Analysis – Anthropology Paper I, 2025
Section A – Q1(a) to Q1(e)
Q1(a) Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits → A direct hit from syllabus and PYQs. Straightforward genetics answer.
Q1(b) Purum kinship system → Manageable. Even without detail, linking it to Indian ethnography (Iravati Karve’s kinship zones) and alliance theory (Lévi-Strauss) can secure ~4 marks.
Q1(c) Osteodontokeratic culture → Direct hit from prehistoric archaeology (PYQ).
Q1(d) Smell as a signal among non-human primates → From Unit 1.5: Primates. Evolutionary role + social signalling examples (territoriality, mating) suffice for ~3.5 marks.
Q1(e) Culture and embodiment → A word-play question. Reading “embodiment” as culture in active form (symbols, ritual, postmodern views) and citing Mauss, Bourdieu, Csordas fetches ~3.5 marks.
10 markers are tougher this year: less direct, more interpretive. But each can be attempted with basic anthropological sense + PYQ orientation.
Section B – Q5(a) to Q5(e)
Q5(a) Multispecies, multi-sited, critical ethnography → Demands awareness of recent ethnographic trends. Not everyone is updated, but tracing ethnography’s evolution and mentioning Appadurai, Anna Tsing, etc. gives ~3 marks.
Q5(b) Evolutionary significance of menopause → Direct syllabus hit.
Q5(c) Fission track dating method → Moderate. Even if you forget details, invoking nuclear fission, U-238, dating range, and archaeological application secures ~3 marks.
Q5(d) Mitochondrial DNA & human evolution → Direct hit. Neanderthal admixture, African origin debates.
Q5(e) Fetal origin of adult diseases (Barker hypothesis) → Difficult if unprepared. Still, general points—nutrition, stress, epigenetics—can fill an answer script decently.
Section B compulsory short notes are heavier on contemporary developments—a clear signal UPSC wants awareness of ongoing debates in anthropology.
Set 2 (Q2) – Good pick.
2(a) is a direct hit and even if you didnt study it, everyone has knowledge about dryopithecus, and from Paleo in Paper-2 you must have learnt Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus. YES, that is the answer.
2(b) Symbolic anthropology (Geertz vs Turner) is a direct PYQ.
2(c) is a twisted version of PYQ, "Bio-cultural approach is the hallmark of biological anthropology"
Set 3 (Q3) – Mixed difficulty.
Q3(a): Pedigree vs genealogical analysis → scattered topics (methods + applications).
Q3(b): Science–humanities bridge → moderately tough, needs breadth (theory + applied).
Q3(c): Mousterian tools → easy direct hit.
Set 4 (Q4) – Dream set.
Q4(a): Anthropology as multidimensional discipline → can be written from Unit 1.1 + Unit 1.3.
Q4(b): Mousterian tradition → easy, direct.
Q4(c): Frazer → Golden Bough + stages of religion.
Set 6 (Q6) – Another dream set.
Q6(a): Genetic markers → PYQ (2013).
Q6(b): Biological anthropology becoming more scientific → direct syllabus hit.
Q6(c): Linguistic anthropology perspectives → PYQ + syllabus (Sapir–Whorf, Hymes, semiotics).
Set 7 (Q7) – Moderate.
Q7(a): Linguistic anthropology + thought → requires interlinking (Units 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 6).
Q7(b): Neolithic revolution, Childe must be mentioned.
Q7(c): African origin → PYQ framing, comparing Out of Africa vs Multiregional.
Set 8 (Q8) – Risky.
Q8(a): Postmodernism & social justice → direct and simple.
Q8(b): GWAS → specific, tough.
Q8(c): Forensic anthropology → easy PYQ (2019).
Best picks: Set 2 + Set 4 + Set 6. These combine PYQ familiarity, direct syllabus links, and manageable difficulty.
Section A – Q1(a) to Q1(e)
Q1(a) Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits → A direct hit from syllabus and PYQs. Straightforward genetics answer.
Q1(b) Purum kinship system → Manageable. Even without detail, linking it to Indian ethnography (Iravati Karve’s kinship zones) and alliance theory (Lévi-Strauss) can secure ~4 marks.
Q1(c) Osteodontokeratic culture → Direct hit from prehistoric archaeology (PYQ).
Q1(d) Smell as a signal among non-human primates → From Unit 1.5: Primates. Evolutionary role + social signalling examples (territoriality, mating) suffice for ~3.5 marks.
Q1(e) Culture and embodiment → A word-play question. Reading “embodiment” as culture in active form (symbols, ritual, postmodern views) and citing Mauss, Bourdieu, Csordas fetches ~3.5 marks.
10 markers are tougher this year: less direct, more interpretive. But each can be attempted with basic anthropological sense + PYQ orientation.
Section B – Q5(a) to Q5(e)
Q5(a) Multispecies, multi-sited, critical ethnography → Demands awareness of recent ethnographic trends. Not everyone is updated, but tracing ethnography’s evolution and mentioning Appadurai, Anna Tsing, etc. gives ~3 marks.
Q5(b) Evolutionary significance of menopause → Direct syllabus hit.
Q5(c) Fission track dating method → Moderate. Even if you forget details, invoking nuclear fission, U-238, dating range, and archaeological application secures ~3 marks.
Q5(d) Mitochondrial DNA & human evolution → Direct hit. Neanderthal admixture, African origin debates.
Q5(e) Fetal origin of adult diseases (Barker hypothesis) → Difficult if unprepared. Still, general points—nutrition, stress, epigenetics—can fill an answer script decently.
Section B compulsory short notes are heavier on contemporary developments—a clear signal UPSC wants awareness of ongoing debates in anthropology.
Set 2 (Q2) – Good pick.
2(a) is a direct hit and even if you didnt study it, everyone has knowledge about dryopithecus, and from Paleo in Paper-2 you must have learnt Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus. YES, that is the answer.
2(b) Symbolic anthropology (Geertz vs Turner) is a direct PYQ.
2(c) is a twisted version of PYQ, "Bio-cultural approach is the hallmark of biological anthropology"
Set 3 (Q3) – Mixed difficulty.
Q3(a): Pedigree vs genealogical analysis → scattered topics (methods + applications).
Q3(b): Science–humanities bridge → moderately tough, needs breadth (theory + applied).
Q3(c): Mousterian tools → easy direct hit.
Set 4 (Q4) – Dream set.
Q4(a): Anthropology as multidimensional discipline → can be written from Unit 1.1 + Unit 1.3.
Q4(b): Mousterian tradition → easy, direct.
Q4(c): Frazer → Golden Bough + stages of religion.
Set 6 (Q6) – Another dream set.
Q6(a): Genetic markers → PYQ (2013).
Q6(b): Biological anthropology becoming more scientific → direct syllabus hit.
Q6(c): Linguistic anthropology perspectives → PYQ + syllabus (Sapir–Whorf, Hymes, semiotics).
Set 7 (Q7) – Moderate.
Q7(a): Linguistic anthropology + thought → requires interlinking (Units 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 6).
Q7(b): Neolithic revolution, Childe must be mentioned.
Q7(c): African origin → PYQ framing, comparing Out of Africa vs Multiregional.
Set 8 (Q8) – Risky.
Q8(a): Postmodernism & social justice → direct and simple.
Q8(b): GWAS → specific, tough.
Q8(c): Forensic anthropology → easy PYQ (2019).
Best picks: Set 2 + Set 4 + Set 6. These combine PYQ familiarity, direct syllabus links, and manageable difficulty.