaeology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Ethno-archaeological analysis of hunting activities of contemporary tribal communities.
- Q31.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Write a short note in about 150 words: Distribution of Tibeto-Burman group of languages in India.
- Q32.Indian Society & Civilization
Write a short note in about 150 words: Use of doctrine of Karma and rebirth in justifying the Varna system.
- Q33.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: The Jajmani system and contemporary market economy.
- Q34.Prehistoric Archaeology
Describe the Palaeolithic culture with special reference to Soanian tradition. Indicate the problems of describing the Indian Palaeolithic.
- Q35.Tribal & Indigenous India
What has been the contribution of tribal people to the Indian Independence movement?
- Q36.Indian Society & Civilization
Describe the impact of Buddhism on the tribal populations of India.
- Q37.Indian Prehistory & Populations
What kind of society may be reconstructed from the archaeological evidences of Harappan culture?
- Q38.Indian Society & Civilization
Discuss the impact of media on the social life of Indian villages.
- Q39.Tribal & Indigenous India
Critically assess the existing plans and programmes meant for tribal welfare.
- Q40.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Give an account of the contributions of Iravati Karve and B. S. Guha to the analysis of race and caste in India.
- Q41.Tribal & Indigenous India
What has been the impact of development projects on the environment and livelihood of forest-dwelling tribes?
- Q42.Tribal & Indigenous India
Identify some special programmes for particularly vulnerable Tribal Groups (erstwhile PTGs).
- Q43.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Ethnicity and regionalism.
- Q44.Indian Society & Civilization
Write a short note in about 150 words: Panchayati Raj as a facilitator of social inclusion in rural society.
- Q45.Indian Society & Civilization
Write a short note in about 150 words: Anthropological understanding of communalism.
- Q46.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Issues relating to tribal education.
- Q47.Prehistoric Archaeology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Distribution of Neolithic sites in India.
- Q48.Indian Society & Civilization
Identify the theoretical concepts that have emerged out of village studies in India.
- Q49.Tribal & Indigenous India
Critically discuss the role of NGOs in tribal development.
- Q50.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Describe the impact of industrialization on the economic and social aspects of India's villages.
- Q51.Indian Society & Civilization
Discuss how the elements of Little and Great Traditions combine in the emergence of social/political/religious movements, giving any one example to illustrate the issue.
- Q52.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Write about the role of colonial administration in the development of Anthropology in India.
- Q53.Tribal & Indigenous India
What are the salient issues faced by pastoral communities in India? Discuss with suitable examples.
- Q54.Tribal & Indigenous India
Discuss with appropriate examples how tribal unrest may be understood as emerging out of an incompatibility between tribes and the nation-state.
- Q55.Indian Society & Civilization
What has been the impact of non-Hindu religions on the emancipation of Scheduled Castes in India?
- Q56.Tribal & Indigenous India
What are the constitutional safeguards to protect the interests of the Indian tribes?
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