WBCS Anthropology Optional Syllabus

There are 2 papers (Paper I and Paper II) in WBCS main of the optional subject of anthropology. Each paper is of 200 marks and a total of 400 marks. Many WBCS toppers have also opted for this subject in the WBCS exam. Find the WBCS Anthropology Course below:

    1. Introduction to Anthropology: The meaning and scope of anthropology.

       The main branch of anthropology.

1.1 The main branches of anthropology, their scope and relevance are:

(a) socio-cultural anthropology,

(b) biological anthropology,

(c) archaeological anthropology,

(d) Linguistic anthropology.

1.2 Brief outline of the growth of anthropology. Giving knowledge. Colonialism and anthropology.

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2. Human evolution and the process of hominization:

2.1 Theory of biological evolution. Evolution of man and the origin of man:

(a) biological and cultural factors in human evolution,

(b) theories of biological evolution (pre-Darwinian, Darwinian and post-Darwinian),

(c) synthetic theory of evolution; A brief outline of the terms and concepts of evolutionary biology.

2.2 Neutral theory of molecular evolution.

2.3 Concept of evolutionary biology: changes in the skeleton, (skull, vertebrae column, pelvic girdle, posterior limb).

2.4 Characteristics of primates, primate classification (general), features and distribution of New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, Asian and African apes.

2.5 Theory of human origin.

2.6 Geological time scale with reference to the Pleistocene era

2.7 Distribution, properties and phylogenetic status:

(a) Parapithecus

(b) Dryopithecus, Sivapithecus

(c) Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis

(d) Homo erectus (Java Man, Peking Man)

(e) Ancient Homo sapiens

(f) Neanderthal Man - The Chapel of Saints, Tabun Man

(g) Physiologically modern Homo sapiens - chromagonon, grimald, chansalide

3.Human Genetics:

3.1 Methods – Mendelism, Twin-Study, Cytogenetics, Population Genetics.

3.2 Biological basis of inheritance: the formation and replication of DNA, the length of the confined fragment polymorphisms (RFLP), variable number of tandem repetitions (VNTR), short tandem repetition (STR) protein synthesis, genes, alleles, cell division.

3.3 Concepts of the human genome: nuclear genome, mitochondrial genome, chromosome and

Chromosomal deformation in humans (numerical and structural distortion, point mutation), satellite DNA.

3.4 Patterns of inheritance – autosomal, sex-chromosomal, multifactorial, polygenic, sex determination, gender influenced.

3.5 Application of human genetics – compatibility, non-reproduction, genetic load, genetic counselling,

Forensic Anthropology, Personal Identification, Fatherhood Identification, DNA Fingerprinting, Dermatoglyphics.

4. Diversity of Humans:

4.1 The concept of race, and racism.

4.2 The basis of differentiation - morphological (hair, eyes) metric (shape, shape of head), polymorphic (genetic)

Marker) – blood group (ABO, Rh), Hb, PGM, HP, Y-chromosome STR, mtDNA.

4.3 Concepts of the human body and the somatotype.

4.4 Concept of ethnicity –, Caucasoid, Negroid, Australoid.

5. Human growth and nutrition:

5.1 The concept of human growth, the stage of growth - prenatal, postnatal, adolescence, aging.

5.2 Factors influencing growth and development – genetic, environmental, nutrition, socio-economic.

5.3 Methods of growth studies.

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6. The concept of health and disease:

6.1 Concept of infectious and non-communicable diseases. (Malaria and type-2 diabetes)

respectively). Diseases of nutritional deficiency.

6.2 Nutrition - macro and micronutrients and deficiency concepts.

1. Adaptation of people:

7.1 Concepts of human orientation and adaptation - hot, cold and high altitude. Bergman and

Allen's rules.

7.2 Human adaptation (BMI and CI), anthropology and its use for understanding physiology

Variables (blood pressure, pulse rate), body composition (fat patterning).

1. Cultural evolution:

8.1 Tool typology and tool-making technology.

8.2 Mining, exploration, site survey, application of GIS

8.3 Concepts of Dating: Absolute (C14, K-Ar) Relative (Dendrochronology and Stratigraphy).

8.4 Characteristics and distribution of prehistoric culture, including references to India and Europe:

(a) Paleolithic

(b) Mesolithic

(c) Neolithic

(d) Chalcolithic

(e) Iron Age.

