CBSE Class IX Social Science (087) β€’ Sample Question Paper Set 1 β€’ Academic Session 2026–2027

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CBSE CLASS IX – SOCIAL SCIENCE (CODE NO. 087)
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER – SET 1 | ACADEMIC SESSION 2026–2027
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:

  1. The question paper comprises Six Sections: A, B, C, D, E and F.
  2. There are 37 questions in total.
  3. All questions are compulsory.
  4. Section A contains Questions 1–20. Each question carries 1 mark.
  5. Section B contains Questions 21–24. Each question carries 2 marks.
  6. Section C contains Questions 25–29. Each question carries 3 marks.
  7. Section D contains Questions 30–33. Each question carries 5 marks.
  8. Section E contains Questions 34–36. Each case-based question carries 4 marks.
  9. Section F contains Question 37, carrying 5 marks, based on map skills (History 2 marks, Geography 3 marks).
  10. Internal choices are provided in selected questions.
SECTION A – MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (20 Marks)
Q1. Who was the King of France during the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789? [1]
(a) Louis XIV
(b) Louis XVI
(c) Napoleon Bonaparte
(d) Robespierre
Q2. Which group was led by Vladimir Lenin during the Russian Revolution of 1917? [1]
(a) Mensheviks
(b) Bolsheviks
(c) Liberals
(d) Radicals
Q3. Which line of latitude passes almost halfway through the country of India? [1]
(a) Equator
(b) Tropic of Capricorn
(c) Tropic of Cancer
(d) Arctic Circle
Q4. What was the policy of racial discrimination and segregation enforced in South Africa called? [1]
(a) Suffrage
(b) Apartheid
(c) Holocaust
(d) Feudalism
Q5. Which of the following is considered ‘working capital’ for farming activities? [1]
(a) Tractor and tubewell
(b) Land and building
(c) Seeds, fertilizers, and cash in hand
(d) Threshing machine
Q6. What is the longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks known as? [1]
(a) Pass
(b) Duns
(c) Bhabar
(d) Terai
Q7. Who wrote the influential pamphlet titled ‘What is the Third Estate?’ during the French Revolution? [1]
(a) Abbe Sieyes
(b) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(c) Montesquieu
(d) John Locke
Q8. Which lake is the largest freshwater lake in India, located in Jammu and Kashmir? [1]
(a) Chilika Lake
(b) Sambhar Lake
(c) Wular Lake
(d) Pulicat Lake
Q9. Which one of the following is a non-democratic feature of government? [1]
(a) Universal Adult Franchise
(b) Rule of Law
(c) Hereditary succession of ruler
(d) Independent judiciary
Q10. Investment in education, healthcare, and training transforms a population into: [1]
(a) Fixed capital
(b) Human capital
(c) Physical liability
(d) Working asset
Q11. What was the famous secret state police formed by Hitler in Nazi Germany called? [1]
(a) Reichstag
(b) Gestapo
(c) Storm Troopers
(d) Wehrmacht
Q12. Which river rises in the Amarkantak hills of Madhya Pradesh and flows towards the west into the Arabian Sea? [1]
(a) Mahanadi
(b) Godavari
(c) Narmada
(d) Krishna
Q13. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly? [1]
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Q14. In which Indian state is the highest poverty ratio observed according to government poverty estimates? [1]
(a) Kerala
(b) Bihar
(c) Punjab
(d) Himachal Pradesh
Q15. The local hot, dry, and gusty winds blowing during summer afternoons over north and north-western India are called: [1]
(a) Kaal Baisakhi
(b) Mango Showers
(c) Loo
(d) Western Disturbances
Q16. Which institution in India is the final authority for making laws, controlling public money, and debating national policies? [1]
(a) Supreme Court
(b) Election Commission
(c) Parliament
(d) NITI Aayog
Q17. Arrange the following events of the French Revolution in correct chronological order:
  1. Storming of the Bastille
  2. Execution of Louis XVI
  3. Reign of Terror under Robespierre
  4. Meeting of the Estates General
[1]
(a) 4 – 1 – 2 – 3
(b) 1 – 4 – 2 – 3
(c) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3
(d) 1 – 2 – 4 – 3
Q18. Buffer Stock is the stock of foodgrains procured by the government through which agency? [1]
(a) NABARD
(b) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
(c) Ministry of Agriculture
(d) State Bank of India
Q19. Assertion (A): India chose $82^\circ 30’\text{ E}$ longitude as the Standard Meridian of India.
Reason (R): It passes almost through the middle of the country near Mirzapur, avoiding time confusion across different states. [1]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Q20. Assertion (A): Educated parents are found to invest more heavily on the education and health of their children.
Reason (R): They realize the importance of education and quality health in improving standard of living and earnings. [1]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
SECTION B – VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (8 Marks)
Q21. State any two direct taxes or feudal dues paid by the Third Estate peasants in 18th-century France. [2]
Q22. Differentiate between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats on any two points. [2]
Q23. State two arguments in favour of democracy as a superior system of governance. [2]
OR
What is Universal Adult Franchise? Why is it fundamental to democratic elections?
Q24. Distinguish between market activities and non-market activities with one example of each. [2]
SECTION C – SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (15 Marks)
Q25. Explain any three main ideas of Karl Marx regarding capitalism and the formation of a socialist society. [3]
Q26. Explain any three major factors that influence the climate of India. [3]
OR
Explain the three major drainage patterns formed by streams in river basins with suitable characteristics.
Q27. Why do we need a Constitution in a democratic country? Give three arguments. [3]
Q28. What are the different types of unemployment found in rural and urban areas of India? Explain disguised unemployment. [3]
Q29. Explain three major anti-poverty programmes initiated by the Government of India to alleviate rural poverty. [3]
SECTION D – LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (20 Marks)
Q30. Describe the circumstances and socio-economic factors that led to the French Revolution of 1789. [5]
OR
Explain the Nazi ideology regarding the racial hierarchy and analyze how Hitler established total control over Germany after 1933.
Q31. Describe the major physical divisions of India and explain the economic significance of the Northern Plains. [5]
OR
Explain the mechanism of the Monsoon winds in India, including the factors responsible for the onset and withdrawal of the monsoon.
Q32. Describe the key steps involved in the process of conducting free and fair elections in India. [5]
OR
Explain the powers and functions of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers in India.
Q33. “Food security is essential for any nation.” Explain the two main components of food security in India and discuss the role of cooperatives. [5]
OR
What are the major causes of poverty in India? Suggest four effective measures to reduce poverty.
SECTION E – CASE-BASED INTEGRATED UNITS (12 Marks)
Q34. Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]

