1 MARKING SCHEME SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) CLASS-X (2025-26) Time Allowed: 3hrs Max.

Marks:80
SECTION A HISTORY (20 marks) 1 1- A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3 1 2 B- Bal Gangadhar Tilak V.I candidates – B -
To return to Council Poli cs 1 3 A - Widespread poverty and deadly diseases 1 4 B - Absolu st
ins tu ons like monarchy and church 1 5A. 1. Chinese po ery, tex les and spices from India and
Southeast Asia also travelled the same route. In return, precious metals - gold and silver - flowed
from Europe to Asia. 2. Trade and cultural exchange went hand in hand. Buddhism from India spread
in several direc ons through intersec ng points on the silk routes. 3. Early Chris an missionaries
travelled this route to reach Asia and Muslim preachers took the same route a few centuries later.
(Any 2 points) 2 OR 5B. 1. Some mes new crops like potatoes could make the difference between life
and death. It was with the introduc on of the humble potato that Europe’s poor began to eat well,
eat be er and live longer. 2. Ireland’s poor peasants became so dependent on potatoes that when
the potato crop was destroyed by disease in the mid-1840s, hundreds of thousands of peasants died
of starva on 6A. 1. Figure or Image – The iden ty of India came to be visually associated with the
image of Bharat Mata. This image was created by Bankim Chandra Cha opadhyay. Rabindranath
Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata. In this pain ng, Bharat Mata is portrayed as an
asce c figure; she is calm, composed, divine and spiritual. 2. Songs – Bankim Chandra Cha opadhyay
wrote ‘VandeMataram’ as a hymn to the motherland. It was included in his novel Anandmath and
widely sung during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. 3. Folklore – Indian folklore was revived. In
late-nineteenth-century India, na onalists began recording folk tales sung by bards and they toured
villages to gather folk songs and legends. These tales gave a true picture of tradi onal culture. It
helped to restore a sense of pride in our past. In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began
collec ng ballads, nursery rhymes and myths, and led the movement 3 2 for folk revival. In Madras,
Natesa Sastri published a massive four-volume collec on of Tamil folk tales, The Folklore of Southern
India. 4.– Flag (A). During the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, a tricolour flag (red, green and yellow)
was designed. It had eight lotuses represen ng eight provinces of Bri sh India, and a crescent moon,
represen ng Hindus and Muslims. (B). By 1921, Gandhiji had designed the Swaraj flag. It was again a
tricolour (red, green and white) and had a spinning wheel in the centre, represen ng the Gandhian
ideal of self-help. Carrying the flag, holding it alo , during marches became a symbol of defiance. 5.
Re – interpreta on of History – Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great
achievements. They wrote about art and architecture, Science and Maths, religion and culture, law,
philosophy etc. Indians were asked to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past and
struggle to change the miserable condi ons of life under Bri sh rule. (Any three points to be
considered) OR 6B. 1. Salt became an effec ve tool of resistance against colonialism because of the
following reasons: Gandhiji found in salt a powerful bond that would unite the na ons as it – was
consumed by all rich and poor alike. 2. Gandhiji’s le er to Viceroy Irwin stated eleven demands. Most
of them were of general interest but the most s rring was to abolish the salt tax imposed by the
colonial government. 3. Irwin’s unwillingness to nego ate forced Gandhiji to start his salt March
which was joined by thousands. It developed the feeling of na onalism. 4. People in different parts
of the country broke salt law and manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt
factories. 5. People unitedly followed Gandhiji’s words. They refused to pay taxes, revenues, picketed
liquor shops, boyco ed foreign clothes, resigned from government jobs and violated forest laws.
