Anthropology Optional Enrichment Programme 2026

Test No.

Syllabus

Date

01

Paper 1

Unit 1 – The Discipline of Anthropology

1.1 Meaning, scope and development of Anthropology

1.2 Relationship with other disciplines

1.3 Main Branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance

Unit 8 - Research Methods in Anthropology

(a) Fieldwork tradition in anthropology

(b) Distinction between technique, method and methodology

(c) (c) Tools of data collection: observation, interview, schedules, questionnaire, case study, genealogy, life-history, oral history, secondary sources of information, participatory methods.

(d) Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.

4/10/2025, Saturday

02

Paper 1

Unit 2 – Culture, Society, Marriage, Family and Kinship

2.1 Nature of Culture

2.2 Nature of Society

2.3 Marriage

2.4 Family

2.5 Kinship

Unit 3 – Economic Organization

Unit 4 – Political Organization and Social Control

Unit 5 – Religion

Unit 7 – Culture, Language and Communication

11/10/2025

Saturday

Interactive Session 01 with Faculty (Online mode only)

Covers Test 01 and 02

19/10/2025 Sunday*

03

Paper 1

Unit 1 - Evolution

1.4 Theories of Organic Evolution; Synthetic Theory of Evolution; Terms and concepts of evolutionary biology.

1.5 Primates

1.6 Human Evolution and Fossil Evidence

1.7 Biological basis of life

Paper 2

1.2 Paleo Anthropological evidence from India with special reference to Siwalik and Narmada basin (Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man).

18/10/2025

Saturday

04

Paper 1

Unit 9 – Human Genetics and Variation

9.1 Human Genetics, methods and applications

9.2 Mendelian Genetics in man

9.3 Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection

9.4 Chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations

9.5 Races

9.6 Age, sex and population variation

Paper 2

Unit 2

Racial and linguistic classification of Indian Population

25/10/2025

Saturday

Interactive Session 02 with Faculty (Online mode only)

Covers Test 03 and 04

2/11/2025 Sunday*

05

Paper 1

Unit 6 – Anthropological Theories

(a) Classical evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan and Frazer)

(b) Historical particularism (Boas) Diffusionism (British, German and American)

(c) Functionalism (Malinowski); Structural Functionalism (Radcliffe-Brown)

(d) Structuralism Levi-Strauss and E. Leach)

(e) Culture and personality (Benedict, Mead, Linton, Kardiner and Cora-du Bois)

(f) Neo evolutionism (Childe, White, Steward, Sahlins and Service)

(g) Cultural materialism (Harris)

(h) Symbolic and interpretive theories (Turner, Schneider and Geertz)

(i) Cognitive theories (Tyler, Conklin)

3 (j) Post-modernism in anthropology.

1/11/2025

Saturday

06

Paper 1

Unit 9 – Ecological and Epidemiological Anthropology

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.

Unit 11 – Demographic Anthropology

11.1 Relevance of menarche, menopause and other bio events 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.

Paper 2

Unit 2 – Demographic Profile of India

Demographic profile of India Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population

and their distribution. Indian population factors influencing its structure and growth.

8/11/2025 Saturday

Interactive Session 03 with Faculty (Online mode only) Covers Test 05 and 06

16/11/2025 Sunday*

07

Paper 1

1.8 – Prehistoric Archaeology

(a) Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating methods.

(b) Cultural Evolution Broad Outlines of Prehistoric cultures: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Copper-Bronze Age, Iron Age.

Paper 2

Unit 1 – Indian Pre-history

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 the tribal cultures to Indian civilization.

15/11/2025 Saturday

08

Paper 1

Unit 10 – Growth and Development

· 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.

Unit 12 – Applications of Anthropology

12 Applications of Anthropology: Anthropology of sports, Nutritional anthropology, Anthropology in designing of defense and other equipment, Forensic anthropology, Methods and principles of personal identification and reconstruction, Applied human genetics Paternity diagnosis, genetic counselling and eugenics, DNA technology in diseases and medicine, serogenetics and cytogenetics in reproductive biology.

22/11/2025 Saturday

Interactive Session 04 with Faculty (Online mode only) Covers Test 07 and 08

30/11/2025 Sunday*

09

Paper 2

Unit 3 – Traditional Indian Social System

3.1 The structure and nature of traditional Indian social system Varnashrama, 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-case continuum.

3.3 Sacred Complex and Nature-Man-Spirit Complex.

Unit 5 – Social and Cultural Change in India

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.

29/11/2025 Saturday

10

Paper 2

Unit 4 – Anthropology in India

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

Unit 5 – Rural Anthropology and Minorities

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.

6/12/2025 Saturday

Interactive Session 05 with Faculty (Online mode only) Covers Test 09 and 10

14/11/2025 Sunday*

11

Paper 2

Unit 6 – India’s Tribes and Problems

6.1 Tribal situation in India Bio-genetic variability, linguistic and socio-economic characteristics of the tribal populations and their distribution.

6.2 Problems of the tribal Communities Land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, poor educational facilities, unemployment, under- employment, health and nutrition.

6.3 Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement and problems of rehabilitation. Development of forest policy and tribals. Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal populations.

Unit 7

3.1 Social change and contemporary tribal societies: Impact of modern democratic institutions, development programmes and welfare measures on tribals and weaker sections.

Unit 8

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.

13/12/2025 Saturday

12

Paper 2

Unit 7

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

3.2 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.

Unit 9

3.1 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.

20/12/2025 Saturday

Interactive Session 06 with Faculty (Online mode only) Covers Test 11 and 12

28/12/2025 Sunday*

13

Paper 1 – Full Length Test – Morning Session

10/01/2026

14

Paper 2 – Full Length Test – Afternoon Session

10/01/2026