CSS 2026 Anthropology Past Paper

Paper details

Examination

CSS

Year

2026

Subject

Anthropology

Paper

Single Paper

Subject type

Optional

Mode

Subjective

Questions recorded from this paper

These 7 question wordings are transcribed from CSS Vista’s structured Anthropology past-paper record for CSS 2026.

1. Q3 · AnthropologyFieldwork in anthropology is influenced by the researcher’s positionality, methodological choices, and social context. Discuss how biases can arise at different stages of fieldwork. Explain how anthropologists can uphold objectivity and epistemic responsibility in producing reliable knowledge.
2. Q7 · reciprocityBased on Malinowski’s analysis of the Kula ring, men maintain social influence through balanced reciprocity. Explain why the system would break down if participants began practicing negative reciprocity, considering its effects on trust, alliances, and social status.
3. Q2 · ethnicity and ethnic relationsCritically analyze the role of human agency in shaping and sustaining ethnic identities in multicultural societies. How do individuals and groups negotiate and mobilize their ethnic boundaries in social, political, and economic contexts?
4. Q5 · social inequalityDiscuss and analyze the socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of massive urbanization and the growth of urban slums. Use anthropological theories or empirical evidence to explain how social inequality, marginalization, and informal economies change community life and everyday practices.
5. Q4 · culturalDiscuss how Oscar Lewis’s concept of the “culture of poverty” can be applied to current global social problems such as rising urban slums, intergenerational unemployment, and educational disparities. In what ways does the concept illuminate cultural patterns, and in what ways does it obscure structural forces shaping poverty today?
6. Q6 · Socio-Cultural ChangeHistorically, writing has been a tool of political authority and control. How do contemporary media systems and the forces of globalization continue to shape power dynamics, influence public opinion, and drive socio-cultural change across societies? Discuss in the context of power, ideology, and global inequalities.
7. Q8 · Anthropological TheoriesFrom a feminist anthropological perspective, analyze how intersecting factors such as class, ethnicity, and religion influence women’s experiences of inequality and exclusion in Pakistan. How can these insights contribute to more effective women’s rights movements and policies?

Topic-wise Anthropology past-paper analysis.