Anthropology is the study of what makes us human.Anthropologists take a broad approach for understanding the many various aspects of human behaviour. It studies human beings in terms of biology and evolution, society and culture, environment and ecology, demography, health and disease, human development , human genetics, research methods, religion, marriage, family among others. It has quite a diverse subject matter. Anthropology is one of the major and scoring subjects for UPSC aspirants. If you check the UPSC result, you will find that most of the students have opted for Anthropology as an optional subject.

What are the best Anthropology Institutes in India?

Anthropology Exam Highlights

Anthropology is taken as an optional subject mostly by aspirants who have taken science in graduation or are from science background because it  contains topics related to science. Hence it usually attracts the aspirants from the science stream and it is easier for them to understand the  concepts, theories, and principles of anthropology. The study material for anthropology is also widely available. Anthropology optional syllabus has been cut down considerably over several times in the past few years. This subject has become quite popular among students because various topics have been deleted like Ethnicity, Anthropology (Development), Reproductive Biology, and many others.

Anthropology Syllabus for UPSC

Let us take a look at the syllabus for anthropology for the UPSC mains exam.

There are two optional papers in the UPSC scheme of things. Both the papers are for a total of 250 marks making the total optional marks to 500.

1.1 Meaning, scope and development of Anthropology.

1.2 Relationships with other disciplines: 

• Social Sciences, 
• Behavioural Sciences, 
• Life Sciences, 
• Medical Sciences, 
• Earth Sciences 
• Humanities.

1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance:

• Social- cultural Anthropology.
• Biological Anthropology.
• Archaeological Anthropology.
• Linguistic Anthropology.

1.4 Human Evolution and the emergence of Man:

• Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution.
• Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre- Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian).
• Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology (Doll’s rule, Cope’s rule, Gause’s rule, parallelism, convergence, adaptive radiation, and mosaic evolution).

1.5 Characteristics of Primates; 

• Evolutionary Trend and Primate Taxonomy; 
• Primate Adaptations; 
• (Arboreal and Terrestrial) Primate Taxonomy; 
• Primate Behaviour; 
• Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates; 
• Living Major Primates; 
• Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes; 
• Skeletal changes due to erect posture and its implications.

1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and geographical distribution of the following:

• Plio-pleistocene hominids in South and East Africa - Australopith
• Homo erectus: Africa (Paranthropus), Europe (Homo erectus heidelbergensis), Asia (Homo erectus javanicus, Homo erectus pekinensis).
• Neanderthal Man- La-Chapelle-aux-saints (Classical type), Mt. Carmel (Progressive type).
• Rhodesian man.
• Homo sapiens — Cromagnon, Grimaldi and Chancelade.

1.7 The biological basis of life: 

• The Cell, DNA structure and replication, 
• Protein Synthesis, Gene, 
• Mutation, 
• Chromosomes, and Cell Division.

1.8

1. a) Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating methods.
2. b) Cultural Evolution- Broad Outlines of Prehistoric cultures:

• Paleolithic
• Mesolithic
• Neolithic
• Chalcolithic
• Copper-Bronze Age
• Iron Age

Check:- TOP Institute of Anthropology in Delhi

2.1 The Nature of Culture: 

The concept and characteristics of culture and civilization; 

Ethnocentrism vis-à-vis cultural Relativism.

2.2 The Nature of Society: 

• Concept of Society; 
• Society and Culture; 
• Social Institutions; 
• Social groups; 
• Social stratification.

2.3 Marriage: 

• Definition and universality; 
• Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo); 
• Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, group marriage). 
• Functions of marriage; 
• Marriage regulations (preferential, prescriptive and proscriptive); 
• Marriage payments (bride wealth and dowry).

2.4 Family: 

• Definition and universality; 
• Family, household and domestic groups; 
• functions of family; 
• Types of family (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); 
• Impact of urbanization, industrialization, and feminist movements on family.

2.5 Kinship: 

• Consanguinity and Affinity; 
• Principles and types of descent (Unilineal, Double, Bilateral, Ambilineal); Forms of descent groups (lineage, clan, phratry, moiety, and kindred); 
• Kinship terminology (descriptive and classificatory); 
• Descent, Filiation and Complimentary Filiation; 
• Descent and Alliance.

