CBSE

2025-26
SOCIAL SCIENCE
General Instructions :
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
1. There are 38 questions in the Question paper. All questions are compulsory.
2. The question paper has Four Sections – A-History, B-Geography, C- Political Science, and D- Economics.
3. Each Section is of 20 Marks and has MCQs, VSA, SA, LAs and CBQ.
4. Very Short Answer Type Questions (VSA), carry 2 marks each. Answers to each question should not exceed 40 words.
5. Short Answer Type Questions (SA), carry 3 marks each. Answers to each question should not exceed 60 words.
6. Long answer type questions (LA), carry 5 marks each. Answers to each question should not exceed 120 words.
7. There are case based questions (CBQ) with three sub questions and are of 4 marks each. Answers to each question should not
exceed 100 words.
8. The map-based questions, carry 5 marks with two parts- Q9. In Section A-History (2 marks) and Q19. In Section B -Geography (3
marks)
9. There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been provided in few questions. Only one of the
choices in such questions must be attempted.
Time Allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 80

SECTION A
HISTORY (20 marks)

1. Study the picture and answer the following question. (1)

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 What does the picture signify?
(a) The massacre at Chios, Eugene Delacroix, 1824
(b) The Dream of worldwide Democratic and Social Republics
(c) The planting of Tree of Liberty in Zweibrucken, Germany
(d) Peasants’ uprising, 1848
2. Which member of the Constituent Assembly proposed the resolution that the National Flag of India be a
“horizontal tri-colour of saffron, white and dark green in equal proportion”, with a wheel in navy blue at the
center? (1)
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru (b) B.R. Ambedkar
(c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
3. Read the following passage and fill in the blanks with the correct option.
Until well into the eighteenth century, ______(i)____ were among the world’s richest countries. They were
also pre-eminent in Asian trade. However, from the _____(ii)___ century, China is said to have restricted
overseas contacts and retreated into isolation. (1)
   (i) (ii)
(a) China and India 15th
(b) India and Europe 15th
(c) China and Europe 16th
(d) India and China 16th
4. Read the given statements and choose the most appropriate option. (1)
Statement I : Amar Jiban is the autobiography of Rash & undari Debi, Published in 1876.
Statement II : It was the first autobiography published in Konkani language.
(a) Both the statements I and II are correct.
(b) Both the statements I and II are incorrect.
(c) Statement I is correct but statement II is incorrect.
(d) Statement I is incorrect but statement II is correct.
5A. How did the discovery of sea routes to Asia and America in the 16th century affect the world? (2)
OR
5B. Why were the native peoples of the Americas so vulnerable when exposed to disease like smallpox? (2)
6A. What were the reasons behind the formation of Khilafat Committee? (3)
OR
6B. Briefly discuss the causes of Quit India Movement.
7A. Explain the political situation of Italy before its unification. (5)
OR
7B. Explain the term conservatism. Explain with special reference to Europe.
8. Read the source given below and answer the following questions. (1 + 1 + 2) (4)
In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was passed, modelled on the Irish Press Laws. It provided the government
with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the vernacular press. From now, the government
kept regular track of the vernacular newspapers published in different provinces. When a report was judged
as seditious, the newspaper was warned, and if the warning was ignored, the press was liable to be seized
and the printing machinery confiscated.
Despite repressive measures, nationalist newspapers grew in numbers in all parts of India. They reported
on colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities. Attempts to throttle nationalist criticism
provoked militant protest. This in turn led to a renewed cycle of persecution and protests. When Punjab
revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote with great sympathy about them in his
Kesari. This led to his imprisonment in 1908, provoking in turn widespread protests all over India.

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 (i) What was Vernacular Press Act 1878?
(ii) Why the attitude for freedom of the press after the revolt of 1857 changed?
(iii) Why did the colonial government pass the Vernacular Press Act?
MAP SKILL-BASED QUESTION (2 marks)

9. Two places A and B have been marked on the given outline map of India Identify them and write their
correct names on the line drawn near them. (1 + 1 = 2)
A. The place where the Peasant Satyagraha took place in 1918.
B. Indian National congress session was held at this place in Sept. 1920.

