Class 10 Social Science: CBSE (Official) Marking Scheme (2024-25) | CBSE Sample Papers For Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


1                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
                                                                                                                                                               
SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) 
MARKING SCHEME 
CLASS X –2024-25 
Time Allowed: 3hrs                                                                                                     Max. Marks:80 
 
SECTION A  
MCQs (20X1=20) 
1. Ans- (B) To restore a sense of pride in traditional culture and national identity 1 
2. Ans—(A)- It provides facilities for agriculture and industry 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 2. 
(A) Ans—(B)- Nature, technology, and institutions 
1 
 
 
3. Ans-(D)- It has health care and education for all. 1 
4. Ans—(D)- 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a) 1  
5. Ans—(C)- 1 and 4 only 1 
6. Ans-(A)- Coming together. 1 
7. Ans- (D)- 1.d), 2.c), 3. b), 4. a) 1  
8. Ans—(C)- 1, 2 and 3 1  
 9.  Ans- (C)- Due to their social and historical circumstances 1 
10. 
 
Ans—(C)- Territories lost by him 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 10  
 
Ans—(A) Freedom. 
1  
 
11. Ans—(B)- Statements 1, 2 and 3 are appropriate. 1 
12. Ans—(A)- 1 and 2 1 
13. Ans—(B)- 2, 1, 3, 4  1 
14. Ans—(B)- Only II and III are true 1 
15 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect. 1 
16. Ans.—(D) - Corruption 1 
17. Ans—(C)- linguistic and regional diversity 1 
18 Ans—(D)- greater integration of production and markets 1 
19 Ans—(B)- It is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights. 1 
Page 2


1                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
                                                                                                                                                               
SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) 
MARKING SCHEME 
CLASS X –2024-25 
Time Allowed: 3hrs                                                                                                     Max. Marks:80 
 
SECTION A  
MCQs (20X1=20) 
1. Ans- (B) To restore a sense of pride in traditional culture and national identity 1 
2. Ans—(A)- It provides facilities for agriculture and industry 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 2. 
(A) Ans—(B)- Nature, technology, and institutions 
1 
 
 
3. Ans-(D)- It has health care and education for all. 1 
4. Ans—(D)- 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a) 1  
5. Ans—(C)- 1 and 4 only 1 
6. Ans-(A)- Coming together. 1 
7. Ans- (D)- 1.d), 2.c), 3. b), 4. a) 1  
8. Ans—(C)- 1, 2 and 3 1  
 9.  Ans- (C)- Due to their social and historical circumstances 1 
10. 
 
Ans—(C)- Territories lost by him 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 10  
 
Ans—(A) Freedom. 
1  
 
11. Ans—(B)- Statements 1, 2 and 3 are appropriate. 1 
12. Ans—(A)- 1 and 2 1 
13. Ans—(B)- 2, 1, 3, 4  1 
14. Ans—(B)- Only II and III are true 1 
15 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect. 1 
16. Ans.—(D) - Corruption 1 
17. Ans—(C)- linguistic and regional diversity 1 
18 Ans—(D)- greater integration of production and markets 1 
19 Ans—(B)- It is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights. 1 
2                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
20 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect 1  
 SECTION B  
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTION (4x2=8) 
 
21 “Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand”. 
Justify your answer with examples. 
Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand. 
For instance, the agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by 
raising its productivity. They depend on the latter for raw materials and sell their 
products such as irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and 
PVC pipes, machines and tools, etc. to the farmers. 
2 
22 
 
