UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies

Question 57: Geography

The tribal population in Andaman and Nicobar Islands belongs to the

aAustraloid race

bCaucasoid race

cMongoloid race

dNegroid race

AnswerThe answer is (d).

The Negrito tribes of the Andaman Islands (the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese) belong to the Negroid (Negrito) stock, with dark skin, short height and tightly curled hair. This is the answer the key follows. The Nicobarese of the Nicobar Islands are generally classed as Mongoloid.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Australoid stock is found among tribes of central India, not the Andamanese.
(b) Caucasoid peoples are not the tribal population of these islands.
(c) The Nicobarese are Mongoloid, but the better-known Andaman tribes are not.
(d) Right: the Andaman tribes are Negrito, the Negroid stock.

Worth knowing: The Nicobarese are Mongoloid, so the answer fits only the Andaman tribes; the key follows the textbook answer.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.