UPSC Mains 2020 Anthropology Paper I

Section A

1. 1

   Write notes on the following in about 150 words each:

   50marks
   1. 1(a)

      Natufian culture

      10marks
   2. 1(b)

      Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

      10marks
   3. 1(c)

      Human rights and Cultural relativism

      10marks
   4. 1(d)

      Victor Turner and Liminality

      10marks
   5. 1(e)

      Jane Goodall's contributions in studying primate behaviour

      10marks
2. 2

   Question 2

   50marks
   1. 2(a)

      Critically evaluate the contesting theories of the emergence and dispersal of modern Homo Sapiens.

      20marks
   2. 2(b)

      Discuss Erving Goffman's concept of total institutions and its relevance in contemporary society.

      15marks
   3. 2(c)

      Differentiate between Lower Palaeolithic culture and Middle Palaeolithic culture with suitable examples.

      15marks
3. 3

   Question 3

   50marks
   1. 3(a)

      Explain the impact of feminist movement on universality of marriage and family structure.

      20marks
   2. 3(b)

      Critically examine the demographic and epidemiological consequences with rise in food production and sedentism.

      15marks
   3. 3(c)

      Elucidate how Darwin and Post-Darwin theories of evolution resulted in the development of Synthetic theory of evolution.

      15marks
4. 4

   Question 4

   50marks
   1. 4(a)

      Discuss various anthropological approaches to the study of personality and culture.

      20marks
   2. 4(b)

      Illustrate with examples the various types of locomotion patterns among the non-human primates.

      15marks
   3. 4(c)

      How is the construct of power linked to the notion of conspicuous consumption and its impact on distributive justice?

      15marks

Section B

1. 5

   Write notes on the following in about 150 words each:

   50marks
   1. 5(a)

      Racism and Eugenics

      10marks
   2. 5(b)

      Genetic drift

      10marks
   3. 5(c)

      Experiential Ethnography

      10marks
   4. 5(d)

      Ethics and Genetic engineering

      10marks
   5. 5(e)

      Senescence

      10marks
2. 6

   Question 6

   50marks
   1. 6(a)

      Secular trend in human growth can be positive, negative or neutral. Illustrate with examples.

      20marks
   2. 6(b)

      Describe the impact of infectious diseases on indigenous populations.

      15marks
   3. 6(c)

      How may numerical aberrations in sex chromosomes lead to genetic disorders?

      15marks
3. 7

   Question 7

   50marks
   1. 7(a)

      Explain how variations in language usage is related to social inequality.

      20marks
   2. 7(b)

      Describe the biocultural responses to extreme climatic events.

      15marks
   3. 7(c)

      How do marriage rules impact the gene pool of populations?

      15marks
4. 8

   Question 8

   50marks
   1. 8(a)

      How can synergising the core branches of anthropology reinvigorate the holistic spirit of the discipline?

      20marks
   2. 8(b)

      What are the applications of human genomic research in human welfare?

      15marks
   3. 8(c)

      How have interpretation and presentation of data changed from classical to contemporary writings in anthropological texts?

      15marks

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