CBSE Class 10 Social Science Competency-Based Questions Practice 2027

In short: CBSE Class 10 Social Science carries 80 marks, and approximately 50% of the paper is competency-based. This includes source-based questions in Section E (3 × 4 marks = 12 marks), map work in Section F (5 marks), assertion-reason MCQs in Section A, and data-interpretation questions from Economics. The paper has 37 questions across 6 sections (A-F), covering History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics.

CBQ Breakdown in Social Science 2027

Social Science CBQs are unique because they test reading comprehension, source analysis, and data interpretation — skills that go beyond textbook memorisation. Here is the marks distribution:

Map work alone gives you 5 guaranteed marks if you practise the locations. Check the SST map work and dates cheat sheet for a complete list.

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Source-Based Questions: History

Source 1: Nationalism in India — Newspaper Extract

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

"The Salt March was notable because it was the first time in India's freedom struggle that a civil disobedience movement attracted worldwide attention. On 12 March 1930, Gandhiji set out from his ashram at Sabarmati with 78 volunteers. They walked for 24 days, covering about 240 miles, to reach Dandi on the coast of Gujarat. On 6 April, Gandhiji picked up a lump of natural salt and broke the salt law. This act, simple as it was, symbolised the defiance of the entire nation against colonial rule."

(i) Why was the Salt March considered significant? (a) It was the first armed revolt (b) It attracted worldwide media attention to India's civil disobedience (c) It resulted in immediate independence (d) It involved millions of soldiers

(ii) The Salt March began from: (a) Dandi (b) Champaran (c) Sabarmati Ashram (d) Porbandar

(iii) Why did Gandhiji choose salt as the symbol of protest? (a) Salt was expensive (b) Salt was a daily necessity taxed by the British, affecting every Indian (c) Salt was used in weapons (d) Salt production was banned

(iv) The movement launched after the Salt March was called: (a) Non-Cooperation Movement (b) Quit India Movement (c) Civil Disobedience Movement (d) Swadeshi Movement

Answers: (i) b (ii) c (iii) b (iv) c

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Source 2: The Making of a Global World — Photograph Analysis

Study the following description of a historical photograph:

"A photograph from the early 20th century shows indentured Indian labourers working in a sugar plantation in the Caribbean. The workers appear malnourished and are working barefoot in muddy fields under the supervision of a European overseer. The plantation system relied heavily on cheap labour from colonies."

(i) Indentured labour from India was primarily sent to: (a) Europe and America (b) Caribbean islands, Fiji, Mauritius, and Ceylon (c) China and Japan (d) Australia and New Zealand

(ii) What does the condition of workers in the photograph suggest about indentured labour? (a) Workers were well-paid (b) Working conditions were harsh and exploitative (c) Workers chose to stay voluntarily (d) Overseers treated them as equals

(iii) The indentured labour system was abolished in: (a) 1900 (b) 1921 (c) 1947 (d) 1858

Answers: (i) b (ii) b (iii) b

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Source-Based Questions: Geography

Source 3: Climate Data Table — Manufacturing Industries

Study the following table showing the distribution of major industries across Indian states:

(i) Which state has the highest concentration of cotton textile mills? (a) Gujarat (b) Tamil Nadu (c) Maharashtra (d) Karnataka

(ii) Why is Maharashtra dominant in sugar production? (a) It has the largest population (b) Tropical climate, black soil, and cooperative farming model (c) Government subsidy only for Maharashtra (d) Sugarcane does not grow elsewhere

(iii) IT hubs are concentrated in southern and western India because: (a) Northern India has no electricity (b) Southern states invested early in technical education and infrastructure (c) IT only works in warm climates (d) The government banned IT in northern states

(iv) Jharkhand has a steel plant primarily because of: (a) Proximity to the coast (b) Availability of iron ore, coal, and water from Damodar valley (c) Large skilled workforce (d) Government headquarters being nearby

Answers: (i) c (ii) b (iii) b (iv) b

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Source-Based Questions: Political Science

Source 4: Constitutional Provisions — Power Sharing

Read the following extract from the Indian Constitution:

"The Constitution of India provides for a three-tier system of government: Central, State, and Local (Panchayati Raj and Municipalities). The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) gave constitutional status to local self-government bodies. These amendments mandated that one-third of the seats in local bodies be reserved for women. Elections to these bodies must be held regularly every five years."