Ans- The silk routes are a good example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural 
links between distant parts of the world. There were several silk routes, over land 
and by sea that brought together regions of Asia, and linked Asia with Europe and 
northern Africa. They existed since before the Christian Era and thrived almost till 
the 15th century.  The name ‘silk routes’ points to the importance of West-bound 
Chinese silk cargoes along this route. 
1. Chinese pottery, textiles 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 directions through intersecting points on the silk routes. Early Christian 
missionaries travelled this route to reach Asia and Muslim preachers took the same 
route a few centuries later.                                       (any 1 illustration)                                                  
OR 
Ans—1. Europe’s poor began to eat better and live longer with the introduction of 
the humble potato. 
 2. Ireland’s poorest peasants became so dependent on potatoes that when 
disease destroyed the potato crop in the mid-1840s, hundreds of thousands died 
of starvation. Thus new crops can significantly impact survival and well-being. 
2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 Ans. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves 
sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its 
effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A 
legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake 
in the system. 
2 
 
 
24 Ans When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to 
local government, it is called decentralisation. The basic idea 
behind decentralisation is that there are many problems and issues which are best 
settled at the local level. 
1. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.  
2. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage 
things more efficiently. 
 3. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in 
decision making.  
2 
 
Page 3


1                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
                                                                                                                                                               
SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) 
MARKING SCHEME 
CLASS X –2024-25 
Time Allowed: 3hrs                                                                                                     Max. Marks:80 
 
SECTION A  
MCQs (20X1=20) 
1. Ans- (B) To restore a sense of pride in traditional culture and national identity 1 
2. Ans—(A)- It provides facilities for agriculture and industry 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 2. 
(A) Ans—(B)- Nature, technology, and institutions 
1 
 
 
3. Ans-(D)- It has health care and education for all. 1 
4. Ans—(D)- 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a) 1  
5. Ans—(C)- 1 and 4 only 1 
6. Ans-(A)- Coming together. 1 
7. Ans- (D)- 1.d), 2.c), 3. b), 4. a) 1  
8. Ans—(C)- 1, 2 and 3 1  
 9.  Ans- (C)- Due to their social and historical circumstances 1 
10. 
 
Ans—(C)- Territories lost by him 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 10  
 
Ans—(A) Freedom. 
1  
 
11. Ans—(B)- Statements 1, 2 and 3 are appropriate. 1 
12. Ans—(A)- 1 and 2 1 
13. Ans—(B)- 2, 1, 3, 4  1 
14. Ans—(B)- Only II and III are true 1 
15 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect. 1 
16. Ans.—(D) - Corruption 1 
17. Ans—(C)- linguistic and regional diversity 1 
18 Ans—(D)- greater integration of production and markets 1 
19 Ans—(B)- It is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights. 1 
2                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
20 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect 1  
 SECTION B  
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTION (4x2=8) 
 
21 “Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand”. 
Justify your answer with examples. 
Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand. 
For instance, the agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by 
raising its productivity. They depend on the latter for raw materials and sell their 
products such as irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and 
PVC pipes, machines and tools, etc. to the farmers. 
2 
22 
 
Ans- The silk routes are a good example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural 
links between distant parts of the world. There were several silk routes, over land 
and by sea that brought together regions of Asia, and linked Asia with Europe and 
northern Africa. They existed since before the Christian Era and thrived almost till 
the 15th century.  The name ‘silk routes’ points to the importance of West-bound 
Chinese silk cargoes along this route. 
1. Chinese pottery, textiles 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 directions through intersecting points on the silk routes. Early Christian 
missionaries travelled this route to reach Asia and Muslim preachers took the same 
route a few centuries later.                                       (any 1 illustration)                                                  
OR 
Ans—1. Europe’s poor began to eat better and live longer with the introduction of 
the humble potato. 
 2. Ireland’s poorest peasants became so dependent on potatoes that when 
disease destroyed the potato crop in the mid-1840s, hundreds of thousands died 
of starvation. Thus new crops can significantly impact survival and well-being. 
2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 Ans. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves 
sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its 
effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A 
legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake 
in the system. 
2 
 
 
24 Ans When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to 
local government, it is called decentralisation. The basic idea 
behind decentralisation is that there are many problems and issues which are best 
settled at the local level. 
1. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.  
2. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage 
things more efficiently. 
 3. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in 
decision making.  
2 
 
