CBSE Class 10 Social Science Sample Paper 2026

Match the following and Choose the correct option: COLUMN I | | COLUMN II A | Frederic Sorrieu | 1 | Torch of enlightenments B | Statue of Liberty | 2 | Shattered remains of absolutist Institutions C | Foreground in front of the Statue of Liberty | 3 | Democratic and Social Republics D | Sorrieu's utopian vision. | 4 | French Artist

• (1) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
• (2) A-2, B-4, C-4, D-1
• (3) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
• (4) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-4

Identify and name the leader shown in the picture given below: - [figure] Source-India and the Contemporary World-II, NCERT Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q. No. 2 Which one option from the following is the appropriate reason for the formation of the Swaraj party? A. To ask for Poorna Swaraj for Indians. B. To return to Council Politics. C. To ask Dominion State for India. D. To oppose Simon Commission.

• (A) Lala Lajpat Rai
• (B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• (C) Gopal Krishan Gokhale
• (D) Raja Rammohan Roy

Thousands of people fled Europe for America in the 19th century due to -

• (A) Widespread poverty and deadly diseases
• (B) Frequent famines and poor living conditions
• (C) Continuous wars and political instability
• (D) Harsh climate and repeated natural disasters

Louise-Sebastien Mercier proclaimed "Tremble, therefore, tyrants of the world! Tremble before the virtual writer!" Who are referred to as the tyrants in this context?

• (A) Educated classes who wanted to change the society
• (B) Absolutist institutions like monarchy and church
• (C) Authors of the new books
• (D) Printing press

What is essential for resource development to contribute to overall development?

• (A) The availability of resources alone is enough.
• (B) The presence of foreign invaders and their governance.
• (C) Technological development and institutional changes.
• (D) Only human resources can contribute to development.

Identify the appropriate option to fill in the empty boxes: Classification of Soils Alluvial | ? | ? Ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops. | Ideal for growing cotton | suitable for crops like cashew nut.

• (A) Black soil, Red and Yellow soils
• (B) Laterite soil, Black soil.
• (C) Red & Yellow soils & Black soil.
• (D) Black soil & Laterite soil.

A total of 628 tigers died in India during the past five years due to natural causes and other reasons, including poaching, according to government data. Meanwhile, 349 people were killed in tiger attacks during this period, with one state alone recording 200 deaths. [source: https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/628-tigers-died-in-india-in-past-five-years-govt-data/1685133t/] Which of the following is the most significant indirect consequence of poaching on the tiger population?

• (A) Reduction in the prey species, dwindling tiger's food supply.
• (B) Increase in human-wildlife conflicts in protected areas
• (C) Rise in the tiger population.
• (D) Decrease in tourism revenue in national parks

Based on the classification of forests, which of the following statements would most likely apply to places like Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala etc.?

• (A) These places mostly have forests managed as reserved or protected forests for conservation.
• (B) They rely on unclassed forests and local community management for forest conservation.
• (C) They have forest resources and primarily focus on industrial development.
• (D) There are no classified forests and forest management is entirely left to private ownership.

Which one of the following states has made roof top water harvesting compulsory in India?

• (A) Haryana
• (B) Punjab
• (C) Assam
• (D) Tamil Nadu.

Which of the following statements best evaluates the overall goal of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchaee Yojana?

• (A) Addressing the negative ecological effects of large dams by reducing water usage.
• (B) To provide better irrigation systems and sustainable water conservation practices for farmers.
• (C) Shifting farmers from traditional crops to more commercial, water-intensive crops.
• (D) Preserve the natural river flow and prevent the fragmentation of aquatic ecosystems.