1. Economic organization:

• Meaning, scope and relevance of economic anthropology; 
• Formalist and Substantivist debate; 
• Principles governing production, distribution and exchange (reciprocity, redistribution and market), in communities, subsisting on hunting and gathering, fishing, swiddening, pastoralism, horticulture, and agriculture; globalization and indigenous economic systems.

1. Political organization and Social Control:

• Band, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; 
• concepts of power, authority and legitimacy; 
• social control, law, and justice in simple societies

1. Religion: 

• Anthropological approaches to the study of religion (evolutionary, psychological and functional); monotheism and polytheism; 
• sacred and profane; 
• myths and rituals; 
• forms of religion in tribal and peasant societies (animism, animatism, fetishism, naturism and totemism); 
• religion, magic and science distinguished; 
• magico- religious functionaries (priest, shaman, medicine man, sorcerer and witch).

1. Anthropological theories:

• Classical evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan, and Frazer)
• Historical particularism (Boas); Diffusionism (British, German and American)
• Functionalism (Malinowski); Structural- functionlism (Radcliffe-Brown)
• Structuralism (L’evi – Strauss and E. Leach)
• Culture and personality (Benedict, Mead, Linton, Kardiner and Cora – du Bois).
• Neo – evolutionism (Childe, White, Steward, Sahlins and Service)
• Cultural materialism (Harris)
• Symbolic and interpretive theories (Turner, Schneider and Geertz)
• Cognitive theories (Tyler, Conklin)
• Post- modernism in anthropology

1. Culture, language and communication: 

• Nature, origin and characteristics of language; 
• verbal and non-verbal communication; 
• social context of language use.

1. Research methods in anthropology:

• Fieldwork tradition in anthropology
• Distinction between technique, method and methodology
• Tools of data collection: observation, interview, schedules, questionnaire, Case study, genealogy, life-history, oral history, secondary sources of information, participatory methods.
• Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.

9.1 Human Genetics 

• Methods and Application: Methods for study of genetic principles in man-family study (pedigree analysis, twin study, foster child, co-twin method, cytogenetic method, chromosome and karyo-type analysis), biochemical methods, immunological methods, D.N.A. technology and recombinant technologies.

9.2 Mendelian genetics in man-family study 

• single factor, multifactor, lethal, sub-lethal and polygenic inheritance in man.

9.3 Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection

• Mendelian population, Hardy-Weinberg law; 
• causes and changes which bring down frequency – mutation, isolation, migration, selection, inbreeding and genetic drift. Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating, genetic load, genetic effect of consanguineous and cousin marriages.

9.4 Chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations in man, methodology.

• Numerical and structural aberrations (disorders).
• Sex chromosomal aberrations – Klinefelter (XXY), Turner (XO), Super female (XXX), intersex and other syndromic disorders.
• Autosomal aberrations – Down syndrome, Patau, Edward and Cri-du-chat syndromes.

• Genetic imprints in human disease, genetic screening, genetic counseling, human DNA profiling, gene mapping and genome study.

9.5 Race and racism 

• The biological basis of morphological variation of non-metric and metric characters. 
• Racial criteria, racial traits in relation to heredity and environment; 
• biological basis of racial classification, racial differentiation and race crossing in man.

9.6 a) Age, sex and population variation as genetic marker- ABO, Rh blood groups, HLA Hp, transferring, Gm, blood enzymes.

1. b) Physiological characteristics-Hb level, body fat, pulse rate, respiratory functions and sensory perceptions in different cultural and socio-economic groups.

9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology. 

• Bio-cultural Adaptations 
• Genetic and Non- genetic factors. 
• Man’s physiological responses to environmental stresses: 
• hot desert, 
• cold, high altitude climate.

9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology: 

• Health and disease. 
• Infectious and non-infectious diseases. 
• Nutritional deficiency-related diseases.

