CBSE Class 10/Overview
Curriculum 2026–27
Practice
🌍CBSE Class 10 · Subject Code 087 · Academic Year 2026–27

CBSE Class 10 Social Science — History, Geography, Civics & Economics

India and the Contemporary World-II (History), Contemporary India-II (Geography), Democratic Politics-II, Understanding Economic Development. Complete topic-by-topic concept notes, formulas, step-by-step NCERT derivations, 3,520+ verified questions, and board simulation tests.

Prescribed Modules
22 Chapters
Verified Question Bank
3,520+ Questions
Board Theory Exam
80 Marks (3 Hours)

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Syllabus & Unit-Wise Marks Distribution (2026–27)

Unit I: India and the Contemporary World – II (History)
Rise of Nationalism in Europe, Nationalism in India, Making of a Global World, Print Culture
20 Marks
Unit II: Contemporary India – II (Geography)
Resources & Development, Forest & Wildlife, Water Resources, Agriculture, Minerals, Manufacturing, Lifelines
20 Marks
Unit III: Democratic Politics – II (Civics)
Power Sharing, Federalism, Gender Religion & Caste, Political Parties, Outcomes of Democracy
20 Marks
Unit IV: Understanding Economic Development (Economics)
Development, Sectors of the Indian Economy, Money & Credit, Globalisation, Consumer Rights
20 Marks

All 22 Chapter Revision Notes & Modules

Select any chapter for in-depth revision notes, NCERT concept formulas, solved examples, and test series.

Chapter 1• 15 min read

The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

French Revolution impact, Napoleonic Code, Greek War of Independence, 1848 revolutions, unification of Germany and Italy, and visual allegories.

Traces the emergence of nation-states and liberal nationalism across nineteenth-century Europe following the French Revolution.
Details the unification movements of Germany, Italy, and Britain, alongside national personifications like Marianne and Germania.
Chapter 2• 15 min read

Nationalism in India

First World War impact, Satyagraha philosophy, Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience, and collective belonging.

Explores Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha and the mass mobilization of peasants, workers, and tribals in national anti-colonial movements.
Examines the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience campaigns, the Salt March, the Poona Pact, and symbols of collective Indian identity.
Chapter 3• 15 min read

The Making of a Global World

Pre-modern trade networks, Silk Routes, Columbian Exchange, indentured labor migration, Great Depression of 1929, and Bretton Woods institutions.

Examines ancient silk trade networks, global disease exchange, and nineteenth-century migration of indentured laborers across empires.
Analyzes the economic collapse of the Great Depression and the post-war rebuilding of global financial systems via the Bretton Woods institutions.
Chapter 4• 15 min read

The Age of Industrialisation

Proto-industrialization, steam power adoption, factory working conditions, colonial textile trade in India, and market advertising strategies.

Contrasts proto-industrial rural production with the rise of modern mechanized factories and urban labor conditions in Victorian Britain.
Investigates the impact of British colonial industrial policies on Indian handloom weavers and the emergence of early Indian industrial enterprises.
Chapter 5• 15 min read

Print Culture and the Modern World

Woodblock printing origins, Gutenberg press revolution, religious debates, French Revolution print debates, and Indian print culture development.

Traces the technological journey of print from East Asian woodblock techniques to Gutenberg's movable type press in Europe.
Evaluates how the print revolution transformed religious discourse, fueled the French Revolution, and empowered nationalist reform movements in India.
Chapter 6• 15 min read

Resources and Development

Resource classification, sustainable development, Agenda 21, land utilization patterns, land degradation causes, and major soil types of India.

Classifies natural resources on various bases and emphasizes resource planning, conservation, and sustainable development under Agenda 21.
Examines land degradation factors in India alongside the spatial distribution and agricultural characteristics of major soil profiles.
Chapter 7• 15 min read

Forest and Wildlife Resources

Biodiversity in India, IUCN species categories, causes of forest depletion, Project Tiger, community conservation, and Joint Forest Management.

Assesses India's floral and faunal biodiversity alongside IUCN conservation categories ranging from endangered to vulnerable species.
Highlights community-led conservation movements like Chipko, Beej Bachao Andolan, and the institutional Joint Forest Management program.
Chapter 8• 15 min read

Water Resources

Water scarcity causes, multipurpose river valley projects (dams: advantages vs ecological issues), and traditional rainwater harvesting techniques.

Addresses growing water scarcity in India and assesses the socio-economic and ecological impacts of multipurpose dam projects.
Explores traditional and modern rainwater harvesting systems such as Khadins, Johads, tankas, and rooftop water conservation.
Chapter 9• 15 min read

Agriculture

Farming types (subsistence, commercial, plantation), cropping seasons (Rabi, Kharif, Zaid), major food/cash crops, and institutional reforms.

Differentiates between primitive subsistence, intensive subsistence, commercial, and plantation agricultural systems in India.
Covers geographical requirements for major food and cash crops alongside technological and institutional agricultural reforms.
Chapter 10• 15 min read

Minerals and Energy Resources

Mineral occurrences, metallic vs non-metallic classification, distribution of coal, petroleum, natural gas, and renewable solar/wind energy.