The Russian Revolution transformed the political and economic structure of the country. In February 1917, food shortages, worker strikes, and military mutinies forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate the throne. A Provisional Government was formed, but it failed to end the war or distribute land to peasants. In October 1917, the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in an armed insurrection. Private property was abolished, banks and industries were nationalized, and land was declared social property, marking the birth of the world’s first socialist state.

(a) Which Tsar was ruling Russia during the February Revolution of 1917? [1]

(b) Name the leader of the Bolshevik Party who led the October Revolution. [1]

(c) Explain two major economic changes introduced by the Bolsheviks immediately after coming to power. [2]
OR
Explain two reasons why the Provisional Government lost popular support in Russia in 1917. [2]
Q35. Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]

India is a country of vast geographical expanse. The mainland extends between latitudes $8^\circ 4’\text{ N}$ and $37^\circ 6’\text{ N}$ and longitudes $68^\circ 7’\text{ E}$ and $97^\circ 25’\text{ E}$. The southern part lies in the tropical zone, while the northern part lies in the sub-tropical zone. India’s central location at the head of the Indian Ocean has connected it through maritime trade routes with West Asia, Africa, and Europe in the west, and Southeast and East Asia in the east. The mountain passes in the north have facilitated ancient commercial and cultural exchanges.

(a) What is the latitudinal extent of the mainland of India? [1]

(b) Name the water body located to the east of peninsular India. [1]

(c) Explain two strategic advantages of India’s central location at the head of the Indian Ocean. [2]
OR
How did mountain passes in northern India help in ancient cultural and trade exchanges? [2]
Q36. Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]

Democracy is a system of government where the ultimate power rests with the people. In a representative democracy, citizens elect their representatives through regular, competitive, and multi-party elections. Fundamental rights guarantee citizens freedom of speech, expression, association, and equality before the law. An independent judiciary ensures that laws and constitutional boundaries are respected. However, democracy is not just an election; it requires continuous civic participation and accountability of elected leaders.

