UPSC Anthropology Optional
The Story Behind These Notes
These notes have been on a long journey, and I’m thrilled to finally share them with you.
My preparation for the Anthropology optional began during my undergraduate years in life science. It was a time of immense curiosity, and I started creating these notes by synthesizing information from a wide array of sources: core anthropological textbooks, UPSC-specific resources, and the invaluable notes of previous toppers. To keep them relevant, I diligently integrated dynamic case studies and examples from publications like The Hindu, Down To Earth, Economic and Political Weekly (EPW), and various academic journals.
Later, when I pursued my Master’s in Anthropology, these notes evolved with me. They were enriched with deeper academic insights from classroom discussions and scholarly readings, adding a layer of conceptual clarity.
Life has since led me on a different path, towards a PhD in Neuroscience, and my UPSC journey was paused. For years, I held onto the desire to share these notes, but I always wanted to refine them first—to polish the language and perfect the structure. However, the perfect time never seemed to arrive.
After receiving continuous requests and sharing them with a few aspirants who gave encouraging feedback, I realized that these notes, even in their raw form, could be of immense help. To wait for perfection would be to never share them at all.
So, here they are, in their original, raw format. I have tried my best to ensure they are authentic and accurate, but as with any comprehensive effort, some errors may persist. They are a product of a specific time in my journey, and I offer them in the hope that they will be a valuable tool in yours.
Paper 1: Foundational Anthropology
This section covers the core concepts of Anthropology, including Social-Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, and Anthropological Theories.
Social Anthropology
- 1.1: Meaning, Scope, and Development of Anthropology
- 1.2: Relationship With Other Disciplines
- 1.3: Main Branch Of Anthropology, Scope & Relevance
- 2.1: The Nature of Culture
- 2.2: The Nature of Society
- 2.3: Marriage
- 2.4: Family
- 2.5: Kinship
- 3.0: Economic Organisation
- 4.0: Political Organisation and Social Control
- 5.0: Religion
- 6.0: Anthropological Theories
- 7.0: Culture, Language, and Communication
- 8.0: Research Methods in Anthropology
Physical Anthropology
- 1.4: Human Evolution and Emergence of Man
- 1.5: Characteristics of Primates
- 1.6: Phylogenetic Status, Characteristics, and Geographical Distribution of Human Fossils
- 1.7: The Biological Basis of Life
- 9.1: Human Genetics—Method & Application
- 9.2: Mendelian Genetics & Related Concepts
- 9.3: Concept of Polymorphism & Selection, Mendelian Population
- 9.4: Chromosome & Chromosomal Aberrations in Man
- 9.5: Race & Racism, Biological Basis of Morphological Variation of Characters
- 9.6: Genetic Markers & Physiological Characteristics
- 9.7: Ecological Anthropology
- 9.8: Epidemiological Anthropology
Archaeological Anthropology
Paper 2: Indian Anthropology
This section focuses on the application of anthropological concepts to Indian society, covering topics like the caste system, tribal India, and contributions of Indian anthropologists.
- 1.1: Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization
- 1.1: Contribution of Tribal Culture to Indian Civilization
- 1.1: Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology
- 1.2: Paleo-Anthropological Evidence From India with Special Reference to Siwaliks & Narmada Basin
- 1.3: Ethno-Archeology in India
- 2.0: Demographic Profile of India
A Quick Note on Updates: This library is a living project. I will be adding notes for each syllabus topic gradually as I get the time to format and upload them. Thank you for your patience as we build this comprehensive resource together. Please check back regularly for new additions!