UPSC Mains 2026 Anthropology Paper II

Section A

1. 1

   Write notes on the following in about 150 words each:

   50marks
   1. 1(a)

      Dravidian language family and its tribal speakers.

      10marks
   2. 1(b)

      Seed Eaters Model of hominid differentiation.

      10marks
   3. 1(c)

      Tana Bhagat movement.

      10marks
   4. 1(d)

      Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of the islands.

      10marks
   5. 1(e)

      Kumar Suresh Singh's contribution in studying tribal movements.

      10marks
2. 2

   Question 2

   50marks
   1. 2(a)

      What are the major debates related to the concept of jajmani system?

      20marks
   2. 2(b)

      'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan aims to meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals'. Discuss.

      15marks
   3. 2(c)

      What are the evidences available regarding crops and domesticated animals of Indus Valley Civilization? What are the views of the scholars regarding Indus script?

      15marks
3. 3

   Question 3

   50marks
   1. 3(a)

      Critically examine the salience of F.G. Bailey's study on Bisipara village of Odisha.

      20marks
   2. 3(b)

      Discuss the impact of Christianity on the tribal population of Jharkhand.

      15marks
   3. 3(c)

      Discuss with examples, how general comparative analogy has been used for ethnoarchaeological studies in India.

      15marks
4. 4

   Question 4

   50marks
   1. 4(a)

      Write an account on the contribution of Verrier Elwin in developing policies for the tribal populations in post-independent India.

      20marks
   2. 4(b)

      Why the classifications of Indian populations, based on somatometric and somatoscopic characteristics failed to develop a common understanding of the population diversity?

      15marks
   3. 4(c)

      Make a critical appraisal of Niyamgiri movement against mining-induced displacement.

      15marks

Section B

1. 5

   Write notes on the following in about 150 words each:

   50marks
   1. 5(a)

      Buddhist tribes of India.

      10marks
   2. 5(b)

      Debate regarding the phylogenetic position of Narmada Man.

      10marks
   3. 5(c)

      Article 371A of the Indian Constitution.

      10marks
   4. 5(d)

      Nature-Man-Spirit-Complex.

      10marks
   5. 5(e)

      Contribution of L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer in Anthropology.

      10marks
2. 6

   Question 6

   50marks
   1. 6(a)

      Make a critical appraisal of the mesolithic culture of Ganga basin with reference to artifacts, faunal and human skeletal remains excavated from different sites.

      20marks
   2. 6(b)

      Discuss the impact of democratic institutions on the tribal populations of India.

      15marks
   3. 6(c)

      Write an account on the prevalence of sickle cell disease among the tribal populations of India. What are the initiatives undertaken by the affected states to tackle with this disease?

      15marks
3. 7

   Question 7

   50marks
   1. 7(a)

      Assess the contribution of colonial scholars in studying the tribal populations of North-East India.

      20marks
   2. 7(b)

      Does caste as a social category exist among the non-Hindu communities in India? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.

      15marks
   3. 7(c)

      Write an account on Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).

      15marks
4. 8

   Question 8

   50marks
   1. 8(a)

      Make a critical appraisal of Surajit Sinha's line of argument that tribes and castes may not be isolated social categories, but are a part of the great Indian civilization.

      20marks
   2. 8(b)

      What are the major challenges tribal communities are facing in contemporary India?

      15marks
   3. 8(c)

      What are the provisions given in the Constitution of India for the safeguard of the Scheduled Caste populations?

      15marks

Typed by UPSC Gurus from the official UPSC question paper. Spotted an error? Tell us on WhatsApp at 81220 02172.