Here are all 58 Emergence, Growth and Development of Anthropology in India questions asked in UPSC Anthropology Optional Paper II from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 2 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.
Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.
4.1] Contributions of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century scholar-administrators
13 questions
Assess the contribution of colonial scholars in studying the tribal populations of North-East India. [2026/20m/7a]
Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy. [2024/15m/2c]
Write a short note on: Contribution of Robert Bruce Foote to Indian Archaeology. [2020/10m/150w/1a]
Write about the role of colonial administration in the development of Anthropology in India. [2019/15m/7b]
Write a short note on: Contribution of H. H. Risley to the ‘Aryan’ debate. [2014/10m/150w/1e]
Assess the contributions of early 20th century ethnographic tradition to Indian anthropology. [2013/15m/250w/7b]
Trace the trajectory of encyclopaedic works on tribes and castes of South India with special reference to Ananthakrishna Iyer’s contribution. [2012/20m/2a]
Compare the contributions of S. C. Roy and Verrier Elwin to tribal ethnographies in India. [2012/20m/4a]
Write a short note on: Colonial Ethnography. [2012/12m/150w/5a]
Assess the contribution of Verrier Elwin to Indian anthropology. [2011/15m/8c]
Write a short note on: Initial period of Tribal Studies in India. [2006/20m/R2]
Critically examine the contributions of some of the British scholar administrators to Indian anthropology. [2002/60m/R9]
Write a short note on: V. Elwin and his contributions. [1998/20m/200w/5d]
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45 questions
Write a short note on: Kumar Suresh Singh’s contribution in studying tribal movements. [2026/10m/150w/1e]
Write a short note on: Contribution of L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer in Anthropology. [2026/10m/150w/5e]
Make a critical appraisal of Surajit Sinha’s line of argument that tribes and castes may not be isolated social categories, but are a part of the great Indian civilization. [2026/20m/8a]
Highlight the significant contributions of B. S. Guha, Irawati Karve and S. R. K. Chopra to Indian Anthropology. [2025/15m/3c]
Deconstruct the colonial history of Indian Anthropology highlighting the critical role played by the Indian Anthropologists in sustaining its autonomy. [2024/15m/2c]
Compare and contrast the approaches of M. N. Srinivas and L. P. Vidyarthi to social change in village India. [2024/15m/3b]
Write a short note on: B. K. Roy Burman’s concept of ‘Buffer Zone’ [2024/10m/150w/5a]
Discuss the contribution of P. K. Bhowmick in decriminalising the status of the Lodha tribe. [2024/15m/6c]
“Tribes are backward Hindus.” Critically comment with reference to the contributions of G. S. Ghurye. [2023/20m/2a]
Critically evaluate the contributions of S. C. Roy to Indian anthropology. [2023/15m/8b]
Illustrate the contribution of Irawati Karve to Indian Anthropology. Make a special mention of her literary contribution. [2022/20m/2a]
Assess the contributions of S. C. Dube in Indian village studies. [2022/15m/3b]
Discuss the views of G. S. Ghurye and Verrier Elwin on the approach towards tribal populations. What are the policies of the Government of India towards Indian tribal populations? [2022/20m/7a]
Examine the contributions of S. C. Roy in highlighting the role of customary laws in tribal life. [2021/15m/3b]
Discuss the contributions of N. K. Bose in understanding tribal communities and their place in Indian civilization. [2021/20m/4a]
Write a short note on: Contribution of K. S. Singh to Indian Anthropology. [2020/10m/150w/1c]
Discuss the contribution of V. N. Misra to Archaeological Anthropology in India. [2020/15m/2b]
Give an account of the contributions of Iravati Karve and B. S. Guha to the analysis of race and caste in India. [2019/20m/4a]
Discuss the contribution of S. C. Roy in the study of tribal cultures in India. [2018/15m/6b]
Critically examine the contributions of Makhan Jha and B. N. Saraswati to the study of sacred complexes in India. [2018/20m/7a]
Discuss the contribution of Nirmal Kumar Bose to the understanding of Indian society. [2017/20m/2a]
Write about the contribution made by Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf to tribal anthropology in India. [2016/20m/2a]
Compare the contribution of L. P. Vidyarthi and D. N. Majumdar to the study of Indian tribes. [2016/15m/4c]
Write a short note on: Elwin-Ghurye Debate on Tribes. [2015/10m/150w/5d]
Discuss the contribution of M. N. Srinivas to study of Indian society. Examine the influence of British social anthropologists on his ideas. [2015/15m/7c]
Discuss the contributions of S. C. Roy to understanding the tribes of India. [2014/20m/4a]
Examine the anthropological contributions dealing with tribes and Indian civilization. [2013/25m/375w/3a]
Discuss the contributions of H. D. Sankalia to prehistoric anthropology in India. [2013/20m/250w/4c]
Discuss the criticism levelled against anthropology in the context of ‘Isolation and assimilation debate’ on tribal populations. [2013/20m/250w/7a]
Trace the trajectory of encyclopaedic works on tribes and castes of South India with special reference to Ananthakrishna Iyer’s contribution. [2012/20m/2a]
Compare the contributions of S. C. Roy and Verrier Elwin to tribal ethnographies in India. [2012/20m/4a]
Critically examine the ‘book view’ and the ‘field view’ of social reality. [2012/20m/8a]
Evaluate the contribution of American anthropologists to Indian anthropology. [2011/30m/3b]
Discuss the contributions of S. C. Dube towards the understanding of the Indian village. [2010/15m/3c]
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. [2010/30m/4a]
Write a brief note on the contributions of Prof. L. P. Vidyarthi in the field of anthropology. [2009/20m/2b]
Highlight the contributions of Indian anthropologists in the understanding of tribal life. [2007/60m/R9]
Briefly discuss the contribution of Indian anthropologists during 20th century. [2006/60m/R10]
Write a short note on: N.K. Bose’s contribution to Indian Anthropology. [2006/20m/R5]
Give an account of the contributions of Indian scholars in the growth and development of Anthropology in India in early 20th century. [2005/60m/R10]
Write a short note on: K.S. Singh’s project on the People of India. [2002/20m/R3]
Write a short note on: S.C. Roy’s contributions to anthropology. [2001/20m/R4]
Assess the growth and development of Anthropology in India. Illustrate the contributions of early twentieth century Anthropologists in Tribal and Caste studies. [1997/60m/3]
Estimate the contributions of S.C. Roy in the field of ethnography and his influence on the growth of Anthropology in India. [1996/60m/R10]
Discuss the major contributions of von Furer-Haimendorf to Indian Anthropology. [1995/60m/R10]
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Last updated: 30 October 2026