CBSE Class 10 Social Science Syllabus 2026-27
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science syllabus 2026-27 applies to Subject Code 087 and covers a total of 100 marks, divided into an 80-mark theory Board Examination and a 20-mark Internal Assessment. This page is a verified, single-session reference. We checked every unit, marks distribution, and internal split against the official CBSE Secondary School Curriculum document on 2026-07-13, which is available on the cbseacademic.nic.
in portal. This page only confirms syllabus facts — chapter notes and solutions live in their own separate study silos.
Course Structure and Marks Distribution
The 80-mark theory syllabus is divided equally among four disciplines — History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics — each carrying 20 marks. The table below provides the official unit-wise marks breakdown, including the internal map pointing allocations for History and Geography.
| Unit / Subject | Chapters Covered | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| History (India and the Contemporary World-II) | Ch 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe Ch 2: Nationalism in India Ch 3: The Making of a Global World (Subtopics 1 to 1.3 only) Ch 5: Print Culture and the Modern World |
18 + 2 (Map) = 20 |
| Geography (Contemporary India-II) | Ch 1: Resources and Development Ch 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources Ch 3: Water Resources Ch 4: Agriculture Ch 5: Minerals and Energy Resources Ch 6: Manufacturing Industries Ch 7: Lifelines of National Economy (Map pointing only) |
17 + 3 (Map) = 20 |
| Political Science (Democratic Politics-II) | Ch 1: Power-sharing Ch 2: Federalism Ch 3: Gender, Religion and Caste Ch 4: Political Parties Ch 5: Outcomes of Democracy |
20 |
| Economics (Understanding Economic Development) | Ch 1: Development Ch 2: Sectors of the Indian Economy Ch 3: Money and Credit Ch 4: Globalisation and the Indian Economy (“What is” and “Factors” only) Ch 5: Consumer Rights (Project Work) |
20 |
| Total Theory Marks | 80 | |
Additionally, an Interdisciplinary Project (IDP) spanning History Chapter 3, Geography Chapter 7, and Economics Chapter 4 is assessed internally for 5 marks as part of the Multiple Assessment component, which is detailed in the internal assessment section below. You can find chapter-wise explanations covering these units in our Class 10 Social Science notes silo.
Chapter-wise Study Material
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Part | Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|---|
| History | 2 | Nationalism in India | Notes |
| History | 4 | The Age of Industrialisation | Notes |
| Geography | 1 | Resources and Development | Notes |
| Geography | 2 | Forest and Wildlife Resources | Notes |
| Geography | 3 | Water Resources | Notes |
| Geography | 4 | Agriculture | Notes |
| Geography | 5 | Minerals and Energy Resources | Notes |
| Geography | 6 | Manufacturing Industries | Notes |
| Geography | 7 | Lifelines of National Economy | Notes |
| Civics | 1 | Power Sharing | Notes |
| Civics | 2 | Federalism | Notes |
| Civics | 3 | Gender, Religion and Caste | Notes |
| Civics | 4 | Political Parties | Notes |
| Civics | 5 | Outcomes of Democracy | Notes |
| Economics | 2 | Sectors of the Indian Economy | Notes |
| Economics | 3 | Money and Credit | Notes |
| Economics | 4 | Globalisation and the Indian Economy | Notes |
| Economics | 5 | Consumer Rights | Notes |
Board Exam Paper Pattern and Typology
The 80-mark Social Science Board Examination paper is designed to test conceptual grasp and analytical ability through a mix of objective and descriptive questions. The official typology breaks the paper down into Multiple Choice Questions, Long Answer (LA) questions, Case Study questions, and Map Pointing.
| Type of Question | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| MCQs (20×1) – Inclusive of Assertion, Reason, Differentiation & Stem | 1 | 20 |
| Long Answer Questions (4×2) | 2 | 8 |
| Long Answer Questions (5×3) | 3 | 15 |
| Case Study Questions (3×4) | 4 | 12 |
| Long Answer Questions (4×5) | 5 | 20 |
| Map Pointing | – | 5 |
| Total | 80 |
CBSE maps every question to a specific competency level. A significant shift in this assessment design is that the board prioritises higher-order thinking over factual recall.
