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Anthropology

Fossils and human evolution in one paper, tribal India in the other. Notes for both, past questions back to 1981, and an AI that knows its Majumdar from its Hasnain.

  • 41 topics
  • 812 past questions
  • 8 standard books
Read the notesPast questions
Ask the Anthropology AI
Suggestion: How is social anthropology different from cultural anthropology?. Press Escape to use it.

Ask it whatever you’re stuck on. It answers from the 8 books further down this page and shows you the passage it used.

The whole syllabus, one topic at a time

Tap any topic to open its notes. They’re free with your account.

Foundations of Anthropology

2 topics
1Meaning, Scope and Development of AnthropologyMeaning & Scope · Development as a Discipline · Relationship with Social Sciences2Main Branches of AnthropologyPhysical & Biological Anthropology · Social & Cultural Anthropology · Archaeological Anthropology

Physical Anthropology

6 topics
3Human Evolution and Emergence of ManOrganic Evolution: Theories · Palaeontological Evidence · Order Primates4Biological Basis of LifeCell Structure & Function · DNA, RNA & Protein Synthesis · Genetic Code5Human GeneticsMethods of Study · Pedigree & Twin Studies · ABO & Rh Blood Groups6Concept of Race and RacismRace: Biological Basis & Classification · Typological vs Population Concept · Racism & Scientific Critique7Concept of Human Growth and DevelopmentStages of Growth · Factors Influencing Growth · Secular Trend8Applicability of Biosocial PerspectivesHuman Adaptation · High Altitude Adaptation · Epidemiological Anthropology

Archaeological Anthropology

2 topics
9Principles of Prehistoric ArchaeologyObjectives & Principles · Stone Tool Typology · Relative Dating Methods10Cultural Evolution and Prehistoric CulturesLower Palaeolithic Culture · Middle Palaeolithic Culture · Upper Palaeolithic Culture

Socio-Cultural Anthropology

8 topics
11Nature of CultureConcept & Definitions of Culture · Culture vs Civilization · Material & Non-Material Culture12Nature of SocietySociety & Social Structure · Community & Association · Norms & Institutions13Marriage, Family and KinshipMarriage: Definition & Functions · Rules & Forms of Marriage · Family: Types & Functions14Economic OrganizationMeaning of Economic Anthropology · Subsistence Economies · Production, Distribution & Exchange15Political Organization and Social ControlPower, Authority & Legitimacy · Band & Tribal Political Organization · Chiefdom & State Level Organization16ReligionAnimism, Animatism & Totemism · Myth & Ritual · Magic, Religion & Science17Anthropological TheoriesClassical Evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan) · Diffusionism · Historical Particularism (Boas)18Culture, Language and CommunicationLanguage & Culture · Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis · Origins of Language

Methods

2 topics
19Research Methods in AnthropologyFieldwork Tradition in Anthropology · Participant Observation · Ethnographic Methods20Applications of AnthropologyApplied Anthropology: Scope & History · Development Anthropology · Medical Anthropology

The books behind the answers

These are the books the Anthropology AI actually reads. When it uses one, you’ll see a small chip next to the line, and you can open the exact passage.

  • Physical AnthropologyPhysical AnthropologyP. Nath
  • Social and Cultural AnthropologyIndian AnthropologyNadeem Hasnain
  • Social and Cultural AnthropologyAn Introduction to Social AnthropologyMajumdar & Madan
  • IGNOUIGNOU Anthropology Paper 1IGNOU course material
  • IGNOUIGNOU Anthropology Paper 2IGNOU course material
  • Indian AnthropologyTribal IndiaNadeem Hasnain
  • Indian AnthropologyState Society and TribesXaxa
  • Indian AnthropologyThe Muria and their GhotulElwin

What UPSC asked in 2026

Three from the latest paper. All 812 are here, sorted by topic, whenever you want to practise.

2026 · Paper I · 10 marksHealth as a cultural constructOpen the question2026 · Paper I · 10 marksCanalization and catch-up growthOpen the question2026 · Paper I · 10 marksMyth as oral literatureOpen the question
See all 812 questions

When you’re ready to practise

Get an answer markedWrite an answer by hand, take a photo, and see the marks, what it missed and a model answer.Take a testA short test on one topic, to see what actually stayed with you.Revise with flashcardsShort cards on thinkers, terms and facts, each tied to the past questions it helps you answer.

Not sure where to begin?

Start at the top, with Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology. It sets up the words and ideas the rest of the syllabus keeps coming back to.

Open Meaning, Scope and Development of Anthropology