West Bengal PSC Syllabus
WBPSC Optional Paper - Anthropology
Paper – I
Major branches of anthropology:
1.1 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance :
(a) Social-cultural Anthropology,
(b) Biological Anthropology,
(c) Archaeological Anthropology,
(d) Linguistic Anthropology.
1.2 Brief outline of the growth of anthropology. Enlightenment. Colonialism and anthropology.
2.1 Theories of organic evolution. Human evolution and emergence of Man:
(a) Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution,
(b) Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre-Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian),
(c) Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology.
2.2 Neutral theory of molecular evolution.
2.3 Concept of evolutionary biology: Skeletal changes, (skull, vertebral column, pelvic girdle, hind limb).
2.4 Characteristics of primates, Primate classification (general), Features and distribution of New World Monkey, Old World Monkey, Asian and African Apes.
2.5 Theories of human origin.
2.6 Geological time scale with special reference to Pleistocene epoch.
2.7 Distribution, characteristics and phylogenetic status :
(a) Parapithecus
(b) Dryopithecus, Sivapithecus
(c) Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis
(d) Homo erectus (Java Man, Peking Man)
(e) Archaic Homo sapiens
(f) Neanderthal Man – La-chapelle-Aux-Saints, Tabun Man
(g) Anatomically Modern Homo sapiens – Cromagnon, Grimaldi, Chancelade
3.1 Methods – Mendelism, Twin-study, Cytogenetics, Population genetics.
3.2 Biological basis of inheritance: DNA structure and replication, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), Variable Number of Tandem Repeat(s) (VNTRs), Short Tandem Repeat(s) (STRs) protein synthesis, gene, allele, cell division.
3.3 Concept of Human Genome : nuclear genome, mitochondrial genome, Chromosome and chromosomal aberrations in man (Numerical and structural aberrations, point mutation), Satellite DNA.
3.4 Patterns of inheritance – autosomal, sex-chromosomal, multifactorial, polygenic, sex determination, sex influenced.
3.5 Application of human genetics – consanguinity, inbreeding, genetic load, genetic counselling, forensic anthropology, personal identification, paternity identification, DNA fingerprinting, dermatoglyphics.
4.1 Concept of Race, racism.
4.2 Basis of variation – Morphological (hair, eye) metric (stature, head shape), Polymorphic (genetic marker) – blood group (ABO, Rh), Hb, PGM, HP, Y-chromosome STR, mtDNA.
4.3 Concept of Human physique and somatotype.
4.4 Concept of ethnic groups – Mongoloid, Caucasoid, Negroid, Australoid.
5.1 Concept of human growth, stages of growth – Pre-natal, Post-natal, Adolescent.
5.2 Factors affecting the growth and development – genetic, environmental, nutritional, socioeconomic.
5.3 Methodology of growth study.
6.1 Concept of Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases. (Malaria and Type-2 diabetes respectively). Nutrition Deficiency related diseases.
6.2 Nutrition – concept of Macro and Micro nutrients and Deficiency.
7.1 Concept of Human adaptation and acclimatization – hot, cold and high altitude. Bergman’s and Allen’s Rules.
7.2 Anthropometry and its uses in understanding human adaptation (BMI and CI), Physiological variable (blood pressure, pulse rate), Body composition (fat patterning).
8.1 Tool typology and technology of tool manufacturing.
8.2 Excavation, Exploration, Site survey, Application of GIS
8.3 Concept of Dating: Absolute (C14, K-Ar) Relative (Dendrochronology and Stratigraphy).
8.4 Features and distribution of prehistoric cultures with reference to India and Europe:
(a) Paleolithic
(b) Mesolithic
(c) Neolithic
(d) Chalcolithic
(e) Iron Age.
9.1 Brief outline of Anthropological Theories: Evolutionism, Diffusionism, Functionalism, Structuralism, Symbolism and Interpretative Approach, Post-structuralism and Post-modernism – Hermeneutics and Phenomenological Anthropology.
9.2 Concept (brief outline): Social structure, Social organization, Gender, Institution, Group, Community.
10.1 Definition and features of culture and civilization.
10.2 Cultural relativism, Acculturation, Enculturation, Diffusion, Cultural lag, World view, Symbol. 10.3 Anthropological approaches to the study of civilization.
11.1 Family – Definition, Types, functions, recent changes.
11.2 Marriage – Definition, Types, functions, recent changes. Marriage payments (dowry and bride wealth). Incest regulation, Preferential and prescribed forms of marriage.
11.3 Kinship - Definition of kinship system. Importance, Types of kinship systems, kin term classification.
11.4 Rules of Descent and alliance, Rules of residence, Descent groups.
12.1 Concept and approaches.
12.2 Major ways of subsistence – Hunting-gathering, Pastoralism, Horticulture and Settled Agriculture.
12.3 Production, Distribution (Reciprocity, Market exchange, Re-distribution), Consumption, Gift exchange.
12.4 Peasant.
13.1 Definition and approach.
13.2 Power, authority, social control, law, social sanction, governance.
13.3 Concepts of Band, Tribe, Chiefdom and State.
13.4 Political movement - Approaches of study, Types of socio-political movements (Revitalization, Messianic, Social solidarity, regional and Ethnic). 13.5 Ethnicity – Definition, concept of ethnic boundary.
