High School · Grade X
Social ScienceSubject Code: SS1006 The Grade X Social Science syllabus is divided into five compulsory units spanning History, Geography, Political Science, Economics and Disaster Management. Each unit carries separate marks and together they form a 3-hour examination of 100 marks .
Total Marks: 100 Time: 3 Hours All five units are compulsory. Separate marks are given with each unit.
Instructions: This syllabus is divided into five units. All units are compulsory. Separate marks are assigned to each unit as shown in the table below.
Overall focus: understanding major historical developments, India’s resource base, democratic processes, economic development and disaster management through real-world case studies and contemporary examples.
Unit Area Covered Marks Read More Unit 1 India And The Contemporary World - II 25 Read more Unit 2 India - Resources & Their Development 20 Read more Unit 3 Democratic Politics - II 20 Read more Unit 4 Understanding Economic Development - II 25 Read more Unit 5 Disaster Management 10 Read more Time: 3 Hours Total Marks 100
This unit is organised around selected historical themes. Learners are required to study four themes in all:
• In Sub-unit 1.1, theme 3 is compulsory plus any one from themes 1 or 2.
• In Sub-units 1.2 and 1.3, one theme is chosen from each.
Economies and Livelihoods - Any one of the following: Industrialization 1850s-1950s: • Contrast between patterns of industrialization in Britain and India. • Relationship between handicrafts and industrial production; formal and informal sectors. • Livelihood of workers with case studies from Britain and India. Urbanization and urban lives: • Patterns of urbanization. • Migration and growth of towns. • Social change and life in cities. • Merchants, middle classes, workers and the urban poor with case studies of London and Bombay in the 19th-20th centuries. Trade and Globalization (compulsory theme in this sub-unit): • Expansion and integration of the world market in the 19th and early 20th centuries. • Trade and the world economy between the two World Wars. • Changes after the 1950s. • Implications of globalisation for livelihood patterns - case study: post-war international economic order, 1945-1960s. Culture, Identity and Society - Any one of the following: Print culture and nationalism: • History of print in Europe. • Growth of the press in 19th century India. • Relationship between print culture, public debate and politics. History of the novel: • Emergence of the novel as a literary form in the West. • Link between the novel and changes in modern society. • Early novels in 19th century India. • Study of two or three important novelists. Events and Processes - Any two of the following: Nationalism in Europe: • Growth of nationalism in Europe after the 1830s. • Ideas of Giuseppe Mazzini and others. • Main characteristics of movements in Poland, Hungary, Italy, Germany and Greece. Nationalist movement in Indo-China: • French colonial rule in Indo-China. • Phases of resistance against French rule. • Ideas of Phan Dinh Phung, Phan Boi Chau and Nguyen Ai Quoc. • Second World War and the liberation struggle. • America and the second Indo-China war. Nationalism in India: Civil Disobedience Movement: • First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation. • Salt Satyagraha. • Movements of peasants, workers and tribals. • Role of different political groups. • Map work based on this theme. Resources Types of resources - natural and human. Need for resource planning in India. Natural Resources Land as a resource - distribution and use. Soil types and their distribution. Changing land-use patterns. Land degradation and conservation measures. Forest and Wildlife Resources Importance of forest and wildlife resources. Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management. Water Resources Sources and distribution of water resources. Patterns of utilisation and multipurpose projects. Water scarcity - causes and impact. Need for conservation and management. Rainwater harvesting - with one case study. Agriculture Types of farming and major crops. Cropping patterns in India. Technological and institutional reforms and their impact. Contribution of agriculture to the national economy in terms of employment and output. Mineral and Power Resources Mineral resources - types, distribution, uses and economic importance. Conservation of mineral resources. Power resources - conventional and non-conventional sources. Distribution, utilisation and conservation of power resources. Manufacturing Industries, Transport, Communication and Trade Types and spatial distribution of major industries. Contribution of industries to the national economy. Industrial pollution and environmental degradation. Measures to control degradation - with one case study. Role of transport and communication networks. Internal and international trade. Map work related to these themes. Power Sharing Mechanisms in Democracy Why power sharing is essential in democracies. Federal division of power in India and its role in strengthening national unity. Extent to which decentralisation has achieved this goal. How democracy accommodates diverse social groups. Working of Democracy - Social Dimensions Divisions linked to the working of democracy. Impact of caste on politics and of politics on caste. Role of gender in shaping politics. Effects of communal divisions on democracy. Competition and Contestations in Democracy How popular struggles shape democracy in favour of ordinary people. Role of political parties in competition and contestation. Major national and regional political parties in India. Growth and significance of social movements in democratic politics. Outcomes of Democracy Can democracy be judged by its outcomes? Reasonable expectations from democratic governments. Performance of democracy in India against these expectations. Impact of democracy on development, security and dignity of citizens. What sustains democracy in India. Challenges to Democracy Is the space for democracy shrinking? Major challenges facing democracy in India. Ways to reform and deepen democracy. Role of ordinary citizens in strengthening democratic practice. The Story of Development Traditional notion of development. National Income and Per Capita Income. Growth of National Income - critical look at indicators such as PCI, IMR, Sex Ratio and other income and health indicators. Need for development in health and education. Human Development Indicators as a holistic measure of development (in simple terms). Sectors of the Indian Economy Sectors of economic activity - primary, secondary and tertiary. Historical changes in the share of different sectors. Rising importance of the tertiary sector. Employment generation and sectoral distribution. Organised and unorganised sectors. Protective measures for workers in the unorganised sector. Money and Credit Role of money in the economy - brief historical origin. Formal and informal financial institutions for savings and credit. Illustrative study of one formal institution such as a nationalised commercial bank. Examples of informal sources - local moneylenders, landlords, self-help groups, chit funds and private finance companies. Globalisation and the Indian Economy Meaning of globalisation through simple examples. How and why India is becoming more globalised. Development strategy before 1991 and state control of industries. Economic reforms of 1991 - broad strategies (easing of capital flows, migration, investment flows). Different perspectives on globalisation and its impact on various sectors. Political impact of globalisation. Consumer Awareness How consumers can be exploited - one or two simple case studies. Factors leading to exploitation of consumers. Rise of consumer awareness and consumer movements. Qualities of an informed and responsible consumer. Role of government in consumer protection. Key Themes in Disaster Management Tsunami - causes, impacts and basic preparedness. Safer construction practices in disaster-prone areas. Survival skills needed during emergencies. Alternative communication systems during disasters. Shared responsibility of individuals, communities and government agencies in disaster response and risk reduction. India and the Contemporary World - II (History) - Published by NCERT Contemporary India - II (Geography) - Published by NCERT Democratic Politics - II (Political Science) - Published by NCERT Understanding Economic Development - II - Published by NCERT Together Towards a Safer India - Part III (Disaster Management) - Published by NCERT Grade X · Social Science · Prescribed reference material Back to top SERI empowers schools with global standards, accreditation support, and quality evaluation frameworks — enabling educational excellence across India.
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