Trends in Asking question in Anthropology Optional

In comparison to the previous question papers, the trend in asking questions has changed in the 2020 paper. For example, in paper -1 the topics are as follows:
1. Natufian culture,
2. Goodall’s contribution in studying primate behavior,
3. Ethics and genetic engineering etc
These questions are asked within the purview of the syllabus. These questions are covered in the standard textbooks (for reference books visit website https://drgvranthrocivils.com/blogs/anthropology-books- for-upsc ). Thus, the aspirants are advised to update the following contemporary topics in addition to the traditional topics mentioned in the syllabus.
1. What do the four fields of anthropology have in common?
2. Difference between applied and practicing anthropology?
3. Bio-cultural approach in biological anthropology
4. Impact of globalization on marriage, family, and kinship
5. New reproductive technology and kinship relations
6. Economic development and social change
7. Reflexive ethnography, multi-sited ethnography, collaborative ethnography, and applied ethnography
8. Extended case study and participatory action research
9. Importance of primate studies in biological anthropology
10. New frontiers in molecular anthropology – Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Human Genome Project and Human Genome Diversity Project, Ancient DNA and Mitochondrial DNA.
In paper -2 (2020), there is a question on the contribution of K.S Singh to Indian Anthropology. He was a Director-General of the Anthropological Survey of India. He was an Indian Administrative Officer. Basically, he was a historian. He published the books like Tribal Situation in India, Tribal Movements in India, etc. In addition, he started the ‘People of India’ project in the 1980s. I worked under him in connection with this project. This is a landmark in the field of Indian Anthropology. The aspirants are advised to prepare the contributions of other Indian anthropologists like Gopala Sarana, Aiyappan, Leela Dubey, Veena Das, etc.
Specifically, while preparing a topic like displacement and rehabilitation, the aspirants have to prepare holistically like displacement due to dams, national parks, mining activities including case studies studied by famous Indian anthropologists like Parasuraman, L.K Mahapatra, S.M. Patnaik, Hari Mohan
Mathur etc. In addition, focus on the topics like the impact of displacement on tribal women, health and nutritional impacts of resettlement and the impact of globalization on resettlement and rehabilitation in India. Thus, each tribal problem should be prepared holistically.

Dr. G.V. Ramana, Ph.D. in Anthropology

Mobile - 9493416211

email - drgvranthrocivils@gmail.com