Note: I’ve published a total of 3 blog posts on Anthropology. The first article primarily talks about my booklist and the basic approach I followed. The second discusses topic wise detailed plan for Paper I. This is the third and final one among the series, and it deals with topic wise detailed plan for Anthro Paper II.
A Bison Horn Maria from Bastar in his traditional attire
1.1 – Indian Prehistory, Indus Civilisation, Contribution of tribal cultures, etc.
- Primary Source: Indian Anthropology Nadeem Hasnain
- Value addition: DK Bhattacharya (Selective Reading only for this topic)
- Diagrams: Anthropology Simplified by Vivek Bhasme
- Prepare notes for each topic under various subheads
- Climate
- Tools, Tool-types, Tool-technology, Tool material
- Practice the diagrams of tools
- Prominent sites, their excavators, any uniqueness in the sites, etc.
- Draw India map and locate the sites in all your answers
- For the sub-topic “Contribution of Tribal Cultures”, I referred to Anthropology Simplified
1.2 – Indian Fossils
- Prepare notes for a comprehensive 15 marker on Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man
- For all answers, you should quote the archaeologist name, the site and the year of discovery and its significance
- Draw a phylogenetic to illustrate where that particular fossil fits in the whole chain
1.3 – Ethno-archaeology in India
- I skipped this topic for lack of time
2 – Demographic and Linguistic Profile
- Source: Nadeem Hasnain and Brain Tree
- Thoroughly prepare map of profile distribution – both ethnic and linguistic
- Cram Risley’s and Guha’s Classification i.e., memorise the physical characteristics and other features of each of the race they described. Also prepare on criticism of their classification. Basically you need to have holistic content for a 15 marker question from this section
3.1 – Indian Social System- Varnashram, Karma, Rina, Rebirth etc.
- Core material: Indian Anthropology by Hasnain
- You can refer to Anthropology Simplified for diagrams/schematics and value addition
3.2 – Caste system in India, Varna and Caste, Theories, Caste Mobility, Dominant Caste etc
- Indian Anthropology by Hasnain and Internet to understand about Sociology theories little more deeply
- You can prepare notes for easy revision. It’s a static part and so if a question comes from this section, you must answer well.
- Have a solid grip over the works of MN Srinivas, Ghurye, Louis Dumont and other sociologists. Use internet to make in-depth notes.
- When discussing a concept, always remember to quote the relevant anthropologist name, tribe’s name, village name, and the name of their publication. Eg: Wiser’s work on Jajmani system, Bailey’s on Tribe-caste continuum etc. Also mention scholarly criticism of that concept by other anthropologists etc. You must answer like a specialist, not a generalist.
- Write about contemporary relevance of these social systems in Indian Society with examples to substantiate the concept.
3.3 Sacred Complex, Nature Man Spirit
- Indian Anthropology by Hasnain
- Also mention about BN Saraswati’s work. You can use internet for getting details
- Link it to contemporary relevance too. Mention how when tribes that get displaced the balance inherent between NMS get disturbed.
- Use schematic to improve presentation.
3.4 – Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian Society
- Indian Anthropology – Nadeem Hasnain.
- Anthropology Simplified – Vivek Bhasme
- This is a static part. Prepare comprehensive notes for a 15 marker.
4 – Emergence and growth of Anthro in India, Contributions, etc.
- I completely relied on Anthropology Simplified for this topic
- Cramm important Anthropologists and their work
5.1 – Indian Village Studies etc.
- I did not find any concrete material for this topic. I prepared very basic stuff from BrainTree.
- Apart from it, wherever relevant I used to quote important village studies of major anthropologists like Redfield and interlink with the concepts that emerged out of their studies.
- Also prepare scholarly criticisms of these concepts. Adding a brief line or two about the relevance of these studies on contemporary Indian society would enrich your answer.
5.2 – Linguistic and religious minorities etc.
- Prepared completely from Anthropology Simplified
- Wherever relevant quote Constitutional provisions regarding minorities
- Give some contemporary relevance. For instance, when you talk about any minority community, try and quote any govt scheme specifically designed to benefit the community and its evaluation.
5.3 – Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change Sanskritization etc..
- Indian Anthropology by Nadeem Hasnain + Anthropology Simplified
- Use schematic/diagrams to improve presentation (Eg: Interplay between GT and LT)
- For Panchayati Raj and Social Change, Media and social change etc., use internet to prepare case studies
6.1 – Tribal Situation in India – bio-genetic variability etc.
- Tribal India by Nadeem Hasnain
6.2 and 6.3 – Tribal Problems
- Tribal India + Anthropology Simplified
- Prepare notes from Xaxa report to enrich your answers
- Always be mindful of being specific. Don’t just say tribes are afflicted with ill-health and indebtedness. Tell the examiner which specific tribe suffers from which problem, its underlying cause, latest statistics, govt schemes, criticisms, and way forward. Quote relevant case studies with separate side heading to draw examiner’s attention.
7.1 – Problems of SC/STs, OBCs etc, Constitutional Safeguards
- Tribal India + Anthropology Simplified
- Memorize all the Constitutional safeguards, articles, etc.