 9. Theories and concepts of culture and society:

9.1 Brief outline of anthropological theory: evolutionism, expansionism, effectiveness,

Structuralism, symbolism and explanatory views, post-structuralism and postmodernism

Hermeneutics and phenomenological anthropology.

9.2 Concepts (brief outline): social structure, social organization, gender, institutions, groups,

Community.

10. Culture and Civilization:

10.1 Definitions and characteristics of culture and civilization.

10.2 Cultural relativity, , Acculturation, Enculturation, Diffusion, cultural gap, world view, symbol.

10.3 Anthropological approaches to the study of civilization.

1. Elements of social organization:

11.1 Family – Definitions, types, functions, recent changes.

11.2 Marriage - definitions, types, functions, recent changes.

Payment of marriage (dowry and bride's assets). Incest control, preferential and prescribed form

marriage

11.3 Kinship – Definition of the kinship system. Importance, type of kinship system, classification of the relative word.

11.4 Dissent and Alliance Rules, Rules of Residence, Descent Group.

1. Economic Anthropology:

12.1 Ideas and approaches.

12.2 The main means of livelihood - hunting, animal husbandry, horticulture and settlement

the agriculture.

12.3 Production, distribution (reciprocity, market exchange, redistribution), consumption, gift

Exchange

12.4 Farmers.

1. Political Anthropology:

13.1 Definitions and methods.

13.2 Power, authority, social control, law, social approval, governance.

13.3 The concept of the band, tribe, chiefdom and state.

13.4 Political movements – methods of study, types of socio-political movements (revival,

Messianic, social cohesion, regional and ethnic).

13.5 Ethnicity – definition, the concept of ethnic boundaries.

1. Anthropology of Religion:

14.1 Definition of religion, functions of religion.

14.2 Methods of studying religion (intellectual, psychological, functional, explanatory).

14.3 Concepts: myth, magic, sorcery, sorcery, magic, forbidden, totem, prophecy, ritual, symbolism

Religion

14.4 Religious specialist - Shamon, witch doctor, priest.

1. Social Stratification:

15.1 Definitions and properties.

15.2 Theory/approach.

15.3 Types - Race and Class.

15.4 Concept: status, role, age-set/age-grade, social mobility.

1. Environmental Anthropology:

16.1 Definitions, scope and methods/methods of environmental anthropology.

16.2 Concept of the ecology of culture.

1. Emerging fields of socio-cultural anthropology:

17.1 Anthropology of Development – Definitions and Opportunities, Development, Globalization.

17.2 Legal anthropology and human rights.

17.3 The anthropology of communication - visual anthropology, mass media, popular culture.

17.4 Anthropology of the sex.

1. Basic methods of collecting and interpreting information:

18.1 Qualitative and quantitative approaches, anthropological, fieldwork.

18.2 Basic methods/techniques of data collection – monitoring (special reference participants)

Observations), interviews, case studies, schedules, questionnaires, genealogies, PRAs and RRA.

18.3 Application of the principle of statistics - descriptive statistics - central trend (average, middle,

Mode), standard deviation, standard error, estimation test: t-test, chi-square test.

Paper-II:

1. History and Development of Anthropology in India:

1.1 Colonialism and anthropology in India.

1.2 Stage of development and major trends in anthropology in India.

1.3 Concept of the Indian tradition of anthropology. Contributions of Indian scholars: S.C.Roy, N.K. Bose,

M.N. Srinivas, D.N. Mazumdar, T.C. Das, S. C. Sinha and S. S. Sarkar.

2. Evolution of Indian culture and civilization:

2.1 Prehistoric culture: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Iron Age.

2.2 Indus Valley civilization (features with special references to origin, distribution, architecture,

socio-economic and religious; Decreased Sindh script. )

2.3 Vedic society (early and late): Society, economics and politics.

2.4 Contribution of tribal culture to Indian civilization.

2.5 Practice of mortuary practice and megalithic tombs with reference to anthropological theories in India.

3. The emergence of people in India and contemporary variation:

3.1 Fossil remains in India: Ramapithecus, Narmada man.

3.2 Classification of Indian population: H.H. Risley, B.S. Guha and S.S. Sarkar.

3.3 Contemporary classification based on morphological, anthropological, and genetic markers (ABO, Hb, HP, mtDNA).

4. Demographic profile of India:

4.1 Population: concepts, theories and methods.

4.2 The structure and characteristics of the Indian population; Rate and proportion: fertility, mortality; Factors influencing fertility and mortality. Population dynamics in rural, urban and tribal contexts. The impact of migration and migration.