SECTION B
GEOGRAPHY (20 marks)

10. Identify the appropriate option to fill in the blanks. (1)

(i) Soil

pH – (ii) Develops under tropical Deficient in plant

and subtropical climate nutrients

(a) i. – Laterite ii. – < 6.0

(b) i – Black ii. – < 6.5
(c) i – Arid ii. – < 8
(d) i – Black ii. – > 6.0
11. Which of the following steps should be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas? (1)
(I) Afforestation (II) Terrace farming and contour ploughing
(III) Plugging of gullies (IV) Restricted grazing of animals
(a) (I) and (II) only (b) (I), (II) and (III) only
(c) (I) and (IV) only (d) (I), (II), (III) and (IV)
12. Which of the following National Parks is dedicated to preservation of one-horned rhinoceros? (1)
(a) Bandhavgarh National Park (b) Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary
(c) Kaziranga National Park (d) All of these
13. What was the aim of Wildlife Protection Act? (1)
(a) Protection of only plant species (b) Protection of endangered species
(c) Protection of habitat of wildlife (d) Both (b) and (c)
14. Which among the following countries receives only 25 cm average annual rainfall, but still there is no
scarcity of water? (1)
(a) India (b) Somalia (c) Nepal (d) Israel
15. Uttar Pradesh stands first in the production of wheat because: (1)
I. It receives less than 50 cm of rainfall.
II. It has well drained plain area and fertile alluvial soil.
III. It has moderate temperature.
IV. It has excellent canal irrigation system.
Select the appropriate statements.
(a) I, II and III (b) I, III and IV (c) II, III and IV (d) I, II and IV
16. You are a farmer in West Bengal with 1.5 acres of land and no alternative source of income. Which type of
farming will you most likely practise? Give two reasons for your choice. (2)

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17A. Why is it necessary to conserve mineral resources? Explain any four ways to conserve mineral resources. (5)
OR
17B. ‘Energy saved is energy produced.’ Assess the statement.
18. Read the source given below and answer the following questions. (1 + 2 + 1) (4)
Manufacturing industries not only help in modernising agriculture, which forms the backbone of our
economy, they also reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income by providing them jobs in
secondary and tertiary sectors. Industrial development is a precondition for eradication of unemployment
and poverty from our country. This was the main philosophy behind public sector industries and joint
sector ventures in India. It was also aimed at bringing down regional disparities by establishing industries
in tribal and backward areas. Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce, and brings in
much needed foreign exchange. Countries that transform their raw materials into a wide variety of finished
goods of higher value are prosperous. India’s prosperity lies in increasing and diversifying its manufacturing
industries as quickly as possible. Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand
in hand. For instance, the agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its
productivity.
(i) How India can become a prosperous country?
(ii) What values do you learn from the above extract?
(iii) What was the motto of establishing public sector and joint sector ventures in India?
MAP SKILL-BASED QUESTION (3 marks)
19. On the same outline map of India locate and label the following with suitable symbols: (1)
I. (p) Salal Dam
OR
(q) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
II. Any two of the following: (1 × 2 = 2)
(i) Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
(ii) Haldia – Sea Port
(iii) Thermal Power Plant in Assam

SECTION C
POLITICAL SCIENCE (20 marks)

20. Which of the following are major caste groups of Sri Lanka? (1)
(a) Christians and Tamils (b) Buddhists and Hindus
(c) Sinhalese and Tamils (d) Sinhalese and Christians
21. Which form of power sharing is most commonly referred to as federalism? (1)
(a) Horizontal division of power among different entities.
(b) Vertical division among different social groups.
(c) Division of power between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
(d) Sharing of power among political parties.
22. Choose the correct pair among the following. (1)
(Country) (Administration)
(a) Russia - Unitary
(b) China - Federal
(c) Canada - Unitary
(d) Argentina - Federal

