CBSE CLASS 10 SOCIAL SCIENCE • 2026–27 • BOARD PREPARATION
Use this CBSE Class 10 Social Science study material hub to organise the current 2026–27 course across History, Geography, Political Science and Economics. The board paper carries 80 marks, with 20 marks for each discipline, while Internal Assessment carries another 20 marks. This page also separates topics assessed in the board examination from chapters or subtopics assessed through periodic, project or interdisciplinary work.
Board
CBSE
Class
10
Subject Code
087
Theory
80 Marks
Internal Assessment
20 Marks
Map Skills
5 Marks
READ THE CURRENT SCOPE CAREFULLY
Not every textbook chapter or subtopic is assessed in the same way
For 2026–27, some History, Geography and Economics content is restricted to periodic assessment,
map work or interdisciplinary/project assessment. Use the official CBSE curriculum linked below before treating
every textbook page as direct board-examination theory.
OFFICIAL STARTING POINTS
Current Curriculum, Textbooks and Sample Paper
Use the official CBSE and NCERT routes as the final reference for board preparation.
OFFICIAL CBSEClass X Social Science Curriculum 2026–27
Check chapter scope, board-evaluation status, map work, projects and internal assessment.
OFFICIAL SAMPLE PAPERCBSE Social Science SQP 2026–27
38 questions across History, Geography, Political Science and Economics, including map work and case-based questions.
OFFICIAL NCERTClass 10 Social Science Textbooks
Access India and the Contemporary World-II, Contemporary India-II, Democratic Politics-II and Understanding Economic Development.
CLASS HUBCBSE Class 10 Study Material
Return to the main Class 10 hub for Maths, Science, English and other board resources.
BOARD PAPER STRUCTURE
Four Equal 20-Mark Sections
The official 2026–27 sample paper divides the 80-mark paper equally among the four disciplines.
| Section | Discipline | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | History | 20 |
| B | Geography | 20 |
| C | Political Science | 20 |
| D | Economics | 20 |
| Total | 80 | |
MAP WORK
The official sample paper assigns 5 marks to map skills: 2 marks in History and 3 marks in Geography. Practise only the current CBSE map-work list.
HISTORY • 20 MARKS
India and the Contemporary World-II
Pay special attention to the board-exam limits for Chapters 3 and 4.
| Ch. | Chapter | 2026–27 Assessment Status | XAM CONTENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rise of Nationalism in Europe | Board examination | Case Study Collection |
| 2 | Nationalism in India | Board examination + History map work | Case Study |
| 3 | The Making of a Global World | Only subtopics 1 to 1.3 in board theory; later subtopics form part of interdisciplinary assessment | Case Study |
| 4 | The Age of Industrialisation | Periodic Assessment only | Use textbook / school assessment material |
| 5 | Print Culture and the Modern World | Board examination | Case Study |
GEOGRAPHY • 20 MARKS
Contemporary India-II
Geography includes 17 theory marks and 3 marks of map work in the course structure.
| Ch. | Chapter | 2026–27 Assessment Status | XAM CONTENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resources and Development | Board examination | Case Study |
| 2 | Forest and Wildlife Resources | Board examination | Case Study |
| 3 | Water Resources | Board examination | Case Study |
| 4 | Agriculture | Board examination | Case Study |
| 5 | Minerals and Energy Resources | Board examination | Case Study |
| 6 | Manufacturing Industries | Board examination | Case Study Collection |
| 7 | Lifelines of National Economy | Only map pointing evaluated in the board examination; also linked to interdisciplinary project work | Case Study |
POLITICAL SCIENCE • 20 MARKS
Democratic Politics-II
All five prescribed chapters are included in the current board-course structure.
| Ch. | Chapter | Main Study Focus | XAM CONTENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power-sharing | Forms and purposes of power sharing; textbook case studies | Case Study |
| 2 | Federalism | Federal features, division of powers and decentralisation | Case Study |
| 3 | Gender, Religion and Caste | How social differences interact with democratic politics | Case Study Collection |
| 4 | Political Parties | Functions, electoral role and challenges discussed in the textbook | Case Study Collection |
| 5 | Outcomes of Democracy | Textbook criteria for examining democratic outcomes | Case Study Collection |
ECONOMICS • 20 MARKS
Understanding Economic Development
Chapter 4 has a restricted board-examination scope; Chapter 5 is project work.
| Ch. | Chapter | 2026–27 Assessment Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Development | Board examination |
| 2 | Sectors of the Indian Economy | Board examination |
| 3 | Money and Credit | Board examination |
| 4 | Globalisation and the Indian Economy | For board theory: What is Globalisation? + Factors that have enabled Globalisation. Other listed subtopics form part of interdisciplinary assessment. |
| 5 | Consumer Rights | Project work; CBSE also permits project work on Social Issues or Sustainable Development |
INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTION
The curriculum connects The Making of a Global World in History,
Lifelines of National Economy in Geography and
Globalisation and the Indian Economy in Economics through interdisciplinary assessment.