3                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
4. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Local government is 
the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local self-
government, or self-rule.  Local Government is thus an effective way to uphold the 
democratic principle of decentralization.                                        (Any two points) 
 SECTION C  
SHORT ANSWER-BASED QUESTIONS (5x3=15) 
 
25 1.Print was no longer used just by scholar officials. Merchants used print in their 
everyday life, as they collected trade information. 
2. Reading increasingly became a leisure activity. The new readership preferred 
fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, anthologies of literary masterpieces, 
and romantic plays.  
3.Rich women began to read, and many women began publishing their poetry and 
plays. Wives of scholar-officials published their works and courtesans wrote about 
their lives. 
3 
26 If more men are working than required is called as disguised unemployment. In this 
case the other three who are not required should take up different jobs that would 
increase the total family income. For example, they can be employed in projects 
like building of dams, canals or roads in the village. 
 
1. Government can invest some money in transportation and storage of crops or 
make better rural roads so that mini-trucks reach everywhere. 
 
2. Promotion of industries like setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage could 
give an opportunity for farmers to store their products like potatoes and onions 
and sell them when the price is good. 
 
3.In villages near forest areas, they can start honey collection centres where 
farmers can come and sell wild honey. It is also possible to set up industries that 
process vegetables and agricultural produce like potato, sweet potato, rice, 
wheat, tomato, fruits, which can be sold in outside markets and thus generate 
employment. 
 
4. Government can plan to give loans at lower rates of interest to people in rural 
areas to start something new thereby solving problems of underemployment. 
(Any 3 points) 
OR 
 
1. Raman was happy because in the organised sector they enjoy security of 
employment. They are expected to work only a fixed number of hours. If they 
work more, they have to be paid overtime by the employer. They also get 
several other benefits from their employers as they get paid leave, payment 
during holidays, provident fund, gratuity etc. They are supposed to get medical 
benefits, and, under the laws, the factory manager must ensure facilities like 
drinking water and a safe working environment. When they retire, these workers 
get pensions as well.  
2. Whereas Sunil was unhappy because the unorganised sector is characterised 
by small and scattered units which are largely outside the control of the 
government. There are rules and regulations, but these are not followed. Jobs 
here are low-paid and often not regular. There is no provision for overtime, paid 
3 
 
 
Page 4


1                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
                                                                                                                                                               
SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) 
MARKING SCHEME 
CLASS X –2024-25 
Time Allowed: 3hrs                                                                                                     Max. Marks:80 
 
SECTION A  
MCQs (20X1=20) 
1. Ans- (B) To restore a sense of pride in traditional culture and national identity 1 
2. Ans—(A)- It provides facilities for agriculture and industry 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 2. 
(A) Ans—(B)- Nature, technology, and institutions 
1 
 
 
3. Ans-(D)- It has health care and education for all. 1 
4. Ans—(D)- 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a) 1  
5. Ans—(C)- 1 and 4 only 1 
6. Ans-(A)- Coming together. 1 
7. Ans- (D)- 1.d), 2.c), 3. b), 4. a) 1  
8. Ans—(C)- 1, 2 and 3 1  
 9.  Ans- (C)- Due to their social and historical circumstances 1 
10. 
 
Ans—(C)- Territories lost by him 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 10  
 
Ans—(A) Freedom. 
1  
 
11. Ans—(B)- Statements 1, 2 and 3 are appropriate. 1 
12. Ans—(A)- 1 and 2 1 
13. Ans—(B)- 2, 1, 3, 4  1 
14. Ans—(B)- Only II and III are true 1 
15 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect. 1 
16. Ans.—(D) - Corruption 1 
17. Ans—(C)- linguistic and regional diversity 1 
18 Ans—(D)- greater integration of production and markets 1 
19 Ans—(B)- It is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights. 1 
2                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
20 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect 1  
 SECTION B  
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTION (4x2=8) 
 
