CTET SST Important PYQs Questions and Solutions

CTET SST Important PYQs Questions focus on core concepts from Social Science Pedagogy, Geography, and History that are frequently used to frame exam questions. These include teaching approaches to evaluate pedagogical understanding, geographical ideas such as climate zones, atmospheric layers, and natural processes, and historical themes related to key personalities, governance, and social structures. 

The emphasis is on conceptual clarity rather than memorization, helping aspirants understand question patterns and examiner expectations. This structured approach supports efficient, exam-oriented preparation and strengthens the ability to tackle application-based and analytical questions in the CTET Social Science paper.

CTET 2026 Exam

CTET SST Important PYQs Questions

CTET SST Important PYQs Questions are framed from core concepts in Social Science Pedagogy, Geography, and History. Check the concepts below to understand the topics on which questions are commonly based and prepare with better clarity, focus, and exam-oriented understanding.

Social Science Pedagogy: Fostering Sensitivity

This section begins by analyzing a pedagogical question on the best method for making students sensitive to the lives of tribals (आदिवासी) and nomadic pastoralists (चलवासी पशुचारी).

Comparative Analysis of Teaching Methods

The lecture contrasts two primary teaching approaches for this topic, highlighting that the best method depends on the learning objective.

To generate sensitivity, an interactive method that allows for the exploration and correction of student preconceptions is more effective than a passive, informational one.

Key Concepts: Transhumance & Tribals

• Transhumance (ऋतु प्रवास): This is the seasonal migration of people.

• Definition: Movement according to the seasons.

• Example: The Gaddi and Bakarwal nomadic communities of Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. They move to lower valleys in winter and higher mountain peaks in summer.

• Historical Context: The British colonial administration declared these nomadic groups as criminals, aiming to seize their lands and restrict their movement.

• Tribal Peoples (आदिवासी):

• Characteristics: These are self-reliant communities living in specific, often forested, regions. They frequently exist outside the societal mainstream and are victims of marginalization (हास्यकरण).

• Positive Framing: It is crucial to present a positive perspective, emphasizing their profound knowledge of forests and their ability to sustain their cultures for thousands of years.

Geography: The Torrid Zone & Climate

To understand the concept of the Torrid Zone (उष्णकटिबंध), students need prior knowledge of several geographical concepts, excluding longitude.

Latitudes vs. Longitudes

• Latitudes (अक्षांश): These are imaginary horizontal lines, also known as temperature lines. They determine the Earth's climate and heat zones.

• Longitudes (देशांतर): These are imaginary vertical lines, known as time lines. They are used to determine time zones.

Characteristics of the Torrid Zone

The Torrid Zone is the region located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

• Direct Sunlight: This zone receives the most direct rays from the sun. It is the only region on Earth where the sun will be directly overhead at least once during the year.

• High Temperature & Biodiversity: Direct sunlight leads to a critical environmental chain reaction:

1. High Temperature leads to →

2. High Rainfall (due to evaporation) which leads to →

3. Dense Forests, which in turn supports →

4. High Biodiversity.
   This explains why biodiversity is highest near the equator (in the Torrid Zone) and decreases towards the poles. (Memory Tip: Remember this causal chain: Temperature → Rainfall → Forests → Biodiversity).

Geography: Layers of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is a layer of air surrounding the Earth, held in place by gravity. It is divided into several distinct layers, each with unique properties.

1. Troposphere (शोभमंडल):

• The lowest atmospheric layer.

• All weather-related phenomena occur here, including cloud formation, rain, and storms.

• It contains dust particles and pollutants.

2. Stratosphere (समताप मंडल):

• Located above the Troposphere.

• It is a very clean layer with no dust or weather disturbances, making it the ideal layer for flying airplanes due to high visibility.

• It contains the Ozone Layer (ओजोन मंडल), which acts as a protective shield by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

• Temperature Inversion (तापक्रम विलोमता) occurs here: temperature increases with altitude due to ozone's absorption of UV radiation.

• Karman Line (कर्मण रेखा): An internationally recognized boundary at an altitude of 100 km that marks the beginning of outer space.

3. Mesosphere (मध्यमंडल):

• This is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.

• Meteoroids (उल्कापिंड) entering the atmosphere burn up in this layer, creating "shooting stars."

4. Thermosphere (तापमंडल):

• This layer contains the Ionosphere (आयन मंडल), a region of charged particles (ions).

• Communication: Crucial for long-distance communication, as it reflects radio waves back to Earth.

• Auroras: Interaction of charged particles creates brilliant light displays (e.g., Northern Lights).

5. Exosphere (बहिर वायुमंडल):

• The outermost atmospheric layer.

• The air here is extremely thin.

Questions on Ozone, Meteoroids, and Weather Phenomena are frequently asked in exams.