(Any three points to be considered)] 7A. 1. In Britain the forma on of the na on-state was not the
result of a sudden upheaval or revolu on. The primary iden es of the people who inhabited the
Bri sh Isles were ethnic ones - such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish. 2. The Act of Union (1707)
between England and Scotland resulted in the forma on of the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain'
meant that England was able to impose its influence on Scotland. Scotland's dis nc ve culture and
poli cal ins tu ons were systema cally suppressed. 3. The Sco sh Highlanders were forbidden to
speak their Gaelic language or wear their na onal dress and large numbers were forcibly driven out
of their homeland. 4. The English helped the Protestants of Ireland to establish their dominance over
a largely Catholic country. Catholic revolts against Bri sh dominance were suppressed. Ireland was
forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801. 5. The symbols of the new Britain - the Bri sh
flag, the na onal anthem, the English language were ac vely promoted and the older na ons
survived only as subordinate partners in this union. 5 OR 3 7B 1. The Bourbon dynasty, which had
been deposed during the French Revolu on, was restored to power, and France lost the territories it
had annexed under Napoleon. 2. A series of states were set up on the boundaries of France to
prevent French expansion in future. Thus the kingdom of the Netherlands, which included Belgium,
was set up in the north and Genoa was added to Piedmont in the south. 3. Prussia was given
important new territories on its western fron ers, while Austria was given control of northern Italy.
4. The German confedera on of 39 states that had been set up by Napoleon was le untouched. In
the east, Russia was given part of Poland while Prussia was given a por on of Saxony. 5. The main
inten on was to restore the monarchies that had been overthrown by Napoleon, and create a new
conserva ve order in Europe. 8. 8.1 Krishnaji wanted to publish significant informa on about societal
developments in the areas of poli cs, science, and other fields in order to inform the public. 8.2 The
media used to cri cise and analyse government policies were local newspapers and poli cal
organisa ons. As a result, both of these served as the government's opposi on. 8.3 Reasons for
popularity of newspapers during 19th century are: i. The poli cal developments in the country began
to interest a sizable por on of society, and this informa on was skillfully presented in the
newspapers. ii. Newspapers started to serve as a source for societal advancements in social, cultural,
and scien fic (1+1+ 2=4) 9. Marked on the map. (Answers to the ques ons for the V.I candidates are
also the same-though only naming of the loca ons is required.) (1+1= 2) SECTION B GEOGRAPHY (20
marks) 10. C - echnological development and ins tu onal changes. 1 11. D - Black soil & Laterite soil.
1 12. A. Reduc on in the prey species leading to the ger's dwindling food supp 1 13. A - These states
have a significant por on of forests managed as reserved or protected forests for conserva on. 1 14.
D – Tamil Nadu 1 15. B - To provide be er irriga on systems and sustainable water conserva on
prac ces for farmers. 1 16. Climate and Irriga on: ● Haryana and Punjab have a well-developed
irriga on system (e.g., canal irriga on from the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal), which allows for large-
scale 2 4 commercial cul va on of rice. The climate is suitable for high-yielding varie es, and
irriga on ensures water availability. ● In contrast, Odisha has a more monsoonal climate, and while
rice is grown, the farming is o en rainfed and primarily for local consump on. The lack of large-scale
irriga on systems limits its commercializa on. Economic Factors (Market Access): ● In Punjab and
Haryana, rice is grown for commercial purposes to meet na onal and interna onal demand. The
proximity to markets, government procurement systems, and well-developed transport networks
enable these states to export surplus rice. ● In Odisha, rice is mostly grown for personal or local use,
with less access to large markets for profit-driven farming, making it a subsistence crop. Farming
Prac ces: ● In Punjab and Haryana, the use of modern farming techniques, machinery, and high-
yielding varie es supports commercial rice cul va on. ● In Odisha, rice farming is more tradi onal
and focused on family sustenance rather than large-scale produc on, which reflects the subsistence
nature of cul va on. Or any other relevant point(s) (Any 2 point to be considered out of which at
least one should be related to climate and one economic) 17A. 1. Odisha was the largest bauxite
producing state in India in 2016- 17. Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are the most
