CUET Anthropology Syllabus 2026: Unit-Wise Topics & Prep Tips

Overview: CUET Anthropology paper is one of the important exams for students targeting Science UG courses. Go through the CUET Anthropology syllabus and get insights into the preparation strategies to score 250/250 on the exam.

Anthropology is one of the 23 domain-specific subjects in the CUET exam mapped for UG courses offered at many CUET-participating universities. The CUET Anthropology Syllabus helps you: 

• Know the important and high-weightage topics to be focused on.
• Organise and plan your study plan appropriately.

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CUET Anthropology Syllabus 2026: Overview

For the CUET exam, only the chapters and subjects covered in Class 12 are included in the Anthropology syllabus for CUET. 

• The Class 11 syllabus is not included in the CUET syllabus.
• The Anthropology syllabus has five units to be covered.
• There will be one question paper with 50 questions, of which all 50 must be attempted.
• You must go through the CUET exam analysis for Anthropology for 2025 to know how the paper may look in 2026, what type of questions were asked, and the difficulty level. 

CUET Anthropology Syllabus PDF Download Link 2026

CUET 2026 Anthropology Syllabus PDF

CUET Anthropology Syllabus 2026

The anthropology syllabus for CUET includes 5 major units with sub-topics. You must know how to attempt CUET question paper 2026 to score well on the exam.

Unit 1: Physical/Biological Anthropology

• Human Evolution: Theories of evolution (Darwinism, Lamarckism, Neo-Darwinism and Neo-Lamarckism); Living Primates and their features. Hominid evolution: Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, and other Homo sapiens
• Human Variation (Body size, Body shape, Skin color, Genetic traits).
• Human Genetics: Mendelian Genetics (Laws of Inheritance), Dominant, recessive, sex-linked, sexlimited and sex-influenced traits. Monogenic, polygenic and multifactorial inheritance. Chromosomes and their aberrations.
• Forces of Evolution, Genetic Drift, Mutation, Natural Selection and Gene flow.
• Genetic Markers: Blood Groups (ABO, MN, Rh(D) and their distribution), DNA as a geneticmarker in population diversity.

Unit 2: Archaeological Anthropology

• Stone Age: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic Cultures.
• Development of tool typology and technology. Evolution of stone tool technology: Choppers, Hand Axes, scrapers, Blade Tools Microliths, celts unifacial and bifacial tools, Pottery.
• Metal Age: Discovery and use of Bronze and Iron.
• Stratigraphy, Archeological dating (Dating of sites and materials with relative and absolute (carbon 14 and potassium-argon dating methods).
• Important Archaeological Sites (Sohan, Burzahom and Nevasa; Indus Valley Civilization.

Unit 3: Socio-Cultural Anthropology

• Family types (Nuclear, Joint, Extended) and their Functions; Marriage: Cultural variation in forms of Marriage (Monogamy, Polygamy); Kinship: rules of Descent (Matrilineal, Patrilineal).
• Concepts of Culture: Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism; Socialization and Cultural Change (Diffusion, Acculturation).
• Functions of religion in Society; Beliefs: Totemism, Animism, Animatism, Magic, and Shamanism.
• Subsistence Strategies: Hunting, Gathering and Agricultural practices.
• Traditional Political Systems: Bands, Tribes, Chiefdoms; Power, Authority, and Social Control in Traditional Societies.

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Unit 4: Linguistic and Tribal Anthropology

• Language as a Cultural and Social Phenomena.
• Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in India (festivals, house types, rituals and food habits)
• Distribution and Characteristics of Tribes in India: Economic, Social, and Political Organization.
• Major Indian Tribes (Santhals, Bhils, Gonds, etc.), Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Social Movements: Features; Ecological, Class Based, Caste Based and Tribal Movements.

Unit 5: Social Change and Applied Anthropology

• Caste System and Social Stratification in India.
• Impact of Colonialism on Indian Society; Changes in Indian Society: Modernization and Globalization. Anthropology and development; Tribal development.
• Role of Anthropology in Public Health and Personal Identification (skeletal material, blood groups and fingerprints).
• Change and development in Industrial Society.
• Challenges of Cultural Diversity.

How to Prepare CUET Anthropology Syllabus 2026?

The below-mentioned CUET Anthropology preparation tips will help you pass this test successfully: 

• Clear Understanding of the Syllabus & Exam Pattern: You must thoroughly understand everything in the Anthropology syllabus for CUET.
• Develop a Preparation Plan: Before preparing for the exam, make a balanced study plan. You need to plan ahead and properly divide your time across several subjects.
• Check Important Topics: Determine which topics require more in-depth coverage and which are easy to cover. Use CUET mock tests and previous year papers to know the exam's difficulty level and types of questions.
• Regular Practice: Doing enough practice to do well on the CUET 2026 Anthropology test paper is important. You must complete as many sample papers, mock examinations, and CUET question papers from the previous year as possible.
• Timely Revision: Reviewing previously learned material is essential for enhanced preparation. Set aside at least 2-3 weeks entirely for revision purposes.

Preparation Books for Anthropology Syllabus for CUET 2026

Studying from the right books is crucial for successfully preparing the CUET Anthropology syllabus. Choose books with clear and concise explanations. 

Here are some recommended books to prepare the CUET Anthropology syllabus pdf: 

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Key Takeaways

• Know the question paper structure and syllabus to decide on the preparation strategy.
• Complete all the fundamentals of 5 CUET Anthropology Syllabus 2026 units from your NCERT books. 
• Select the latest and updated books with 30-40 chapter-wise practice questions.
• Take weekly and monthly tests to analyze your score and improve your weaknesses.
• Get your mocks analysed by teachers or experts to improve accuracy and your score.
• You can join Supergrads CUET online coaching 2026 for marathon sessions for your performance evaluation and expert guidance.