CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2024 PDF (Set 2 - 32/3/2) is available for download here. CBSE conducted the Social Science exam on March 7, 2024, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The total marks for the theory paper are 80. The question paper contains 20% MCQ-based questions, 40% competency-based questions, and 40% short and long answer type questions.
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2024 (Set 2 - 32/3/2) with Answer Key
| CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2024 (Set 2 - 32/3/2) with Answer Key | Check Solutions |
CBSE Social Science Question Paper (Set 2 – 32/3/2) 2024 Solution
| Question | Answer | Detailed Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Which one of the following banks in India controls the issuance of currency and regulates the credit system in the country? (A) Punjab National Bank (B) Indian Bank (C) Reserve Bank of India (D) State Bank of India |
(C) Reserve Bank of India | The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India’s central bank responsible for issuing currency, controlling monetary policy, and regulating the credit system. |
| 2. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors are divided on which one of the following basis? (A) Nature of employment (B) Nature of activities (C) Nature of ownership (D) Nature of income |
(B) Nature of activities | The division is based on the nature of economic activities: Primary (natural resources), Secondary (manufacturing), and Tertiary (services like healthcare and banking). |
| 3. Read the image of the cheque and identify the cheque number from the given options: (A) 362255 (B) 110002078 (C) 000313 (D) 16137926023 |
(A) 362255 | The cheque number is a unique six-digit code typically found at the top right or bottom left corner of the cheque; in this case, it is "362255." |
| 4. Which of the following countries has the highest Human Development Index Rank in the world? (A) Country ‘A’ (B) Country ‘C’ (C) Country ‘D’ (D) Country ‘E’ |
(A) Country ‘A’ | Country 'A' has the highest HDI rank (73), indicating the best development indicators such as health, education, and income among the listed countries. |
| 5. Which one of the following definitions is most suitable for the ‘Literacy Rate’? (A) The literate population at the global level (B) The proportion of literate population in the seven years and above (C) The total number of children attending school in a region (D) The average number of schools in a region |
(B) The proportion of literate population in the seven years and above | Literacy rate measures the percentage of people aged seven and above who can read and write with understanding, indicating educational development. |
| 6. Which one of the following is a significant aspect of globalisation? (A) Uniform Culture (B) Environmental Support (C) Support to Domestic Market (D) Access to New Markets |
(D) Access to New Markets | Globalisation connects economies worldwide, enabling access to new markets, boosting trade and investments, and fostering economic growth. |
| 7. Which of the following is responsible for resolving disputes between Centre and States? (A) Finance Commission of India (B) Supreme Court of India (C) President of India (D) Prime Minister of India |
(B) Supreme Court of India | The Supreme Court of India resolves disputes between the Centre and States under Article 131 of the Constitution, ensuring legal integrity. |
| 8. Read the following statements regarding democracy and choose the correct option: I. Promotes equality among citizens II. Government by few individuals III. Protection of human rights IV. Ensures checks and balance system (A) I, II and III (B) II, III and IV (C) I, III and IV (D) I, II and IV |
(C) I, III and IV | Democracy ensures equality, protects human rights, and implements a checks-and-balances system. However, it is characterized by governance by the people, not by a few individuals. |
| 9. How do Political Parties ensure accountability to the public? Choose the most suitable option from the following: (A) Through Press Conferences (B) Through Social Media Campaigns (C) Through encouraging Partisanship (D) Through Elections and Voter Support |
(D) Through Elections and Voter Support | Political parties are accountable through elections, where citizens evaluate their policies and performance, ensuring that they act in the public’s interest. |
| 10. Which one of the following statements best describes women empowerment? (A) Encouraging men to take leadership roles (B) Promoting superiority of women over men (C) Ensuring equal opportunities and rights for women (D) Limiting the rights of men in all spheres |
(C) Ensuring equal opportunities and rights for women | Women empowerment ensures equality in rights and opportunities for women, enabling their participation in all aspects of social, political, and economic life. |
| 11. Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option from the following: Column-I (Subject List) | Column-II (Subject) I. Union List | (b) Banking II. State List | (c) Police III. Concurrent List | (a) Trade Union IV. Residuary List | (d) Internet (A) d, a, c, b (B) b, c, a, d (C) a, b, d, c (D) c, d, b, a |