Which of the following statement(s) are true with respect to the ethnic composition of Belgium? I. 59 percent of the total population of Belgium lives in the Wallonia region and speaks French. II. 40 percent live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch. III. One percent of the Belgians speak German. IV. In the capital city Brussels, 80 percent people speak French while 20 per cent are Dutch speaking. Choose the correct option:

• (A) I and II
• (B) III and IV
• (C) I, II and III
• (D) I and IV

Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q. No. 21 Consider the following statements on Power Sharing and choose the correct statement(s) - I. Imposing the will of the majority community over others. II. It helps in reducing the possibility of conflict between the social groups. III. Power Sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order. IV. It brings socio-political opposition among parties. Choose the correct option:

• (A) I and II
• (B) I and III
• (C) II and IV
• (D) II and III

Consider the following case and choose the correct option- Suppose the Government of India plans to issue new currency notes of different denominations in order to curb the influence of black money. The Government of one state is opposed to this policy of the Central Government. Can the state government stop the union government from implementing this policy?

• (A) Yes, because Currency is the subject of State List
• (B) No, because Currency is a subject of Union List
• (C) Yes, because the approval of both the governments is necessary to implement this change.
• (D) No, because any such change must be approved by the local government also.

Two statements are given as Assertion (A) and Reason(R). Study the statements carefully and identify the correct alternative: ASSERTION (A): Exclusive attention to caste can produce negative results in democracy. REASON (R): It can divert attention from other important issues thus leading to tensions, conflicts and even violence. Choose the correct option:

• (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
• (C) A is true but R is false.
• (D) A is false but R is true

Underemployment is caused when -

• (A) More workers are employed than actually required
• (B) Fewer workers are employed than actually required
• (C) Workers are paid more than their actual output
• (D) Jobs are given only to highly educated workers

What can be inferred about the limitations of using per capita income (average income) to compare well-being across countries? Choose the correct option as the answer.

• (A) It shows how equally or unequally income is distributed among the people in a country.
• (B) The only measure needed to understand a country's development is Per capita income.
• (C) It gives a basic idea of economic well-being but hides the income inequality.
• (D) It only reflects the industrial growth of a country and does not consider other important factors.

Which of the following examples best demonstrates how the tertiary sector supports both the primary and secondary sectors?

• (A) Farmers grow vegetables and sell them directly to consumers, with no transportation or storage involved.
• (B) A factory makes shoes and uses raw materials like leather to create the product, relying on transport and retail stores to distribute the shoes.
• (C) A bakery bakes bread and uses delivery services to send the bread to local shops for sale, without any direct involvement of raw materials.
• (D) A company produces furniture from wood, but does not require any transport or retail services to sell the product.

Which one of the following issues currency notes in India?

• (A) Finance Ministry.
• (B) Reserve Bank of India.
• (C) State Bank of India.
• (D) Central Bank of India.

Person Z tries to explain how the requirement of a double coincidence of wants in a barter system limits trade and exchange. Which of the following justification do you think will be used by him/her?

• (A) It makes trade more complicated, as each person must have what the other person wants, limiting the pool of potential trade partners.
• (B) The barter system allows trade to be conducted more efficiently since both parties already know what they need from the transaction.
• (C) It increases the number of exchanges because each person can trade for exactly what they want.
• (D) The system creates value for goods by ensuring that both parties have a direct need for each other's goods.

Recognize and choose the option that correctly matches the effects and consequent outcomes of globalization. Column A (Effects of globalisation): 1. Increased foreign investment 2. Cultural exchange and awareness 3. Technological exchange and awareness 4. Growth of multinational corporations Column B (Outcomes): i. Expansion of global markets and access to technology ii. Loss of traditional jobs due to automation and cheaper labor elsewhere iii. Spread of cultural practices, ideas, and values across borders iv. Large companies becoming dominant players in global markets Choose the correct option:

• (A) 1-iii, 2-ii, 3-i, 4-iv
• (B) 1-iv, 2-ii, 3-i, 4-iii
• (C) 1-ii, 2-iv, 3-iii, 4-i
• (D) 1-i, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-iv

5A. "The Silk route was a good example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural links between distant parts of the world." Explain the statement with any two examples. OR 5B. 'Sometimes the new crops could make the difference between life and death.'. Explain the statement with any two examples.