(a) What is the core definition of a representative democracy? [1]

(b) Name one institution that protects fundamental rights and upholds the rule of law. [1]

(c) Explain two essential conditions required for elections to be truly democratic. [2]
OR
State two fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens by the Indian Constitution. [2]
SECTION F – MAP SKILL-BASED QUESTION (5 Marks)
Q37.(a) History Map Item – 2 Marks

Two features A and B related to the French Revolution and World War II are marked on the outline map of the world / Europe. Identify them:

A. The port city of France famous for the slave trade and the French national anthem.
B. An Allied Power nation in the Second World War. [2]

(b) Geography Map Item – 3 Marks

Locate and label ANY THREE of the following with appropriate symbols on the outline map of India:
(i) K2 (Mount Godwin Austen) – Mountain Peak
(ii) Chilika Lake – Coastal Saltwater Lake in Odisha
(iii) Western Ghats (Sahyadris) – Mountain Range
(iv) Tropic of Cancer ($23^\circ 30’\text{ N}$) – Line of Latitude [3]
CBSE CLASS IX SOCIAL SCIENCE (087) – SOLUTIONS & MARKING SCHEME – SET 1
SECTION A – ANSWERS
Q1. (b) Louis XVI [1]
Q2. (b) Bolsheviks [1]
Q3. (c) Tropic of Cancer [1]
Q4. (b) Apartheid [1]
Q5. (c) Seeds, fertilizers, and cash in hand [1]
Q6. (b) Duns [1]
Q7. (a) Abbe Sieyes [1]
Q8. (c) Wular Lake [1]
Q9. (c) Hereditary succession of ruler [1]
Q10. (b) Human capital [1]
Q11. (b) Gestapo [1]
Q12. (c) Narmada [1]
Q13. (b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar [1]
Q14. (b) Bihar [1]
Q15. (c) Loo [1]
Q16. (c) Parliament [1]
Q17. (a) 4 – 1 – 2 – 3 [1]
Meeting of Estates General (May 1789) β†’ Storming of Bastille (July 1789) β†’ Execution of Louis XVI (Jan 1793) β†’ Reign of Terror (1793-1794).
Q18. (b) Food Corporation of India (FCI) [1]
Q19. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. [1]
Q20. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. [1]
SECTION B – ANSWERS
Q21.
  • Tithe: A direct tax levied by the Catholic Church on peasants, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
  • Taille: A direct tax paid by the Third Estate directly to the royal state treasury.
[2]
Q22.
  • Western Ghats: Continuous and higher in elevation (900–1600 m); cause orographic rainfall along the western coast.
  • Eastern Ghats: Discontinuous, lower (avg. 600 m), and dissected by east-flowing rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal.
[2]
Q23.
  • Democracy improves the quality of decision-making through public consultation and deliberation.
  • It provides peaceful mechanisms to resolve social differences and allows correction of governmental mistakes.
OR
  • Universal Adult Franchise means every adult citizen has the right to vote without discrimination of gender, caste, or wealth.
  • It ensures political equality where every citizen’s vote carries equal value (‘one person, one vote, one value’).
[2]
Q24.
  • Market Activities: Activities performed for pay or profit, involving remuneration (e.g., a teacher teaching in a school, a factory worker producing goods).
  • Non-Market Activities: Production performed for self-consumption or domestic unpaid work (e.g., cooking food for one’s own family, subsistence farming).
[2]
SECTION C – ANSWERS
Q25.
  • Industrial society is capitalist where factory owners own the capital and exploit workers to maximize private profits.
  • Conditions of the working class cannot improve as long as wealth is concentrated in the hands of private capitalists.
  • Workers must overthrow capitalism and construct a communist society where all property is socially controlled.
[3]
Q26.
  • Latitude: The Tropic of Cancer divides India into tropical and sub-tropical zones, resulting in distinct temperature gradients.
  • Altitude: The towering Himalayan mountains block cold Arctic winds and trap rain-bearing monsoon clouds.
  • Pressure and Wind Systems: Seasonal reversal of monsoon winds and western cyclonic disturbances govern rainfall distribution.
OR
  • Dendritic Pattern: Develops where the river channel follows the slope of the terrain, resembling tree branches.
  • Radial Pattern: Develops when streams flow outward in different directions from a central peak or dome.
  • Trellis Pattern: Forms where hard and soft rocks exist parallel to each other, and tributaries join at right angles.
[3]
Q27.
  • Generates trust and coordination among diverse social and ethnic groups living together.