| Competency Level | Marks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering and Understanding | 24 | 30% |
| Applying | 11 | 13.25% |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | 40 | 50% |
| Map Skill | 5 | 6.25% |
| Total | 80 | 100% |
Notice that Analysing, Evaluating, and Creating carry 50% of the total paper weightage. What this means for your study plan: Rote memorization of facts and definitions will not secure full marks. You must practise applying concepts to new situations, interpreting source-based case studies, and structuring analytical arguments for the long-answer and case-study sections.
Internal Assessment Breakdown (20 Marks)
The 20-mark Internal Assessment is conducted by the school throughout the academic year. It is split into four equal components of 5 marks each, designed to evaluate a student’s continuous engagement with the subject.
| Type of Assessment | Description | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Periodic Assessment | Pen and Paper Test. The average of the best two periodic tests is considered for final submission. | 5 |
| Multiple Assessment | Quizzes, debates, role play, viva, group discussions, and visual expression conducted through the Interdisciplinary Project (IDP). | 5 |
| Subject Enrichment Activity | Project Work on Consumer Rights OR Social Issues OR Sustainable Development. | 5 |
| Portfolio | Classwork, work done (activities/assignments), reflections, narrations, journals, and achievements throughout the year. | 5 |
| Total | 20 |
The Periodic Assessment best-of-two rule gives students a safety net. Three periodic tests are conducted over the year, but only the average of the best two counts toward the final 5 marks. If one test goes poorly, it does not drag down the internal score. The IDP component under Multiple Assessment is entirely school-assessed, not board-assessed.
Broad study resources for these components are grouped within our Class 10 notes collection.
Map Work Syllabus
Map pointing carries a total of 5 marks in the Board Exam (2 marks for History, 3 marks for Geography). Students must locate, label, or identify specific items on a map. The official document notes that items for Locating and Labelling may also be given for Identification.
History Map Items (Chapter 2: Nationalism in India)
- Congress Sessions: 1920 Calcutta, 1920 Nagpur, 1927 Madras session.
- 3 Satyagraha Movements: Kheda, Champaran, Ahmedabad mill workers.
- Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar).
- Dandi March route.
Geography Map Items
- Resources and Development: Identify major soil types.
- Water Resources: Locate and label dams — Salal, Bhakra Nangal, Tehri, Rana Pratap Sagar, Sardar Sarovar, Hirakund, Nagarjun Sagar, Tungabhadra.
- Agriculture: Identify major areas of Rice and Wheat; largest/major producer states of Sugarcane, Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cotton, and Jute.
- Minerals and Energy Resources:
- Iron Ore Mines: Mayurbhanj, Durg, Bailadila, Bellary, Kudremukh.
- Coal Mines: Raniganj, Bokaro, Talcher, Neyveli.
- Oil Fields: Digboi, Naharkatia, Mumbai High, Bassien, Kalol, Ankaleshwar.
- Thermal Power Plants: Namrup, Singrauli, Ramagundam.
- Nuclear Power Plants: Narora, Kakrapara, Tarapur, Kalpakkam.
- Manufacturing Industries: Locate and label Cotton textile Industries (Mumbai, Indore, Surat, Kanpur, Coimbatore), Iron and Steel Plants (Durgapur, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Bhilai, Vijayanagar, Salem), and Software Technology Parks (Noida, Gandhi Nagar, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram).
- Lifelines of National Economy: Locate and label Major Sea Ports (Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Haldia) and International Airports (Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad).
Interdisciplinary Project (IDP) Details
The curriculum mandates a 5-mark Interdisciplinary Project (assessed under the Multiple Assessment component of the Internal Assessment). The IDP combines topics from three subjects:
- History Chapter 3: The Making of a Global World (Subtopics 2 to 4.4 — The 19th Century to the end of Bretton Woods & the beginning of Globalisation).
