The CBSE Class 10 Social Science Board Exam 2026 was successfully conducted on 7th March across exam centres in India. The exam took place in a single shift, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The Social Science question paper 2026 featured a new sectional format, comprising four sections—History, Civics, Political Science, and Economics—each carrying equal weightage. The board has revised the SST question paper to enhance clarity, fairness, and evaluation standards for students.
This review will provide a detailed look at the question patterns, topic distribution, difficulty level, and how students performed across different sections, helping future aspirants and teachers gauge the overall trends of the Class 10 Question paper.
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam 2026 will test students on History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics through a mix of MCQs, short, long, and source-based questions. Detailed highlights and analysis will be updated once the exam concludes.
| CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam 2026 Highlights | |
| Category | Details |
| Exam & Subject | Secondary School Examination (Class X), Social Science (Code 087) |
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Date & Timing | 7th March 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-and-Paper) |
| Total Marks | 80 (80 Theory) |
| Question Structure | MCQs, Short Answer, Long Answer, Source-based/Case-study Questions |
| Passing Criteria | Minimum 33% in Theory and Overall |
| Negative Marking | None |
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam 2026, conducted on 7th March, was reported to be moderately difficult by students and teachers. Most questions were directly based on NCERT textbooks, while some long-answer questions were slightly lengthy. The Economics section, in particular, challenged students’ conceptual understanding and required careful application of knowledge.
The topics covered in the CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam 2026 are based on the prescribed Class 10 Social Science syllabus, including History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics. A detailed list of chapters and important questions is shared below:
History
Nationalism in India (Satyagraha movements, INC sessions)
Print Culture and the French Revolution
Nationalism in Europe (Giuseppe Mazzini, Balkan nationalism)
Map-based questions related to the freedom movement
Geography
Types of soils in India (Black soil, Alluvial soil)
Forest resources and conservation
Cropping seasons and major crops (Kharif crops)
Minerals and energy resources
National parks and protected areas
Map work related to dams, power plants, and airports
Political Science
Power sharing (Belgium case study)
Democracy and economic development
Political parties in India
Concept-based MCQs and case-based questions
Economics
Agriculture and government initiatives
Irrigation and land degradation
Sustainable development and resource use
Government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2026 follows a structured marking scheme with different question types carrying specific marks. The distribution is as follows:
| Section-Wise Marks Distribution | ||
|---|---|---|
| Question Type | Marks per Question | Answer Limit |
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | 1 mark each | – |
| Very Short Answer (VSA) | 2 marks each | Up to 40 words |
| Short Answer (SA) | 3 marks each | Up to 60 words |
| Long Answer (LA) | 5 marks each | Up to 120 words |
| Case-Based Questions (CBQs) | 4 marks each | Up to 100 words |
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam 2026 comprised 38 questions across four sections: A – History, B – Geography, C – Political Science, and D – Economics, with internal choice provided in several questions. The section-wise difficulty level is summarised below:
History: Overall moderate. Most questions were directly from the NCERT textbook, and source-based questions were straightforward.
Geography: Moderate in difficulty. Map-based questions were included and well-aligned with the syllabus.
Political Science: Relatively easy. However, case-study-based questions required deeper understanding and application of concepts.
Economics: Moderate but slightly lengthy. Many students found this section to be the most challenging part of the paper due to conceptual and numerical questions.
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2026 is available here as the exam has concluded. Students can download the official paper to review all sections, understand the question patterns, and check the marking scheme. Going through the paper will help in analysing the exam structure and evaluating performance.
Both unofficial and official answer keys will be added here once the exam concludes. These will allow students to cross-check their answers, estimate marks, and review solutions for all sections and chapters.
Link to Answer Key: To be updated