1. Concept of human growth and development:

• stages of growth – pre-natal, natal, infant, childhood, adolescence, maturity, senescence.
• Factors affecting growth and development genetic, environmental, biochemical, nutritional, cultural and socio-economic.
• Ageing and senescence. Theories and observations – biological and chronological longevity. Human physique and somatotypes. Methodologies for growth studies.

11.1 Relevance of menarche, menopause and other bioevents to fertility. Fertility patterns and differentials.

11.2 Demographic theories- biological, social and cultural.

11.3 Biological and socio-ecological factors influencing fecundity, fertility, natality and mortality.

1. Applications of Anthropology

Also Check It:-

UPSC Optional Syllabus for Anthropology- Paper-II

1.1 Evolution of the Indian Culture and Civilization

• Prehistoric (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Neolithic 
• Chalcolithic).
• Protohistoric (Indus Civilization): Pre- Harappan, Harappan and post- Harappan cultures.Contributions of tribal cultures to Indian civilization.

1.2 Palaeo 

• anthropological evidences from India with special reference to Siwaliks and Narmada basin (Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man).

1.3 Ethno-archaeology in India: 

• The concept of ethno-archaeology; 
• Survivals and Parallels among the hunting, foraging, fishing, pastoral and peasant communities including arts and crafts producing communities.

1. Demographic profile of India 

• Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population and their distribution. 
• Indian population – factors influencing its structure and growth.

3.1 The structure and nature of traditional Indian social system 

• Varnashram, 
• Purushartha, 
• Karma, 
• Rina and Rebirth.

3.2 Caste system in India 

• structure and characteristics, 
• Varna and caste, 
• Theories of origin of caste system, 
• Dominant caste, 
• Caste mobility, 
• Future of caste system, 
• Jajmani system, 
• Tribe- caste continuum.

3.3 Sacred Complex and Nature 

• Man
• Spirit Complex.

3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society.

1. Emergence and growth of anthropology in India-Contributions of the 18th, 19th and early 20th Century scholar-administrators. Contributions of Indian anthropologists to tribal and caste studies.

5.1 Indian Village: 

• Significance of village study in India; 
• Indian village as a social system; 
• Traditional and changing patterns of settlement and inter-caste relations; 
• Agrarian relations in Indian villages; 
• Impact of globalization on Indian villages.

5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status.

5.3 Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change in Indian society: Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization; 

• Inter-play of little and great traditions; 
• Panchayati raj and social change; 
• Media and social change.

6.1 Tribal situation in India 

• Bio-genetic variability, linguistic and socio-economic characteristics of tribal populations and their distribution.

6.2 Problems of the tribal Communities 

•  land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, poor educational facilities, unemployment, underemployment, health and nutrition.

6.3 Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement 

• problems of rehabilitation. 
• Development of forest policy and tribals. 
• Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal populations.

7.1 Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. 

• Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

7.2 Social change and contemporary tribal societies: 

• Impact of modern democratic institutions, development programmes and welfare measures on tribals and weaker sections.

7.3 The concept of ethnicity; 

• Ethnic conflicts and political developments; 
• Unrest among tribal communities; 
• Regionalism and demand for autonomy; 
• Pseudo-tribalism; 
• Social change among the tribes during colonial and post-Independent India.

8.1 Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies.

8.2 Tribe and nation state - a comparative study of tribal communities in India and other countries.

9.1 History of administration of tribal areas, tribal policies, plans, programmes of tribal development and their implementation.

• The concept of PTGs (Primitive Tribal Groups), their distribution, special programmes for their development. Role of N.G.O.s in tribal development.

9.2 Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development.

9.3 Contributions of anthropology to the understanding of regionalism, communalism, and ethnic and political movements.

How many candidates take Anthropology optional?

Anthropology has a higher success rate in comparison to other subjects like public administration or geography etc. According to the latest figures, in 2016, 345 candidates had  taken anthropology out of which 37 candidates cleared the exam giving a success rate of 10.7%. The following table gives the number of candidates who appeared for the IAS exam with anthropology as the optional vis-a-vis the number of candidates who cleared the exam with it. 

Let’s go through some of the best centers for Anthropology coaching in Bangalore that will help the candidate to improve consistency, dwell into the competitive sight with extensive preparation and improve the chances of success.

