Social Science is a compulsory subject up to secondary stage of school education. It is an integral component of general education because it helps the learners in understanding the environment in its totality and developing a broader perspective and an empirical, reasonable and humane outlook. This is of crucial importance because it helps them grow into well-informed and responsible citizens with necessary attributes and skills for being able to participate and contribute effectively in the process of development and nation-building.
The Social Science curriculum draws its content mainly from History, Geography, Political Science and Economics. Some elements of Sociology and Commerce are also included. Together they provide a comprehensive view of society over space and time, and in relation to each other. Each subject’s distinct methods of enquiry help the learners to understand society from different angles and form a holistic view.
Objectives:
The main objectives of this syllabus are to:
- develop an understanding of the processes of change and development-both in terms of time and space, through which human societies have evolved
- make learners realise that the process of change is continuous and any event or phenomenon or issue cannot be viewed in isolation but in a wider context of time and space
- develop an understanding of contemporary India with its historical perspective, of the basic framework of the goals and policies of national development in independent India, and of the process of change with appropriate connections to world development.
- deepen knowledge about and understanding of India’s freedom struggle and of the values and ideals that it represented, and to develop an appreciation of the contributions made by people of all sections and regions of the country
- help learners understand and cherish the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution and to prepare them for their roles and responsibilities as effective citizens of a democratic society
- develop scientific temperament by promoting the spirit of enquiry and following a rational and objective approach in analysing and evaluating data and information as well as views and interpretations
- develop academic and social skills such as critical thinking, communicating effectively both in visual and verbal forms - cooperating with others, taking initiatives and providing leadership in solving others’ problems
- develop qualities clustered around the personal, social, moral, national and spiritual values that make a person humane and socially effective.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Unit No. Title Marks
I. India and the Contemporary World – II 20
II. Contemporary India – II 20
III. Democratic Politics – II 20
IV. Understanding Economic Development 20
Unit 1: India and the Contemporary World – II
Section 1: Events and Processes:
1. The Rise of Nationalism in Europe:
• The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
• The Making of Nationalism in Europe
• The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848
• The Making of Germany and Italy
• Visualizing the Nation
• Nationalism and Imperialism
Learning Objectives:
• Enable the learners to identify and comprehend the forms in which nationalism developed along with the formation of nation states in Europe in the post-1830 period.
• Establish the relationship and bring out the difference between European nationalism and anti-colonial nationalisms.
2. Nationalism in India:
• The First World War, Khilafat and Non - Cooperation
• Differing Strands within the Movement
• Towards Civil Disobedience
• The Sense of Collective Belonging
Learning Objectives:
• Recognize the characteristics of Indian nationalism through a case study of Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Analyze the nature of the diverse social movements of the time.
Section 2: Livelihoods, Economies and Societies: Any one theme of the following:
3. The Making of a Global World:
• The Pre-modern world
• The Nineteenth Century (1815-1914)
• The Inter war Economy
• Rebuilding a World Economy: The Post-War Era
Learning Objectives:
• Show that globalization has a long history and point to the shifts within the process.
• Analyze the implication of globalization for local economies.
• Discuss how globalization is experienced differently by different social groups.
4. The Age of Industrialization:
• Before the Industrial Revolution
• Hand Labour and Steam Power
• Industrialization in the colonies
• Factories Come Up
• The Peculiarities of Industrial Growth
• Market for Goods
Learning Objectives:
• Familiarize with the Pro- to-Industrial phase and Early – factory system.
• Familiarize with the process of industrialization and its impact on labour class.
• Enable them to understand industrialization in the colonies with reference to Textile industries.
Section 3: Everyday Life, Culture and Politics:
5. Print Culture and the Modern World:
• The First Printed Books
• Print Comes to Europe
• The Print Revolution and its Impact
• The Reading Mania
• The Nineteenth Century
• India and the World of Print
• Religious Reform and Public Debates
• New Forms of Publication
• Print and Censorship
Learning Objectives
• Identify the link between print culture and the circulation of ideas.
• Understand that forms of writing have a specific history, and that they reflect historical changes within society and shape the forces of change.
Unit 2: Contemporary India – II
1. Resources and Development:
• Types of Resources
• Development of Resources
• Resource Planning in India
• Land Resources
• Land Utilization
• Land Use Pattern in India
• Land Degradation and Conservation Measures
• Soil as a Resource
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the value of resources and the need for their judicious utilization and conservation.
2. Forest and Wildlife
• Biodiversity or Biological Diversity
• Flora and Fauna in India
• Vanishing Forests
• Asiatic Cheetah: Where did they go?
• The Himalayan Yew in trouble
• Conservation of forest and wildlife in India
• Project Tiger
Note: The chapter ‘Forest and Wildlife’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in Board Examination.
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the importance of forests and wild life in one environment as well as develop concept towards depletion of resources.
3. Water Resources:
• Water Scarcity and The Need for Water Conservation and Management
• Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management
• Rainwater Harvesting
Note: The chapter ‘Water Resources’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in Board Examination.
Learning Objectives:
• Comprehend the importance of water as a resource as well as develop awareness towards its judicious use and conservation.
4. Agriculture:
• Types of farming
• Cropping Pattern
• Major Crops
• Technological and Institutional Reforms
• Impact of Globalization on Agriculture
Learning Objectives:
• Explain the importance of agriculture in national economy.
