Quick answer: CBSE Class 10 Social Science has an 80-mark theory paper split equally: History 20, Geography 20, Political Science 20 and Economics 20, with map questions from History and Geography included in that total. There are 21 chapters, so revision has to be selective and visual.
Social Science is the subject students most often leave to the end, and then find too long to finish. The trick is to turn long chapters into short structures – timelines for History, tables and maps for Geography, and comparison charts for Civics and Economics.
Marks and chapters for 2026-27
| Part | Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| History – India and the Contemporary World II | The Rise of Nationalism in Europe; Nationalism in India; The Making of a Global World; The Age of Industrialisation; Print Culture and the Modern World | 20 |
| Geography – Contemporary India II | Resources and Development; Forest and Wildlife Resources; Water Resources; Agriculture; Minerals and Energy Resources; Manufacturing Industries; Lifelines of National Economy | 20 |
| Political Science – Democratic Politics II | Power Sharing; Federalism; Gender, Religion and Caste; Political Parties; Outcomes of Democracy | 20 |
| Economics – Understanding Economic Development | Development; Sectors of the Indian Economy; Money and Credit; Globalisation and the Indian Economy | 20 |
| Total (theory) | 21 chapters | 80 |
Some History chapters are assessed only through internal assessment or have reduced scope in certain years – check the current rationalised syllabus on cbseacademic.nic.in.
How to revise each part
History: timelines
Make one timeline per chapter – for example, the Non-Cooperation Movement to the Civil Disobedience Movement with dates and leaders. Most History answers are easier to write once you can see the order of events.
Geography: tables and the map
Put crops, soils, minerals and industries in tables (where found, conditions, uses). Practise the map list on a blank outline map of India at least five times – map questions are among the easiest marks in the paper.
Political Science: comparisons
Federalism, power sharing and political parties are best revised as comparison charts (for example, Belgium vs Sri Lanka, coming-together vs holding-together federations).
Economics: definitions with examples
Learn each definition with one Indian example – sectors, formal and informal credit, and how globalisation affects producers and workers.
Short notes built this way
The Class 10 Social Science Short Notes 2026-27 cover all 21 chapters with timelines, maps and comparison tables in 139 colourful pages. Hindi medium students can use Samajik Vigyan short notes. With Maths and Science, the Class 10 set costs less than buying the three separately.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters are there in Class 10 SST?
21 chapters across History, Geography, Political Science and Economics.
Are map questions included in the 80 marks?
Yes, map work from History and Geography is part of the 80-mark theory paper.