- Xaxa report has excellent content for this topic.
7.2 – Social change and contemporary tribal societies
- Source: Hasnain’s Tribal India
- The problem with this topic is that the questions would be very generic. The challenge is to make your write answers that stand out.
- You can do this through value addition. Memorize tribal examples, case studies and explain the specificity of the problem of a certain tribe and how it was/is being impacted by development. For instance, some tribes suffer from ill health while others from outright displacement. Be specific when you quote your examples. That’s how you make a mark on the examiner’s mind.
- Suggest a good way forward as conclusion (Xaxa committee report has many good recommendations)
7.3 – Ethnicity, Tribal Unrest, Regionalism, etc
- I prepared this topic from Tribal India and Anthropology Simplified
8.1 – Impact of religions on tribes
- I prepared this topic from LP Vidyarthi’s The Tribal Culture of India
- Value addition: Tribal India – Nadeem Hasnain
- Cram examples and case studies
8.2 – Tribe and nation state
- I skipped it for lack of time
9.1 – History of tribal administration, PVTGs, role of NGOs etc.
- I prepared this topic from Tribal India and Xaxa report.
- Names of important PVTGs, how they are defined, their location, specific problems, current statistics, govt schemes related to them must be on your finger tips. Have a rough idea of which PVTGs reside in which part of the country. Wherever relevant, draw India map to illustrate.
- Value addition: Yojana 2014 edition on Tribals
- Watch out for latest news/legislations related to PVTGs and quote them in your answers. PRS website is a good resource.
- Use internet for understanding about important NGOs doing work in this sector
9.2 – Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development
- Tribal India + Anthropology Simplified
- Value addition: Yojana 2014 edition on Tribals
- Write about Action Anthropology content of Paper I and the thinkers associated with it. Enrich your answer with examples and case studies in Indian context
9.3 – Contribution of Anthro to understanding of regionalism, etc.
- Prepare a generic GS answer on each topic.
- Quote examples of regionalism and ethnic movements (you can give any tribal movement as an example) and underlying causes
- Way forward as conclusion
Endnote: In Anthro Paper II, you can inculcate the following things to NOT make your write up look like a GS answer.
- Always quote names of relevant anthropologists, their publication, tribe/village name on which they worked etc
- Have compilation of case studies (can be sourced from Xaxa report)
- Interlinkage with theories of Paper-I
- Contemporary relevance of the question and link it with current affairs
- Use diagrams/Schematics for better presentation.
My best wishes.
Note: My book, Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is an Amazon bestseller. Since its release, the book helped countless candidates master the art of crafting exceptional essays and answers and elevate their performance in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here.
Simply superb Anna..??
Thanks alot for strategy.I’m waiting for ur nxt update sir
Plz GS3 strategy Shere cheyandi ..
Thanks once again sir.
I published my article on GS: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/how-to-conquer-gs-in-upsc-mains-explained/
Hello sir..could u pls tell me..which book of Indian anthropology by Nadeem sir has to be read..as there are two or more books available by this name?
Did you find the answer to your query? If yes, plz share it with me.
Indian Anthropology by Nadeem Hasnain
Tribal India by Nadeem Hasnain
Sir can u plc help me in my optional hw I started and hw I do
Can you guide me on answer writing strategy for anthro?
And best institute for test series for this, if it is necessary?
sir please post on gs strategy
See: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/how-to-conquer-gs-in-upsc-mains-explained/
Sir, I have read almost all your blogs from this site. I am a new aspirant, a Physics Graduate of this year, preparing for UPSC for about 4+ months. Since I am from Bengal, a place with no reliable CSE coaching (to my knowledge). TIll now I’ve just covered the basics. My 3 months actually took to understand the syllabus and system only. But, internet is my only gateway to mentor-ship. Though I started with Physics Optional, after conscientious consideration I decided to go for Anthropology(and It’s a super-interesting subject!). Your Guidance was Super-efficient and helpful.
Sir I have this one question: People here keep telling me I can’t do it from Bengal and I must go to Delhi. But, It’s tough for me to reach Delhi this year but, I want to really crack it in this attempt, If get the direction I’ll try my best to pave the way. Is my vision too childish?
I would appreciate your answer very much.
Thank You Sir & Pranam.
Where are you from in Bengal . I’m also from Bengal and prepare for cse … I’m fron nadia district
Do smart study with your hard work.. no need to go to Delhi. You will lost many times in coaching centre. If needs coaching then take online and save your time.. your success will make noise and don’t hear others.
Thank you very much. Waiting eagerly for general studies strategy.
Thanks Anna for sharing your strategy.
I live in Jharkhand and most of the books of either Paper 1 or 2 aren’t available here.
So need to buy these books online.
Can you plz tell the book prices of both Paper 1 & 2 so that I could know if I’m not paying more than required.
You can just check them across various websites.
Thanks for replying, Anna.
The Braintree material for Opt-1, I guess, belongs to an institute. Can i get it online via authenticate source?
I’ve searched it on net and somehow the price that its showing is way too much.