List of Top Anthropology Training Institutes

Unique IAS academy

The Unique IAS academy established in 1990 provides coaching for the students preparing for IAS/UPSC exams. At unique IAS academy, they help the students build their career in civil and administrative services by improving their personality, ability, knowledge and skills. At the unique IAS academy, the experienced faculty prepares the study materials and the test series along with other required materials to provide a better learning environment to the students. The regular mock exams are conducted and evaluated by the faculty there by providing individual feedback to the students to improve their performance in the end exams. The students are provided with accessibility to both online and offline classes. Special guest lectures and previous rank holders talk sessions are provided to the students along with regular doubt clearing sessions and revision sessions. Apart from the GS Prelims Cum Mains, optional subjects, current affairs sessions, special coaching is provided for answer writing and quantitative, logical reasoning for the overall development of the students. 

Institute Details

Highlights

• Experienced faculty
• Weekly Current Affairs sessions
• All the class rooms are air Conditioned
• Latest audio-visual systems
• Personal mentorship
• Recorded video lectures
• Answer Writing Practice in UPSC QCA (Question Cum Answer Sheet) Format
• Library with more than 2000 books
• Regular mock exams
• Test series
• Integrated study materials
• Intensive and interactive classes
• Previous exam papers with solutions
• Detailed test analysis
• Performance dashboard
• Guest lectures
• Old students special talk sessions
• Timely completion of syllabus
• Chapter wise tests
• Doubt clearing sessions
• Revision sessions

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Vijetha IAS Academy

Vijetha IAS is a premier coaching institution to prepare for the most prestigious and one of the most difficult exams in the country. Being a relatively new player in the UPSC  Coaching space, Vijetha strives to improve based on feedbacks of their students and that accounts for its consistency and growth

Vijetha has a dedicated team of professionals handling various other General Studies Modules and helping students to realize their ambition and pursue the civil services preparation. They also conduct test series programmes for Prelims, Mains and daily answer writing sessions.  

Institute Details

Highlights

• Innovative Teaching
• Well-Designed Curriculum
• One-to-one Monitoring
• Online Courses
• Cost-effective Courses
• Qualified Teachers

Analog IAS Academy

Analog IAS Academy is one of the first initiatives of Analog Society, that was established to provide quality education in both technical skills and personality development to students. Analog IAS Institute provides well-planned integrated courses for the preparation of UPSC Civil services exam.

Founded in the year 2002 by Mr. Srikanth Vinnakota, who is also the Director of the institute. The director himself has cleared civil services interview round thrice with Mathematics and Psychology as Optional.

The mission of the institute is to bring the unnoticed talents and skills in students who come to study as it believes that each and every student has some sort of talent.

Institute Details

Highlights

• Personal Attention provided to the Students
• Experienced Faculty
• One on One Doubt Clearing Session
• Small Batch Size
• Special Classes On Shortcut Techniques

Chrome IAS Academy

Chrome IAS Academy is one of the most promising Coaching institutes for IAS in India. It was founded in the year 2016 by Mr. Mridul Purohit as an independent entity with a Vision and Mission to establish a credible institution to ace the toughest of the competitive exams in the country i.e. Indian Administrative Exam Since its inception the institute has produced great results. Chrome IAS Academy strives to be recognized for excellence and brilliance by training highly determined aspirants to crack IAS so they can touch down and make an impact at the grass-root level in order to provide more growth to the country. The course offered is well structured and is designed for the best understanding of every student. The level of course advances in a progressive manner.

Institute Details

Highlights

• Provision of a Comprehensive Interview Guidance Course
• Provision of Test Series
• Well Qualified Faculty
• Assessment-Based Methodology
• Mentorship Program
• Feedback Sessions
• Doubt Classes

Future IAS

Future IAS is an IAS coaching institute. It provides coaching to the exams like UPSC, IAS & other civil services exams. This is an advantageous program to the students who are aspiring to pursue their career in civil & administrative services. They offer a scientific and innovative approach for Prelims and Mains. Future IAS has well educated and experienced faculty members. The comprehensive study material & test series are designed by the expert faculty panel. It also provides a personality development program to crack the interviews. Future IAS current affairs are included in the regular material provided to the IAS aspirants. Future IAS Daily current affairs are updated to the students. Future IAS test series enables the students to improve the time management and their performance.

