SOLVED SOCIAL SCIENCE(ECONOMICS) QUESTION PAPER CLASS 10 (2026) FIVE SET

•  Social Science Question Paper(2026)

Class 10 — Q.P. Code: 32/1/1

SECTION D — ECONOMICS

29. Rural female children attending school

According to the table: 82% female children aged 10–14 are attending school.

Answer: (C) 82

30. Match the sectors

Sector	Organisation
Public Sector	Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Private Sector	Airtel Limited
Joint Sector	Maruti Suzuki
Cooperative Sector	Amul Dairy

Correct matching: a–(iii), b–(iv), c–(ii), d–(i)

31. Best source of loan for Swapna                                              

Answer: (B) Nearest nationalised bank

32. Meaning of Liberalisation

Answer: (C) Removal of restrictions on trade

33. Organisation publishing Human Development Report

Answer: (D) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

34. Literacy Rate age group

Answer: (A) 7 years

35. “New technology has helped the world to become connected.” Justify.

New technology has increased global connections through:

• Information & Communication Technology: Rapid developments in telecommunications (mobile phones, internet) allow instant global communication across long distances.
• E-Commerce & Digital Transactions: Financial data, orders, and business communications move globally within seconds, integrating national markets.
• Global Supply Chains: IT tools enable multinational companies to coordinate design, production, logistics, and customer services across multiple continents seamlessly.

36. Differentiate between formal and informal sources of credit

Formal Sources	Informal Sources
Includes banks and cooperatives	Includes moneylenders, traders and relatives
Regulated by government and RBI	Usually not regulated by government
Generally charge lower interest rates	May charge very high interest rates
Follow official rules and procedures	Terms may depend on the lender

 

37. Why is sustainable development essential?

Sustainable development is essential because natural resources are limited. Development should meet present needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

• Resource Preservation: Non-renewable resources like crude oil and groundwater are limited; overusing them leads to exhaustion for future generations.
• Ecological Balance: Environmental degradation (e.g., pollution, global warming) respects no national boundaries and threatens current global security.
• Example: Over-exploitation of groundwater in agricultural regions of Punjab and Haryana has lowered water tables drastically, demonstrating that development must align with ecological replenishment.

38 (A). Efforts of the Indian government to increase employment in rural areas

The government has taken several steps to increase rural employment:

1.    MGNREGA provides guaranteed wage employment to rural households.

2.    The government promotes rural development programmes.

3.    Investment is made in irrigation, roads and infrastructure.

4.    Self-employment opportunities are promoted.

5.    Schemes support agriculture and small-scale rural industries.

OR

38 (B). Rising importance of the Tertiary Sector in India

The tertiary sector is becoming increasingly important because:

1.    Agriculture and industries need services such as transport, banking and communication.

2.    Rising incomes increase demand for education, healthcare and tourism.

3.    Development of technology has created IT and communication services.

4.    Government services such as schools, hospitals and administration are expanding.

5.    Globalisation has increased the demand for professional and business services.

 

 

Q.P. Code: 32/1/2

29. Correct Option: (A)

• Answer: (A) 7 years
• Explanation: Literacy Rate measures the proportion of literate population in the 7-and-above age group.

30. Correct Option: (D)

• Answer: (D) United Nations Development Program
• Explanation: The UNDP publishes the annual Human Development Report (HDR).

31. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) Removal of restrictions on trade
• Explanation: Liberalisation refers to removing barriers or restrictions set by the government on foreign trade and investment.
• 32. Correct Option: (B)

• Answer: (B) Nearest nationalised bank
• Explanation: Formal sources like nationalised banks provide credit at lower, regulated interest rates without unfair conditions, unlike informal moneylenders or traders.

33. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) a-(iii), b-(iv), c-(ii), d-(i)
• Matching:
• Public Sector -> Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (iii)
• Private Sector -> Airtel Limited (iv)
• Joint Sector -> Maruti Suzuki (ii)
• Cooperative Sector -> Amul Dairy (i)

34. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) 82
• Explanation: From category III of the table ("Percentage of rural children aged 10–14 years attending school"), the value given under the Females column is 82% (or 82 out of 100).

35. "New technology has helped the world to become connected."

• Telecommunications Expansion: Developments in telegraph, telephone, mobile phones, and internet have made instant global communication possible regardless of location.
• Information Exchange & Commerce: E-commerce, internet banking, and satellite communication allow instant sharing of operational data and business transactions across borders.

 

• Globalized Production: Modern IT tools allow multinational corporations to design products in one country, manufacture them in another, and offer customer support worldwide seamlessly.

