The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 10 Social Science board exam on 07 March 2026 across examination centres in India. The exam was held in the morning shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, with students appearing for the theory paper carrying 80 marks. Initial feedback from students and teachers suggests that the question paper was balanced and moderately difficult, with several questions directly based on the NCERT syllabus and concepts.
CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2026 Paper Difficulty Level
Experts reviewing the exam reported that the question paper tested conceptual clarity rather than memorisation. Students who had thoroughly prepared the NCERT textbooks were able to attempt most questions without major difficulty. The paper included a combination of objective, short-answer, long-answer and case-study questions. Many students reported that map-based questions and case studies required careful interpretation but were manageable. Overall, subject experts described the paper as moderate and well-balanced, consistent with the pattern followed in recent CBSE board exams.
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper Pattern
The CBSE Social Science paper followed the board’s standard exam structure with questions distributed across four sections. Each section represented a different subject within Social Science. The paper structure included the following sections:
- Section A – History: 20 marks
- Section B – Geography: 20 marks
- Section C – Political Science (Civics): 20 marks
- Section D – Economics: 20 marks
Each section contained MCQs, short-answer questions, long-answer questions, case-based questions and map-based tasks designed to test analytical understanding of topics.
CBSE Class 10 Passing Marks for Social Science
Students appearing for the CBSE Class 10 board examinations must meet the board’s minimum qualifying criteria to pass the subject. The passing requirements are as follows:
- Minimum passing percentage: 33% marks
- Theory paper: 80 marks
- Internal assessment: 20 marks
Students must secure at least 33 marks out of 100 combined marks (theory and internal assessment) to pass the subject
What Students Can Expect Next?
After the completion of the examination, unofficial answer keys from subject experts and coaching institutes are expected to be released. These answer keys will help students estimate their probable scores before official results are declared. The CBSE Class 10 board exam results 2026 are typically announced in May 2026, after the evaluation process is completed across examination centres.