Anthropology Syllabus For UPSC

Anthropology is a core aspect of biology. Candidates from a science-affiliated background can choose anthropology as their optional subject. The UPSC Syllabus for anthropology optional covers all the social, biological and archaeological aspects of anthropology. If you are opting for Anthropology as your optional subject in the main exam, it becomes important to understand the Anthropology Optional Syllabus. In this article, we will have a detailed look at the Anthropology Syllabus for UPSC, this will help you understand the important topics you need to focus on for the UPSC Mains exam!

Also, read the Anthropology Optional Syllabus in Hindi here.

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Anthropology Optional Syllabus For UPSC 2024

UPSC Anthropology Syllabus is all about the study of human beings. The syllabus is related to the aspects of society, culture, history and more. Anthropology optional subject is highly popular as it is easy to prepare because of the available study materials. To get an understanding of the important anthropology topics, you can have a look at the Anthropology Optional Syllabus overview in the image below.

Download & Practice UPSC Anthropology Previous Year Papers from the linked article.

UPSC Anthropology Syllabus PDF - Download Now

Not just anthropology, but any other optional subject initially requires a proper understanding of the UPSC exam paper pattern and syllabus of the subject. To make things easy for the UPSC aspirants, we have attached the links to the UPSC Anthropology Syllabus PDF in English and Hindi in the table below.

Anthropology Optional Syllabus For UPSC - Paper 1

There are 12 major topics in the UPSC Anthropology Syllabus for optional paper 1 of mains exam. These topics are further divided into multiple sub-topics which can be seen in detail below -

