
CTET Social Science Syllabus 2026 has been designed with special focus for the aspirant and to teach their teaching skills. Through this examination, candidates are selected to teach primary and upper primary students. CTET Social Science Syllabus covers several aspects related to Geography, History, Social Studies, Political Life, and more. Therefore, refer to the information provided below to know more about the CTET Social Science Syllabus.
The CTET 2026 Notification has officially released on 27 November 2025 for the February session. It comes with the complete information bulletin for candidates.
Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 is conducted to select teachers for Classes 1 to 8 in schools across India. For candidates preparing for CTET Social Science needs to focus on paper 2, which is the CTET Social Science Syllabus.
| CTET 2026 Syllabus Overview | |
| Parameter | Details |
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Mode | Online / Computer-Based Test |
| Purpose | Eligibility for teaching Social Studies/Social Science (Classes VI to VIII) under CBSE and state government schools |
| Applicable Paper | Paper II – For candidates choosing Social Science as an optional subject |
| Total Questions (Paper II) | 150 Questions (60 from Social Studies/Social Science and 90 from Child Development, Language I, and Language II) |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark per question; no negative marking |
| Language of Exam | English, Hindi, and other regional languages |
| Syllabus Source | CBSE CTET 2026 Official Notification |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
The syllabus has two major sections: Content (40 Questions) and Pedagogical Issues (10 Questions). Each section tests knowledge, understanding, and teaching ability.
| CTET Social Science Syllabus 2026 | |||
| Section | Subsection | Topics Covered | Description |
| Content Section – 40 Questions | History | When, Where, and How; The Earliest Societies; The First Farmers and Herders; The First Cities; Early States; New Ideas; The First Empire; Contacts with Distant Lands; Political Developments; Culture and Science; New Kings and Kingdoms; Sultans of Delhi; Architecture; Creation of an Empire; Social Change; Regional Cultures; Establishment of Company Power; Rural Life and Society; Colonialism and Tribal Societies; The Revolt of 1857-58; Women and Reform; Challenging the Caste System; The Nationalist Movement; India After Independence | Covers Indian history from ancient to modern times, focusing on social, political, and cultural changes. |
| Geography | Geography as a social study and science; Planet Earth in the Solar System; Globe; Environment in totality; Air and Water; Human Environment: settlements, transport, and communication; Resources: natural and human; Agriculture | Focuses on Earth’s structure, environment, human settlements, resources, and agriculture. | |
| Social and Political Life | Diversity; Government; Local Government; Making a Living; Democracy; State Government; Understanding Media; Unpacking Gender; The Constitution; Parliamentary Government; The Judiciary; Social Justice and Marginalised Groups | Explains society, governance, democracy, constitution, law, gender issues, and social justice. | |
| Pedagogical Issues – 10 Questions | Teaching Methods | Concept & Nature of Social Science/Social Studies; Classroom processes, activities, and discussions; Developing critical thinking in students; Enquiry and empirical evidence; Problems in teaching Social Science/Social Studies; Using sources: primary and secondary; Project work; Evaluation of learning | Evaluates the candidate’s ability to teach social science effectively using simple methods, practical examples, and interactive teaching. |
Candidates can download the CTET Social Science Syllabus PDF for detailed study. The PDF provides complete topics and subtopics for History, Geography, Social & Political Life, and Pedagogy. Using it ensures candidates cover the syllabus fully before the exam. To download the CTET Social Science Syllabus PDF, click on the link provided below:
To prepare well, candidates should focus on these key areas from CTET Social Science Syllabus 2026:
| CTET Social Science Important Topics | |
| Subject | Important Topics |
| History | Early Societies, First Farmers, First Cities, Delhi Sultans, Colonial India, Nationalist Movement |
| Geography | Earth and Solar System, Natural and Human Environment, Resources, Agriculture |
| Social & Political Life | Democracy, Constitution, Government, Gender, Social Justice |
| Pedagogy | Teaching methods, Classroom activities, Project work, Critical thinking, Evaluation |
Mentioned here are some of the easy-to-follow CTET Social Science Exam preparation tips. Refer to the mentioned points to know more about those tips to prepare effectively:
Understand the syllabus: Go through the CTET Social Science Syllabus PDF and mark important topics.
Make short notes: Write simple notes for each topic. This helps in quick revision.
Practice previous papers: Solve earlier CTET question papers to understand exam patterns.
Use maps and charts: For Geography and History, visual tools help in remembering facts.
Focus on pedagogy: Practice simple teaching examples and classroom activity ideas.
Time management: Divide study time for History, Geography, Social & Political Life, and Pedagogy.