Anthropological theories: PYQ | UPSC Anthropology GS 1

2026

Section c · 1. · Paper Q2(c) · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

How is the theory of structuralism helpful in understanding the concepts of caste and gender?

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Section b · 2. · Paper Q6(b) · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

Critically discuss how culture determines human behaviour in the light of Leslie White's theory

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Section a · 3. · Paper Q8(a) · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

Compare Edmund Leach's structuralism with interpretive anthropology of Clifford Geertz

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2025

Section b · 4. · Paper Q2(b) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

Compare and contrast the symbolic approaches of Clifford Geertz and Victor Turner to understand culture

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Section c · 5. · Paper Q4(c) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

Critically examine James Frazer's theory of evolutionism. Elucidate the place of religion in modernity

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Section a · 6. · Paper Q8(a) · 2025 · 20 marks · Solution

How the theories of postmodernism are relevant in promoting social justice and empowerment of marginalised communities?

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2024

Section a · 7. · Paper Q2(a) · 2024 · 20 marks · Solution

Discuss historical particularism as a critical development to the classical evolutionism.

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Section a · 8. · Paper Q4(a) · 2024 · 20 marks · Solution

Critically discuss the characteristics of the psychological types in the cultures of the American South-West as observed by Ruth Benedict.

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Section c · 9. · Paper Q6(c) · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

How does Lévi-Strauss look at the Tsimshian myth of Asdiwal? Critically discuss Lévi-Strauss' theory of structuralism in the light of his study of mythologies.

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Section a · 10. · Paper Q7(a) · 2024 · 20 marks · Solution

Critically explain the notion of 'deconstruction' in the light of the postmodern works of Jacques Derrida.

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2023

Section b · 11. · Paper Q3(b) · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

How did Clifford Geertz look at religion. Differentiate between anthropological and psychological approaches to the study of religion.

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Section a · 12. · Paper Q6(a) · 2023 · 20 marks · Solution

Critically discuss the controversies related to fieldwork of Bronislaw-Malinowski and Margaret Mead.

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2022

Section c · 13. · Paper Q1(c) · 2022 · 10 marks · Solution

Radcliffe-Brown's ideas on status, role and institution

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Section c · 14. · Paper Q7(c) · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss the approaches of Leslie White, Julian Steward and Marshall Sahlins in the light of cultural evolution

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2021

Section c · 15. · Paper Q1(c) · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution

Historical Particularism and Franz Boas

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Section b · 16. · Paper Q2(b) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Elucidate the concept of "thick description" of Clifford Geertz with a suitable example

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Section c · 17. · Paper Q6(c) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Critically evaluate Lewis Morgan's classification of family

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Section c · 18. · Paper Q8(c) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Explain the structural analysis of kinship as proposed by Levi-Strauss

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2016

Section e · 19. · Paper Q1(e) · 2016 · 10 marks · Solution

Functionalism.

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Section c · 20. · Paper Q2(c) · 2016 · 15 marks · Solution

According to Geertz, how does the cock-fight reveal aspects of Balinese culture?

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Section b · 21. · Paper Q4(b) · 2016 · 15 marks · Solution

How do the concepts of binary opposites and exchange figure in Levi-Strauss' structural analysis of kinship?

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2015

Section e · 22. · Paper Q1(e) · 2015 · 10 marks · Solution

Historical Particularism.

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Section b · 23. · Paper Q2(b) · 2015 · 20 marks · Solution

How did Morgan explain the evolution of marriage, family and Socio-Political organization, and how did other evolutionists disagree with his explanation?

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Section c · 24. · Paper Q2(c) · 2015 · 15 marks · Solution

How do diffusionism and evolutionism differ as explanations of Culture Change?

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Section c · 25. · Paper Q3(c) · 2015 · 20 marks · Solution

Explain the basic features of 'Postmodernism' in Anthropology

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Section c · 26. · Paper Q4(c) · 2015 · 20 marks · Solution

What made Geertz's Interpretive Anthropology distinct from Turner's Symbolic Anthropology? What does each of them mean by the terms 'Symbol' and 'Symbolic'?

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