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UPSC CSE Mains 2024 — Anthropology Questions with Answers
All 56 Anthropology previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2024, 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.Fundamentals of Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Attributes of culture.
- Q2.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Write a short note in about 150 words: Harappan maritime trade.
- Q3.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Critical perspective on avoidance and joking relationship.
- Q4.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Lethal and sublethal genes.
- Q5.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Hemoglobin in health and disease.
- Q6.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Discuss historical particularism as a critical development to the classical evolutionism.
- Q7.Prehistoric Archaeology
Describe the evidences of food production and domestication of animals with special reference to Mehrgarh. Throw light on its significance.
- Q8.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Critically comment on the lifestyle diseases and their impact on human health.
- Q9.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
What is meant by karyotype? How does its analysis help in diagnosis of the chromosomal aberrations in man?
- Q10.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Define urbanization and discuss its impact on family in India with examples.
- Q11.Research Methods & Fieldwork
Discuss the contemporary challenges in fieldwork method in anthropological research.
- Q12.Anthropological Theories
Critically discuss the characteristics of the psychological types in the cultures of the American South-West as observed by Ruth Benedict.
- Q13.Prehistoric Archaeology
Discuss the Acheulian and Oldowan traditions of Indian Paleolithic cultures with suitable illustrations.
- Q14.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
What is genetic counselling? Briefly discuss various steps involved in it.
- Q15.Prehistoric Archaeology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Chronometric dating.
- Q16.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Cultural relevance of the Kula.
- Q17.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Heritability and its estimation.
- Q18.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Authority and forms of political organization.
- Q19.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
Write a short note in about 150 words: Single-gene mutation disorders in man.
- Q20.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Discuss the geographical distribution of Homo erectus. Taking into account its physical features, where does it fit in human evolutionary line?
- Q21.Applied & Forensic Anthropology
Discuss the applications of forensic anthropology with suitable examples.
- Q22.Anthropological Theories
How does Levi-Strauss look at the Tsimshian myth of Asdiwal? Critically discuss Levi-Strauss' theory of structuralism in the light of his study of mythologies.
- Q23.Anthropological Theories
Critically explain the notion of 'deconstruction' in the light of the postmodern works of Jacques Derrida.
- Q24.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
What is a multifactorial trait? Illustrate your answer with suitable human examples.
- Q25.Research Methods & Fieldwork
Discuss the applicability of various sampling techniques in selecting the study group.
- Q26.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Examine critically the concept of social stratification as a basis for sustaining social inequality.
- Q27.Human Genetics & Molecular Anthropology
Describe the genetics and inheritance patterns of the ABO and Rh blood groups in man.
- Q28.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Critically discuss the synergistic effect of biological and cultural factors in human evolution.
- Q29.Indian Society & Civilization
Write a short note in about 150 words: Digitisation of rural economy.
- Q30.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Write a short note in about 150 words: Origin of State Societies.
- Q31.Indian Society & Civilization
Write a short note in about 150 words: Syro-Malabar Christians.
- Q32.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Artisan tribes of Jharkhand.
- Q33.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children.
- Q34.Tribal & Indigenous India
Critically discuss the recent welfare measures initiated by the Government for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Comment why PVTGs were erroneously called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
- Q35.Tribal & Indigenous India
How is PESA Act empowering local self-governance and impacting women's political participation?
- Q36.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy.
- Q37.Indian Prehistory & Populations
Critically describe evidences from Rakhi Garhi and its linkages to Harappan civilization.
- Q38.Indian Society & Civilization
Compare and contrast the approaches of M.N. Srinivas and L.P. Vidyarthi to social change in village India.
- Q39.Tribal & Indigenous India
Examine the impact of Forest Policies from 1878 to 2006 on land alienation and deprivation of rights of tribal communities in India.
- Q40.Applied & Forensic Anthropology
What are the ethical concerns in biological and socio-cultural anthropology because of recent advances in AI and genetic research?
- Q41.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write an essay on the life history of tribal activist and freedom fighter Birsa Munda. What was the impact of his sacrifice on tribal society?
- Q42.Physical & Biological Anthropology
What are the demographic challenges of India's changing population dynamics in the next 50 years?
- Q43.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: B.K. Roy Burman's concept of 'Buffer Zone'.
- Q44.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Describe ILO's Convention No. 169 (1989) on Indigenous and Tribal people. Is India a signatory to it?
- Q45.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Agricultural practices of the Apatani.
- Q46.Tribal & Indigenous India
Write a short note in about 150 words: Status of Sixth Schedule Areas.
- Q47.Indian Society & Civilization
Write a short note in about 150 words: Constitutional Safeguards for Backward Classes.
- Q48.Applied & Forensic Anthropology
Custodians of natural resources are the tribals, but they are the most deprived. Critically examine how climate change will impact their survival in future.
- Q49.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Elucidate the difference between secularism, religiosity, religious fundamentalism and spiritualism from an anthropological perspective.
- Q50.Tribal & Indigenous India
Discuss the contribution of P.K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe.
- Q51.Physical & Biological Anthropology
Critically examine existing paradigms of holistic health for the marginalised sections of society drawing inferences from COVID-19 pandemic.
- Q52.Indian Society & Civilization
Discuss the theories on origin of caste system and its criticism in India. Differentiate between caste, class and race.
- Q53.Tribal & Indigenous India
Elucidate the resurgence of ethno-nationalism from an anthropological lens.
- Q54.Prehistoric Archaeology
Describe the important Paleolithic sites from South India with suitable examples. What is the significance of South Indian Paleolithic cultures?
- Q55.Tribal & Indigenous India
Distinguish a 'Theocratic State' from a secular, liberal, democratic state. Illustrate your answer with examples from tribal and contemporary societies.
- Q56.Social-Cultural Anthropology
Discuss the economic, social and developmental impacts on tribal communities with special reference to mining.
UPSC CSE Mains 2024 — other subjects
Anthropology — other years
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