(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Anthropology (Paper -1 & 2) Optional Question Paper

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(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Anthropology (Paper -1 & Paper -2) Optional Question Paper

Subject: Anthropology (Paper -1 & 2) Optional

Exam Date: 23rd December 2015

Anthropology (Paper -1)

SECTION-A

1. Write notes on the following in about 150 words each : 5x10=50 marks

(a) Archaeological Anthropology. 10 marks
(b) Society and Culture 10 marks
(c) Incest Taboos. 10 marks
(d) Horticulture. 10 marks
(e) Historical Particularism. 10 marks

2.(a) Elucidate the biological and cultural factors in Human Evolution. 15 marks
(b) How did Morgan explain the evolution of marriage, family and Socio-Political organization, and how did other evolutionists disagree with his explanation ? 20 marks
(c) How do diffusionism and evolutionism differ as explanations of Culture Change ? 15 marks

3.(a) Define family and critically examine the universality of family. 15 marks
(b) How do you relate the concepts of 'Sacred' and 'Profane' in Durkheim's theory of religion with a focus on the role of totem ? 15 marks
(c) Explain the basic features of 'Postmodernism' in Anthropology. 20 marks

4.(a) Critically examine the Formalists' and Substantivists' views on the applicability of economic laws in the study of primitive societies. 20 marks
(b) Explain the difference between emic and etic, and how does the difference derive from the study of language ? 10 marks
(e) What made Geertz's Interpretive Anthropology distinct from Turner's Symbolic Anthropology ? What does each of them mean by the terms Symbol' and 'Symbolic’ ? 20 marks

SECTION-B

5. Write notes on the following in about 150 words each :- 10x5=50 marks

(a) Palaeolithic culture. 10 marks
(b) Down's Syndrome. 10 marks
(c) Longitudinal method of studying growth. 10 marks
(d) Menopause and its impact. 10 marks
(e) DNA technology in Medicine. 10 marks

6.(a) Describe the salient characteristics and geographical distribution of Homo erectus. 20 marks
(b) Critically examine Darwin's theory of evolution in understanding evolution. 15 marks
(c) Discuss chromosomal aberrations in man illustrating with examples. 15 marks

7.(a) What is an anthropometric somatotype ? Describe Health and Carter's method of somatotyping. 20 marks
(b) Critically examine the physiological responses and acclimatization to cold climate in Man. 15 marks
(c) Elucidate the role of Anthropology in selection and monitoring of sports persons. 15 marks

8.(a) Forensic Science can help in criminal investigations. Discuss. 20 marks
(b) Define genetic polymorphism. Give details of its types with suitable examples. 15 marks
(c) What do you understand by Immunogenetics ? Explain with suitable examples. 15 marks

Anthropology (Paper -2)

SECTION-A

1. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : 10x5=50 marks

(a) Relevance of tribal Panchsheel today
(b) Sacred complex as a dimension of Indian civilization
(c) South Indian Paleoliths
(d) Panchayati Raj Institutions and Social Change
(e) Rights over resources and tribal unrest

2.(a) Examine the social implications of media and communication technology. 20 marks
(b) Briefly describe the classical models of ethnic and linguistic classification of Indian population. Discuss its relevance today. 15 marks
(c) Discuss the problems faced by religious minorities in India. 15 marks

3.(a) Discuss how constitutional provisions in India have built-in mechanisms for dealing with the problem of land alienation in tribal areas. 20 marks
(b) Discuss the impact of Hinduism on the status of tribal women in Central India. 15 marks
(c) Describe the paleoanthropological fossil finds from Siwalik hills. Examine the contribution of Siwalik fossils to paleoanthropological knowledge. 15 marks

4.(a) Critically examine the concept of communalism and its relevance for multireligious and multiethnic polity of India. 20 marks
(b) Examine in detail the role of anthropology in planning for tribal development. 15 marks
(c) Critically compare 'Affirmative Action' of USA and 'Protective Discrimination' for Scheduled Tribes in India. 15 marks

SECTION-B

5. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : 10x5=50 marks

(a) Prehistoric Rock Art of Central India
(b) Islam and Matriliny
(c) Socioeconomic characteristics of shifting cultivator
(d) Elwin-Ghurye Debate on Tribes
(e) Role of Governor in Fifth Schedule Areas

6.(a) Examine the contribution of village studies towards the understanding of Indian social system. 20 marks
(b) Discuss the impact of globalization on village economy in India. 15 marks
(c) Discuss the significance of Harappan Civilization sites from India. 15 marks

7.(a) Recently non-government organizations have been critiqued for interfering with developmental process in tribal heartland ! Critically comment. 20 marks
(b) Discuss the nature of social change in tribal India under the impact of developmental programmes. 15 marks
(c) Discuss the contribution of M. N. Srinivas to the study of Indian society. Examine the influence of British social anthropologists on his ideas. 15 marks

8.(a) What do you understand by dynamics of caste mobility? How did the concept of Sanskritization contribute to its functionality? 20 marks
(b) Critically examine the concept of tribe-caste continuum and its relevance in contemporary India. 15 marks
(c) Discuss the sociocultural, economic and psychological constraints responsible for low literacy in tribal areas. 15 marks