Social Science — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for Social Science — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: What, Where, How and When?
Chapter 2: On the Trail of the Earliest People
Chapter 3: From Gathering to Growing Food
Chapter 4: In the Earliest Cities
Chapter 5: What Books and Burials Tell Us
Chapter 6: Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic
Chapter 7: New Questions and Ideas
Chapter 8: Ashoka, the Emperor Who Gave Up War
Chapter 9: Vital Villages, Thriving Towns
Chapter 10: Traders, Kings and Pilgrims
Chapter 11: New Empires and Kingdoms
Chapter 12: Buildings, Paintings and Books
Chapter 13: The Earth in the Solar System
Chapter 14: Globe Latitudes and Longitudes
Chapter 15: Motions of the Earth
Chapter 16: Maps
Chapter 17: Major Domains of the Earth
Chapter 18: Major Landforms of the Earth
Chapter 19: Our Country India
Chapter 20: India: Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife
Chapter 21: Understanding Diversity
Chapter 22: Diversity and Discrimination
Chapter 23: What is Government?
Chapter 24: Key Elements of a Democratic Government
Chapter 25: Panchayati Raj
Chapter 26: Rural Administration
Chapter 27: Urban Administration
Chapter 28: Rural Livelihoods
Chapter 29: Urban Livelihoods

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in Social Science?

The Social Science syllabus has 29 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which Social Science chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the Social Science syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official CBSE portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for Social Science faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Social Science — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Social Science study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.