1. Meaning, scope, and development of Anthropology.
2. Relationship with other disciplines: History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Life Science, Medical Science.
3. Main branches of Anthropology, their scope, and relevance:
   1. Social-cultural Anthropology.
   2. Biological Anthropology.
   3. Archaeological Anthropology.
   4. Linguistic Anthropology.
4. Human Evolution and the emergence of Man
   1. Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution.
   2. Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre- Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian).
   3. Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology (Doll’s rule, Cope’s rule, Gause’s rule, parallelism, convergence, adaptive radiation, and mosaic evolution).
5. Characteristics of Primates; 
   1. Evolutionary Trend and Primate Taxonomy; 
   2. Primate Adaptations; 
   3. (Arboreal and Terrestrial) Primate Taxonomy; 
   4. Primate Behaviour; 
   5. Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates; 
   6. Living Major Primates; 
   7. Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes; 
   8. Skeletal changes due to erect posture and its implications.
6. Phylogenetic status, characteristics and geographical distribution of the following:
   1. Plio-preleistocene hominids in South and East Africa - Australopith
   2. Homo erectus: Africa (Paranthropus), Europe (Homo erectus heidelbergensis), Asia (Homo erectus javanicus, Homo erectus pekinensis).
   3. Neanderthal Man- La-Chapelle-aux-saints (Classical type), Mt. Carmel (Progressive type).
   4. Rhodesian man.
   5. Homo sapiens — Cromagnon, Grimaldi and Chancelede.
7. The biological basis of life: 
   1. The Cell, DNA structure and replication, 
   2. Protein Synthesis, Gene, 
   3. Mutation, 
   4. Chromosomes, and Cell Division.
8. a) Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating methods.
9. b) Cultural Evolution- Broad Outlines of Prehistoric cultures:
   1. Paleolithic
   2. Mesolithic
   3. Neolithic
   4. Chalcolithic
   5. Copper-Bronze Age
   6. Iron Age
10. The Nature of Culture: 
    1. The concept and characteristics of culture and civilization; 
    2. Ethnocentrism vis-à-vis cultural Relativism
11. The Nature of Society: 
    1. Concept of Society; 
    2. Society and Culture; 
    3. Social Institutions; 
    4. Social groups; 
    5. Social stratification.
12. Marriage: 
    1. Definition and universality; 
    2. Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo); 
    3. Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, group marriage). 
    4. Functions of marriage; 
    5. Marriage regulations (preferential, prescriptive and proscriptive); 
    6. Marriage payments (bride wealth and dowry).
13. Family: 
    1. Definition and universality; 
    2. Family, household and domestic groups; 
    3. functions of family;
    4. Types of family (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); 
    5. Impact of urbanization, industrialization, and feminist movements on family.
14. Kinship: 
    1. Consanguinity and Affinity; 
    2. Principles and types of descent (Unilineal, Double, Bilateral, Ambilineal); Forms of descent groups (lineage, clan, phratry, moiety, and kindred); 
    3. Kinship terminology (descriptive and classificatory); 
    4. Descent, Filiation and Complimentary Filiation; 
    5. Descent and Alliance.
15. Economic organization:
    1. Meaning, scope and relevance of economic anthropology; 
    2. Formalist and Substantivist debate; 
    3. Principles governing production, distribution and exchange (reciprocity, redistribution and market), in communities, subsisting on hunting and gathering, fishing, swiddening, pastoralism, horticulture, and agriculture; globalization and indigenous economic systems.
16. Political organization and Social Control:
    1. Band, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; 
    2. concepts of power, authority and legitimacy; 
    3. social control, law, and justice in simple societie
17. Religion: 
    1. Anthropological approaches to the study of religion (evolutionary, psychological and functional); monotheism and polytheism; 
    2. sacred and profane; 
    3. myths and rituals; 
    4. forms of religion in tribal and peasant societies (animism, animatism, fetishism, naturism and totemism); 
    5. religion, magic and science distinguished; 
    6. magico- religious functionaries (priest, shaman, medicine man, sorcerer and witch).
18. Anthropological theories:
    1. Classical evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan, and Frazer)
    2. Historical particularism (Boas); Diffusionism (British, German and American)
    3. Functionalism (Malinowski); Structural- functionlism (Radcliffe-Brown)
    4. Structuralism (L’evi – Strauss and E. Leach)
    5. Culture and personality (Benedict, Mead, Linton, Kardiner and Cora – du Bois).
    6. Neo – evolutionism (Childe, White, Steward, Sahlins and Service)
    7. Cultural materialism (Harris)
    8. Symbolic and interpretive theories (Turner, Schneider and Geertz)
    9. Cognitive theories (Tyler, Conklin)
    10. Post- modernism in anthropology
19. Culture, language and communication: 
    1. Nature, origin and characteristics of language; 
    2. verbal and non-verbal communication; 
    3. social context of language use.
20. Research methods in anthropology:
    1. Fieldwork tradition in anthropology
    2. Distinction between technique, method and methodology
    3. Tools of data collection: observation, interview, schedules, questionnaire, Case study, genealogy, life-history, oral history, secondary sources of information, participatory methods.
    4. Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.
21. Human Genetics 
    1. Methods and Application: Methods for study of genetic principles in man-family study (pedigree analysis, twin study, foster child, co-twin method, cytogenetic method, chromosomal and karyo-type analysis), biochemical methods, immunological methods, D.N.A. technology and recombinant technologies.
22. Mendelian genetics in man-family study 
    1. Single factor, multifactor, lethal, sub-lethal and polygenic inheritance in man.
23. Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection
    1. Mendelian population, Hardy-Weinberg law; 
    2. causes and changes which bring down frequency – mutation, isolation, migration, selection, inbreeding and genetic drift. Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating, genetic load, genetic effect of consanguineous and cousin marriages.
24. Chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations in man, methodology.
25. Numerical and structural aberrations (disorders).
    1. Sex chromosomal aberrations – Klinefelter (XXY), Turner (XO), Super female (XXX), intersex and other syndromic disorders.
    2. Autosomal aberrations – Down syndrome, Patau, Edward and Cri-du-chat syndromes.
    3. Genetic imprints in human disease, genetic screening, genetic counseling, human DNA profiling, gene mapping and genome study.
26. Race and racism 
    1. The biological basis of morphological variation of non-metric and metric characters. 
    2. Racial criteria, racial traits in relation to heredity and environment; 
    3. biological basis of racial classification, racial differentiation and race crossing in man.
27. a) Age, sex and population variation as genetic marker- ABO, Rh blood groups, HLA Hp, transferring, Gm, blood enzymes. b) Physiological characteristics-Hb level, body fat, pulse rate, respiratory functions and sensory perceptions in different cultural and socio-economic groups.
28. Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology. 
    1. Bio-cultural Adaptations 
    2. Genetic and Non- genetic factors. 
    3. Man’s physiological responses to environmental stresses: 
    4. hot desert, 
    5. cold, high altitude climate.
29. Epidemiological Anthropology: 
    1. Health and disease. 
    2. Infectious and non-infectious diseases. 
    3. Nutritional deficiency-related diseases.
30. Concept of human growth and development:
    1. stages of growth – pre-natal, natal, infant, childhood, adolescence, maturity, senescence.
    2. Factors affecting growth and development genetic, environmental, biochemical, nutritional, cultural and socio-economic.
    3. Ageing and senescence. Theories and observations – biological and chronological longevity. Human physique and somatotypes. Methodologies for growth studies.
31. Relevance of menarche, menopause and other bioevents to fertility. Fertility patterns and differentials.
32. Demographic theories- biological, social and cultural.
33. Biological and socio-ecological factors influencing fecundity, fertility, natality and mortality.
34. Applications of Anthropology:
    1. Anthropology of sports, 
    2. Nutritional anthropology, 
    3. Anthropology in designing of defence and other equipments, 
    4. Forensic Anthropology, 
    5. Methods and principles of personal identification and reconstruction, 
    6. Applied human genetics 
    7. Paternity diagnosis, genetic counseling and eugenics, 
    8. DNA technology in diseases and medicine, 
    9. serogenetics and cytogenetics in reproductive biology.