Study the relationship among trade, transport and global economic connections rather than treating these topics as isolated chapters.
PRACTICE BY FORMAT
Prepare for the Current Social Science Paper
Use different question formats to practise evidence, explanation, interpretation and concise answer writing.
CASE-BASED PRACTICEClass 10 Social Science Case Study Questions
Chapterwise case material across History, Geography and Political Science, with more resources added over time.
REASONINGClass 10 Social Science Assertion & Reason
Practise the logical relationship between statements while checking each statement against the textbook.
QUICK RETRIEVALCBSE Chapterwise MCQs
Use MCQs for recall, source interpretation and rapid revision before longer answer practice.
TIMED BOARD PRACTICEOfficial 2026–27 Sample Paper
Use it after chapter preparation to practise the current mix of MCQs, VSA, SA, LA, case-based and map questions.
QUICK DIAGNOSTIC
Check Six Core Social Science Skills
These original questions test concise factual understanding and interpretation. Attempt before opening the answer.
1. Which History chapter includes board-exam map work?
Answer: Nationalism in India.
2. Why is resource planning important?
Answer: Resources vary across regions, so planning helps identify, develop and use them judiciously while considering long-term needs.
3. In a federal system, why are the powers of different levels of government constitutionally defined?
Answer: Constitutional division clarifies jurisdiction and gives each level an established sphere of authority within the federal arrangement.
4. What is meant by a sector of an economy?
Answer: It is a grouping of economic activities using a common basis, such as the nature of activity, employment conditions or ownership.
5. Why should a five-mark answer contain evidence or examples rather than only a definition?
Answer: Extended answers usually require explanation, analysis or justification. Relevant evidence and examples show how the concept applies and support the answer.
6. How many marks are assigned to map skill in the official 2026–27 sample paper?
Answer: 5 marks in total: 2 marks in History and 3 marks in Geography.
BOARD PREPARATION ROUTE
How to Study Class 10 Social Science Efficiently
Build a routine around current syllabus scope, evidence-based answers and repeated retrieval.
Step 1
Mark the syllabus scope: identify what is board theory, map work, periodic assessment, interdisciplinary assessment and project work.
Step 2
Read NCERT actively: turn headings, maps, tables, boxes and examples into questions instead of only highlighting text.
Step 3
Practise short answers: answer the exact command word—state, explain, analyse, compare, justify or evaluate—without adding unrelated material.
Step 4
Add case-based practice: identify evidence in the passage first and connect it to the relevant NCERT concept.
Step 5
Practise maps separately: use short, repeated map sessions rather than leaving all locations for the final week.
Step 6
Use timed papers: attempt the official sample paper only after sufficient chapter preparation, then correct answers using the marking scheme.
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FAQ
CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2026–27
What are the prescribed NCERT books for Class 10 Social Science?
The prescribed books are India and the Contemporary World-II, Contemporary India-II, Democratic Politics-II and Understanding Economic Development.
How are the 80 theory marks divided?
History, Geography, Political Science and Economics each contribute 20 marks.
Is The Age of Industrialisation included in the board examination?
CBSE lists it for Periodic Assessment only in the 2026–27 curriculum.
Is Lifelines of National Economy included in the board examination?
For the board examination, CBSE specifies map pointing only for this Geography chapter. It also contributes to interdisciplinary project work.
What part of Globalisation and the Indian Economy is assessed in board theory?
The curriculum lists What is Globalisation? and Factors that have enabled Globalisation for board examination. Other listed subtopics form part of interdisciplinary assessment.
What is the 2026–27 Social Science paper format?
The official sample paper has 38 compulsory questions across four sections and includes MCQs, 2-mark VSA, 3-mark SA, 5-mark LA, 4-mark case-based questions and 5 marks of map work, with internal choices in selected questions.
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