Anthropology Optional Strategy - By N.K. Vaid Sir Vaid’s ICS Delhi

Q. Who should choose Anthropology as an optional / How to assess oneself before choosing it / What are the criteria for choosing it as optional?

Ans. It is a very subjective question. It can be answered in different ways. Anthropology is not a common subject. Even at the college level, very few institutes offer this subject. It is not an issue if you don’t have an idea about anthropology; everybody has read something or the other during school or college. As far as physical anthropology is concerned, biology and agriculture students are familiar about that. If we talk about social issues, students with sociology background study it. With respect to social change, concepts like westernization, sanskritisation, joint family, caste, etc. are taught at the school/college level. Even topics related to tribes are very common. So, if you go through the syllabus, interest develops naturally. Selecting this subject will never be a problem. As majority of the aspirants these days are from engineering background, there are a large number of them who are opting for anthropology.

Q. What is its success ratio in UPSC CSE / On an average, how many candidates appear with this subject?

Ans. The number varies a lot. Back in 2008, hardly about 250 students appeared with anthropology. Today, approximately 1500 students appear with this subject. As far as results are concerned, since 2001, perhaps only once the result has been less than ten per cent. Otherwise this is perhaps the only subject in which the results have been consistently so high.

Q. Is it a safe optional?

Ans. There is nothing like a safe or unsafe optional. Actually, it depends on the candidate’s caliber and the tutor’s ability to let you do it.

Q. What are the things that need to be kept in mind while preparing for it / What is the ideal approach to prepare this subject?

Ans. I don’t think it requires a separate approach. One issue is that most of the candidates, particularly from the technical backgrounds, have poor English communication. They don’t have a command on the language. If you have command, you can do anything. Problems will be there in every subject; they should not be sustained, they should be overcome. For example, considering physical anthropology, most of the candidates do not have a background in biology but they keep reading and gradually they master it. Therefore, anything can be learnt through hard work and through proper guidance.

Q. Are study materials available for it?

Ans. There are ample study materials available for every subject. The problem here is there is too much of study material available. Therefore, I always tell my students, reading too much does not make you a bigger IAS. You need clarity of concept or definition, you need logic to accept or reject that concept, you need examples to support that logic or case study, and you need to know how to present it diagrammatically. Study material is never an issue with any subject.

Q. Is quality guidance available for it?

Ans. There are eight institutes in Delhi where anthropology coaching is available. It is available in Hyderabad also. You do have some courses which are popular.

Q. Which books can be referred to for it?

Ans. If you have a good study material, you need only a limited number of books. Also, you need to refer to only limited content from those books. The book that I have written is the only book that has been written for UPSC. You can take help of other books. Books written by B M Das, D K Bhattacharya, Hasnain, etc. are some of the suggested reading.

• Besides, for anthropology, you have to consult some reports of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

My upcoming book on caste, ‘The Truth About Caste and Other Aspects’, talks about caste and other issues. This book will be helpful in social issues, history, sociology and anthropology. It will also help candidates in preparing for General Studies, Essay and Interview.

Q. How to start preparation?

Ans. Beginners can start with the book ‘Anthropology’ by Ember and Ember. It is quite a basic book and written in a very lucid language. They can also start with Tamil Nadu State Board’s books on anthropology. They come in two volumes and are easy to comprehend. Also they can read the 11^th 12^th class NCERT books on sociology (Indian Society, Social Change) and biology.

Q. Will it help in General Studies/ Essay/Interview also?

Ans. In my class, on the first day itself, I tell my students that the job of anthropology is not only to make you an IAS, but to make you a better human. Ultimately that is what counts. Besides, anthropology as a subject that deals with social issues, economy, polity, religion, tribal issues and social change which definitely help candidates in preparing for General Studies, Essay and Interview.