| Unit | Detailed Syllabus Topics |
| Unit I | - History, Development, and Scope: History, development, aim and scope of Anthropology, relationship with other sciences, different branches of Anthropology (including Linguistic Anthropology) and their interrelationship.
- Research Methodology and Methods: Concepts of epistemology, ontology and theoretical perspectives. Types of research (qualitative and quantitative), research design, hypothesis. Fieldwork and fieldwork tradition; Ethnography, Observation, Interview, Case Study, Life History, Focus group, PRA, RRA, Genealogical Method, Schedules and Questionnaires, Grounded Theory, Exploration and Excavation, GIS.
- Statistics: Concept of variables, sampling, measures of central tendency and dispersion, parametric and nonparametric bivariate and multivariate (linear regression and logistic regression) statistical tests.
- Techniques of Analysis: Content analysis, Discourse analysis and Narratives.
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| Unit II | - Evolutionary Theories: Lamarckism, Neo-Lamarckism, Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism, Synthetic theory, neutral theory of molecular evolution, concept of cladogenesis and anagenesis, punctuated equilibrium, selection.
- Primatology: Trends in Primate radiation; Primate classification and distribution of extinct and extant species. Characteristics of primates: morphological (hair), skeletal (cranial, post cranial, dental, brain), physical (opposability of thumb), locomotion (quadrupedalism, brachiation and bipedalism) and posture, Primate social behaviour. Extant Primates (Prosimii, Anthropoidea) and morphological/anatomical characteristics of Human, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Orangutan and Gibbon. Fossils of extinct Primates: Oligocene-Miocene fossils (Parapithecus; Gigantopithecus, Aegyptopithecus, Dryopithecus, Ramapithecus and Sivapithecus).
- Hominid Evolution: Pre-hominid groups (Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Orrorin tugenensis, Ardipithecus ramidus). Early Hominids (Australopithecus species). Early Transitional Human (Homo habilis). Characteristics and distribution of Homo erectus (Turkana boy, Java man, Peking man, Dmanisi, Homo floresiensis). Archaic sapiens (Homo heidelbergensis, Rhodesian Man, Jinniushan, Narmada Man). Neandertal man (Distribution, features, phylogeny). Anatomically Modern Homo sapiens (Omo, Cro-magnon, Chancelade, Grimaldi, Jinniushan, Lake Mungo). Dispersal hypotheses (Out of Africa, Multiregional, Partial Replacement).
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| Unit III | - Human Variation and Classification: Typological, Populational and Clinal Models; overview of Classification by Blumenbach, Deniker, Hooton, Coon, Garn and Birdsell. Ethnic Classification and distribution of Indian Populations (H.H. Risley; B. S. Guha; S. S. Sarkar). Linguistic distribution of ethnic groups.
- Human Genetics: Cytogenetics, Mendelian Genetics, Twin Genetics, Sib Pair methods, Population Genetics, Molecular Genetics. Cytogenetics (cell cycle, standard karyotyping, banding techniques, chromosomal abnormalities, FISH, Lyon’s hypothesis, telomere and centromere importance). Linkage, chromosome mapping, genetic imprinting.
- Modes of Inheritance: Autosomal, sex-linked, sex-influenced, sex-limited, modifying/suppressor/selfish genes, multiple allelic, multifactorial, and polygenic inheritance (dermatoglyphics, indices, ridge counts, palmar formulas, flexion creases).
- Population & Molecular Genetics: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; mating patterns, inbreeding coefficient, genetic load, genetic isolate, genetic drift, genetic distance; genetic polymorphism. DNA, RNA, genetic code, RFLPs, VNTRs, STRs, SNPs, Mitochondrial DNA, genic/genomic mutations.
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| Unit IV | - Human Growth and Development: Basic principles, prenatal and postnatal phases of growth. Growth curves (Velocity, Distance, Acceleration, Scammon’s curve), Catch up and Catch down growth. Aging and senescence (somatic, skeletal, dental maturation). Factors affecting growth (Genetic, Environmental, Secular trends). Methods of studying human growth (Longitudinal, Cross-sectional, Mixed, Linked). Body composition.
- Human Adaptation: Allen’s and Bergmann’s rule; Human Adaptability Programme; adaptation to heat, cold, high altitude.
- Somatotyping & Demography: Concept and Development (Kretschmer, Sheldon, Parnoll, Health-Carter). Multidisciplinary nature of demography; Fertility, Morbidity, mortality, Migration (concepts and determinants); Selection intensity.
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| Unit V | - Prehistoric Archaeology Concepts: Ethno-archaeology, experimental, environmental, settlement, cognitive, geo-archaeology, action archaeology. Theoretical paradigms.
- Dating Methods: Typology, seriation, geo-archaeological, obsidian, hydration, chemical dating, oxygen isotope, fluorine, dendrochronology, radio-carbon, fission track, thermo-luminescence, potassium-argon, varve clay, cross dating, amino acid racemization, palaeomagnetic.
- Paleoenvironment: Major geological stages and climatic changes (glacial/interglacial, ice age, pluvial phases). Evidences of quarternary climatic changes. Site formation.