UPSC Anthropology Optional Syllabus - Paper 2

There are 6 topics covered in the UPSC Anthropology Syllabus for optional paper 2 of mains exam. The anthropology syllabus for optional paper 2 is shorter as compared with the syllabus for optional paper 1 of the mains exam. Have a look at the official anthropology syllabus for IAS mains optional paper 2 in the table below.

1. Evolution of the Indian Culture and Civilization
   1. Prehistoric (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Neolithic 
   2. Chalcolithic).
   3. Protohistoric (Indus Civilization): Pre- Harappan, Harappan and post- Harappan cultures.Contributions of tribal cultures to Indian civilization.
2. Palaeo 
   1. Anthropological evidences from India with special reference to Siwaliks and Narmada basin (Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man).
3. Ethno-archaeology in India:
   1. The concept of ethnoarchaeology; 
   2. Survivals and Parallels among the hunting, foraging, fishing, pastoral and peasant communities including arts and crafts producing communities.
4. Demographic profile of India 
   1. Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population and their distribution. 
   2. Indian population – factors influencing its structure and growth.
5. The structure and nature of the traditional Indian social system 
   1. Varnashram, 
   2. Purushartha, 
   3. Karma, 
   4. Rina and Rebirth.
6. Caste system in India 
   1. Structure and characteristics, 
   2. Varna and caste, 
   3. Theories of origin of caste system, 
   4. Dominant caste, 
   5. Caste mobility, 
   6. Future of caste system, 
   7. Jajmani system, 
   8. Tribe- caste continuum.
7. Sacred Complex and Nature 
   1. Man
   2. Spirit Complex.
8. Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society.
9. Emergence and growth of anthropology in India-Contributions of the 18th, 19th and early 20th Century scholar-administrators. Contributions of Indian anthropologists to tribal and caste studies.
10. Indian Village: 
    1. Significance of village study in India; 
    2. Indian village as a social system; 
    3. Traditional and changing patterns of settlement and inter-caste relations; 
    4. Agrarian relations in Indian villages; 
    5. Impact of globalization on Indian villages.
11. Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status.
12. Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change in Indian society: Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization; 
    1. Inter-play of little and great traditions; 
    2. Panchayati raj and social change; 
    3. Media and social change.
13. Tribal situation in India:
    1. Bio-genetic variability, linguistic and socio-economic characteristics of tribal populations and their distribution.
14. Problems of the tribal Communities 
    1. Land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, poor educational facilities, unemployment, underemployment, health and nutrition.
15. Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement 
    1. Problems of rehabilitation. 
    2. Development of forest policy and tribals. 
    3. Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal populations.
16. Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
    1. Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.
17. Social change and contemporary tribal societies:
    1. Impact of modern democratic institutions, development programmes and welfare measures on tribals and weaker sections.
18. The concept of ethnicity; 
    1. Ethnic conflicts and political developments; 
    2. Unrest among tribal communities; 
    3. Regionalism and demand for autonomy; 
    4. Pseudo-tribalism; 
    5. Social change among the tribes during colonial and post-Independent India.
19. Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies.
20. Tribe and nation state - a comparative study of tribal communities in India and other countries.
21. History of administration of tribal areas, tribal policies, plans, programmes of tribal development and their implementation. The concept of PTGs (Primitive Tribal Groups), their distribution, special programmes for their development. Role of N.G.O.s in tribal development.
22. Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development.
23. Contributions of anthropology to the understanding of regionalism, communalism, and ethnic and political movements.

