Anthropology Optional for UPSC: Preparation Strategy and Best Coaching

December 18, 2023

10 Minutes

Introduction

Anthropology has become a top choice for UPSC aspirants as reflected in the increasing number of candidates opting for this subject. In our previous blog, we covered the Syllabus, Trends, Selection, Recommended Books, and How to initiate your journey with Anthropology Optional for UPSC . While having an understanding and interest in the subject is crucial, scoring well in Anthropology optional for UPSC demands a profound grasp of the content, coupled with a well-crafted strategy to tackle the specific questions posed by UPSC. In this second and final part, I will delve into the preparation strategy for the subject and highlight the best IAS Coaching in Delhi for studying Anthropology.

Anthropology Optional Preparation Strategy

Adopting a good strategy to start with an optional subject is always beneficial as it sets a solid foundation for your preparation. It makes your preparation stronger, helps you understand the subject better, and lets you manage your time well between the optional and required parts of the exam.

Begin With the Basics

Whether you're just starting with Anthropology or have some experience, focus on understanding the basics and conceptual clarity when you begin preparing for the optional subject. Don't hurry to finish the syllabus. It's better to understand a few things well than to cover many topics quickly.

Some of the important concepts that you’ll need to understand well before delving into anthropology optional are Culture, Society, Evolution, Language and Communication, Kinship and Family, Economic Systems, Political Systems, Cultural Change, Archaeological Methods, Biological Diversity. Start your preparation with these topics as they are the roots of the subject. Let’s understand this with an example. Let’s say you started studying Indian Tribes and you get this question in your weekly test.

Question: Explain the significance of the matrilineal kinship system in the context of a particular Indian tribe.

Let's break it down: Here, you're dealing with a question from Paper 2 of the syllabus but to answer it well, you need to go back to the basics of kinship (Paper 1). Without grasping the fundamental concept of kinship and the different types of kinship systems (like matrilineal and patrilineal), attempting to explain the significance of a matrilineal kinship system for a specific tribe would be like trying to solve a puzzle without knowing what the pieces look like. So, nailing the basics first sets you up to handle more complex questions later on.

Choose One Basic Book and Use Others for Reference

Anthropology books are mostly very comprehensive and lengthy in nature. I advise everyone to list down the basic books for each section of the subject and then use other resources for reference and value addition. Let’s consider Physical Anthropology as the reference topic for this explanation.

Basic Book for Physical Anthropology:

• P. Nath's book on Physical Anthropology

Additional Resources:

• Ember and Ember
• IGNOU PG study material
• "Anthropology Simplified" by Vivek Bhasme

Advice to approach Physical Anthropology:

• Physical Anthropology by P. Nath needs to be studied topic-wise comprehensively. It might be challenging for newcomers, but with time and familiarity with anthropology terminology, it’ll become more understandable.
• Focus on the core book, P. Nath, for your primary study. Use additional resources like Ember and Ember, IGNOU PG material, and "Anthropology Simplified" by Vivek Bhasme for clarification and added insights, rather than reading them extensively. This approach streamlines your preparation and enhances your understanding.
• I’m assuming that you’ll keep previous years’ papers with you while studying a topic. These additional resources can be referred to if you've spotted a topic that your basic book can’t explain properly.
• Mark topics, conduct research, and finalize your approach for efficient preparation. With each topic, your preparation will become better and coherent.

To help you better, I’ve listed the basic books for some of the main topics of Anthropology optional in the syllabus break-up above. Please refer to them. Additional resources have also been mentioned separately along with the books and you can find the reference books for other subjects in our blog Best books for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024

Keep the Syllabus Close

Optional subject books tend to be very detailed, and if you're passionate about the subject, you might feel like reading everything. However, this can be a time-consuming approach. When preparing for optionals, it's crucial to stay focused on your syllabus and look at past years' questions.

This helps you avoid getting too caught up emotionally and reading every book from start to finish. Keep your study plan targeted and efficient to make the most of your preparation time.

Make Notes Wisely

When you're studying anthropology, it might be tempting to note down every little thing, but that takes a lot of time. Instead, a smarter approach is to keep your notes crisp and clear. Write them so that when you review the topic later, even after a month, the notes quickly remind you of all the crucial details you need to know.

This way, you can write good answers with the right amount of important information, staying within the word limits. Take a look at my simple notes on "Ethnographic Profiles of Indian Tribes" for an example.

Prime Focus on the Static Part

The Anthropology optional syllabus is relatively concise, with a significant portion being static, covering areas like physical anthropology, theories, and evolution. This section can be particularly high-scoring as it mainly requires memorization and a clear understanding of the concepts.

Therefore, it's crucial to prioritise and focus your prime efforts on mastering this part of the syllabus for optimal performance in the exam.

Keep Yourself Updated

While anthropology is often seen as a static subject, attracting many candidates, it's important to note that certain topics in the syllabus are dynamic. Examples include Indian anthropology, Genetics, the caste system, and political issues of the tribal population.