(B) b, c, a, d | Union List includes subjects like banking and defense, State List includes police and public order, Concurrent List includes trade unions and education, and Residuary List covers subjects like the Internet not mentioned elsewhere. |
| 12. Read the following information and identify the crop: - It is the staple food crop of the majority of people in India. - India is the second-largest producer of this crop. - It is a Kharif crop. - It requires high humidity with 100 cm of annual rainfall. (A) Ragi (B) Bajra (C) Wheat (D) Rice |
(D) Rice | Rice is India’s staple food crop, grown as a Kharif crop, and requires high humidity and around 100 cm of rainfall for cultivation. India is the second-largest producer of rice globally. |
| 13. Which one of the following is the irrigation system in Meghalaya? (A) To irrigate land only during the rainy season. (B) To use large volumes of water for irrigation. (C) To remove water from soil. (D) To use bamboo drip irrigation system. |
(D) To use bamboo drip irrigation system. | Meghalaya uses a bamboo drip irrigation system, which channels water from springs to fields, demonstrating a sustainable and eco-friendly irrigation method. |
| 14. Arrange the following events of the Indian National Movement in chronological order and choose the correct option: I. Formation of Swaraj Party II. Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress III. Gandhi-Irwin Pact IV. Formation of Depressed Class Association (A) II, III, I and IV (B) I, II, IV and III (C) I, III, II and IV (D) IV, III, II and I |
(B) I, II, IV and III | The correct order is: Formation of Swaraj Party (1923), Lahore Session (1929), Formation of Depressed Class Association (1930), and Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931). |
| 15. ‘Buddhism emerged from eastern India and spread in several directions.’ Read the following reasons for its spread and choose the correct option: Reasons: I. Due to Cultural Exchange II. Due to Silk Route III. Due to Trade Travellers IV. Due to European Efforts (A) Only I, II and IV are correct. (B) Only II, III and IV are correct. (C) Only I, II and III are correct. (D) Only I, III and IV are correct. |
(C) Only I, II and III are correct. | Buddhism spread through cultural exchanges, trade routes like the Silk Road, and the movement of trade travelers. European efforts are unrelated to its initial expansion. |
| 16. Which of the following is a key indicator used to measure a country’s development? (A) Primary Production (B) Secondary Production (C) Gross Domestic Product (D) Net Domestic Product |
(C) Gross Domestic Product | Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total value of goods and services produced within a country, making it a primary economic indicator for development. |
| 17. Identify the primary objective of power-sharing arrangements in Belgium from the following options: (A) Establishing a unitary form of government. (B) Centralized political control of government. (C) Establishing cultural and educational matters of Dutch. (D) Accommodating linguistic and regional interest. |
(D) Accommodating linguistic and regional interest. | Belgium adopted power-sharing to address the conflicts between Dutch and French-speaking communities, ensuring equal representation and harmony. |
| 18. Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option: Assertion (A): On Prussian initiative ‘Zolleverin’ Custom Union was formed. Reason (R): It was to create unified economic territory allowing the unhindered movement of goods, people, and capital. (A) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A). (B) Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A). (C) (A) is true, but (R) is wrong. (D) (A) is wrong, but (R) is true. |
(A) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A). | The Zolleverin Custom Union was formed under Prussian leadership in 1834 to create a unified economic territory, abolishing internal tariffs and promoting free trade. |
| 19. Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option: Column-I (Minerals) | Column-II (Examples) I. Ferrous | Cobalt II. Non-Ferrous | Bauxite III. Non-Metallic | Granite IV. Energy | Coal (A) I-b, II-d, III-c, IV-a (B) I-d, II-c, III-b, IV-a (C) I-a, II-b, III-b, IV-c (D) I-c, II-d, III-d, IV-a |
(B) I-d, II-c, III-b, IV-a | Ferrous minerals like cobalt contain iron, non-ferrous minerals like bauxite do not. Non-metallic minerals like granite are used in construction, and energy minerals like coal generate power. |
| 20. Who among the following published ‘Samvad Kaumudi’? (A) Rashsundari Debi (B) Tarabai Shinde (C) Raja Rammohan Roy (D) Ram Chaddha |
(C) Raja Rammohan Roy | Raja Rammohan Roy published Samvad Kaumudi in 1821 to promote social reforms like the abolition of Sati and to advocate for women's rights. |
| 21. “Trade and cultural exchange always went hand in hand.” Explain the statement in the context of the pre-modern world. | Spread of Ideas and Knowledge | Trade in the pre-modern world facilitated cultural exchange as traders carried ideas, scientific knowledge, and practices. The Silk Road spread Buddhism to East Asia and enriched regional cuisines through the exchange of spices and produce. |