important bauxite deposits in the state. 2. Aluminium is an important metal because it combines the
strength of metals such as iron, 3. It is a good alterna ve to other metals due to its extreme lightness
and 4. also has good conduc vity and 5. great malleability (any other relevant point - 5 points) 5 OR
17B. Significance: -It is used for power genera on, -To supply energy to industry as well as for
domes c needs. -India is highly dependent on coal for mee ng its commercial energy
requirements.e.g., in metallurgy - any other relevant point (at least 2) Variety of coal types- Coal, is
found in a variety of forms depending on the degrees of compression and the depth and me of
burial. 5 1. Peat - Decaying plants in swamps produce peat. Which has a low carbon and high
moisture contents and low hea ng capacity. 2. Lignite - is a low grade brown coal, which is so with
high moisture content. The principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are used for
genera on of electricity. 3. Bituminous coal-Coal that has been buried deep and subjected to
increased temperatures. It is the most popular coal in commercial use. Metallurgical coal is high
grade bituminous coal which has a special value for smel ng iron in blast furnaces. 4. Anthracite -is
the highest quality hard coal. 18. 18.1 Due to intensive material produc on and consump on. 18.2
Manufacturing industries are a major cause for- 1) air pollu on – Smoke is emi ed by chemical and
paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smel ng plants, and burning of fossil fuels in big and small
factories that ignore pollu on norms. Toxic gas leaks can be very hazardous with long-term effects. 2)
Water pollu on is caused by organic and inorganic industrial wastes and affluents discharged into
rivers. The main culprits in this regard are paper, pulp, chemical, tex le and dyeing, petroleum
refineries, tanneries and electropla ng industries that let out dyes, detergents, acids, salts and heavy
metals like lead and mercury pes cides, fer lisers, synthe c chemicals with carbon, plas cs and
rubber, etc. into the water bodies. 3) Thermal pollu on of water occurs when hot water from
factories and thermal plants is drained into rivers and ponds before cooling. 4) Dumping of wastes
specially glass, harmful chemicals, industrial effluents, packaging, salts and garbage renders the soil
useless. 5)Rain water percolates to the soil carrying the pollutants to the ground and the ground
water also gets contaminated. 6) Industrial and construc on ac vi es, machinery, factory
equipment, generators, saws and pneuma c and electric drills also make a lot of noise. (Or any other
relevant point) – Any two points 18.3 Poor people, cannot afford to protect themselves from the
nega ve impacts of pollu on, end up suffering the most. This also leads to social disparity/inequality
due to the ill effects of poverty. (Can be explained with the help of an example) (1+2+ 1=4) 19.
Marked on the map. (Answers to the ques ons for the V.I candidates are also the same-though only
naming of the loca ons is required.) (1+2= 3) SECTION C POLITICAL SCIENCE (20 marks) 20. A- I and II
1 21. A – Coali on Government. V.I candidates – D. II and III 1 6 22. B - No, because Currency is a
subject of Union List 1 23. A - Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explana on of A. 1 24.
Features of federalism: 1. There are two or more levels (or ers) of government. 2. Different ers of
government govern the same ci zens, but each er has its own jurisdic on in specific ma ers of
legisla on, taxa on and administra on. 3. The jurisdic ons of the respec ve levels or ers of
government are specified in the cons tu on. So the existence and authority of each er of
government is cons tu onally guaranteed. 4. The fundamental provisions of the cons tu on cannot
be unilaterally changed by one level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the
levels of government. 5. Courts have the power to interpret the cons tu on and the powers of
different levels of government. The highest court acts as an umpire if disputes arise between
different levels of government in the exercise of their respec ve powers. 6. Sources of revenue for
each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy. 7. The federal system
thus has dual objec ves: to safeguard and promote unity of the country, while at the same me
accommodate regional diversity. Therefore, two aspects are crucial for the ins tu ons and prac ce
of federalism. Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power sharing. They
should also trust that each would abide by its part of the agreement. An ideal federal system has
both aspects: mutual trust and agreement to live together. (Any two point to be considered) 2 25. 1.