 

36. Difference between Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Commercial Banks

Feature	Reserve Bank of India (RBI)	Commercial Banks
Role & Nature	Central bank / Apex monetary authority of the country.	Financial institutions dealing directly with the public.
Functions	Issues currency, formulates monetary policies, and supervises all banks.	Accepts deposits, grants loans, and provides general banking services.
Public Interaction	Does not deal directly with individual customers/public.	Directly accepts deposits from and lends money to the general public.

37. Why Sustainable Development is Essential

• Resource Preservation: Non-renewable resources like crude oil and groundwater are limited; overusing them leads to exhaustion for future generations.
• Ecological Balance: Environmental degradation (e.g., pollution, global warming) respects no national boundaries and threatens current global security.
• Example: Over-exploitation of groundwater in agricultural regions of Punjab and Haryana has lowered water tables drastically, demonstrating that development must align with ecological replenishment.

38. (A) Efforts by the Indian Government to Increase Employment in Urban Areas

• Promoting Tourism and Hospitality: Investing in urban infrastructure and cultural hubs generates millions of jobs in transport, hotels, and handicrafts.
• Support for IT & Services Sector: Establishing Information Technology parks and supporting startups/call centres creates skilled software and service jobs.
• Vocational Skill Development & Credit Support: Programs like PMKVY (Skill India) and easy credit access (e.g., PM SVANidhi for street vendors) encourage self-employment.
• Infrastructure & Construction Projects: Building urban transit (Metro Rail), housing (PMAY-U), and roads creates large-scale manual and semi-skilled jobs.

OR

 

38. (B) Importance of the Secondary Sector in the Economy

• Value Addition: It transforms raw materials from the primary sector into higher-value finished products (e.g., turning cotton into clothes or iron ore into steel).
• Employment Generation: It absorbs surplus labour from agriculture by creating job opportunities in factories, mills, and processing units.
• Promotes Other Sectors: It manufactures equipment (tractors, machines, transport vehicles) that modernize primary agriculture and support tertiary logistics.
• Economic Stability & GDP Growth: Industrial growth builds a resilient national production base, decreasing reliance on raw resource exports.

 

Q.P. Code: 32/1/3

29. Correct Option: (D)

• Answer: (D) United Nations Development Program
  
  
• Explanation: The UNDP publishes the annual Human Development Report (HDR).
  
  

30. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) Removal of restrictions on trade
  
  
• Explanation: Liberalisation refers to removing barriers or restrictions set by the government on foreign trade and investment.
  
  

31. Correct Option: (B)

• Answer: (B) Nearest nationalised bank
  
  
• Explanation: Formal sources like nationalised banks offer loans at low, regulated interest rates without exploiting borrowers.
  
  

32. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) a-(iii), b-(iv), c-(ii), d-(i)
  
  
• Matching:
  
  
  • Public Sector -> Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (iii)
    
    
  • Private Sector -> Airtel Limited (iv)
    
    
  • Joint Sector -> Maruti Suzuki (ii)
    
    
  • Cooperative Sector -> Amul Dairy (i)
    
    

33. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) 82
  
  
• Explanation: Category III shows that the percentage of rural female children aged 10–14 attending school is 82%.
  
  

34. Correct Option: (A)

• Answer: (A) 7 years
  
  
• Explanation: Literacy Rate measures the proportion of literate population in the 7-and-above age group.
  
  

35. "New technology has helped the world to become connected."

• Information & Communication Technology: Rapid developments in telecommunications (mobile phones, internet) allow instant global communication across long distances.
  
  
• E-Commerce & Digital Transactions: Financial data, orders, and business communications move globally within seconds, integrating national markets.
  
  
• Global Supply Chains: IT tools enable multinational companies to coordinate design, production, logistics, and customer services across multiple continents seamlessly.
  
  

36. Why is it necessary to expand formal sources of credit in rural areas?

• Protection from Exploitation: Informal lenders charge exorbitant interest rates and enforce harsh repayment terms, leading rural borrowers into debt traps.
  
  
• Affordable Investment: Lower interest rates from formal banks make crop cultivation, small businesses, and agricultural equipment purchases financially viable.
  
  
• Reducing Financial Dependence: Expanding formal credit prevents rural households from relying on village moneylenders and traders for everyday farming expenses.
  
  

37. Why is sustainable development essential?

• Resource Conservation: Non-renewable natural resources (like crude oil and minerals) are finite; overusing them depletes supplies for future generations.
  
  
• Preventing Ecological Damage: Industrial pollution, deforestation, and carbon emissions cause irreversible environmental damage and global climate change.
  
  
• Example: Over-pumping groundwater in regions like Punjab has severely reduced underground water tables, demonstrating that resource consumption must stay within natural replenishment limits.
  
  

38. (A) Public work programs in job creation at rural and urban areas

• Rural Guarantee Schemes (MGNREGA): Provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment annually to rural households for public works like road building, water conservation, and soil management.
  