I’m unsure whether it is genuine price.
it’s available online , go a google search or search on telegram , you will get the pdf.
thanks anna
Thank you.
Sir at the end parts u have quoted Tribal India as the referred book. Is that Tribal India by Nadeem Hasnein?
Tnq u so much sir,I got the clarity regarding preparing and notes making
Thanks!
Sir may I kñow someone with chemistry as optional
“You must answer like a specialist, not a generalist.”- so true and an oft quoted comment of all Anthroplogy mastering dudes of Malinowski community(participant observation is my task here as well in reading this specific article).Great,Sir.Thank you?
Thank you.
Thank you so much sir for all the three articles on Anthropology.Along with syllabus and PYQs , your posts became a part of my preparation.
Thanks and good luck!
Hi Sir,
You are awesome. Thank you so much.
Could you please answer my few questions.
1) How come you got less marks in paper 2 compared to paper 1? What can be the possible reasons? OR how did you got better marks in p1 compared to p2?
2) How many questions did you attempt (fully and partially) in both the paper?
3) approx number of revisions you did? I’m asking because I’m forgetting things.
Thank you!
1. I skipped Ethno-archaeology topic (as I mentioned in the post above) thinking that if UPSC asks this question, I would leave it under choice. But as luck would have it, they asked that precise question in 1d which was compulsory. I had to leave it blank. Also, I forgot to revise Austro-asiatic linguistic groups and their features, so messed up that answer completely. These 20 marks must have made the difference between me getting 147 and 160. And regarding Paper-1, I loved reading it. It was my strong area and attempted as many Physical Anthro questions I could. They helped me score 171.
2. Attempted for 250 marks in P-1 (full, on the dot); 240 in P-2 (230 full, 10 marks vague, partial answer for Q 1b, 10 marks left blank – Q 1d)
3. Four, I think. But for some factual topics such as Chromosomal disorders, names of tribes etc I had to revise over and over to memorise them.
Sir your story is a great inspiration and congrats on your success …….can you please upload the book list for mains
See: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/how-to-conquer-gs-in-upsc-mains-explained/
Anudeep …….inspiring personality
Thank u sir this was really helpful,…sir plz share which focus Android app u were saying to increase the concentration while u were in seminar in Hyderabad
This was the app I was talking about: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cc.forestapp&hl=en_IN
There are many similar to this. You can choose any as per your liking.
I wish your optional was Sociology. 😀
Hahaha. Favourite comment here. 😀
Sir
What about Public Administration
As u have first that
Hehe.. 😀
‘Best’ and ‘Favourite’ comment tags 😀
Wish I could add these as my achievements 😛
Thank you sir 🙂
Anna, Whether We Have to Start Preparing Paper 1 and Paper 2 Simultaneously Or Separatly ?
Finish Paper -I first before starting Paper-II
Thank you for this clarity
Sir, how did you finish all that starting from January.
Can you please suggest some timeframe references.
Sure sir.. Thnk god u are there for help❤
Congratulations sir!?..
Thank you so much for detailing the entire strategy for GS mains and Anthropology..
It is very very helpful for most of aspirants like me.. Hats off for your Great efforts sir..
Your notes became part of my preparation.. Can you please provide your notes for Anthropology for which I am eagerly waiting about..
Thank you sir!
I did not have the time to make notes for Anthropology. I read and revised directly from the books mentioned above.
Hello sir…what would be better …to study optional along with gs from starting of preparation days or to study first all gs papers and then the optional
Either way is fine as long as you finish them both before the exam, leaving ample space and time for revision.
As for me, I read both optional and GS simultaneously.
Sir, Can you please show us how to make notes for optional or isn’t necessary at all? If you made any notes, please upload it.
I did not have the time to make notes for Anthropology. I read and revised directly from the books mentioned above.
And Still people says “Immortals doesn’t Exist”
Hi sir, As u did for gs y dont u post u r hand written notes for anthropology.. pls sir it will help us a lot.. pls..
Sir, can you please upload the diagrams particularly for archaeology. Thank you in advance.
Didn’t maintain any particular book for diagrams. Just practised them on rough papers which I haven’t preserved.
Hii anna how to prepare essay topic
Can you tell me the strategy
Thank you so much Sir, am very thankful for you
Sir. is it compulsory to read the NCERT’s for Biology?
No.
Hello Sir, Should one read the Brain Tree Material for Paper 2 also?
Thank you sir for your precious guidance…will follow thoroughly…. Warm Regards.
sir from where i can prepare case studies for paper 2..?
Hii anna .cant able to manage static and dynamic part simultaneously. Can u say how did u managed to read them parllely(anna konchem meru first upsc preparation stage lo ela manage chesaro cheppagalara?).what sources did u followed for CA?
I got clarity regarding books but as i never ever studied anthro and i m good in biology in my 12th class.So i m thinking about this as optional.
1. I am confused about it to pursue as my optional as never studied earlier.Give your suggestions plz.
2. Whether these books will suffice to cover all topics or any coaching notes needed?
Sir i want to ask that coaching for anthro is necessary for getting concept clarity or is it easy to understand topics at home after studying?