21 “Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand”. 
Justify your answer with examples. 
Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand. 
For instance, the agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by 
raising its productivity. They depend on the latter for raw materials and sell their 
products such as irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and 
PVC pipes, machines and tools, etc. to the farmers. 
2 
22 
 
Ans- The silk routes are a good example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural 
links between distant parts of the world. There were several silk routes, over land 
and by sea that brought together regions of Asia, and linked Asia with Europe and 
northern Africa. They existed since before the Christian Era and thrived almost till 
the 15th century.  The name ‘silk routes’ points to the importance of West-bound 
Chinese silk cargoes along this route. 
1. Chinese pottery, textiles 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 directions through intersecting points on the silk routes. Early Christian 
missionaries travelled this route to reach Asia and Muslim preachers took the same 
route a few centuries later.                                       (any 1 illustration)                                                  
OR 
Ans—1. Europe’s poor began to eat better and live longer with the introduction of 
the humble potato. 
 2. Ireland’s poorest peasants became so dependent on potatoes that when 
disease destroyed the potato crop in the mid-1840s, hundreds of thousands died 
of starvation. Thus new crops can significantly impact survival and well-being. 
2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 Ans. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves 
sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its 
effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A 
legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake 
in the system. 
2 
 
 
24 Ans When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to 
local government, it is called decentralisation. The basic idea 
behind decentralisation is that there are many problems and issues which are best 
settled at the local level. 
1. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.  
2. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage 
things more efficiently. 
 3. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in 
decision making.  
2 
 
3                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
4. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Local government is 
the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local self-
government, or self-rule.  Local Government is thus an effective way to uphold the 
democratic principle of decentralization.                                        (Any two points) 
 SECTION C  
SHORT ANSWER-BASED QUESTIONS (5x3=15) 
 
25 1.Print was no longer used just by scholar officials. Merchants used print in their 
everyday life, as they collected trade information. 
2. Reading increasingly became a leisure activity. The new readership preferred 
fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, anthologies of literary masterpieces, 
and romantic plays.  
3.Rich women began to read, and many women began publishing their poetry and 
plays. Wives of scholar-officials published their works and courtesans wrote about 
their lives. 
3 
26 If more men are working than required is called as disguised unemployment. In this 
case the other three who are not required should take up different jobs that would 
increase the total family income. For example, they can be employed in projects 
like building of dams, canals or roads in the village. 
 
1. Government can invest some money in transportation and storage of crops or 
make better rural roads so that mini-trucks reach everywhere. 
 
2. Promotion of industries like setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage could 
give an opportunity for farmers to store their products like potatoes and onions 
and sell them when the price is good. 
 
3.In villages near forest areas, they can start honey collection centres where 
farmers can come and sell wild honey. It is also possible to set up industries that 
process vegetables and agricultural produce like potato, sweet potato, rice, 
wheat, tomato, fruits, which can be sold in outside markets and thus generate 
employment. 
 
4. Government can plan to give loans at lower rates of interest to people in rural 
areas to start something new thereby solving problems of underemployment. 
(Any 3 points) 
OR 
 
1. Raman was happy because in the organised sector they enjoy security of 
employment. They are expected to work only a fixed number of hours. If they 
work more, they have to be paid overtime by the employer. They also get 
several other benefits from their employers as they get paid leave, payment 
during holidays, provident fund, gratuity etc. They are supposed to get medical 
benefits, and, under the laws, the factory manager must ensure facilities like 
drinking water and a safe working environment. When they retire, these workers 
get pensions as well.  
2. Whereas Sunil was unhappy because the unorganised sector is characterised 
by small and scattered units which are largely outside the control of the 
government. There are rules and regulations, but these are not followed. Jobs 
here are low-paid and often not regular. There is no provision for overtime, paid 
3 
 