(i) The 73rd and 74th Amendments are related to: (a) Fundamental Rights (b) Local self-government (c) Emergency provisions (d) Citizenship

(ii) What proportion of seats in local bodies must be reserved for women? (a) 25% (b) 33% (c) 50% (d) 10%

(iii) Why is decentralisation of power considered important in a democracy? (a) It reduces the workload of the Prime Minister (b) It allows local issues to be handled by people who understand them best (c) It creates more government jobs (d) It prevents elections

(iv) Which of the following is NOT a function of the Panchayati Raj? (a) Maintenance of local roads (b) Primary education (c) Defence of the country (d) Water supply and sanitation

Answers: (i) b (ii) b (iii) b (iv) c

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Data Interpretation: Economics

Data Question 1: Development Indicators Comparison

Study the following table:

(i) Which country has the highest human development based on the data? (a) Country A (b) Country B (c) Country C (d) Country D

(ii) Which indicator best explains why Country B has lower life expectancy than Country A despite reasonable income? (a) Per capita income (b) Infant mortality rate (c) Literacy rate (d) Both b and c

(iii) Country C's low per capita income combined with low literacy suggests: (a) It is a developed country (b) Income inequality may be high and public services are underdeveloped (c) Its economy is growing fast (d) It has the best healthcare

Answers: (i) a — highest literacy, lowest IMR, high income, high life expectancy (ii) d — both high IMR and lower literacy contribute (iii) b

Data Question 2: Sector Comparison

The following table shows the contribution of different sectors to GDP and employment in Country X:

(i) What does the data reveal about the primary sector? (a) It is the most productive (b) A large workforce produces a small share of GDP — indicating underemployment (c) It contributes most to GDP (d) Employment is shrinking

(ii) The tertiary sector's high GDP share with lower employment suggests: (a) High productivity per worker (b) The sector is declining (c) Workers are overpaid (d) Technology has no role

Answers: (i) b (ii) a

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Assertion-Reason Questions

Options for all:

• (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• (b) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• (c) A is true but R is false.
• (d) A is false but R is true.

Political Science

Q1. Assertion: India is a federal country with a unitary bias. Reason: The Central Government has more powers than state governments in matters listed in the Union List.

Answer: (a) — The Union List gives the Centre exclusive power over key subjects like defence and foreign affairs, which creates the unitary bias within the federal structure.

Q2. Assertion: Democracy is always the most efficient form of government. Reason: Democratic governments follow procedures and take time to make decisions.

Answer: (d) — A is false (democracy is not always the most efficient; it prioritises accountability over speed). R is true.

Q3. Assertion: Political parties are necessary for democracy. Reason: Political parties contest elections, form governments, and represent public opinion.

Answer: (a) — Both true, and the functions listed in R explain why parties are necessary.

Economics

Q4. Assertion: Per capita income alone is not a sufficient indicator of development. Reason: Two countries with the same per capita income can have very different levels of literacy, health, and quality of life.

Answer: (a) — The reason directly explains why income alone is insufficient.

Q5. Assertion: The Reserve Bank of India supervises the functioning of formal sector loans. Reason: Informal lenders charge fair interest rates and maintain proper records.

Answer: (c) — A is true (RBI does regulate formal lending). R is false (informal lenders often charge unfair rates and maintain poor records).

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Map-Based Practice: Guaranteed 5 Marks

Map work in Section F carries 5 marks — these are among the easiest marks in the entire paper. The SST scoring strategy guide explains why you should never skip map practice.