  • Specifies how the government is constituted and delineates decision-making powers.
  • Lays down constitutional limits on governmental authority and guarantees fundamental rights to citizens.
[3]
Q28.
  • Rural Unemployment: Primarily Seasonal (during non-harvest months) and Disguised unemployment.
  • Urban Unemployment: Primarily Educated unemployment where youth with degrees fail to find appropriate jobs.
  • Disguised Unemployment: A situation where more people are engaged in an agricultural activity than required; if surplus workers are removed, total output does not fall.
[3]
Q29.
  • MGNREGA (2005): Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per financial year to every rural household.
  • Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY): Aims to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural/semi-urban areas.
  • Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY): Provides central assistance for basic rural services (primary health, education, shelter, drinking water).
[3]
SECTION D – ANSWERS
Q30. Causes of the French Revolution (1789):
  • Social Inequality: Society divided into Three Estates; the Clergy and Nobility enjoyed birth privileges and tax exemptions, while the Third Estate bore all taxes.
  • Economic Crisis & Subsistence Crisis: Rapid population growth caused food shortages; bad harvests led to soaring bread prices and famine.
  • Financial Bankruptcy: Heavy debt from royal extravagance and funding the American Revolutionary War emptied the state treasury.
  • Autocratic Rule of Louis XVI: Absolute monarchy, despotic power, and heavy taxation alienated the common people.
  • Role of Enlightenment Philosophers: Ideas of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu challenged divine right of kings and promoted liberty and equality.
OR Hitler and the Nazi Ideology:
  • Racial Hierarchy: Believed Nordic German Aryans were at the top of the racial hierarchy, while Jews were categorized as the lowest anti-race.
  • Lebensraum (Living Space): Ideology of territorial expansion to acquire new lands for settlement and resources.
  • Enabling Act of 1933: Established Hitler’s dictatorship, sidelining the Reichstag and banning all rival political parties and trade unions.
  • Totalitarian Control: Creation of Gestapo (secret police), SS, and concentration camps to silence political dissent.
  • Indoctrination: Strict control of schools, youth organizations (Hitler Youth), and media propaganda to glorify Nazi ideals.
[5]
Q31. Physical Divisions and Economic Significance of Northern Plains:
  • Major Physical Divisions: The Himalayan Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains, and Islands.
  • Granary of India: Deep fertile alluvial soil combined with perennial Himalayan river water makes the Northern Plains highly productive for agriculture.
  • High Population Density: Favorable climate, flat terrain, and food security support large settlements and industrial labor.
  • Transport & Infrastructure: Level topography facilitates extensive railway, road networks, and urban industrial centers.
  • Water & Hydrological Wealth: Major river basins (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra) supply abundant water for irrigation and inland navigation.
OR Mechanism of the Monsoon:
  • Differential Heating: Unequal heating of land and sea creates low pressure over the Indian landmass and high pressure over surrounding seas.
  • Shift of ITCZ: In summer, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone shifts northward over the Ganga plain, pulling moisture-laden winds.
  • Tibetan Plateau & Jet Streams: Intensive heating of the Tibetan plateau and the presence of the Tropical Easterly Jet Stream reinforce monsoon currents.
  • Advancing Monsoon (South-West): Moisture-laden Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches cause widespread monsoon rainfall from June to September.
  • Retreating Monsoon (North-East): Cooling of landmass in October-November causes monsoon trough to weaken, withdrawing rainfall southward.
[5]
Q32. Steps in the Indian Election Process:
  • Delimitation & Voters’ List: Demarcation of constituencies and preparation/updating of the Electoral Roll.
  • Announcement of Election Schedule: Election Commission releases dates for nomination, scrutiny, campaign, and polling.
  • Nomination and Scrutiny: Candidates file nomination papers along with security deposits and asset affidavits.