  
• Urban Infrastructure Projects: National urban missions (like Smart Cities and PMAY-U) generate large-scale construction, transit, and municipal work opportunities.
  
  
• Asset Creation: Public works focus on building productive community assets—dams, canals, school buildings—which create immediate wages and support long-term economic growth.
  
  
• Livelihood & Skill Support: Programs combine physical construction work with skill development and self-employment credit initiatives to boost worker employability.
  
  

OR

38. (B) Role of primary sector in rural areas

• Primary Source of Employment: Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and animal husbandry directly employ the majority of the rural population.
  
  
• Food Security: Produces essential food grains, vegetables, and milk to feed both rural communities and urban populations nationwide.
  
  
• Raw Material Supply: Supplies raw materials to key manufacturing industries such as sugar, cotton textiles, vegetable oils, and food processing units.
  
  
• Income Generation: Provides foundational income to rural households, driving demand for goods and services produced in the secondary and tertiary sectors.

Q.P. Code: 32/2/1

• 

  
  

  
  

  28. Correct Option: (C)

  
  

  • Answer: (C) Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Kerala
    
    
  • Explanation: Arranging Life Expectancy at Birth from lowest to highest: Odisha (68.4) -> Bihar (68.9) -> Haryana (69.7) -> Kerala (75.2).
    
    

  29. Correct Option: (D)

  
  

  • Answer: (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
    
    
  • Explanation: Agricultural activities belong to the primary sector, making Assertion (A) false. The tertiary sector provides services and is called the service sector, making Reason (R) true.
    
    

  30. Correct Option: (B)

  
  

  • Answer: (B) To protect local industries
    
    
  • Explanation: Governments impose tariffs on imports to make foreign goods more expensive, shielding domestic producers from foreign competition.
    
    

  31. Correct Option: (B)

  
  

  • Answer: (B) Because it is issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Central Government.
    
    
  • Explanation: In India, the RBI issues currency notes on behalf of the Central Government, giving currency legal authorization.
    
    

  32. Correct Option: (D)

  
  

  • Answer: (D) Indian Railways
    
    
  • Explanation: Indian Railways is owned, operated, and managed by the government, making it part of the public sector.
    
    

  33. Correct Option: (B)

  
  

  • Answer: (B) High Per Capita Income
    
    
  • Explanation: Developed nations are characterized by high average per capita income along with high literacy and healthcare standards.
    
    

  34. Correct Option: (B)

  
  

  • Answer: (B) To secure the loan for the lender
    
    
  • Explanation: Collateral acts as a financial guarantee that the lender can sell to recover funds if the borrower defaults.
    
    

  35. Explain ‘Disguised Unemployment’ with example.

  
  

  • Definition: A situation where more workers are engaged in a job than actually required. Even if some workers are removed, total output remains unchanged.
    
    
  • Example: A small family farm needs 3 workers to cultivate crops, but all 5 family members work on it. The extra 2 workers are disguisedly unemployed.
    
    

  36. Three measures for labour safety in the unorganised sector

  
  

  • Minimum Wage Enforcement: Implement and strictly enforce statutory minimum wage standards so workers are not underpaid.
    
    
  • Workplace Safety & Insurance: Introduce subsidized health, life, and accident insurance coverage along with mandatory occupational safety norms.
    
    
  • Social Security Schemes: Provide access to pensions, maternal benefits, and emergency relief funds through government welfare boards.
    
    

  37. Define 'Body Mass Index' (BMI) and its calculation method

  
  

  • Definition: BMI is a standardized numerical metric used by health organizations to evaluate whether an adult is undernourished, normal weight, or overweight.
    
    
  • Formula: Divide weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters:
    
    

  • Equation: BMI = weight (kg)/height (m^2)
    Evaluation: A BMI under 18.5 indicates undernourishment, while a BMI over 25 indicates an overweight condition.
    
    

  38. (a) Difference between Formal and Informal Sources of Credit

  
  

  Feature	Formal Sources of Credit	Informal Sources of Credit
  Providers	Commercial banks, cooperative societies, regional rural banks.	Moneylenders, traders, relatives, friends, landowners.
  Supervision	Supervised and regulated strictly by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).	No government body or regulatory agency supervises their activities.
  Interest Rates	Charges low, regulated, and reasonable rates of interest.	Charges excessively high interest rates, often leading to debt traps.
  Collateral	Requires formal documentation, identity proof, and collateral security.	Generally operates without formal paperwork or strict collateral requirements.

  OR

  
  

  38. (b) Functioning of ‘Self-Help Groups’ (SHGs)

  
  

  • Pooling Savings: A typical SHG consists of 15–20 members (usually women) who meet and save small amounts regularly to build a shared fund.
    
