Here are all 108 Tribal Situation in India questions asked in UPSC Anthropology Optional Paper II from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 3 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.
6.1] Tribal situation in India
29 questions
Critically examine the concept of Scheduled Tribe (ST) and mention the limitations of administrator’s criteria. [2025/15m/4c]
Describe the nature of traditional socioeconomic interdependence among the Toda, Kota, Kurumba and Irula tribes of Nilgiri Hills. Highlight the changes occurring in these interrelationships. [2025/20m/8a]
Write a short note on: Agricultural practices of the Apatani. [2024/10m/150w/5c]
Discuss the distribution of tribes in different geographical regions of India. Identify the distinct institutional features of tribal societies of these regions. [2023/20m/8a]
Write a short note on: Concept of tribe and Indian census. [2021/10m/150w/5d]
Write a short note on: Distinctive cultural features of tribes of Andaman islands. [2018/10m/150w/1a]
Write a short note on: Youth dormitory as an institution. [2018/10m/150w/5a]
Write a short note on: Tribe and scheduled tribe. [2018/10m/150w/5b]
Compare and contrast the economic typology of tribes given by different anthropologists. [2018/20m/6a]
Bio-genetic variability of Indian tribes. [2016/10m/150w/5b]
Write a short note on: Socio-economic characteristics of shifting cultivators. [2015/10m/150w/5c]
Write a short note on: Biogenetic variations of Indian tribes. [2014/10m/150w/5a]
Write a short note on: Threat to tribal languages in India. [2013/10m/150w/1b]
Write a short note on: Youth Dormitory. [2012/12m/150w/1b]
Write a short note on: Ethical issues in Genetic Research. [2012/12m/150w/5d]
Discuss the linkages between language, territoriality and kinship among the tribes of North-East India. [2012/30m/6b]
Write a short note on: Future of Hunting and Gathering Tribes. [2011/15m/150w/5c]
Discuss the distinctive features of tribes in North-east India. [2011/30m/7b]
“Tribes in India are not a homogeneous group.” Discuss. [2011/30m/8a]
Write a brief note on the linguistic diversity among Indian tribes. [2009/20m/3c]
Do you think that Indian tribes have rich biogenetic variability? Discuss. [2007/60m/R11]
Discuss bio-morphological variation among the tribals of Northeastern India. [2006/60m/R11]
Write a short note on: Key characteristics of the Scheduled Tribes in India. [2006/20m/R6]
Write a short note on: Genetic diversity among Indian tribes. [2005/20m/R6]
Write a short note on: Tribe and peasant similarities and differences. [2003/20m/R4]
Write a short note on: Biogenetic variability in tribal population. [2003/20m/R5]
Write a short note on: Linguistic diversity among the tribes of Chhota Nagpur. [2002/20m/R6]
Write a short note on: Ethnographic profile of a matrilineal tribe in India. [1998/20m/200w/5c]
Write a short note on: Ethnographic profile of a polyandrous tribe. [1996/20m/R1]
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37 questions
Write an account on the prevalence of sickle cell disease among the tribal populations of India. What are the initiatives undertaken by the affected states to tackle with this disease? [2026/15m/6c]
What are the major challenges tribal communities are facing in contemporary India? [2026/15m/8b]
Examine the environmental and biocultural factors influencing the health of tribals of India. [2025/15m/3b]
Write a short note on: Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children. [2024/10m/150w/1e]
Examine the impact of Forest Policies from 1878 to 2006 on land alienation and deprivation of rights of tribal communities in India. [2024/15m/3c]
Critically examine existing paradigms of holistic health for the marginalised sections of society drawing inferences from COVID-19 pandemic. [2024/20m/7a]
Write a short note on: Issues of tribal agricultural labourers. [2022/10m/150w/5b]
Write a short note on: Major problems of nomadic and semi-nomadic groups. [2022/10m/150w/5c]
Elucidate the problems and challenges in educational attainment of the Scheduled Tribes. [2021/15m/4c]
Examine the factors responsible for malnutrition in tribal India and suggest interventions required to overcome the problem. [2021/15m/6b]
Discuss the effect of job reservation in alleviating unemployment among the tribal people of India. [2020/15m/6c]
Elucidate the problems of land alienation among the tribals of India. [2020/15m/8b]
Write a short note on: Issues relating to tribal education. [2019/10m/150w/5d]
What are the salient issues faced by pastoral communities in India? Discuss with suitable examples. [2019/15m/7c]
Write a short note on: Indebtedness among tribal communities. [2017/10m/150w/5a]
Describe the impact of displacement on the health and nutritional status of tribal communities. [2017/20m/6a]
Discuss how constitutional provisions in India have built-in mechanisms for dealing with the problem of land alienation in tribal areas. [2015/20m/3a]
Discuss the socio-cultural, economic and psychological constraints responsible for low literacy in tribal areas. [2015/15m/8c]
Discuss the impact of land alienation on the tribes of Central India. [2014/15m/6b]
Discuss how British policies dispossessed tribals of their communal properties and agricultural lands. [2013/15m/250w/7c]
Write a short note on: Education and health among tribal women. [2010/15m/150w/5a]
Write a short note on: The problem of bonded labour among Indian tribes. [2010/15m/150w/5b]
“Land and forest are the twin problems of the tribes.” Explain. [2010/40m/6a]
Discuss the relevance of traditional wisdom and knowledge of the tribes with reference to health in the present day context. [2010/20m/6b]
Critically examine the various structural constraints in the educational development of Scheduled Tribes. [2010/30m/8a]
Write a short note on: Indebtedness in Tribal communities. [2009/20m/200w/5a]
Discuss the health problems faced by tribal populations in India. Suggest some corrective measures. [2008/60m/6]
Write a short note on: Land Alienation. [2007/20m/R4]
Discuss the factors related to low literacy rate among the tribals of India. Write in brief the measures taken by the government in different five-year plans to eradicate it. [2005/60m/R12]