14.1 Definition of religion, functions of religion.
14.2 Approaches to the study of religion (intellectual, psychological, functional, interpretative).
14.3 Concepts: Myth, magic, witchcraft, sorcery, taboo, totem, divination, rituals, symbolism in religion.
14.4 Religious specialists – shaman, witch-doctor, priest.
15.1 Definition and features.
15.2 Theories/approaches.
15.3 Types – Caste and class.
15.4 Concepts: Status, role, age-set/age-grade, social mobility.
16.1 Definition, scope and approaches/methods of ecological anthropology.
16.2 Concept of culture ecology.
17.1 Development anthropology – Definition and scope, development, globalization.
17.2 Legal anthropology and Human Rights.
17.3 Anthropology of communication – visual anthropology, mass media, popular culture.
17.4 Anthropology of gender.
18.1 Qualitative and quantitative approaches, ethnography, fieldwork.
18.2 Basic methods/techniques of data collection – observation (special reference participant observation), interview, case study, schedule, questionnaire, genealogy, PRA and RRA.
18.3 Application of statistical principles – Descriptive statistics – central tendency (mean, median, mode), standard deviation, standard error, Testing of hypothesis: t-test, chi-square test.
Paper – II
1.1 Colonialism and Anthropology in India.
1.2 Phases of development and major trends of Anthropology in India.
1.3 Idea of Indian tradition of Anthropology. Contribution of Indian scholars : S.C.Roy, N.K. Bose, M.N. Srinivas, D.N. Majumdar, T.C. Das, S.C. Sinha and S.S. Sarkar.
2.1 Prehistoric cultures: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Iron age.
2.2 Indus Valley Civilization (origin, distribution, features with special reference to architectural, socio-economic and religious; decline; Indus script.)
2.3 Vedic society (early and late): Society, economy and polity.
2.4 Contribution of tribal cultures to Indian civilization.
2.5 Ethnoarchaeology in India with special reference to mortuary practices and megalithic burials.
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 morphology, anthropometry and genetic markers (ABO, Hb, HP, mtDNA).
4.1 Demography: concept, theories and methods.
4.2 Structure and features of Indian population; Rates and Ratios : Fertility, Mortality; Factors influencing fertility and mortality. Dynamics of demography in rural, urban and tribal contexts. Migration and effects of migration.
4.3 Linguistic elements in Indian population (Grierson and S.K.Chatterjee).
5.1 Cultural categories of ancient India :Varnashram, Purushartha, Karma and Rebirth.
5.2 Caste system – origin, features, functions and change in caste system, Dominant Caste, Jajmani system.
5.3 Structure of Indian civilization: Theoretical understanding (R.Redfield, N.K.Bose).
5.4 Concepts for understanding Indian civilization: Sanskritization, Universalization-Parochialization, Tribe-peasant & Tribe-caste continuum, State Formation and Sacred Complex.
5.5 Idea of folk and folk culture, folkloric elements in Indian culture (proverbs, folksong, folkart with special reference to West Bengal), folklore and identity, performances.
5.6 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity on Indian society.
6.1 Development of village study in India and its significance.
6.2 Types of village, social organization of Indian village (agricultural).
6.3 Concepts developed through village studies in India.
6.4 Changes in rural society in post-Independent India.
7.1 Concepts of SC, ST, OBC, minority, women, children, aged – status, constitutional provisions, problems, programmes of development.
7.2 Linguistic minority and its problems.
8.1 Ethnic strains in Indian population, Geographical, Economic and linguistic distribution of Indian tribes.
8.2 Major problems of Indian tribes with special reference to issues of land and forest.
8.3 Plan and programmes for the development of the STs; problems/critique of tribal development; five year plans and Indian tribes – a review.
8.4 Constitutional safeguards for STs, 5th and 6th Schedules.
8.5 Socio-economic changes in tribal millieu – Impact of urbanization, industrialization, forest policy, development projects on tribal people. Changes in tribal society in colonial and post-Independent periods. Impact of modern democratic institutions on traditional political system.
8.6 Tribal movement (Nature and distribution), Emergence of Ethnicity, Issues of Identity, Tribe and Nation-State, Indian National Movement and Indian tribes, Regionalism, Jharkhand movement, Santal movement.
9.1 Critique, approaches, issues of women development, cultural factors of development, displacement and rehabitation, sustainable development, alternative to development.
9.2 Role of NGO in development.
9.3 Role of anthropology in development.
10.1 Human Rights and advocacy of anthropology in the contexts of women, children, health and education.
10.2 Social-cultural dimensions of health: Bio-medical, medical anthropology and ethno medicine. 10.3 Issues in context: Sect, Cult, Religions pluralism in India, Visual image and Indian society, Public Culture in India, Refugee, Civil Society, Violence, Traditional Knowledge.
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