IGNOU BANC-131 Assignment 2026-27
Anthropology and Research Methods
Last updated by IGNOU: 14 Jul 2026. Guide written from the official PDF on 08 Nov 2026, 08:55 pm.
December 2026 term-end exam
Tue, 08 Dec 2026 · Evening (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
From IGNOU's official date sheet dated 30 Oct 2026. IGNOU can still revise it: check your hall ticket for the final date and your exam centre.
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Make the BANC-131 assignment front page →| Course code | BANC-131 |
|---|---|
| Course title | Anthropology and Research Methods |
| Programme | Bachelor of Arts (BAG)/Bachelor of Arts (Multidisciplinary) (BAM)BAM, BAG |
| School | School of Social Sciences |
| Assignment code | BANC 132/ASST/TMA/2026-2027 |
| Session | July 2026-January 2027 |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Weightage | 30% |
| Last date (June exam) | 31 Mar 2027 |
| Last date (December exam) | 30 Sept 2027 |
| Medium | English, Hindi |
| Term-end exam (December 2026) | Tue, 08 Dec 2026, Evening (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) |
About the BANC-131 assignment
The BANC-131 assignment covers the scope and fields of anthropology, fieldwork, research design and methods, prehistoric research, and applications of anthropology.
There are three compulsory assignments with 11 questions worth 100 marks in total. Assignment I has two descriptive answers of about 500 words each; Assignment II has three answers of about 250 words each; and Assignment III has six short answers of about 100 words each.
What the assignment asks
| Question | Marks | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 20 | Define anthropology and discuss its scope. |
| Q2 | 20 | Discuss the history of fieldwork and criticisms of armchair anthropology. |
| Q3 | 10 | Discuss the current fields of social anthropology. |
| Q4 | 10 | Outline the branches of physical or biological anthropology. |
| Q5 | 10 | Describe how prehistoric research developed. |
| Q6 | 5 | Write about the types of research design. |
| Q7 | 5 | Write about observation as a research method. |
| Q8 | 5 | Discuss how anthropology can be applied to life problems. |
| Q9 | 5 | Write a short note on serology. |
| Q10 | 5 | Write a short note on excavation. |
| Q11 | 5 | Write about the emic and etic approaches. |
This is a summary of each question. Download the official PDF above for the exact questions and word limits.
How to write and submit it
- Answer all questions in your own words.
- Keep answers close to the word limits for each assignment: about 500, 250 and 100 words respectively.
- For descriptive answers, include an introduction and a conclusion and organise the discussion coherently.
- Write the final answers neatly and underline points you want to emphasise.
- Submit the completed assignments to the Learner Support Centre coordinator within the stipulated time.
- Obtain and retain a submission receipt; if possible, keep a photocopy of the assignments.
Submission dates: 31 March 2027 (June term-end exam); 30 September 2027 (December term-end exam). Dates can differ by session; the PDF gives 30 April 2027 for the July 2026 cycle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total mark and weightage for the BANC-131 assignment?
The three assignments total 100 marks and carry 30% weightage.
Are all BANC-131 assignment questions compulsory?
Yes. All 11 questions across the three assignments are compulsory.
What are the word limits for the three assignments?
The approximate limits are 500 words per answer for Assignment I, 250 for Assignment II and 100 for Assignment III.
Where should I submit the assignment?
Submit it to the Learner Support Centre coordinator and retain the receipt.
Why does the printed assignment code start with BANC 132?
The BANC-131 PDF prints the assignment code as BANC 132/ASST/TMA/2026-2027, although the course is identified as BANC 131.
What are the submission deadlines?
The current listing gives 31 March 2027 for the June term-end exam and 30 September 2027 for the December term-end exam. The PDF gives 30 April 2027 for the July 2026 cycle, so dates can differ by session.
Other IGNOU BAM assignments
- BABG-171: Understanding B.R. Amedkar
- BANC-133: Fundamentals of Social and Cultural Anthropology
- BEGC-134: Reading the Novel
- BEGG-171: Media and Communication Skills
- BEGS-186: Business Communication
- BHDC-132: मध्यकालीन हिंदी कविता
- BHDG-175: मध्यकालीन भारतीय साहित्य एवं संस्कृति
- BHDM-163: हिंदी भाषा और संप्रेषण
- BPAG-171: Disaster Management
- BPCC-108: Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-II
- BPCC-109: Developmental Psychology
- BPCC-110: Applied Social Psychology
- BPCC-131: Foundations of Psychology
- BPCC-134: Statistical Methods and Psychological Research
- BPCM-161: Foundations of Psychology
- BPSE-141: Gandhi and Contemporary World
- BPSM-162: Indian Government and Politics
- BPSM-163: Comparative Government and Politics
- BSOC-131: Introduction to Sociology
- BSOC-132: Sociology of India
- BSOC-134: Methods of Sociological Enquiry
- BUDAE-181: Study of Classical Urdu Ghazal
- BUDAE-182: Study of Urdu Progressive Poetry
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Assignment details and PDFs come from IGNOU's official website; the guide is a summary of the official PDF. Always check the latest instructions and last dates on ignou.ac.in or with your Regional Centre before submitting.