- Lithic Tool Typology/Technology & Cultures: Lower Palaeolithic (pebble tools, bifaces, handaxes, cleavers); Middle Palaeolithic (flake/core tools, scrapers, points); Upper Palaeolithic (blades, knives, burins); Mesolithic (microliths); Neolithic (celt, adze, ring stones). Overview of European Lithic Cultures (Acheulian, Mousterian, Perigordian, Magdalenian, etc.). Early Farming Cultures of the Near East (Jericho, Jarmo, Çatal Huyuk, Shanidar).
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| Unit VI | Prehistoric Cultures of India:- Lower Palaeolithic: Pebble tool culture (Soan); Acheulian culture (Madrasian, Bhimbetka, Narmada valley, Hathnora).
- Middle Palaeolithic: Belan valley, Bhimbetka, Nevasa, Narmada valley.
- Upper Palaeolithic: Renigunta, Billa Surgam, Patne, Bhimbetka, Son/Belan Valleys.
- Mesolithic: Economy, society, Post Pleistocene changes, microlithic technology. Sites: Bagor, Tilwara, Langhnaj, Bhimbetka, Sarai Nahar Rai.
- Neolithic: Consequences of food production, settlements, craft specialization. Sites: Burzahom, Gufkral, Ahar, Navdatoli, Daimabad, Inamgaon, Brahmagiri, Nagarjunakonda.
- Cave Art: Bhimbetka, Adamgarh.
- Indus Civilization & Later Ages: Village expansion, metal technology, art, architecture. Sites: Amri, Kot Diji, Kalibangan, Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Lothal, Dholavira. Pottery Traditions (OCP, Black and Red ware, PGW, NBP). Bronze/Copper Age, Iron Age, and Urban Revolution. Megaliths (menhir, dolmen, topical, cist, cairn circle, sarcophagi).
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| Unit VII | Conceptual Understanding of Social Anthropology:- Culture & Society: Attributes, Holism, Acculturation, Enculturation, Culture Shock, Cultural Relativism, Great/Little Tradition. Groups, Institutions, Status and Role. Incest, Endogamy, Exogamy, Rites of passage.
- Social Institutions: Family (types, rules of residence, functions, changes). Marriage (types, functions, marital transactions, bride price, dowry). Kinship (Descent, terminology, matrilineal puzzle, clan, lineage).
- Economic Anthropology: Theories (Malinowski, Formal, Substantivist, Marxist), Livelihoods, subsistence, division of labour, Exchange, reciprocity, Kula, Potlatch, Jajmani.
- Legal & Political: Anthropology of Law, Social Sanctions. Political processes in band, tribe, chiefdom, state; Conflicts, Nations, democracy.
- Religion & Belief: Animism, animatism, totemism, taboo, religious specialists, Magic, Rituals
- Social Change: Assimilation, Integration, Syncretism.
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| Unit VIII | - Theories in Social Anthropology: Evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan, Fraser, Maine); Diffusionism; Historical Particularism (Boas); Functionalism (Malinowski); Structural-Functionalism (Radcliffe-Brown, Firth, Parsons); Structuralism (Levi-Strauss); Culture and Personality (Mead, Benedict, Linton); Cultural Ecology/Neo-evolutionism (Leslie White, Julian Steward); Cultural Materialism (Marvin Harris); Symbolic Anthropology (Victor Turner, Mary Douglas); Cognitive Anthropology; Deep Ethnography (Clifford Geertz); Anthropology and Gender; Postmodernism/Poststructuralism (Foucault, Derrida, Bourdieu); Ethnicity (Barth, Jeffery, Weber).
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| Unit IX | - Indian Anthropology: Stages in the Development of Indian Anthropology. Concepts: Social Stratification (Caste), SC, Dalit, OBC, Nomadic Groups. Revivalist/Nativist movements, Peasant movements. Tribe, ST, PVTGs, Tribal movements (Birsa, Naga), Tribal Development. Indian Village Studies (S.C. Dube, McKim Marriott, M.N. Srinivas). Constitutional Safeguards for SC/ST, Panchayati Raj Institutions, SHGs. Theoretical ideas: Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization, Sacred Complex, Nature-Man-Spirit Complex. Early Indian Anthropologists (G.S. Ghurye, B.S. Guha, S.C. Roy, L.P. Vidyarthi, M.N. Srinivas, N.K. Bose, D.N. Majumdar, etc.).
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| Unit X | - Applied and Action Anthropology: Concepts and Theories: Applied, Action, Engaged, Experimental, Urban, Public, Medical, Visual, Business, and Forensic Anthropology; Genomic Studies, Genetic Counseling, Ergonomics, Kinanthropometry.
- Development & Interventions: Community Development Projects (Rural, Urban, Tribal); Revisits, Re-studies, Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
- Anthropological Approaches: Public health, education, nutrition, land alienation, bonded labour, housing, gender issues, relief, rehabilitation, identity crisis, aging. Development Strategies (Plan/Sub Plan). Role of NGOs in Development. Empowerment of Women, LGBT groups.
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