 
4                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
leave, holidays, leave due to sickness etc. Employment is not secure. People 
can be asked to leave without any reason. When there is less work, such as 
during some seasons, some people may be asked to leave.  
3. A lot also depends on the whims of the employer. This sector includes many 
people who are employed on their own doing small jobs such as selling on the 
street or doing repair work. 
27 Horticulture is a term used for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. 
Some features are— 
1. India is one of the major producers of fruits and vegetables in the world 
2. It is a producer of tropical and temperate fruits. 
3. India produces 13% of the world’s vegetables. 
3 
28 Women empowerment has taken leaps and bounds from yesteryears to the 
present. We can see the following developments: 
a.  Passing of Women Reservation Bill, 2023 
b. Improved literacy rates  
c. Women have equal rights as men on their father’s property.  
d. Women could be seen in all the fields of development- science, economy, 
education, media, corporate etc. 
(Any other point can be considered) 
3 
29 Ans.  
1. In any country several services such as hospitals, educational institutions, post 
and telegraph services, police stations, courts, village administrative offices, 
municipal corporations, defence, transport, banks, insurance companies, etc. are 
required, these can be considered as basic services. In a developing country the 
government must take responsibility for the provision of these services. 
 2. The development of agriculture and industry leads to the development of 
services such as transport, trade, storage and the like, as we have already seen. 
Greater the development of the primary and secondary sectors, more would be the 
demand for such services. 
3. As income levels rise, certain sections of people start demanding many more 
services like eating out, tourism, shopping, private hospitals, private schools, 
professional training etc. You can see this change quite sharply in cities, especially 
in big cities. 
 4. Over the past decade or so, certain new services such as those based on 
information and communication technology have become important and essential. 
The production of these services has been rising rapidly.  
Nevertheless, the service sector in India employs many different kinds of people. 
At one end there are a limited number of services that employ highly skilled and 
educated workers. At the other end, there are a very large number of workers 
engaged in services such as small shopkeepers, repair persons, transport persons, 
etc. These people barely manage to earn a living and yet they perform these 
services because no alternative opportunities for work are available to them. 
Hence, only a part of this sector is growing in importance. 
( Any THREE points) 
3 
 
 
 SECTION D  
LONG ANSWER-BASED QUESTIONS (4x5=20) 
 
Page 5


1                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
                                                                                                                                                               
SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) 
MARKING SCHEME 
CLASS X –2024-25 
Time Allowed: 3hrs                                                                                                     Max. Marks:80 
 
SECTION A  
MCQs (20X1=20) 
1. Ans- (B) To restore a sense of pride in traditional culture and national identity 1 
2. Ans—(A)- It provides facilities for agriculture and industry 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 2. 
(A) Ans—(B)- Nature, technology, and institutions 
1 
 
 
3. Ans-(D)- It has health care and education for all. 1 
4. Ans—(D)- 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a) 1  
5. Ans—(C)- 1 and 4 only 1 
6. Ans-(A)- Coming together. 1 
7. Ans- (D)- 1.d), 2.c), 3. b), 4. a) 1  
8. Ans—(C)- 1, 2 and 3 1  
 9.  Ans- (C)- Due to their social and historical circumstances 1 
10. 
 
Ans—(C)- Territories lost by him 
 
Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu 
of Q. No. 10  
 
Ans—(A) Freedom. 
1  
 
11. Ans—(B)- Statements 1, 2 and 3 are appropriate. 1 
12. Ans—(A)- 1 and 2 1 
13. Ans—(B)- 2, 1, 3, 4  1 
14. Ans—(B)- Only II and III are true 1 
15 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect. 1 
16. Ans.—(D) - Corruption 1 
17. Ans—(C)- linguistic and regional diversity 1 
18 Ans—(D)- greater integration of production and markets 1 
19 Ans—(B)- It is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights. 1 
2                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
20 Ans—(A)- Statement (I) is correct and (II) is incorrect 1  
 SECTION B  
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTION (4x2=8) 
 