| 22. “Role of women is gradually enhancing in the politics of the country.” Examine the statement. | Increasing Representation and Leadership | Women’s political representation is rising with reserved seats in Panchayati Raj and growing leadership roles. Leaders like Indira Gandhi and policies addressing gender equality reflect women’s increasing impact on politics. |
| 23. (a) Suggest any two ways to solve the problem of land degradation. | Afforestation and Sustainable Farming | Land degradation can be addressed by afforestation to prevent soil erosion and sustainable farming practices like crop rotation and organic farming to maintain soil fertility. |
| OR 23. (b) Suggest any two ways for the conservation of resources. | 3Rs and Renewable Energy | Resource conservation can be promoted through the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to reduce dependency on non-renewable resources. |
| 24. How does the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP’s) developmental criterion differ from the World Bank? Explain. | HDI vs. GNI Per Capita | The UNDP uses the Human Development Index (HDI) based on health, education, and income, emphasizing quality of life, while the World Bank relies on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, focusing on economic wealth. |
| 25. “The development process of India has experienced transformation due to the significant influence of Information Technology (IT) and Electronic Industry.” Explain the statement with examples. | Boosting Employment and Exports | India’s IT sector has generated millions of jobs in fields like software development and data analytics, boosted exports of IT services, and transformed connectivity through Digital India initiatives, enhancing e-governance and financial inclusion. |
| 26. (a) Analyse the process of German Unification. | Prussian Leadership and Wars | The German unification was led by Otto von Bismarck of Prussia through the policy of "blood and iron." Key wars like the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) unified Germany under King Wilhelm I, proclaimed Emperor in 1871. |
| OR 26. (b) Analyse the process of Italian Unification. | Role of Mazzini, Garibaldi, and Cavour | The Italian unification involved leaders like Giuseppe Mazzini, who inspired nationalist movements, Giuseppe Garibaldi, who led military campaigns in the south, and Count Cavour, who secured alliances to liberate northern regions. It culminated in 1870 with the annexation of Rome. |
| 27. Describe any three challenges faced by political parties. | Internal Democracy, Dynastic Politics, and Corruption | Political parties face challenges like lack of internal democracy, where decision-making is centralized; dynastic succession, reducing opportunities for capable members; and corruption, as money power dominates election processes. |
| 28. Why is cheap and affordable credit important for the country’s development? Explain. | Encourages Entrepreneurship and Infrastructure Growth | Affordable credit supports entrepreneurship by funding small businesses, boosts agricultural productivity through investments in seeds and machinery, and finances infrastructure projects, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. |
| 29. Examine the role of the Tertiary sector in the development of the country. | Service Provision and Economic Growth | The Tertiary sector supports economic growth by providing essential services like education, healthcare, and banking. It generates employment in IT, tourism, and retail, facilitates trade, and contributes to foreign exchange earnings through exports of services. |
| 30. (a) “Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is also its outcome and it cannot be ignored.” Explain the statement. | Accountability and Participation | Democracy generates support by ensuring accountability through elections, promoting citizen participation in decision-making, and resolving conflicts peacefully. Its adaptability to societal needs builds public trust and legitimacy. |
| OR 30. (b) “Democratic systems are based on political equality.” Explain the statement. | Equal Voting Rights and Representation | Democracy ensures political equality through equal voting rights for all citizens, fair representation in governance, and the protection of individual freedoms, promoting inclusiveness and equal opportunities in decision-making. |
| 31. (a) Explain the features of Commercial Farming. | Large-Scale Production and Technology Usage | Commercial farming involves large-scale cultivation for market sale. It employs modern machinery, fertilizers, and irrigation to enhance productivity. Crops like sugarcane, tea, and cotton are grown primarily for export or industrial use. |
| OR 31. (b) Explain the features of Primitive Subsistence Farming. | Traditional and Small-Scale Farming | Primitive farming is practiced on small plots using traditional tools and family labor. It focuses on self-sufficiency rather than market sales, resulting in low productivity due to limited use of fertilizers and technology. |
| 32. (a) “There were a variety of cultural processes through which Indian Nationalism captured people’s imagination.” Explain the statement with examples. | Symbols, History, and Literature | Indian nationalism used symbols like the tricolor flag and the song 'Vande Mataram' to unite people. Rediscovery of India’s rich cultural history instilled pride, while literature and folk traditions spread nationalist ideas. |