• Identify various types of farming and discuss the various farming methods; describe the spatial distribution of major crops as well as understand the relationship between rainfall regimes and cropping pattern.
5. Minerals and Energy Resources
• What is a mineral?
• Mode of occurrence of Minerals
• Ferrons and Non-Ferrons Minerals
• Non-Metallic Minerals
• Rock Minerals
• Conservation of Minerals
Learning Objectives:
• Identify different types of minerals and energy resources and places of their availability
• Feel the need for their judicious utilization
6. Manufacturing Industries:
• Importance of manufacturing
• Contribution of Industry to National Economy
• Industrial Location
• Classification of Industries
• Spatial distribution
• Industrial pollution and environmental degradation
Learning Objectives:
• Bring out the importance of industries in the national economy as well as understand the regional disparities which resulted due to concentration of industries in some areas.
7. Life Lines of National Economy:
• Transport – Roadways, Railways, Pipelines, Waterways, Airways
• Communication
• International Trade
• Tourism as a Trade
Learning Objectives
• Explain the importance of transport and communication in the ever-shrinking world.
• Understand the role of trade and tourism in the economic development of a country.
Unit 3: Democratic Politics – II
1. Power Sharing:
• Case Studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka
• Why power sharing is desirable?
• Forms of Power Sharing
Learning Objectives:
• Familiarize with the centrality of power sharing in a democracy.
• Understand the working of spatial and social power sharing mechanisms.
2. Federalism:
• What is Federalism?
• What make India a Federal Country?
• How is Federalism practiced?
• Decentralization in India
Learning Objectives:
• Analyse federal provisions and institutions.
• Explain decentralization in rural and urban areas.
3. Democracy and Diversity:
• Case Studies of Mexico
• Differences, similarities and divisions
• Politics of social divisions
Note: The chapter ‘Democracy and Diversity’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in Board Examination.
Learning Objectives:
• Analyse the relationship between social cleavages and political competition with reference to Indian situation.
4. Gender, Religion and Caste:
• Gender and Politics
• Religion, Communalism and Politics
• Caste and Politics
Learning Objectives:
• Identify and analyse the challenges posed by communalism to Indian democracy.
• Develop a gender perspective on politics.
5. Popular Struggles and Movements:
• Popular Struggles in Nepal and Bolivia
• Mobilization and Organization
• Pressure Groups and Movements
Note: The chapter ‘Popular Struggles and Movements’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in Board Examination.
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the vital role of people’s struggle in the expansion of democracy.
6. Political Parties:
• Why do we need Political Parties?
• How many Parties should we have?
• National Political Parties
• State Parties
• Challenges to Political Parties
• How can Parties be reformed?
Learning Objectives:
• Analyse party systems in democracies.
• Introduction to major political parties, challenges faced by them and reforms in the country.
7. Outcomes of Democracy:
• How do we assess democracy’s outcomes?
• Accountable, responsive and legitimate government
• Economic growth and development
• Reduction of inequality and poverty
• Accommodation of social diversity
• Dignity and freedom of the citizens
Learning Objectives:
• Evaluate the functioning of democracies in comparison to alternative forms of governments.
• Understand the causes for continuation of democracy in India.
• Distinguish between sources of strengths and weaknesses of Indian democracy.
8. Challenges to Democracy:
• Thinking about challenges
• Thinking about Political Reforms
• Redefining democracy
Note: The chapter ‘Challenges to Democracy’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in Board Examination.
Learning Objectives
• Promote an active and participatory citizenship
• Reflect on the different kinds of measures possible to deepen democracy.
Unit 4: Understanding Economic Development
1. Development:
• What Development Promises - Different people different goals
• Income and other goals
• National Development
• How to compare different countries or states?
• Income and other criteria
• Public Facilities
• Sustainability of development
Objectives:
• Familiarize with concepts of macroeconomics.
• Understand the rationale for overall human development in our country, which includes the rise of income, improvements in health and education rather than income.
• Understand the importance of quality of life and sustainable development.
2. Sectors of the Indian Economy:
• Sectors of Economic Activities
• Comparing the three sectors
• Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sectors in India
• Division of sectors as organized and unorganized
• Sectors in terms of ownership: Public and Private Sectors
Objectives:
• Identify major employment generating sectors.
• Reason out the government investment in different sectors of economy.
3. Money and Credit:
• Money as a medium of exchange
• Modern forms of money
• Loan activities of Banks
• Two different credit situations
• Terms of credit
• Formal sector credit in India
• Self Help Groups for the Poor
Objectives:
• Understand money as an economic concept.
• Understand the role of financial institutions from the point of view of day-to- day life.
4. Globalization and the Indian Economy:
• Production across countries
• Interlinking production across countries
• What is globalization?
• Factors that have enabled Globalisation
• World Trade Organisation
• Impact of Globalization on India
• The Struggle for a fair Globalisation
Objectives:
• Explain the working of the Global Economic phenomenon.
5. Consumer Rights:
Note: Chapter 5 ‘Consumer Rights’ to be done as Project Work.
Objectives:
• Gets familiarized with the rights and duties as a consumer; and legal measures available to protect from being exploited in markets.