Educa on – Literacy rate among women is only 54% as compared with 76% among men. Parents
prefer to spend their resources for their sons’ educa on rather than daughters. 2. Low Propor on of
women in highly paid and valued jobs – Women s ll have a small share in the highly paid jobs. Even if
a woman works for more hours than a man, her work is not given importance. This results in low
paid and low valued jobs for women. 3. Women are paid less than men – Despite the Equal Wages of
Act women are paid less than men, even when both do exactly the same work. 4. Preference for Son
– In many parts of India parents prefer to have sons and find ways to have the girl child aborted
before she is born. This has led to decline in child sex – ra o (927) 5. Exploita on at workplace and
domes c violence – Women are exploited and harassed at the workplace. They have to face different
forms of domes c violence at home. (Any 2 point to be considered) 2 7 26. 1. Democracies
accommodate various social divisions. For example, Belgium has peacefully solved her ethnic
problems and solved the differences. 2. All democracies usually develop a procedure to conduct
compe on, i.e. conduct elec ons, power-sharing, etc. This reduces the possibility of tensions, due
to social divisions, turning violent or explosive. 3. Democracy teaches people to respect the
differences and resolve conflicts among different groups peacefully. In non-democra c countries,
rulers either turn a blind eye to or suppress internal differences. For example, Sri Lanka. The plus
point in democra c regime is the ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts. 4. A
democracy is not just a rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the
minority so that the government represents the general view. 5. A democra c government ensures
that the rule by the majority does not become autocra c in terms of religion, race or linguis c group
etc. It tries to show that in every elec on, different persons and groups can form a majority. It tries to
see that every ci zen has a chance to be in majority at some point of me and is not barred on the
basis of birth. All these things ensured by a democra c regime lead to a peaceful and harmonious
life. (Any three points to be considered) 3 27A Poli cal par es play a significant role in the effec ve
working of a democracy. To fill poli cal offices and exercise poli cal power, poli cal par es are
needed to perform a series of func ons, which are the following 1. Par es contest elec ons.
Elec ons are fought mainly among candidates put up by poli cal par es. In India, top party leaders
choose candidates for contes ng elec ons. 2. Par es put forward different policies and programmes.
Poli cal par es in a democracy group together similar opinions, to provide a direc on in which
government policies can be formulated. 3. Par es make laws for a country. Laws are debated and
passed in the legislature. 4. Par es that lose elec ons play the role of the opposi on. Opposi on
par es voice their views by cri cizing the government for its failure or wrong policies. 5. Par es
shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues and resolve people’s problems. Many pressure
groups are the extensions of poli cal par es. 6. Par es provide people access to government
machinery and welfare schemes. For an ordinary ci zen it is easier to approach a local party leader
than a government officer. (Any 5 points) 5 OR 27B 1. Most poli cal par es do not prac ce open and
transparent procedures for their func oning. So there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to
rise to the top in a party. 2. Those who happen to be the leaders are in a posi on of unfair advantage
as they favour people close to them or even their family members. 3. In many par es in India, we see
a trend of dynas c succession. The top posi ons are always controlled by members of a par cular
family, which is unfair to other 8 members of the party, and bad for democracy. 4. This is so because
people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy posi ons of
power. 5. More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes
more important. This tendency is seen all over the world, even in older democracies. 28. 28.1- (a) To
recognise Tamil as official language (b) Regional autonomy (c) Equality of opportuni es in securing
educa on and jobs. (Any one to be considered) 28.2- The Majoritarian Government in Sri Lanka
created a distrust between Tamils and Sinhala communi es which resulted in civil war. As a result,
thousands of people of both communi es were killed and many families were forced to leave the
country as refugees. 28.3 1. The Cons tu on prescribed that the number of Dutch and French Any
two speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. Some special laws require the
support of majority of members from each linguis c group. Thus, no single community can make
decisions unilaterally. 2. Many powers of the central government have been given to state
governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the
Central Government. 3. Brussels has a separate government in which Dutch and French have equal
representa on. 4. Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of
Government. This 'community government' is elected by people belonging to one language
community - Dutch, French and German - speaking - no ma er where they live. This government has
the power regarding cultural, educa onal and language - related issues. (Any two to be considered)
(1+1+ 2=4) SECTION D ECONOMICS (20 marks) 29. A - More workers are employed than actually
required 1 30. C - It gives a basic idea of economic well-being but hides the income inequality, cost of
living, or access to essen al services. 1 31. B - A factory makes shoes and uses raw materials like
leather to create the product, relying on transport and retail stores to distribute the shoes. 1 9 32. B
– Reserve Bank of India 1 33. A - It makes trade more complicated, as each person must have what
the other person wants, limi ng the pool of poten al trade partners. 1 34. D - 1-i, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-iv 1 35.