Write a short note on: Constraints of educational development among the tribals. [2003/20m/R6]
Write a short note on: Land alienation among the tribals. [2003/20m/R7]
Write a short note on: Tribal education in the context of development. [2000/20m/200w/5c]
Write a short note on: Land Alienation in tribal India. [1999/20m/200w/5d]
Bring out, with suitable examples, the constraints of educational development of tribal communities in India. Suggest remedial measures in this context. [1999/60m/7]
Discuss the health and nutritional status of tribal and rural children in India. How far has the government policy been effective? [1998/60m/8]
Distinguish among nutrition, food and diet. Comment on the nutritional status of the tribes with subsistence economy in the form of hunting-gathering, shifting cultivation and settled agriculture in India. [1996/60m/R11]
Describe the socio-cultural factors related to the poor health conditions of the Indian tribal population. Suggest measures for improving these conditions. [1995/60m/R11]
6.3] Development projects, displacement, forest policy and urbanisation
42 questions
Make a critical appraisal of Niyamgiri movement against mining-induced displacement. [2026/15m/4c]
Write a short note on: Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal communities of India. [2025/10m/150w/5a]
Examine the impact of Forest Policies from 1878 to 2006 on land alienation and deprivation of rights of tribal communities in India. [2024/15m/3c]
Custodians of natural resources are the tribals, but they are the most deprived. Critically examine how climate change will impact their survival in future. [2024/20m/6a]
Discuss the economic, social and developmental impacts on tribal communities with special reference to mining. [2024/15m/8c]
Critically examine how the displacement of tribal communities due to hydroelectric river dam projects has affected the women in local context. Illustrate with suitable ethnographic examples. [2023/15m/7b]
Explain how British policies impacted the major resources of the tribals. [2022/15m/6c]
How can a balance be struck between livelihood concern and environmental degradation in the context of shifting cultivation? [2022/15m/8c]
Write a short note on: Urbanization and tribal institutions. [2021/10m/150w/5a]
Discuss the impact of the Forest Rights Act (2006) on the livelihood and culture of tribal people in India. [2021/20m/6a]
Explain the impact of successive Land Acquisition Acts on tribal social organization. [2021/20m/7a]
Discuss the problems involved in rehabilitation and resettlement of tribals displaced due to development projects in India. [2021/15m/7b]
Explain the impact of development-induced displacement among the tribal people in India with suitable examples. [2020/20m/7a]
What has been the impact of development projects on the environment and livelihood of forest-dwelling tribes? [2019/15m/4b]
Examine the advancement made in the land acquisition and rehabilitation Act of 2013 over the land acquisition Act of 1894. [2018/15m/6c]
Discuss the significance and implementation of ‘Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006’. [2018/15m/8c]
Describe the impact of displacement on the health and nutritional status of tribal communities. [2017/20m/6a]
Impact of industrialization on scheduled tribe population of Jharkhand. [2016/10m/150w/5c]
Explain the difficulties experienced by scheduled tribes with regard to implementation of the ‘Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006’. [2016/15m/6c]
Write a short note on: Forest policy and tribes. [2014/10m/150w/5c]
Discuss the impact of globalization on the livelihood of the tribal populations. [2014/20m/7a]
Write a short note on: Impacts of sanctuaries and national parks on tribal populations. [2013/10m/150w/5c]
Discuss alternatives for shifting cultivators in the context of ecological costs and humanistic concerns. [2013/20m/250w/8a]
Critically examine the National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement substantiating it with experiences from different parts of India. [2012/30m/7a]
Write a short note on: Forest Rights Act, 2006. [2011/15m/150w/5a]
Discuss the problem of displaced tribal communities with the help of recent examples. [2011/30m/6b]
Discuss the impact of Urbanization and Industrialization on tribal women. [2011/15m/8b]
Write a short note on: Tribal displacement. [2010/15m/150w/5d]
“Land and forest are the twin problems of the tribes.” Explain. [2010/40m/6a]
Critically examine the evolution of Forest Policy in India since the British period. Discuss its impact on tribals of India. [2009/60m/8]
Write a short note on: Impact of Industrialization on Tribals. [2007/20m/R5]
Write a short note on: Joint Forest Management. [2006/20m/R7]
Examine the impact of urbanization and industrialisation on tribal economy in India. [2005/60m/R13]
Discuss the context, process and consequences of involuntary displacement among tribal communities in India and analyze the problems of rehabilitation. [2004/60m/R12]
Discuss how forest is related to the tribal life. Critically examine how a change in forest policy and forest degradation have affected tribal economy. [2003/60m/R12]
Indicate the main thrust of anthropological studies on development induced displacement and rehabilitation. Suggest a worthwhile rehabilitation package for displaced tribals to retain their sense of community-belonging. [2001/60m/R10]
Give an account of Joint Forest Management programmes. What is the role of NGOs in such programmes? [2000/60m/6]
Critically examine the forest policy in India right since the British period. Discuss its impact on tribal people. [1999/60m/6]
Discuss the problem of tribal displacement in India. To what extent, are development policies responsible for such displacement? Also explain the role of NGOs in providing the remedial measures to the affected people. [1999/60m/8]
Write a short note on: Social Forestry. [1998/20m/200w/1d]
Write a short note on: Shifting cultivation, its merits and demerits. [1997/20m/200w/5b]
Write a short note on: Involvement of local communities in forest management. [1996/20m/R5]
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Last updated: 30 October 2026