- Geography Chapter 7: Lifelines of National Economy.
- Economics Chapter 4: Globalisation and the Indian Economy (Subtopics: Production across countries, Chinese toys in India, WTO, The Struggle for a Fair Globalisation).
Schools are instructed to complete this project between April and September under the guidance of a teacher. The official document strictly states that carryover of the project to home must be avoided. A suggestive 10-day plan is provided, utilising methods like constructivism, inquiry-based learning, and art integration.
| IDP Assessment Rubric | Marks |
|---|---|
| Research Work | 1 |
| Collaboration & Communication | 1 |
| Presentation & Content relevance | 1 |
| Competencies (Creativity, Analytical skills, Evaluation, Synthesizing) | 2 |
| Total | 5 |
Deletions and Changes in the Syllabus
Several chapters have been strategically restructured so that specific subtopics are evaluated internally rather than in the final Board Exam. These are verified changes stated directly in the official CBSE 2026-27 curriculum document:
- History Chapter 3 (The Making of a Global World): Only subtopics 1 to 1.3 (The Pre-Modern World to Conquest, disease, and trade) are evaluated in the Board Examination. Subtopics 2 to 4.4 are internally assessed via the Interdisciplinary Project.
- History Chapter 4 (The Age of Industrialisation): This entire chapter is assessed only as part of Periodic Assessment. It is not evaluated in the Board Exam. Many students miss this fact and waste time preparing it for the final paper.
- Geography Chapter 7 (Lifelines of National Economy): Only map pointing from this chapter appears in the Board Examination. The theory is covered through the IDP.
- Economics Chapter 4 (Globalisation and the Indian Economy): The Board Exam only covers two subtopics: “What is Globalisation?” and “Factors that have enabled Globalisation”. The rest of the chapter (Production across countries, Chinese toys in India, WTO, The Struggle for a Fair Globalisation) is internally assessed as part of the IDP.
If no further deletions are mentioned for your specific session, rely strictly on these verified splits.
Prescribed NCERT Textbooks
CBSE prescribes the following textbooks for Class 10 Social Science. Schools and students must strictly follow the prescribed editions.
| S.No. | Subject | Name of the Book | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | History | India and the Contemporary World-II | NCERT |
| 2 | Political Science | Democratic Politics-II | NCERT |
| 3 | Geography | Contemporary India-II | NCERT |
| 4 | Economics | Understanding Economic Development | NCERT |
| 5 | Disaster Management | Together, towards a safer India – Part III | CBSE |
Detailed study guides for these textbooks can be found through our centralized CBSE notes portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is History Chapter 4 The Age of Industrialisation included in the Class 10 Board Exam 2026-27?
No. History Chapter 4 (The Age of Industrialisation) is assessed strictly as part of Periodic Assessment only. It does not appear in the final Board Examination for the 2026-27 session.
How many marks are allotted for map pointing in the CBSE Class 10 Social Science Board Exam?
Map pointing carries a total of 5 marks. History map pointing accounts for 2 marks, and Geography map pointing accounts for 3 marks.
What parts of Economics Chapter 4 Globalisation are evaluated in the Board Examination?
Only two subtopics from Economics Chapter 4 are evaluated in the Board Exam: “What is Globalisation?” and “Factors that have enabled Globalisation”. The remaining subtopics are internally assessed as part of the Interdisciplinary Project.
How is the 20 marks Internal Assessment divided in Class 10 Social Science?
The 20-mark internal assessment is divided into four components of 5 marks each: Periodic Assessment, Multiple Assessment (via the IDP), Subject Enrichment Activity (Project Work), and Portfolio.
What is the Interdisciplinary Project in Class 10 Social Science and how is it assessed?
The Interdisciplinary Project (IDP) combines subtopics from History Chapter 3, Geography Chapter 7, and Economics Chapter 4. It is completed between April and September at school and is assessed internally for 5 marks out of 20. The rubric awards marks for research work, collaboration, presentation, and competencies like creativity and analytical skills.
Reference: CBSE Class 10 Social Science curriculum document, session as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.