21 “Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand”. 
Justify your answer with examples. 
Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand. 
For instance, the agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by 
raising its productivity. They depend on the latter for raw materials and sell their 
products such as irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and 
PVC pipes, machines and tools, etc. to the farmers. 
2 
22 
 
Ans- The silk routes are a good example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural 
links between distant parts of the world. There were several silk routes, over land 
and by sea that brought together regions of Asia, and linked Asia with Europe and 
northern Africa. They existed since before the Christian Era and thrived almost till 
the 15th century.  The name ‘silk routes’ points to the importance of West-bound 
Chinese silk cargoes along this route. 
1. Chinese pottery, textiles 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 directions through intersecting points on the silk routes. Early Christian 
missionaries travelled this route to reach Asia and Muslim preachers took the same 
route a few centuries later.                                       (any 1 illustration)                                                  
OR 
Ans—1. Europe’s poor began to eat better and live longer with the introduction of 
the humble potato. 
 2. Ireland’s poorest peasants became so dependent on potatoes that when 
disease destroyed the potato crop in the mid-1840s, hundreds of thousands died 
of starvation. Thus new crops can significantly impact survival and well-being. 
2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 Ans. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves 
sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its 
effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A 
legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake 
in the system. 
2 
 
 
24 Ans When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to 
local government, it is called decentralisation. The basic idea 
behind decentralisation is that there are many problems and issues which are best 
settled at the local level. 
1. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.  
2. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage 
things more efficiently. 
 3. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in 
decision making.  
2 
 
3                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
4. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Local government is 
the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local self-
government, or self-rule.  Local Government is thus an effective way to uphold the 
democratic principle of decentralization.                                        (Any two points) 
 SECTION C  
SHORT ANSWER-BASED QUESTIONS (5x3=15) 
 
25 1.Print was no longer used just by scholar officials. Merchants used print in their 
everyday life, as they collected trade information. 
2. Reading increasingly became a leisure activity. The new readership preferred 
fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, anthologies of literary masterpieces, 
and romantic plays.  
3.Rich women began to read, and many women began publishing their poetry and 
plays. Wives of scholar-officials published their works and courtesans wrote about 
their lives. 
3 
26 If more men are working than required is called as disguised unemployment. In this 
case the other three who are not required should take up different jobs that would 
increase the total family income. For example, they can be employed in projects 
like building of dams, canals or roads in the village. 
 
1. Government can invest some money in transportation and storage of crops or 
make better rural roads so that mini-trucks reach everywhere. 
 
2. Promotion of industries like setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage could 
give an opportunity for farmers to store their products like potatoes and onions 
and sell them when the price is good. 
 
3.In villages near forest areas, they can start honey collection centres where 
farmers can come and sell wild honey. It is also possible to set up industries that 
process vegetables and agricultural produce like potato, sweet potato, rice, 
wheat, tomato, fruits, which can be sold in outside markets and thus generate 
employment. 
 
4. Government can plan to give loans at lower rates of interest to people in rural 
areas to start something new thereby solving problems of underemployment. 
(Any 3 points) 
OR 
 
1. Raman was happy because in the organised sector they enjoy security of 
employment. They are expected to work only a fixed number of hours. If they 
work more, they have to be paid overtime by the employer. They also get 
several other benefits from their employers as they get paid leave, payment 
during holidays, provident fund, gratuity etc. They are supposed to get medical 
benefits, and, under the laws, the factory manager must ensure facilities like 
drinking water and a safe working environment. When they retire, these workers 
get pensions as well.  
2. Whereas Sunil was unhappy because the unorganised sector is characterised 
by small and scattered units which are largely outside the control of the 
government. There are rules and regulations, but these are not followed. Jobs 
here are low-paid and often not regular. There is no provision for overtime, paid 
3 
 