• Stay vigilant by keeping an eye on newspapers, monthly magazines and government publications to gather relevant points that can enhance your answers to these dynamic questions. Best resources to keep a track include the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Annual Reports for welfare schemes and their impact, and case studies.
• You can also use editorials to align current examples in your answers. For example, in a question related to a hot topic from Biological Anthropology, Genome Sequencing, you can add vital information from this recent to discover the 

Make the Best Use of the Internet

Many anthropology Mains questions involve diagrams and examples. Relying solely on books may fall short, so explore the internet for straightforward explanations with visuals, particularly for topics like genetics.

This aids your photographic memory, helping you recall information more effectively during the exam. Also, “Anthropology Simplified" by Vivek Bhasme is a good source for diagrams.

Attribute When Necessary

When writing answers in anthropology optional papers, always answer like an expert. Whether providing definitions, quotes, criticisms, or examples, remember to attribute them to the respective anthropologist and mention the information source. This approach lifts the value of your answer and shows a keen attention to detail and a deep understanding of the subject.

The University of Alabama’s official website is a very important source for various theories. After a thorough study, you can cite examples from these theories, along with the source, for value addition. There’s only one way to do this, cramming, and you’ll have to do it if you choose this subject.

If you’re finding it difficult to strategize your preparation, you can refer to my detailed blog on How to Prepare for UPSC.

Best Coaching for Anthropology for UPSC

While Anthropology is often considered relatively easier compared to popular choices like PSIR, History, and Geography, the lack of guidance and resources for the subject makes it equally competitive in my opinion. I'm listing the best coaching classes for anthropology here. I will not rank them and give you multiple options as I haven't attended any classes at these institutes. My opinion, unlike my article on Drishti IAS fees and Vajiram and Ravi Fees, is purely based on general research, including institute visits, conversations with current aspirants and online information. I had planned to enroll in one of these classes during my UPSC preparation, but due to the pandemic disrupting coaching and other plans, I had to return to my hometown.

1. NEXT IAS (Dr Sudhir Kumar)

Dr. Sudhir Kumar is a respected figure in the anthropology optional coaching community and currently serves as an instructor at NEXT IAS. With over 8 years of experience in UPSC coaching, his anthropology notes are widely recognized among aspirants. Although I couldn't gather much information about his teaching methods during my visit to the institute for writing about NEXT IAS Fees 2024 and Admission Counselling, I watched one of his recent YouTube lectures and found his teaching style commendable.

In his introductory lecture, Dr. Sudhir Kumar presented a clear explanation of Anthropology, conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis of the subject as an optional, and provided a highly detailed overview of the syllabus. His ability to convey these concepts was easy to comprehend. Based on these observations, I believe Dr. Sudhir Kumar is a fitting addition to the list.

NEXT IAS Anthropology Optional Fees: ₹50,000/- (inclusive of GST)

2. LevelUP IAS (Mr Karandeep Singh)

In recent years, Mr. Karandeep Singh has gained recognition as a highly esteemed faculty member for Anthropology optional at LevelUp IAS. With four Mains exam attempts in this subject, he brings a valuable perspective. Having watched several of his online lectures, I appreciate his engaging teaching style, maintaining a balanced pace that suits students. His clear explanations in basic language are particularly helpful for those with a basic understanding of English. Though not handwritten, he provides printed notes to students after classes.

During an orientation class, Mr. Karandeep Singh advised students to separate optional and GS courses, emphasizing that combining them can be burdensome, leading to sacrifices in sleep and making revision difficult. He shared his own experience of facing challenges in Mains preparation when his focus leaned more towards prelims. Positive feedback from students further supports his inclusion in this list.

LevelUP IAS Anthropology optional fees- ₹47,000 for offline course and ₹45,000 for online mode.

3. Plutus IAS (Dr Huma Hasan)

In my discussions about Anthropology optional teachers with a few aspirant friends, one name consistently came up - Dr. Huma Hasan, a Ph.D. graduate and gold-medalist from JNU. Many students spoke highly of her teaching style, and although I initially didn't plan to write an article on this topic, it caught my attention as Anthropology was also my optional subject.

During another assignment, I came across her handwritten notes and a few student papers that she had reviewed. What struck me was the attention to detail. She meticulously checked every word on every page of the answer book and provided precise remarks. Her handwritten notes were also well-regarded. Plutus IAS has another positive aspect – their batch size never exceeds 50, which includes students enrolled in online, offline, as well as hybrid courses. I also came to know that she takes one-on-one doubt sessions for her students and assists them in their preparation.

I also watched one of her videos on YouTube and observed that although she made sure everything was covered, her dictation was a bit fast for me. A balance in pace could have worked better for me. The combination of these factors, along with the positive feedback from students, makes me inclined to list her here.

Plutus IAS Anthropology Optional Fees: ₹55,000/- for online, ₹60,000/- for offline and ₹65,000/-

Conclusion

Choosing Anthropology as your UPSC optional needs a smart and focused approach. Besides figuring out your interest, I suggest looking at previous years’ questions, watching a few YouTube lectures, and checking answer sheets of UPSC toppers to understand how UPSC deals with the subject. Have a clear strategy for your studies, focus on the basics, and think about getting good coaching to boost your UPSC journey. But most importantly, trust your instincts – following your passion in your preparation always helps.

If you're having trouble finding the right study plan for your overall preparation, you can take a look at my detailed blog on How to Prepare for UPSC.