Institute Details

Highlights

• Well designed study materials
• Detailed test analysis
• Mock papers
• Regular assignments
• Personal mentorship
• Regular tests
• Revision sessions
• current affairs sessions
• Doubt removal sessions
• Performance analysis

StepUp IAS Academy

StepUp IAS was founded in 2001 and since then has been in the quest for ways to help students fulfill their aspirations. After a number of years of research and analysis the institute came to the conclusion that while faculty, study materials, and notes are essential for Civil Services exam preparation but without sound strategy and supervision under experienced people, it would prove to be futile. 

The students studying at the institute are under the supervision of experienced persons who have been training students for the civil services exam for many years and are aware of the techniques to clear the exam. The mentors help students in preparing strategy and keep supervising students during preparation. StepUp IAS claims to be the only institute in India providing personal supervision together with coaching classes.

Step up IAS also provides online training classes and offline premium classes. The Civil services Virtual classes are also categorized into Free and Premium classes. Some classes one can get free of cost without any payment while an IAS aspirant has to pay for premium classes.

Institute Details

Highlights

• Class Lecture
• Verbal Test
• Thinking pattern Training
• 5 Point written test
• Timer Based answer writing training and feedback
• Group Formation

Drishti IAS Coaching

Drishti IAS Coaching institute is a renowned coaching institute for UPSC aspirants. It was founded on 1st November 1999.Along with a great easy on pocket Coaching programme in English, it also provided a flagship Coaching programme in Hindi for students that are either from rural background or for students who are more comfortable in Hindi.

Key Features

• Drishti IAS believes in building a proper foundation, where the main focus is creating an affable environment for students to learn. 
• Drishti IAS uses a teaching methodology that helps students understand difficult concepts easily. This method uses images and videos through audio-video systems
• For more ease to students, Drishti IAS has a Youtube channel incorporating a lot of videos on important topics and exam hacks. 
• Faculty at Drishti IAS are very efficient at making students understand the concepts and they also provide handouts and printed notes for better learning

Institute Details

Highlights

• Comprehensive coverage of syllabus
• Provision of Sectional Tests 
• Adherence to format
• Time management conducive tests
• Performance Analysis of aspirants

Check:- TOP Institute of Anthropology in Delhi

Nirvana IAS Academy

Nirvana IAS Academy provides IAS Coaching in New Delhi. It uses a unique methodology namely IRPO (Intensive Research and Practice Oriented) method keeping in mind contemporary trends.Under this method all research work would be done by them and they provide you what you ought to read which saves timeThey not only prepare you for exams rather their effort is to make you an “Enlightened” (aware and confident) person and impart “Officer-Like” qualities in you which is what UPSC is looking for. 

Institute Details

Highlights

• Vedic maths which helps the students to solve problems without pen 
• Topic wise exams 
• Special tutors clearing doubts in online, offline
• Trained and well competent faculty
• Limited number of students in a batch
• Individual attention to every student
• Digital classes 
• YouTube channel for revision classes 
• Library with all set of books 
• Spoken English classes for the students poor in English 
• Group discussions 
• Mock interviews
• Conducive atmosphere for learning
• Thorough revision after completing the syllabus

Benefits of Anthropology Coaching

• Detailed coverage of both Anthropology paper I & II for UPSC mains exam.
• Interlinks between Anthropology optional and GS papers- Indian society, geography, culture, etc. 
• Access to the best lecturers anytime and anywhere.
• 100+ hours of online lectures.
• The faculty has a year of experience in guiding students of Anthropology optional. The faculty is passionate about the subject and is the only teacher for Anthropology optional who teaches the subject in both Hindi and English medium.
• Videos can be played both on Web & Application

Anthropology Coaching  FAQ’s

Q.1. What is anthropology?

Q.2. What are the 3 branches of anthropology?

Q.3. Is anthropology good optional for UPSC?

 Q.4. Is anthropology easy for UPSC?

Q.5. Can anthropology be prepared without coaching?