    
  • Providing Small Loans: Members can take small, low-interest loans directly from group savings for emergency or productive needs without collateral.
    
    
  • Bank Credit Eligibility: After saving consistently for 1–2 years, the SHG becomes eligible for collateral-free bank loans registered in the group's name.
    
    
  • Collective Decision Making: The group jointly decides on loan sanctions, interest rates, repayment schedules, and handles recovery enforcement.
    
    
  • Social Empowerment: Regular meetings serve as a forum to discuss community health, nutrition, domestic issues, and women's self-reliance.

  
  

  Q.P. Code: 32/2/2

  

  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

28. Correct Option: (B)

• Answer: (B) To secure the loan for the lender
  
  
• Explanation: Collateral serves as a financial security/guarantee for the lender to recover the loan amount if the borrower defaults.
  
  

29. Correct Option: (B)

• Answer: (B) High Per Capita Income
  
  
• Explanation: Developed countries are characterized by high per capita income alongside high literacy rates and health standards.
  
  

30. Correct Option: (D)

• Answer: (D) Indian Railways
  
  
• Explanation: Indian Railways is owned and operated by the government, making it a public sector enterprise.
  
  

31. Correct Option: (C)

• Answer: (C) Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Kerala
  
  
• Explanation: Arranging Life Expectancy at Birth (2018) from lowest to highest: Odisha (68.4) -> Bihar (68.9) -> Haryana (69.7) -> Kerala (75.2).
  
  

32. Correct Option: (D)

• Answer: (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
  
  
• Explanation: Agricultural activities belong to the primary sector, so Assertion (A) is false. The tertiary sector provides services, so Reason (R) is true.
  
  

33. Correct Option: (B)

• Answer: (B) To protect local industries
  
  
• Explanation: Governments impose tariffs on imported goods to make foreign products more expensive, shielding domestic producers from external competition.
  
  

34. Correct Option: (B)

• Answer: (B) Because it is issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Central Government.
  
  
• Explanation: In India, the RBI issues currency notes on behalf of the Central Government, giving currency legal authorization.
  
  

35. Main characteristics of the ‘primary sector’ of the economy

• Direct Natural Resource Extraction: Involves activities that directly extract or exploit natural resources, such as farming, fishing, mining, and forestry.
  
  
• Base for Other Sectors: Forms the foundation for all other products, supplying raw materials to the manufacturing (secondary) sector.
  
  

36. Measures for the creation of extra employment generation in the agriculture sector

• Improving Irrigation Facilities: Building dams and canals enables multiple cropping throughout the year, keeping farmers employed beyond a single season.
  
  
• Storage and Transport Infrastructure: Developing cold storage and rural roads allows farmers to transport and store produce, creating local handling and transport jobs.
  
  
• Promoting Agro-Processing Industries: Setting up small-scale processing units (e.g., flour mills, dal processing, juice extraction) in rural areas creates off-farm jobs.
  
  

37. Define 'Body Mass Index' (BMI) and its calculation method

• Definition: BMI is a numerical health metric used to determine whether an adult individual is undernourished, normal weight, or overweight.
  
  
• Method of Calculation: Divide weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters:
  
  

Equation: BMI = weight (kg)/height (m^2)

• Evaluation: A BMI below 18.5 indicates undernourishment, while a BMI above 25 indicates an overweight condition.
  
  

38. (a) Difference between Formal and Informal Sources of Credit

Feature	Formal Sources of Credit	Informal Sources of Credit
Providers	Banks and cooperative societies.	Moneylenders, traders, friends, and relatives.
Supervision	Supervised and regulated strictly by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).	No government body or central agency supervises their operations.
Interest Rates	Charges low, regulated, and reasonable interest rates.	Charges excessively high interest rates, leading to debt traps.
Documentation & Collateral	Requires formal documentation, proof of income, and collateral.	Operates mostly without strict collateral or complex documentation.

OR

38. (b) Functioning of ‘Self-Help Groups’ (SHGs)

• Pooling Savings: A typical SHG consists of 15–20 members (usually women) who meet regularly to save small, fixed amounts of money.
  
  
• Internal Loans: Members can take small, low-interest loans from the collective savings fund to meet immediate personal or business needs.
  
  
• Collateral-Free Bank Credit: After consistent savings for 1–2 years, the group becomes eligible to obtain collateral-free loans directly from commercial banks.
  
  
• Collective Decision Making: Decisions regarding loan amounts, interest rates, and repayment schedules are taken democratically by group consensus.
  
  
• Social Platform: Group meetings serve as a forum to discuss community health, nutrition, sanitation, and social issues, empowering women socially and economically.