  • Election Campaigning & Model Code: Regulated campaigning adhering to the Model Code of Conduct prohibiting bribery and misuse of power.
  • Polling and Counting of Votes: Citizens cast secret ballots via EVMs; votes are counted on the appointed date to declare the winner.
OR Powers and Functions of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers:
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister chairs cabinet meetings and coordinates the work of various government ministries.
  • Adviser to the President: Recommends the appointment and dismissal of ministers to the President.
  • Leader of the House: Acts as the primary leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha, guiding national policy and major bills.
  • Executive Authority: Council of Ministers implements decisions approved by Parliament and handles defense, foreign, and finance policies.
  • Collective Responsibility: Council of Ministers is collectively answerable to the Lok Sabha; a no-confidence motion removes the entire ministry.
[5]
Q33. Components of Food Security and Role of Cooperatives:
  • Buffer Stock: Stock of wheat and rice procured by the government through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
  • Public Distribution System (PDS): Subsidized foodgrain distribution to poor families via a nationwide network of Fair Price Shops (Ration Shops).
  • Availability & Accessibility: Ensures food is available within the country and accessible to every individual at affordable rates.
  • Role of Cooperatives: Cooperatives set up fair price shops to supply quality staples at controlled prices (e.g., Amul in milk, Mother Dairy in Delhi).
  • Academy of Development Science (ADS): In Maharashtra, ADS facilitated NGOs to set up Grain Banks, ensuring grain security in tribal villages.
OR Causes of Poverty and Remedial Measures:
  • Historical Cause: Economic exploitation and destruction of traditional handicrafts and textile industries under British rule.
  • High Population Growth: Rapid population growth combined with slow economic growth reduced per capita availability of resources.
  • Unequal Land Distribution: Inadequate implementation of land reforms kept rural agricultural laborers landless.
  • Remedial Measures: Acceleration of industrial/agricultural growth, rapid expansion of secondary and tertiary employment, heavy investment in human capital (education/health), and effective targeted anti-poverty programmes.
[5]
SECTION E – ANSWERS
Q34.
  • (a) Tsar Nicholas II. [1]
  • (b) Vladimir Lenin. [1]
  • (c) Nationalization of banks and industries; abolition of private land ownership and declaration of land as social property. [2]
OR: The Provisional Government continued Russia’s participation in the unpopular World War I and failed to meet the public demand for food, land redistribution, and workers’ rights. [2]
Q35.
  • (a) $8^\circ 4’\text{ N}$ to $37^\circ 6’\text{ N}$ latitude. [1]
  • (b) Bay of Bengal. [1]
  • (c) Connects India via maritime trade routes with West Asia, Africa, and Europe to the west, and Southeast/East Asia to the east, providing strategic naval and commercial dominance. [2]
OR: Ancient mountain passes allowed travelers, scholars, and traders to exchange goods, the ideas of the Upanishads and Ramayana, the decimal system, and Indian spices with the world. [2]
Q36.
  • (a) A system of governance where citizens elect representatives through free elections to exercise power on their behalf. [1]
  • (b) The Judiciary (Supreme Court / High Courts). [1]
  • (c) Universal adult suffrage (‘one person, one vote, one value’) and real political choice with regular, free, and fair elections. [2]
OR: Right to Equality and Right to Freedom (or Right to Freedom of Religion / Cultural and Educational Rights). [2]
SECTION F – MAP WORK SOLUTIONS
Q37(a).
  • A – Marseilles / Bordeaux / Nantes (France)
  • B – United Kingdom / France / USSR / USA (Allied Powers)
[2]
Q37(b).
  • (i) K2 (Mount Godwin Austen) – Karakoram Range (Northern Ladakh/J&K)
  • (ii) Chilika Lake – Coastal Odisha
  • (iii) Western Ghats (Sahyadris) – Parallel to Western Coast
  • (iv) Tropic of Cancer ($23^\circ 30’\text{ N}$) – Passing across 8 states from Gujarat to Mizoram
Any three. [3]
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CBSE Class IX Social Science (087) β€’ Sample Question Paper Set 1 β€’ Academic Session 2026–2027

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