The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 10th Social Science exam today, March 7, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. In this live update, we provide the complete CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2026 question paper, a detailed difficulty analysis, and expert-verified Class 10 SST Paper with solutions PDF.
Initial feedback from students indicates the paper was Moderate, with a balanced mix of competency-based and direct questions
| CBSE Class 10th SST Question Paper 2026 | Question Paper | Check Solution |
|---|---|---|
| SST Paper Class 10th – Set 1 | Download PDF | View Solution |
| SST Paper Class 10th – Set 2 | Download PDF | View Solution |
| SST Paper Class 10th – Set 3 | Download PDF | View Solution |
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2026 with Solutions PDF – Set 1
| CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2026 with Solutions PDF Set-1 (Code:32/5/1) | Download PDF | Check Solution |
Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option:
I. Salt Satyagraha
II. Kheda Satyagraha
III. Rowlatt Satyagraha
IV. Ahmedabad Mill Workers Satyagraha
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The discovery of sea routes to Asia and America shrank the pre-modern world in the sixteenth century.
Reason (R): During this period European entry into the Indian Ocean expanded trade.
Identify this image of the allegorical figure of a European nation during the nineteenth century from the following options:
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
(a) Why did many Europeans migrate to America after the sixteenth century? Explain.
OR
(b) How did trade and long distance travel contribute to the spread of diseases during the ancient period? Explain.
(a) ``Print culture created the favourable conditions for the French Revolution.'' Explain the statement with examples.
OR
(b) ``Throughout the nineteenth century, there were a series of innovations in printing technology.'' Explain the statement with examples.
(a) Examine the nationalist tensions emerged in the Balkan region by the end of nineteenth century.
OR
(b) Examine the role of Giuseppe Mazzini in the unification of Italy during the nineteenth century.
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The sense of collective belonging
As the national movement developed, nationalist leaders became more and more aware of such icons and symbols in unifying people and inspiring in them a feeling of nationalism. Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. By the end of the nineteenth century many Indians began feeling that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished. This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised. These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.
(8.1) How did icons help to unite Indians during the freedom struggle?
(8.2) Why did nationalists feel the need to rewrite Indian history?
(8.3) How did nationalist histories portray India’s past and present?
Two places ‘A’ and ‘B’ have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following informations and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them.
(a) The place where Gandhiji launched satyagraha for the Indigo planters.
(b) The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held.
Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of question no. 9:
(9.1) Name the place where Gandhiji launched satyagraha for the Indigo planters.
(9.2) Name the place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1920 in Maharashtra.
Identify the soil with the help of the following informations given in the box and choose the correct option:
It is made up of extremely fine material.
It is rich in soil nutrients.
It is ideal for growing cotton.
In which of the following States of India, has the largest area under permanent forests?
Identify the correct option related to major crops grown in the ‘Kharif’ cropping season in India:
Choose the appropriate option to fill in the blank:
Which of the following is an example of ‘current fallow land’?
Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option:
Column-I (National Parks) & Column-II (States)
a. Sariska & i. Madhya Pradesh
b. Sunderban & ii. Uttarakhand
c. Corbett & iii. West Bengal
d. Bandhavgarh & iv. Rajasthan
a b c d
Explain the measures made by government to improve Indian agriculture.
(a) ``Conserving energy is essential for sustainable development.'' Support the statement with suitable arguments.
OR
(b) ``Minerals are found in various forms and types, each having distinct properties.'' Support the statement with suitable arguments.
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
Floods have not only devastated life and property but also caused extensive soil erosion. Sedimentation also meant that the flood plains were deprived of silt, a natural fertilizer, further adding on to the problem of land degradation. It was also observed that the multipurpose projects induced earthquakes, caused water-borne diseases and pests and pollution resulting from excessive use of water.
Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to water intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like salinisation of the soil.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been started which ensures access to some means to protective irrigation for all agricultural farms in the country, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity. Some of the broad objectives of this programme are to enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (har khet ko pani), improve on farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability both in duration and extent, irrigation and other water saving technologies (per drop more crop) and introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc.
(18.1) Explain the role of floods in land degradation.
(18.2) How has irrigation changed cropping pattern?
(18.3) Explain any two objectives of the `Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana'.
For question number 9, on the same outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with appropriate symbols and write their correct names:
(i) The dam built on the Sutlej River.
(ii) A nuclear power plant located in Gujarat.
(iii) A software technology park located in Uttar Pradesh.
(iv) An international airport located in Maharashtra.
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): Belgium’s power sharing arrangements were designed to accommodate its linguistic and cultural divisions.
Reason (R): Belgian leaders recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.
Look at the given cartoon carefully and answer the question that follow:
Which of the following concepts is best illustrated in the cartoon?
Find the odd one out regarding the Political Parties of India:
Read the given statements regarding urban local government and choose the correct option:
[I.] Municipalities are set up in towns.
[II.] Big cities have Municipal Corporation.
[III.] Municipal chairperson is the head of Block Samiti.
[IV.] The officer in Municipal Corporation is called as Mayor.
Suggest two ways to improve women’s participation in sports leadership roles.
``Democracy is a better form of government compared with any other alternative.'' Examine the statement.
How does the ‘system of three lists’ function in Indian federalism? Explain with examples.
(a) Explain the importance of political parties in Indian democracy.
OR
(b) Explain the challenges faced by the political parties in India.
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Forms of Power-sharing
The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power. For a long time, it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons located at one place. It was felt that if the power to decide is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them. But these notions have changed with the emergence of democracy. One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-government. In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies. Therefore, it follows that in a democracy, political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.
(28.1) How does power sharing promote stability of political order?
(28.2) How are pressure groups part of the power sharing mechanism?
(28.3) How does power sharing contribute to the spirit of democracy?
Study the given data and answer the question that follow:
Comparative Data of few States
\begin{tabular{|c|c|c|c|
\hline
States & Infant Mortality Rate (2020) & Literacy Rate (2017--18) & Net Attendance Rate (Class 1 to 5)
\hline
State A & 28 & 82 & 73
State B & 6 & 94 & 94
State C & 27 & 62 & 69
\hline
\end{tabular
By how many of the following points does State B’s literacy rate exceed from State A in 2017--18?
Identify the sector of economy with the help of information given in the box:
\begin{tabular{|p{10cm|
\hline
Ownership of assets and delivery of services in the hands of private individuals.
Activities are guided by the motive to earn profits.
\hline
\end{tabular
Read the following case and choose the correct option:
Megha has taken a loan of ₹ 5 lakhs from bank to purchase a house. The annual rate on the loan is 12% and loan is to be repaid in 5 years in monthly instalments.
The 12% interest charged by the bank to Megha is related to which of the following?
Which of the following is the main purpose of a trade barrier in global trade? Choose the correct option.
Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
Choose the correct option to fill in the blank:
Infant Mortality Rate indicates the number of children that die before the age of ____ year(s) per 1000 live births in that particular year.
``Advancement in technology has stimulated the globalization process.'' Justify the statement with suitable arguments.
Explain the role of Reserve Bank in Indian economy.
``Different persons can have different developmental goals.'' Explain the statement with examples.
(a) Describe the importance of tertiary sector in the economy.
OR
(b) Describe the features of organized sector of the economy.
CBSE Social Science Class 10 Exam Analysis 2026 | Exam Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Date | March 7, 2026 (Saturday) |
| Time | 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Subject & Code | Social Science (087) |
| Total Marks | 80 |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate |
| Time Management | Comfortable (Completed on time) |
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