Healthcare and Public Health: ● Accessible and quality public healthcare, is fundamental for
maintaining, a produc ve and healthy popula on. It reduces mortality rates, ensures the well being
of the workforce, and allows individuals to contribute meaningfully to the economy. Inadequate
healthcare can result in a higher burden of disease, lower life expectancy, and economic
inefficiencies. Educa on and Skill Development: ● Public educa on systems are essen al for
providing equal learning opportuni es to all ci zens, regardless of socioeconomic status. A well-
educated popula on leads to increased literacy rates, skill development, and innova on, all of which
are crucial for economic growth, reducing inequality, and fostering social cohesion. Sanita on and
Clean Water: ● Proper sanita on and access to clean water are vital for maintaining public health
and preven ng diseases such as cholera and dysentery. These services significantly improve life
expectancy, reduce healthcare costs, and increase produc vity, especially in rural or underserved
areas. Infrastructure Development: ● Public infrastructure, including roads, transporta on, and
energy, supports the func oning of markets, businesses, and industries. It enhances connec vity,
s mulates economic ac vi es, and improves the quality of life for individuals by providing easy
access to essen al goods and services. Or any other relevant point(s) - Any two 1 ½ + 1 ½ =3 36. -
Higher cost of borrowing from informal sources means a larger part of the earnings of the borrowers
is used to repay the loan. Hence, borrowers have less income le for themselves (as we saw for
Shyamal in Sonpur). - In certain cases, the high interest rate for borrowing can mean that the amount
to be repaid is greater than the income of the borrower. -This could lead to increasing debt (as we
saw for Rama in Sonpur) and debt trap. -Also, people who might wish to start an enterprise by
borrowing may not do so because of the high cost of borrowing. -For these reasons, banks and
coopera ve socie es need to lend more. This would lead to higher incomes and many people could
then borrow cheaply for a variety of needs. -They could grow crops, do business, set up small-scale
industries etc. They could set up new industries or trade in goods. Cheap and affordable credit is
crucial for 3 10 the country’s development -Or any other relevant point(s) - Any 3 37. 1. the
movements of goods and services, 2. informa on and communica on technology 3. Transporta on
technology 4. movement of people between countries 5. Liberalisa on of foreign trade and foreign
investment policy Any other relevant point (any 3 well explained) 3 38A. Working condi ons of
person M would have the following features: Regular Employment: Workers have assured, regular
work with fixed terms of employment. Government Regula on: Enterprises are registered with the
government and follow legal rules and regula ons (e.g., Factories Act, Minimum Wages Act). Security
of Employment: Workers enjoy job security with clear working hours and benefits. Over me
Compensa on: If workers work beyond regular hours, they are paid over me. Employee Benefits:
Workers receive benefits like paid leave, holidays, provident fund, gratuity, and medical benefits. Safe
Working Condi ons: Employers are required to provide safe working environments (e.g., clean
drinking water). Re rement Benefits: Workers are en tled to pensions a er re rement. Formal
Processes: The sector follows formal processes and procedures for employment. Working condi ons
of person N would have the following features: Irregular Employment: Jobs are low-paid and o en
irregular, with no guarantee of con nuous work. Lack of Government Regula on: The sector
operates largely outside government control, with few or no legal protec ons. No Employee
Benefits: Workers do not receive benefits like paid leave, over me pay, or medical benefits. Job
Insecurity: Employment is not secure; workers can be dismissed without no ce or reason. Seasonal
Work: Employment is o en dependent on seasons, and workers may be laid off during off-peak
periods. Informal Jobs: Many workers are self-employed, doing small jobs like street vending or
repair work. Dependence on Employer: Employment condi ons are influenced by the employer's
whims and needs. No Legal Protec ons: There is li le enforcement of rules or regula ons related to
working condi ons or benefits. 5 OR 38B. Priva za on: Posi ve Effects- 1. Increased Efficiency and
Produc vity 11 2. Improved Quality of Services 3. Reduced Government Burden 4. Any other relevant
point(s) Priva za on: Nega ve Effects- 1. Exclusion of Public Welfare - Profit being the only mo ve 2.
Loss of Employment Security 3. Wide gap between rich and poor - due to inaccessibility of basic
facili es 4. Lower government accountability 5. Any other relevant point(s) (ANY 5 points to be
accepted. However, at least 2 posi ve and 2 nega ve effects must be included in the response) Map
for Q. no. 9 (Sec on A) & Q. no. 19 (Sec on B)