1. General Growth & Development of Indian Anthropology

This category includes broad, essay-style questions about the overall trajectory and features of anthropology in India.

• Write an essay on the growth of Anthropology in India. (1985)
• Briefly describe the highpoints in the growth of Indian anthropology. (1987)
• Write a note on Distinctive features in the growth of Indian Anthropology. (1992)
• Give a brief summary on the growth of Indian Anthropology indicating the factors responsible and the results achieved. (1994)
• Assess the growth and development of Anthropology in India. Illustrate the contributions of early twentieth century Anthropologists in Tribal and Caste studies. (1997)
• Give an account of the contributions of Indian scholars in the growth and development of Anthropology in India in early 20th century. (2005)
• Briefly discuss the contribution of Indian anthropologists during 20th century. (2006)

2. Colonial Period & Scholar-Administrators

This section focuses on the 18th, 19th, and early 20th-century figures, including British administrators and other foreign scholars.

• Critically examine the contributions of some of the British scholar administrators to Indian anthropology. (2002)
• Evaluate the contribution of American anthropologists to Indian anthropology. (2011)
• Trace the trajectory of encyclopaedic work on tribes and castes of South India With special reference to Ananthakrishna Iyer’s contribution. (2012)
• Write a note in 150 words on Contribution of H. H. Risley to the Aryan’ debate. (2014)
• Write about the contribution made by Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf to tribal anthropology in India. (1995 & 2016)
• Examine the colonial administrators view that Indian villages can be considered as ‘little republics’. (2018)
• Write about the role of colonial administration in the development of Anthropology in India. (2019)
• Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy. (15M/2024)

3. Contributions of S. C. Roy

As a foundational figure, S.C. Roy is a high-frequency topic.

• Estimate the contributions of S.C. Roy in the field of ethnography and his influence on the growth of Anthropology in India. (1996)
• Write a note on S.C. Roy’s contributions to anthropology. (2001)
• Compare the contributions of S.C. Roy and Verrier Elwin to tribal ethnographies in India. (2012)
• Discuss the contributions of S.C. Roy to understanding the tribes of India. (2014)
• Discuss the contribution of S. C. Roy in the study of tribal cultures in India. (2018)
• Examine the contributions of S.C. Roy in highlighting the role of customary laws in tribal life. (2021)
• Critically evaluate the contributions of S. C. Roy to Indian anthropology. (15M/2023)

4. Contributions of N. K. Bose

• Write a note on N.K. Bose’s contribution to Indian Anthropology. (2006)
• Discuss the contribution of Nirmal Kumar Bose to the understanding of Indian society. (2017)
• Discuss the contributions of N.K. Bose in understanding tribal communities and their place in Indian civilization. (2021)

5. Contributions of Irawati Karve

• Give an account of the contributions of Iravati Karve and B.S. Guha to the analysis of race and caste in India. (2019)
• Illustrate the contribution of Irawati Karve to Indian Anthropology. Make a special mention of her literary contribution. (20M/2022)

6. Other Major Indian Anthropologists & Key Debates

This section covers the diverse contributions of other key figures and famous academic debates.

• Verrier Elwin & D.N. Majumdar: Briefly describe the highpoints in the growth of Indian anthropology and evaluate the contributions made either by D.N. Majumdar or Verrier Elwin. (1987)
• Verrier Elwin: Write a note on V. Elwin and his contributions. (1998)
• Verrier Elwin: Assess the contribution of Verrier Elwin to Indian anthropology. (2011)
• Elwin-Ghurye Debate: Write a note in 150 words on Elwin Ghurye Debate on Tribes. (2015)
• G.S. Ghurye: Tribes are backward Hindus. Critically comment with reference to the contributions of G.S. Ghurye. (20M/2023)
• L. P. Vidyarthi: Write a brief note on the contributions of Prof. L. P. Vidyarthi in the field of anthropology. (2009)
• Vidyarthi & Majumdar: Compare the contribution of L.P. Vidyarthi and D.N. Majumdar to the study of Indian tribes. (2016)
• M.N. Srinivas: Assess the contributions of M.N. Srinivas towards Indian Anthropology in general. Add a note on his understanding in the context of studying social mobility in India. (2010)
• M.N. Srinivas: Discuss the contribution of M.N. Srinivas to the study of Indian society. Examine the influence of British social anthropologists on his ideas. (2015)
• K.S. Singh: Write a note on K.S. Singh’s project on the People of India. (2002)
• K.S. Singh: Write short note on the Contribution of K. S. Singh to Indian Anthropology in about 150 words. (2020)
• S. C. Dube: Assess the contributions of S. C. Dube in Indian village studies. (15M/2022)
• P.K. Bhowmick: Discuss the contribution of P.K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe. (15M/2024)
• B.K. Roy Burman: B.K. Roy Burman’s concept of ‘Buffer Zone’. (10M/2024)
• H. D. Sankalia: Discuss the contributions of H. D. Sankalia to prehistoric anthropology in India. (20 M/2013) (Note: This often fits better with P2 1.1/1.2 but is also a ‘contribution’)

7. General Themes (Tribe, Caste, Peasant, Civilization)

• Discuss the major concept and approaches employed by the Anthropologists in the study of peasant society in India. (1990)
• Critically discuss the major anthropological contributions in the study of Indian tribal population. (1993)
• Write a note on Maler’s perception of the habitat. (1995) (Note: This is a specific ethnography, often linked to L.P. Vidyarthi’s work)
• Highlight the contributions of Indian anthropologists in the understanding of tribal life. (2007)
• Examine anthropological contributions dealing with tribes and Indian civilization. (2013)