CBSE Class 8 Social Science Syllabus 2025-26
Official chapter-wise syllabus for CBSE Class 8 Social Science — unit-wise marks distribution, list of deleted/reduced topics, and the 2025-26 exam paper pattern. Use this page alongside the Class 8 Social Science preparation guide for full exam readiness.
2025-26
Academic Year
80
Theory Marks
20
Practical Marks
16
Total Chapters
Unit-Wise Marks Distribution
75 marks (theory)Our Pasts III (History)
How, When and Where · From Trade to Territory · Ruling the Countryside · Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age · When People Rebel · Colonialism and the City · Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners · Civilising the 'Native', Educating the Nation · Women, Caste and Reform · The Changing World of Visual Arts · The Making of the National Movement
33% of theory marks
Resources and Development (Geography)
Resources · Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources · Mineral and Power Resources · Agriculture · Industries · Human Resources
33% of theory marks
Social and Political Life III (Political Science)
The Indian Constitution · Understanding Secularism · Why do we Need a Parliament? · Understanding Laws · Judiciary · Understanding Our Criminal Justice System · Understanding Marginalisation · Confronting Marginalisation · Public Facilities · Law and Social Justice
33% of theory marks
Chapter-Wise Syllabus
16 chapters| # | Chapter | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | How, When and Where (Introduction to Modern History) | 4 |
| 2 | From Trade to Territory — The Company Establishes Power | 7 |
| 3 | Ruling the Countryside | 6 |
| 4 | Tribal, Diku and the Vision of Golden Age | 5 |
| 5 | When People Rebel — 1857 and After | 7 |
| 6 | Colonialism and the City | 5 |
| 7 | Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners | 6 |
| 8 | Civilising the Native, Educating the Nation | 5 |
| 9 | Women, Caste and Reform | 6 |
| 10 | The Making of the National Movement | 7 |
| 11 | Geography: Resources | 7 |
| 12 | Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife | 7 |
| 13 | Mineral and Power Resources | 6 |
| 14 | Agriculture | 5 |
| 15 | Civics: Indian Constitution | 6 |
| 16 | Parliament and the Making of Laws | 5 |
Exam Paper Pattern 2025-26
72 marks total| Section | Marks/Q | Count | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | 1 | 20 | 20 | |
| Section B | 3 | 8 | 24 | |
| Section C | 5 | 4 | 20 | |
| Section D | 4 | 2 | 8 | |
| Total Theory Marks | 72 | |||
Practical / Internal Assessment Marks — assessed throughout the year by your school (projects, lab work, notebooks).
How to Use This Syllabus
Prioritise by marks
Use the unit-wise distribution above. Focus first on units with 20+ marks — they give the best return on study time.
Skip deleted topics
CBSE will not ask deleted topics in the board exam. Don't waste time on them — use that time for NCERT exercises instead.
Know the paper pattern
Section E (Case Study) has new-format questions many students ignore. Practise these separately — they're easy marks.
You know the syllabus. Now practise it.
ClearSteps gives you chapter-wise mock tests aligned to the exact CBSE Class 8 Social Science syllabus, with AI evaluation against the official marking scheme.