 
4                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
leave, holidays, leave due to sickness etc. Employment is not secure. People 
can be asked to leave without any reason. When there is less work, such as 
during some seasons, some people may be asked to leave.  
3. A lot also depends on the whims of the employer. This sector includes many 
people who are employed on their own doing small jobs such as selling on the 
street or doing repair work. 
27 Horticulture is a term used for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. 
Some features are— 
1. India is one of the major producers of fruits and vegetables in the world 
2. It is a producer of tropical and temperate fruits. 
3. India produces 13% of the world’s vegetables. 
3 
28 Women empowerment has taken leaps and bounds from yesteryears to the 
present. We can see the following developments: 
a.  Passing of Women Reservation Bill, 2023 
b. Improved literacy rates  
c. Women have equal rights as men on their father’s property.  
d. Women could be seen in all the fields of development- science, economy, 
education, media, corporate etc. 
(Any other point can be considered) 
3 
29 Ans.  
1. In any country several services such as hospitals, educational institutions, post 
and telegraph services, police stations, courts, village administrative offices, 
municipal corporations, defence, transport, banks, insurance companies, etc. are 
required, these can be considered as basic services. In a developing country the 
government must take responsibility for the provision of these services. 
 2. The development of agriculture and industry leads to the development of 
services such as transport, trade, storage and the like, as we have already seen. 
Greater the development of the primary and secondary sectors, more would be the 
demand for such services. 
3. As income levels rise, certain sections of people start demanding many more 
services like eating out, tourism, shopping, private hospitals, private schools, 
professional training etc. You can see this change quite sharply in cities, especially 
in big cities. 
 4. Over the past decade or so, certain new services such as those based on 
information and communication technology have become important and essential. 
The production of these services has been rising rapidly.  
Nevertheless, the service sector in India employs many different kinds of people. 
At one end there are a limited number of services that employ highly skilled and 
educated workers. At the other end, there are a very large number of workers 
engaged in services such as small shopkeepers, repair persons, transport persons, 
etc. These people barely manage to earn a living and yet they perform these 
services because no alternative opportunities for work are available to them. 
Hence, only a part of this sector is growing in importance. 
( Any THREE points) 
3 
 
 
 SECTION D  
LONG ANSWER-BASED QUESTIONS (4x5=20) 
 
5                                                                                                                               Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 
 
30 There are various measures which can be adopted to prevent soil erosion caused 
due to natural forces. 
1. Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the 
slopes. This is called contour ploughing. 
2. Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts 
erosion. Western and central Himalayas have well developed terrace farming. 
3. Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between 
the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip 
cropping. 
4. Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of 
such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed 
significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising the desert in 
western India.  
5. Natural forces like wind, glacier and water lead to soil erosion. 
                                                                                         (Any other relevant 
point) 
               
OR 
Black soil is ideal for growing cotton, jowar and sugarcane.  
1. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over 
northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows. 
2. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh 
and Chhattisgarh and extend in the south east direction along the Godavari 
and the Krishna valleys. 
3. The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are 
well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.  
4. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, 
magnesium, potash and lime 
5. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents 
6. They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper 
aeration of the soil.  
7. These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled 
immediately after the first shower or during the pre-monsoon period. 
(Any five points or relevant point) 
2.5 
+2.5 
 
 
31 
 
The development of nationalism did not come about only through wars and 
territorial expansion. Culture played an important role in creating the idea of the 
nation: art and poetry, stories and music helped express and shape nationalist 
feelings. 
1.  Romantic artists and poets generally criticised the glorification of reason and 
science and focused instead on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings. Their 
effort was to create a sense of a shared collective heritage, a common cultural 
past, as the basis of a nation.  
2. Romantics such as the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-
1803) claimed that true German culture was to be discovered among the 
common people – das volk. It was through folk songs, folk poetry and folk 
dances that the true spirit of the nation (volksgeist) was popularised. So 
collecting and recording these forms of folk culture was essential to the project 
of nation-building. 
5