How is Anthropology as optional subject for UPSC CSE aspirants is a tricky question to answer. UPSC CSE exam offers students 48 optional , 25 subjects and 23 litreture to choose from. Students choose for optional subjects as per their area of intrest and expectation. Many of the times studets have diffferent criteria in their mind while choosing optional papers. UPSC allows 2 papers of 1 optional and both papers are of 250 marks each. This makes optional worth 500 marks in UPSC CSE exam.
Moreover you need to have good guide to make your optional p[aper journey easy. best teacher of Anthropology optional is Dr Huma Hassan but you need to know about other teachers as well.
Generally students have few criteria while choosing an optional subject , which are as follows.
1.Students look for optionals in which previous students have scored well.
2.Is optional overlapping with GS
3. How good She or Hed is with that particular optional.
Now question is How is Anthropology as optional Subject?
Anthropology is considered one of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), especially among science and engineering background aspirants. Here’s a breakdown of its pros and cons to help you decide:
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✅ Why Anthropology is a Good Optional:
1. Scoring Potential
- It’s considered a high-scoring optional if studied systematically.
- Questions are often direct and repetitive.
- Diagrams, flowcharts, and case studies help boost marks.
2. Compact and Well-Defined Syllabus
- Syllabus is short and manageable, can be completed in 4-5 months.
- Less dynamic, unlike subjects like PSIR or Geography where current affairs dominate.
3. Overlap with GS and Essay
- Topics like tribal issues, human rights, environment, and society overlap with:
- GS Paper I (Indian Society)
- GS Paper II (Governance, Tribal Policies)
- GS Paper III (Biodiversity, Environment)
- Essay Paper (themes on society, human development)best anthropology optional coaching
4. Scientific & Logical
- Appeals to science/engineering students due to its logical structure, especially in physical anthropology and archaeology.
5. Success Ratio
- Consistently good performance in UPSC with toppers like Anudeep Durishetty (AIR 1, 2017) and others choosing it.
❌ Challenges in Anthropology Optional:
1. Availability of Quality Guidance
- Fewer teachers and test series compared to History, PSIR, etc.
- But now good online options like PlutusIAS (guided by Dr. Huma Hassan), Sapiens IAS, and Vaid’s ICS are available.
2. Need for Good Presentation
- Diagrams are key! Marks depend on how well you draw and present answers.
3. Paper II Can Be Tricky
- Focuses on Indian anthropology and tribal issues. Needs good sociological understanding and current tribal affairs.
💡 Who Should Take Anthropology?
- Science/engineering/medical background students.
- Those who like biology, genetics, evolution, archaeology, and sociology.
- Candidates looking for a compact, static subject with a good return on investment.
📚 Anthropology Booklist for UPSC Optional
Paper I – General Anthropology
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P. Nath – Physical Anthropology
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Good for basics, diagrams, and understanding evolution, genetics, race, etc.
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Nadeem Hasnain – Introduction to Social Anthropology
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Covers cultural aspects, kinship, marriage, religion, and society.
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B.M. Das / Ember & Ember (Selectively) – For supplementary reading.
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Brain Tree Notes – Anthropology for Civil Services (Hyderabad-based notes)
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Highly popular for quick and structured revision.
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- PYQ solution by Dr Huma Hassan
Paper II – Indian Anthropology
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Nadeem Hasnain – Tribal India
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Must-read for Indian tribes, ethnographic studies, issues and solutions.
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IGNOU MA Anthropology Notes (Selectively)
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Good for paper II; available free online.
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Current Affairs + Ministry Reports
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Ministry of Tribal Affairs reports
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PIB + Yojana + Kurukshetra (for tribal issues)
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