| OR 32. (b) How were the various social groups involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain with examples. | Broad Participation Across Classes | Rich peasants demanded reduced land revenue, industrial workers protested low wages, and women boycotted foreign goods. Businessmen supported the movement to protect Indian industries, highlighting diverse participation. |
| 33. (a) Analyse the role of Liberalisation in globalisation. | Reduced Barriers and Increased Trade | Liberalisation removed trade barriers, enabling global trade and foreign investment. It facilitated technology transfer, boosted exports, and provided access to international markets for domestic industries. |
| OR 33. (b) Examine five factors that promote the process of globalisation. | Technology, Trade, and Investments | Globalisation is promoted by technological advancements (e.g., internet, transport), trade liberalisation, foreign direct investment (FDI), international organisations (e.g., WTO), and cultural exchange through media and travel. |
| 34.1 How does giving power to Panchayats relate to the vision of Mahatma Gandhi? | Empowering Local Governance | Giving power to Panchayats aligns with Mahatma Gandhi's vision of decentralization. He believed that empowering village-level governance would ensure participatory democracy, promote self-reliance, and strengthen grassroots development. |
| 34.2 Explain the primary objective of giving power to the Panchayats. | Participatory Democracy and Transparency | The primary objective of empowering Panchayats is to promote participatory democracy by involving citizens in planning and implementation of developmental schemes. This reduces corruption by eliminating middlemen and ensures transparency in governance. |
| 34.3 How does the establishment of Panchayati Raj contribute to democracy? Explain. | Decentralization and Accountability | Panchayati Raj strengthens democracy by decentralizing power, promoting local-level decision-making, and fostering accountability. It encourages community participation and ensures that development reflects local needs. |
| 35.1 Analyse the primary objective proposed by Ranade for publishing Marathi Language newspaper. | Dissemination of Knowledge and Discussion | Ranade aimed to provide useful information on history, geography, and antiquities, fostering public discussions on subjects of general utility. His newspaper sought to promote scientific investigation and enhance public welfare through education. |
| 35.2 Why did the Bombay Telegraph emphasize the role of newspapers in promoting the welfare of the Deccan region? | Platform for Knowledge and Welfare | The Bombay Telegraph highlighted that newspapers could bridge knowledge gaps, foster public discourse, and address regional issues in the Deccan. It encouraged the spread of ideas and informed citizens about local and scientific developments. |
| 35.3 What were the key responsibilities attributed to native newspapers? Mention any two. | Critical Examination and Public Awareness | Native newspapers were tasked with critically examining government policies to suggest improvements and ensuring speedy policy implementation by creating public awareness. They served as watchdogs and educators for societal progress. |
| 36.1 How does sacred groves relate to the belief in nature worship? | Protection of Biodiversity | Sacred groves reflect the belief that nature should be revered and protected. These untouched forest patches preserve biodiversity and maintain pristine ecosystems, aligning with the cultural practice of nature worship. |
| 36.2 How do communities incorporate trees into their cultural practices? Explain with examples. | Sacred Trees and Rituals | Communities integrate trees into cultural practices by revering them as sacred. For instance, the Mundas and Santhal worship mahua and kadamba trees, while tamarind and mango trees are considered sacred in weddings by tribals of Odisha and Bihar. |
| 36.3 Explain the cultural values that contribute to the coexistence of nature. | Respect for Ecosystems | Cultural values promoting coexistence include reverence for animals, such as blackbucks in Bishnoi villages, and feeding practices for macaques near temples. Sacredness attributed to natural elements ensures their protection and sustainability. |
| 37. (a) Identify the two places marked (A) and (B) on the map. | (A) Amritsar - Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (B) Madras - INC Session, 1927 |
Amritsar witnessed the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919, a key event in India’s freedom struggle. Madras hosted the 1927 Indian National Congress session, where resolutions critical to India’s political future were adopted. |
| 37. (b) Locate and label the following on the map: (i) Bhakra Nangal - Dam (ii) Noida - Software Technology Park (iii) Tarapur - Nuclear Power Plant (iv) Haldia - Sea Port |
Geographical Markings | (i) Bhakra Nangal Dam - Himachal Pradesh/Punjab border (ii) Noida - Uttar Pradesh, near Delhi (iii) Tarapur - Maharashtra (iv) Haldia - West Bengal, near Hooghly River |



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