CBSE Class 10 SST Mid-Term Marathon 2026: Important Chapters & Questions to Practise Before the Exam

Preparing for Social Science is not only about reading the chapters again. You may remember an event in History but forget its date or significance, confuse similar terms in Economics, or struggle to recall the features of federalism and resource classification in Geography. With several chapters to revise, these small gaps can make last-minute preparation more difficult.

To make the last-minute SST revision more focused, PW provides the Class 10 SST Mid-Term Marathon 2026. The marathon brings important topics from Civics, Economics, History and Geography into one intensive session, using examples, stories, memory tricks, MCQs and subjective PYQs to explain how key concepts can be understood and tested in an examination.

Important Class 10 SST Concepts to Revise Before the Mid-Term

The Class 10 SST Mid-Term requires revision across four different areas, each with its own set of concepts, terms, events and examples. Focus on the important topics below, including key definitions, classifications, movements, constitutional features and development indicators, before moving to question practice.

Civics: Power Sharing and Federalism

Economics: Development and Sectors of the Indian Economy

History: Nationalism in Europe and Nationalism in India

Geography: Resources and Development and Forest and Wildlife Resources

Class 10 SST Important Questions to Practise 

After revising the concepts, attempt the questions from the PW Class 10 SST Mid-Term Marathon without checking the answers first. The session includes MCQs and subjective PYQs, helping you practise both objective and descriptive question formats.

Most Important Very Short Answer Questions

1. Which one of the following elements is NOT included in the Belgium model?

a) Dutch and French-speaking shall be equal in the government
b) Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments
c) Brussels has a separate government
d) Community government had administrative power

Answer: d) Community government had administrative power.

2. Which of the following countries does not share a border with Belgium?

a) Netherlands
b) France
c) Sweden
d) Germany

Answer: c) Sweden.

3. Which language was declared the official language by Sri Lanka in the Act of 1956?

a) Tamil
b) Sinhala
c) English
d) None of the above

Answer: b) Sinhala.

4. A belief that the majority community should rule a country by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is called what?

a) Federalism
b) Secularism
c) Majoritarianism
d) Liberalism

Answer: c) Majoritarianism.

5. Which of the following subjects is included in the Union List?

a) Police
b) Agriculture
c) Communication
d) Cinema

Answer: c) Communication.

6. Which of the following countries is an example of a coming together federation?

a) Spain
b) Belgium
c) Australia
d) India

Answer: c) Australia.

7. Which of the following is responsible for resolving disputes between the Centre and the State?

a) Parliament
b) President
c) Supreme Court of India
d) State Legislature

Answer: c) Supreme Court of India.

8. Which of the following is a development goal for landless rural labourers?

a) Access to better education for their children
b) Higher wages and more days of work
c) To be treated as equals and be free from discrimination
d) To migrate to cities for better livelihood

Answer: b) Higher wages and more days of work.

9. Which of the following countries is an example of a holding-together federation?

a) USA
b) India
c) Switzerland
d) Australia

Answer: b) India.

10. Under MGNREGA, how many days of work are guaranteed?

a) 150 days
b) 120 days
c) 100 days
d) 90 days

Answer: c) 100 days.

Most Important Short Answer Questions

11. Why is power sharing desirable?

Answer: Power sharing is desirable for two main reasons. First, it reduces the possibility of conflict and violence between different social groups, thereby maintaining political stability. Second, it reflects the spirit of democracy by giving people a right to participate in decisions that affect them.

12. What are the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing?

Answer:

• Prudential reasons: Power sharing reduces the possibility of social conflict, violence and civil war. It also helps maintain political stability and gives marginalised groups a greater share in governance.

• Moral reasons: Power sharing is the spirit of democracy. Citizens have the right to be consulted and participate in decisions related to how they are governed.

13. What are the key features of federalism?

Answer: The main features of federalism are:

1. There are two or more levels of government.

2. Different levels govern the same citizens but have clearly defined jurisdictions.

3. Sources of revenue for each level are clearly specified.

4. An independent judiciary settles disputes between different levels of government.

5. Important constitutional provisions cannot be changed unilaterally by one level of government.

14. What are the dual objectives of a federal government?

Answer: A federal system has two important objectives:

1. To safeguard and promote the unity of the country.

2. To accommodate regional and cultural diversity.

Thus, federalism allows a country to remain united while giving different regions and communities space to preserve their identities and interests.

15. What provisions were made under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts?

Answer: The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts strengthened local self-government in India. The 73rd Amendment provided for Panchayats in rural areas, while the 74th Amendment provided for Municipalities in urban areas. The major provisions included:

• Regular elections to local bodies.

• A State Election Commission to conduct these elections.

• Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

• Reservation of at least one-third of seats for women.

• Greater participation of people in local decision-making.

16. What is meant by sustainable development?

Answer: Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It aims to balance economic development with the conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment. It involves avoiding the excessive use of resources, reducing environmental damage and adopting cleaner and renewable sources of energy. Practices such as Reduce, Reuse and Recycle also support sustainable development.

17. What is meant by development?

Answer: Development refers to an all-round improvement in the quality of people's lives. It does not mean only an increase in income. People may also seek freedom, equality, security, dignity, better education, healthcare and a clean environment. Since people have different needs and goals, what may be considered development for one person may not necessarily be the same for another.

18. What is meant by the term 'disguised unemployment'?

Answer: Disguised unemployment is a situation in which more people are engaged in a particular job than are actually required. If some workers are removed, the total production remains unchanged because their contribution to production is negligible. It is commonly seen in agriculture, where several members of a family may work on the same small piece of land even though fewer workers could produce the same output.