4.3 Linguistic elements of the Indian population (Grierson and SK Chatterjee).

5. Anthropological approaches to Indian civilization:

5.1 Cultural divisions of ancient India: Varnashram, Purushartha, Karma and Reincarnation.

5.2 Caste system – origin, characteristics, functions and changes in the caste system, dominant race, jajmani custom.

5.3 Structure of Indian Civilization: Theoretical Understanding (R.Redfield, N.K.Bose).

5.4 Concepts for understanding Indian civilization: Sanskritization, Universalization-Alienation,

Tribal-peasants and tribal-caste continuity, state formation and sacred complexes.

5.5 Concepts of folk and folk culture, elements of folklore in Indian culture (including proverbs, folk songs, folklore

Special mention of West Bengal), folklore and identity, acting.

5.6 Influence of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Christianity in Indian society.

6. The direction of Indian Villages:

6.1 Development of village studies in India and its significance.

6.2 Type of village, social organization of Indian villages (agriculture).

6.3 Concepts developed through village studies in India.

6.4 Changes in rural society in post-independent India.

7. Weak section:

7.1 SC, ST, OBC, Minorities, Women, Children, Elderly Concepts - Status, Constitutional Provisions,

Problems, development programs.

7.2 Linguistic minorities and their problems.

8.The tribal situation in India:

8.1 The ethnic strain of the Indian population, the geographical, economic and linguistic distribution of Indian tribes.

8.2 The main problems of the Indian tribes are a special references to land and forest-related problems.

8.3 Plans and programmes for the development of tribals; Problems/criticism of tribal development;

Five Year Plan and Indian Tribes - A Review.

8.4 Constitutional protection for ST, 5th and 6th Schedules.

8.5 Socio-economic changes in tribal mills – urbanization, industrialization, effects of forestry policy,

development projects of indigenous peoples. Changes in tribal society in the post-colonial and post-independent period.

The impact of modern democratic institutions on the traditional political system.

8.6 Tribal movement (nature and distribution), the rise of nationhood, problems of identity, tribal and nation-state, the contribution of tribal culture, Indian national movement and Indian tribes, regionalism, Jharkhand movement, Santal movement.

9. Anthropology of Development:

9.1 Criticism, perspectives, problems of women's development, cultural elements of development,

Displacement and rehabilitation, sustainable development, development options.

9.2 Role of NGOs in development.

9.3 The role of anthropology in the development.

10. Emerging problems in Indian anthropology:

10.1 Advocacy of human rights and anthropology in the context of women, children, health and education.

10.2 Socio-cultural dimensions of health: bio-medicine, medical anthropology and ethnic medicine.

10.3 Problems in context: community, religion, religious pluralism, visual image and Indian society in India, public culture, refugees, civil society, violence, and traditional knowledge in India.

WBCS  Anthropology Books

Paper-I of Anthropology covers theoretical concepts including basic principles of the subject. However, Paper-II talks about the application portions of anthropology in various fields. Check the WBCS Anthropology book list here-

Anthropology books for WBCS optional:

• Physical Anthropology – P Nath
• Fossil Evidence – S Das
• Social Anthropology – DN Majumdar & T N Madan
• Indian Anthropology – Nadeem Hasnain
• Anthropology Theories – Makhan Jha

How to Prepare WBCS Anthropology Optional Syllabus?

• Paper I mainly focuses on concepts whereas Paper II focuses on the application of Anthropology. You must develop a strong conceptual understanding in Paper I.

• Developed your answer in Paper II based on the concept that you learnt in Paper I . Give so many examples to support your answers and make sure you quote a majority of Indian examples. 

• Practice your answer with flowcharts and diagrams.
• Need revision of  all topics on a daily basis 
• Attempt mock tests to understand your progress at daily basis

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