CTET Previous Year Question Papers

Geography: Time Zone Calculation

This section provides a worked example of a fundamental geographical calculation.

Problem: If it is 12:00 PM at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, 0° longitude), what is the time at 45° East longitude?

Solution Steps:

1. The Earth's rotation means that 1° of longitude corresponds to a 4-minute time difference.

2. Calculate the total time difference for 45°: 45° * 4 minutes/° = 180 minutes.

3. Convert the minutes to hours: 180 minutes / 60 = 3 hours.

4. Determine the direction. Time is ahead in the East and behind in the West.

5. Since the location is 45° East, add the 3 hours to the GMT: 12:00 PM + 3 hours = 3:00 PM.

History: Razia Sultan and Gender in Medieval Society

A historical passage from the 13th century stated: "In the account of God's creation, her account did not fall under the list of men, so what did she finally gain from all of her excellent qualities?" This was written for Razia Sultan.

• Historical Figure: Razia Sultan was the first female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate (reigned 1236-1240 CE).

• Source: The quote is from the book Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, written by the chronicler Minhaj-i-Siraj.

• Analysis: Minhaj-i-Siraj acknowledged Razia's excellent qualities as a ruler. However, he lamented that she was ultimately not accepted and was overthrown due to conspiracies because she was a woman. Her gender was her only perceived disqualification in a deeply patriarchal society.

• Comparative Context: Other female rulers of that era, such as Didda (Kashmir) and Rudramadevi (Deccan), also faced similar challenges, sometimes attempting to project a masculine identity for acceptance. This reflects the powerful stereotype that a ruler must be a man.

General Science: Air Pressure & Weight

Question: What holds the atmosphere around the Earth?

Answer: The Earth's gravitational force.

The lecture then explores a deeper conceptual question: Why don't we feel the immense weight of the atmosphere?

• The Misconception: The reason is not simply gravity.

• The Correct Explanation: We do not feel the atmosphere's weight because air pressure is exerted on us uniformly from all directions. This balanced pressure cancels out any sensation of weight. This is similar to swimming on the surface of the ocean, where you do not feel the weight of the water. We only perceive pressure differences (gradients) in the atmosphere.

Thought Experiment: 1 kg of Iron vs. 1 kg of Cotton

A classic riddle asks which is heavier. From a scientific perspective, 1 kg of cotton is heavier than 1 kg of iron on a scale.

• Reasoning:

1. 1 kg of cotton occupies a much larger volume than 1 kg of iron.

2. This larger volume traps a greater amount of air within it.

3. Since air has weight, the total measured weight of the cotton will be the weight of the cotton fibers plus the weight of the trapped air.

4. Therefore, the cotton bale will weigh slightly more than 1 kg, related to the principle of buoyancy in air.

History: James Mill's Periodization of Indian History

This section addresses a question regarding James Mill's influential book, "A History of British India".

• Publication: The book was published in 1817 in three volumes.

• Author: James Mill was a Scottish historian and philosopher.

• Periodization: Mill's most significant—and controversial—contribution was his division of Indian history not into Ancient, Medieval, and Modern, but into three periods based on the religion of the rulers:

1. Hindu Period

2. Muslim Period

3. British Period

This periodization is criticized for suggesting that religion was the primary driving force of history and for its colonial and communal biases.

Geography: Wind Systems and the Indian Monsoon

Fundamental Principle: Wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Naming Convention for Winds

A wind is always named after the direction it comes FROM (its origin or "tail").

• Westerlies: Winds blowing from the West to the East. This implies high pressure in the West and low pressure in the East.

• Easterlies: Winds blowing from the East to the West. This implies high pressure in the East and low pressure in the West.

• South-West Winds: Winds blowing from the South-West towards the North-East.

Application to the Indian Monsoon

This principle is essential for understanding the Indian monsoon system.

History: Early Indian National Congress (INC) Sessions

This section debunks the false statement that Dadabhai Naoroji was never a president of the INC. The instructor lists the first four INC sessions to demonstrate the organization's intentionally inclusive and pan-Indian character, which alarmed the British.

This deliberate strategy of rotating leadership across different religions (Hindu, Parsi, Muslim, Christian/English) and geographies (Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Allahabad) showcased the INC's success in unifying diverse sections of India. This growing unity is presented as a key factor that led the British to start the divisive Partition of Bengal in 1905.

Social Issues: Farmer Distress in India

There are many reported cases of farmer suicides in India. The failure of monsoons (leading to crop failure) and the inability to repay loans are major causes of distress among farmers, which can lead to suicide.

History: Mughal vs. Rajput Systems of Inheritance

This section clarifies the meaning of Coparcenary Inheritance (सहदायदात), as practiced by the Mughals.

Comparative Systems of Inheritance

It's important to note that the historical practice of coparcenary inheritance for Mughals was limited to sons, not daughters.