19. What is the difference between organised and unorganised sectors?

Answer: The organised sector operates according to government rules and regulations. Workers generally have fixed working hours, regular wages, job security and benefits such as paid leave and medical facilities. The unorganised sector consists of small and scattered units where workers often have irregular employment, low wages and little job security. They usually do not receive formal employment benefits or adequate protection under labour laws.

20. Why is the tertiary sector growing the fastest?

Answer: The tertiary sector has grown rapidly for several reasons:

1. As agriculture and industries develop, they require services such as transport, banking, storage and communication.

2. Governments need to provide services such as schools, hospitals, police and administrative facilities.

3. Rising incomes increase people's demand for services such as tourism, restaurants and private education.

4. The growth of information technology, software and communication has created many new service-based activities.

Most Important Long Answer Questions

21. What was the impact of the First World War on India?

Answer: The First World War had a major economic and social impact on India. Although the war was fought outside India, the country was involved as a British colony. Its major effects were:

1. Increase in taxes: The British government increased taxes and defence expenditure to finance the war. Income tax was introduced and customs duties were increased.

2. Rise in prices: The economic pressure of the war led to a significant increase in the prices of essential goods, making life difficult for ordinary people.

3. Forced recruitment: Men from rural areas were forcibly recruited into the British army. This created resentment among the rural population.

4. Crop failures and food shortages: Crop failures during the period added to the hardship and created difficult conditions for the people.

5. Influenza epidemic: An influenza epidemic spread across India and caused widespread deaths. The combined effect of food shortages, economic hardship and the epidemic made the post-war period extremely difficult for Indians.

22. What was the main reason for the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn mainly because of the Chauri Chaura incident in February 1922.

1. During the movement, a group of protesters in Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur, clashed with the police.

2. The situation became violent and the protesters attacked and burnt the police station.

3. Around 22 policemen were killed in the incident.

4. Mahatma Gandhi strongly believed in the principle of non-violence and was deeply disturbed by the incident.

5. He felt that the movement was losing its non-violent character and that people were not yet adequately prepared for a nationwide non-violent struggle.

6. Therefore, Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.

23. What is meant by 'allegory'? What do the allegories of Germany and France represent?

Answer: An allegory is a visual representation of an abstract idea through a person or figure. During the growth of nationalism, nations were often represented through female figures to create a sense of national identity.

• France: The allegory of France was Marianne. She represented the ideas of liberty, the democratic republic and national unity.

• Germany: The allegory of Germany was Germania. She represented heroism, strength and national pride.

• Germania was shown wearing a crown of oak leaves, which symbolised heroism and bravery.

• She carried a sword, representing Germany's readiness to defend itself.

• An olive branch around the sword represented the desire for peace.

• Broken chains near her feet symbolised freedom from past restrictions.

• The eagle on her shield represented national power and authority.

Thus, these allegories helped people visualise the nation and develop a shared sense of national identity.

24. What are the three main factors considered by the UNDP for the Human Development Index?

Answer: The UNDP considers more than income when comparing the development of different countries. The Human Development Index takes into account three important dimensions:

1. Life expectancy: It indicates the health condition and expected lifespan of people. Higher life expectancy generally reflects better healthcare, nutrition and living conditions.

2. Education: Education and literacy indicate the level of educational development of the population and access to learning opportunities.

3. Per capita income: It indicates the average income available per person and reflects the standard of living.

By considering health, education and income together, the UNDP provides a broader measure of human development rather than judging development only through income.

25. Explain disguised unemployment with an example.

Answer: Disguised unemployment is a situation in which more people are working in an activity than are actually needed. The removal of some workers does not lead to a fall in total production because their marginal contribution is effectively zero.

For example, suppose three members of a family work on a small agricultural plot and earn ₹100 from it. If two more family members join them because they cannot find other work, the total number of workers becomes five, but the income from the farm remains ₹100. The additional two workers do not increase the total production or income.

This shows that although all five people appear to be employed, some of them are actually disguisedly unemployed. If the extra workers found employment elsewhere, they could contribute to additional production and income.

How Can the PW Class 10 SST Mid-Term Marathon Help With Last-Minute Revision?

The PW Class 10 SST Mid-Term Marathon brings concept revision, NCERT coverage and question practice into one session, helping you revise important topics before the exam. You can use the marathon to:

• Revise Difficult Concepts: Revisit topics such as federalism, development indicators, national movements and resource classification that need extra attention before the exam.

• Remember Important Facts: Use stories, examples and mnemonic tricks to recall important dates, terms, features and classifications more easily.

• Practise Different Question Formats: Work through MCQs and subjective PYQs to understand how important SST concepts can be asked in different question formats.

• Cover NCERT Concepts: Revise NCERT-based concepts, facts and examples discussed in the marathon so that you can strengthen your textbook preparation.

• Make Difficult Topics Easier to Recall: Use mnemonics, shortcuts and real-life stories from the session to understand concepts and remember them for longer.

• Improve Answer Writing: Learn how to approach subjective questions and include the relevant points, examples and explanations in your answers.

• Revise All Four SST Subjects: Cover important areas from Civics, Economics, History and Geography in a single revision session.

• Check Your Preparation: Use the questions discussed during the marathon to identify topics and question types that you still need to revise before the mid-term exam.

The marathon can be most useful when followed by active practice. After watching a topic, close your notes and try to recall its key points, then solve the related questions before moving to the next chapter.

For the Class 10 SST Mid-Term, combine the marathon with NCERT revision and question practice. Focus on understanding the concepts first, then revise important dates, definitions, examples and classifications so that you can recall them confidently during the exam.