Anthropology Syllabus Important Topics

Have a look at the important Anthropology topics that you must read for the IAS exam.

• Holism
• Society
• Family
• Marriage
• Tribal topics
• Neolithic revolution
• Copper bronze age
• Culture, civilization
• Linguistic anthropology
• Relevance of anthropology
• Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Cultures
• Language, culture and communication
• Branches of anthropology, various dating techniques
• Research methodology – Genealogical method, observation, techniques of data interpretation, fieldwork significance in anthropology

UPSC Anthropology Optional Paper Pattern

UPSC Recruitment is based on three stages i.e., Prelim Exam, Mains Exam and an Interview. The candidates get to choose their optional subjects for Paper VI & VII.

Here are the details about the UPSC Anthropology exam pattern for IAS mains exam:

• There will be two papers for the Anthropology Optional Subject.
• Each paper would comprise 250 marks, which makes it 500 marks in total.
• There is no negative marking.
• Each paper would have objective answer-type questions.

Anthropology Optional Syllabus For UPSC - Preparation Tips

The UPSC anthropology optional subject is chosen mainly by the aspirant from a science/engineering background. If one has a strong interest in Anthropology, it becomes easy to earn decent merit in the overall examination. Anthropology is a subject, which requires basic chemistry and physics knowledge; especially in UPSC. Here are few preparation tips to cover the UPSC anthropology syllabus strategically -

• Explore The Syllabus - Before starting with the preparation, candidates must go through the UPSC Anthropology Syllabus in detail to know which topics they have to cover. There are several topics included in the syllabus, candidates must know how to prepare for them wisely and plan out their studies. 
• Study Each Topic in Detail - Every topic is interlinked so candidates must focus to cover every topic thoroughly.
• Start with NCERTs - It is recommended to refer to the UPSC NCERT books for Anthropology preparation.
• Make Preparation Notes - Once you start your preparation, note down the important points and information in your Anthropology Optional Notes. You must note down the important terminologies, concepts, and more. This will be useful for last-minute revision.
• Solve Previous Year Papers & Mock Tests - It’s mandatory to solve previous year question papers, mock tests, test series, etc. from UPSC civil services test series.
• Revision - Take out time for revision, whatever you have prepared in a day, revise it before sleeping. As an optional paper is a descriptive type, you need to keep revising the notes. 

Check UPSC Previous Year Question Papers for other subjects here!

UPSC Anthropology Syllabus Preparation Books

Books are of the utmost importance while preparing for an optional subject. There are a set of UPSC Anthropology Optional Books, but below we have listed some of the best books for preparation, have a look at them -

• Anthropology Demystified (Akshat Jain)
• An introduction to social Anthropology (D.N. Majumdar and T.N. Madan
• Anthropology by Ember and Ember
• Physical Anthropology (P. Nath)
• Indian Anthropology by R.N. Sharma

We hope you have read the Anthropology Syllabus for UPSC given in this article. For more such articles, study materials, and mock tests you can download our Testbook App and you can join our UPSC Exam Coaching program to get the best guidance required to crack the IAS exam!