History Map Items (Locate and Label — 3 marks)

You must know the locations of:

• Indian National Congress Sessions: Calcutta (1886, 1896, 1906), Lahore (1929), Madras (1927)
• Important Movements: Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad (Gandhian movements), Chauri Chaura, Dandi
• Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar)

Geography Map Items (Identify — 2 marks)

You must identify on a map:

• Major Dams: Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud, Nagarjuna Sagar, Tehri
• Industrial Centres: Iron and Steel plants (Jamshedpur, Bhilai, Durgapur, Rourkela, Bokaro)
• Airports, Ports, Software Technology Parks

Practice by drawing 2-3 blank maps per week and marking these locations from memory.

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How to Approach SST Competency Questions

Source-Based Questions Strategy

1. Read the source extract twice. First for overall understanding, second to identify specific claims, dates, and names.
2. Underline keywords in the passage that match the sub-questions.
3. Answers are always in the passage. Do not add outside information. The question tests comprehension of the given source, not general knowledge.
4. For "Why" questions, look for cause-effect relationships within the passage.

Data Interpretation Strategy

1. Read column headers first — they tell you what data is being compared.
2. Look for patterns: highest, lowest, gaps between columns.
3. Compare across rows (countries/states) before answering.
4. Watch for trick options that state the opposite of what the data shows.

The smart study guide covers general techniques for handling application-based questions across subjects.

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Common Mistakes in SST CBQs

1. Adding information not in the source. The most common error. If the passage does not mention a fact, do not use it in your answer — even if you know it from the textbook.

2. Confusing map locations. Students mix up Durgapur and Rourkela, or mark Champaran in the wrong state. Use labelled practice maps daily during the last month.

3. Ignoring data trends. In Economics data questions, students pick the country with the highest income and assume it is the most developed — without checking literacy and IMR columns.

4. Rushing through assertion-reason. SST assertion-reason questions require careful reading. Political Science and Economics assertions can be subtle — "always," "only," and "never" are red flags.

5. Skipping Section F (map work). Some students leave map work for last and run out of time. Attempt it early — it takes only 5 minutes for 5 guaranteed marks.

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FAQs

How many source-based questions are in CBSE Class 10 SST 2027?

Section E has 3 case-based/source-based questions of 4 marks each, totalling 12 marks. Additionally, some MCQs in Section A are also source-based, bringing the total to around 15-18 marks of source-dependent questions.

Is map work compulsory in the 2027 paper?

Yes. Section F has one compulsory map question worth 5 marks — 3 marks for History (locate and label) and 2 marks for Geography (identify). These are straightforward if you have practised the locations.

Which chapters are most important for SST case studies?

For History: Nationalism in India and The Making of a Global World. For Geography: Manufacturing Industries and Resources and Development. For Political Science: Power Sharing and Federalism. For Economics: Development and Money and Credit.

How do I prepare for data interpretation in Economics?

Practise reading tables and graphs from NCERT Economics chapters. Focus on understanding what per capita income, HDI, literacy rate, and IMR mean in relation to each other. Solve 10-15 data interpretation sets from sample papers.

Are assertion-reason questions new in SST?

They were introduced in the competency-based format from 2023-24 onwards. The 2027 pattern continues them. They appear in Section A and typically test Political Science and Economics concepts.

Can I score 75+ in Social Science with just NCERT?

Yes. Social Science is NCERT-dependent. All source-based questions use themes from NCERT chapters. Map work locations are listed in the NCERT textbook. For targeted practice, check the SST important questions guide.

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Related Guides

• CBSE Class 10 Social Science Chapter-Wise Marks Weightage 2027
• CBSE Class 10 SST Map Work, Dates, and Source Cheat Sheet 2027
• CBSE Class 10 Maths Competency-Based Questions Chapter-Wise
• CBSE Class 10 Sample Paper 2027 Practice Set — All Subjects
• Board Exam Answer Sheet — Write for Maximum Marks 2027
• Board Exam Time Management — 3-Hour Strategy

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