Classifies metallic, non-metallic, and energy minerals according to their geological occurrences and spatial distribution across India.
Compares conventional fossil fuels with non-conventional renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biogas, and tidal power.
Chapter 11• 15 min read

Manufacturing Industries

Importance of manufacturing, industrial location factors, agro-based vs mineral-based industries, environmental pollution, and NTPC guidelines.

Highlights the role of secondary manufacturing as the backbone of economic growth and examines factors influencing industrial location.
Analyzes agro-based and mineral-based sectors, industrial pollution types, and sustainable environmental control measures implemented by NTPC.
Chapter 12• 15 min read

Lifelines of National Economy

Transport networks (roadways hierarchy, railways, pipelines, waterways, major sea ports, airways), communication systems, and international trade.

Details India's integrated transport network including Golden Quadrilateral highways, national railways, pipelines, and major seaports.
Examines mass communication systems and explains how international trade and tourism function as lifelines of the national economy.
Chapter 13• 15 min read

Power Sharing

Case studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka, majoritarianism vs power accommodation, horizontal and vertical power sharing forms.

Contrasts Belgium's peaceful ethnic power-sharing model with Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies to show why power sharing is desirable.
Analyzes horizontal power sharing across government organs and vertical power sharing among federal levels and social groups.
Chapter 14• 15 min read

Federalism

Federal vs unitary government features, 'coming together' vs 'holding together' federations, three-tier division of powers, and 1992 decentralization.

Defines the core principles of federalism and outlines the constitutional division of legislative powers across Union, State, and Concurrent lists.
Explains the linguistic reorganization of states, Center-State relations, and the 1992 constitutional amendment strengthening local Panchayati Raj.
Chapter 15• 15 min read

Gender, Religion and Caste

Gender division, women's political representation, religion in politics, communalism vs secular state principles, and caste in politics.

Examines gender disparities in literacy, employment, and political representation, advocating for women's institutional empowerment.
Analyzes the dangers of communalism versus constitutional secularism and investigates the dual interaction between caste and democratic politics.
Chapter 16• 15 min read

Political Parties

Necessity and functions of political parties, party systems (one-party, two-party, multi-party), national vs state parties, challenges, and reforms.

Explains why modern democracies require political parties and outlines their functions, components, and differing electoral party systems.
Identifies criteria for recognized national and state parties and addresses challenges like dynastic succession, money power, and anti-defection reforms.
Chapter 17• 15 min read

Outcomes of Democracy

Assessing democratic governance: accountable, responsive, and legitimate government, economic growth, reduction of inequality, and dignity of citizens.

Assesses democratic governance on key parameters of political accountability, transparency, responsiveness, and procedural legitimacy.
Evaluates democracy's record in accommodating social diversity, promoting economic equality, and upholding the fundamental dignity and freedom of citizens.
Chapter 18• 15 min read

Development

Development goals, national income vs per capita income, World Bank classification, Human Development Index (HDI) by UNDP, and sustainability.

Explains that different people have conflicting developmental aspirations and introduces per capita income and World Bank classification benchmarks.
Emphasizes comprehensive human development indicators like life expectancy, literacy, and infant mortality alongside sustainable resource use.
Chapter 19• 15 min read

Sectors of the Indian Economy

Primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, historical shifts, rising importance of tertiary sector, organized vs unorganized sectors, and MGNREGA.

Classifies economic activities into primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, tracking their historical contribution to GDP and employment.
Examines disguised unemployment, contrasts organized and unorganized work conditions, and outlines social security measures like MGNREGA 2005.
Chapter 20• 15 min read

Money and Credit

Barter system limitations, double coincidence of wants, modern money forms, commercial bank loan activities, formal vs informal credit, and SHGs.

Traces money's evolution from barter systems to modern currency and deposits, explaining how commercial banks mediate between depositors and borrowers.
Compares regulated formal credit with exploitative informal lending and highlights the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in rural empowerment.
Chapter 21• 15 min read

Globalisation and the Indian Economy

Multinational corporations (MNCs), foreign trade integration, technological catalysts, trade liberalization, WTO role, and fair globalization impact.

Explains how Multinational Corporations integrate production and markets across borders through foreign investment and global supply chains.
Examines the impact of trade liberalization and WTO policies on Indian producers, consumers, and workers, arguing for fair globalization.
Chapter 22• 15 min read

Consumer Rights

Consumer exploitation forms, Consumer Protection Act (COPRA 1986 / 2019), three-tier quasi-judicial redressal machinery, and consumer rights.

Details the historical rise of the consumer movement and rights guaranteed under COPRA such as safety, information, choice, and redressal.
Explains the three-tier consumer dispute redressal commission structure and standard quality certification marks like ISI, Agmark, and Hallmark.

Frequently Asked Questions — CBSE Class 10 Social Science

What are the four components of Class 10 Social Science?

History (20 marks), Geography (20 marks), Democratic Politics (20 marks), and Economics (20 marks), totaling an 80-mark board theory paper plus 20 internal marks.

How should students practice Map Work for Class 10 SST?

Use the interactive Master10 Map Tool to practice identifying major dams, thermal power plants, major ports, and historic national movement locations as prescribed in the CBSE syllabus.