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23. Match column I with column II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists. (1)
Column I Column II
(A) A person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women (i) Communalist
and men
(B) A person who says that religion is the principal basis of community (ii) Feminist
(C) A person who thinks that caste is the principal basis of community (iii) Secularist
(D) A person who does not discriminate other on the basis of religious (iv) Castiest
beliefs
A B C D
(a) (ii) (iii) (i) (iv)
(b) (ii) (i) (iv) (iii)
(c) (iv) (iii) (i) (ii)
(d) (iii) (i) (ii) (iv)
24. What is the difference between a federal and unitary government? Explain with examples. (2)
25. Why is the representation of women in Indian Parliament still low as compared to the European countries?(2)
26. What are the two conditions to accommodate social diversities in a democracy? Mention any one exception
to this. (3)
27A. Suggest and explain any five ways to reform Political Parties in India. (5)
OR
27B. “Political parties need to face certain challenges in order to remain effective instruments of democracy”.
Explain the statement with example.
28. Read the given text and answer the following questions: (1 + 1 + 2) (4)
Belgium is a small country in Europe, smaller in area than the state of Haryana. It has borders with France,
the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It has a population of a little over one crore, about half the
population of Haryana. The ethnic composition of this small country is very complex. Of the country’s total
population, 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. Another 40 per cent people
live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German. In the
capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 percent are Dutch-speaking
i. Where is Belgium located?
ii. How does Belgium’s size compare to an Indian state?
iii. Describe the ethnic and linguistic composition of Belgium.

SECTION D
ECONOMICS (20 marks)
29. Farmers buy many goods such as tractors, pumpsets, electricity, pesticides and fertilisers. Imagine what
would happen if the price of fertilisers or pumpsets go up. Cost of cultivation of the farmers will rise and
their profits will be reduced. (1)
What does this show?
(a) Tertiary sector being dependent on the primary.
(b) Tertiary sector being dependent on the Industrial.
(c) Industrial sector being dependent on the primary.
(d) Primary sector being dependent on the secondary sector.

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30. Two statements are given as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Study the statements carefully and identify the
correct alternative . (2)
Assertion (A) : Different people have different developmental goals.
Reason (R) : Developmental goals of different people are always conflicting.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
31. Which of the following should be included in the calculation of total production? (1)
(a) Only raw materials
(b) All goods including intermediate goods
(c) Only intermediate goods
(d) Only final goods and services
32. What do banks do with the deposits they receive from the public? (1)
(a) Keep all the money in lockers
(b) Convert them into gold
(c) Keep a small portion as cash and lend out the rest
(d) Spend it on government projects
33. Suppose Salim continues to receive consistent shoe orders and manages his credit well for 6 years. Which
of the following is the most likely long-term outcome for him? (1)
(a) He will be forced to shut down due to market saturation
(b) He may accumulate wealth and possibly expand his business
(c) He will lose all profit due to rising labor costs
(d) He will become dependent on the trader
34. Match column I with column II and select the correct answer using the given codes. (1)

Column I Column II
(Factor) (Description/Example)
(A) Technology (i) Improved communication and faster transportation
(B) Trade liberalisation (ii) Reduction of tariffs and quotas
(C) Multinational Corporations (MNCs) (iii) Companies operating in multiple countries
(D) Transport (iv) Container ships, airplanes, railways making
movement faster
A B C D
(a) (ii) (i) (iii) (iv)
(b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
(c) (ii) (iv) (iii) (i)
(d) (ii) (i) (iv) (iii)
35. Explain how shifting labour from agriculture to other sectors can affect the family income and agriculture
production, with reference to the example of Laxmi’s family. (3)
36. Dhananjay is a government employee and belongs to a rich household, whereas Raju is a construction
worker and comes from a poor rural household. Both are in need and wish to take loan. Create a list of

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 argument explaining who between the two would successfully be able to arrange money from a formal
source. Why? (3)
37. How has foreign trade changed with the growth of MNCs? Give an example to support yur answer : (3)
38A. Explain the rising importance of the tertiary sector in India. (5)
OR
38B. Sunil and Raman did their graduation from the same college. Sunil got employed in an unorganised sector
and was not satisfied whereas Raman got employed in an organised sector and was happy and satisfied.
Identify three reasons for Sunil’s dissatisfaction as compared to Raman.

Map for Q. no. 9 (Section A) & Q. no. 19 (Section B)

A B