6A. 'A variety of cultural processes played an important role in developing a sense of nationalism in India'. Support the statement with suitable examples. OR 6B. Salt March 'became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism.' Analyse the statement with suitable reasons.

7A. 'In Britain the formation of the nation-state was not the result of a sudden upheaval or revolution but was the result of a long-drawn-out process.' Analyse this statement with suitable reasons. OR 7B. 'The Treaty of Vienna was drawn up in 1815 with the object of undoing most of the changes that had come about in Europe during the Napoleonic wars.' Highlight the significant provisions of this treaty.

Read the given text and answer the following questions:(4) [passage] 8.1. Explain the main reason for publishing newspapers by Krishna ji. (1) 8.2. How was the task of native newspaper and political association seen identical to the role of the opposition? (1) 8.3. Analyze the reasons for the popularity of newspapers during the 19th century. (2)

Two places A and B have been marked on the given outline map of India. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines marked on the map. A) The place where the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched. B) The city where Indian National Congress session was held in September 1920. Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Question 9. A) The place where the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched. B) The place where Indian National Congress session was held in September 1920

Rice is grown as a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but as a subsistence crop in Odisha. Using your understanding of geographical factors and economic practices, explain why rice cultivation differs in these regions.

17A. Person P is willing to establish a mineral based industry. He has been advised to set up a bauxite industry in Odisha as a suitable way to make a profitable venture. Analyse the possible reasons behind the advice given to her. OR 17B. 'Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India.' Justify the statement by evaluating the significant role it plays in the growth of the Indian economy in its different forms.

Read the given text and answer the following questions: (1+2+1=4) [passage] 18.1 Why do you think is global waste expected to increase by 2050? 18.2 How do manufacturing industries cause pollution of different types? Explain with examples. 18.3 Is it correct to consider pollution as a possible cause for worsening of the current global trends of poverty and inequality? Justify.

On the same outline map of India locate and label the following with suitable symbols: I.(p) The dam in the Sutlej-Beas river basin, which is being used both for hydel power production and irrigation. OR (q) The dam in the Mahanadi basin that integrates conservation of water with flood control. II. Any two of the following: (i) A major sea port in West Bengal (ii) An international airport in Tamil Nadu (iii) An international airport in Punjab Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q. No. 19. b) Answer any three of the following: i Name the dam in the Mahanadi basin that integrates conservation of water with flood control. ii Specify the name of a major sea port in West Bengal. iii Name an international airport in Tamil Nadu. iv State the name of an international airport in Punjab.

Highlight any two key features of federalism.

'Women in India face discrimination, disadvantages and oppression in many ways.' Highlight any two aspects of life where you witness this inequality.

'Democracy leads to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens in every sphere.' Support this statement with suitable arguments.

27A. 'Political parties play a significant role in the effective working of a democracy.' Explain. OR 27B. Analyse how the issue of leadership succession poses a challenge to political parties in India.

Read the given text and answer the following questions: (1+1+2=4) [passage] 28.1 State any two demands of Tamils in Sri Lanka. 28.2 State the results of the Majoritarian Government in Sri Lanka. 28.3 Explain any two provisions of the Belgian model of power sharing.

Evaluate the utility of public services in contributing to the overall well-being of individuals and society.

'Expanding access to loans in the formal sector is important, yet it is equally critical that these loans are accessible to all people for national development.' Justify the statement.

Highlight the significant three factors that have contributed to the growth of globalisation.

38A. A research student spoke with two people, M and N to learn about their work-related differences. On the basis of the interview conducted with both of them, the student concludes that while person M was working in an organized sector, person N was an employee of a workplace that was functioning in an unorganised way. Analyse the key differences between the two sectors that must have enabled the research student to come to this conclusion. OR 38B. Privatisation can have both positive and negative effects on the economy. Support the statement with argument. (?) Map for Q. no. 9 (Section A) & Q. no. 19 (Section B)