ICSE Class 10 Geography Syllabus 2026-27

ICSE CLASS 10 — GEOGRAPHY

Complete Study Guide 2026-27

Board: CISCE | Exam Year: 2028 | Theory: 80 Marks | Internal Assessment: 20 Marks

Exam Structure

Note: Candidates will be expected to make the fullest use of sketches, diagrams, graphs and charts in their answers. Questions set may require answers involving the interpretation of photographs of geographical interest.

PART I: MAP WORK

Unit 1 — Interpretation of Topographical Maps

(a) Grid References Locating features with the help of a four figure or a six-figure grid reference.

(b) Contours and Landforms Definition of contour and contour interval. Identification of landforms marked by contours: steep slope, gentle slope, hill, ridge, escarpment. Triangulated height, spot height, relative height/depth.

(c) Colour Tints and Conventional Symbols Interpretation of colour tints and conventional symbols used on a topographical survey of India map.

(d) Scale and Measurement Identification and definition of types of scale given on the map: Statement scale, Representative Fraction and Linear Scale. Measuring distances (direct distance only) and calculating area (full grid square) using the scale given therein.

(e) Directions Marking directions between different locations, using eight cardinal points.

(f) Settlements and Land Use Identify: site of prominent villages/towns/settlements, services available, types of land use/land cover and means of transport (metalled, unmetalled, cart track, pack track, footpath) and communication with the help of the index given at the bottom of the sheet.

(g) Drainage and Settlement Patterns Identification of drainage (direction of flow and pattern — dendritic, trellised and radial) and settlement patterns (clustered and dispersed).

(h) Natural and Man-made Features Identification of natural and man-made features.

Unit 2 — Map of India

On an outline map of India, candidates will be required to locate, mark and name the following: 6 map features for marking and 4 features for identification.

Mountains, Peaks and Plateaus (To be marked): Himalayas, Karakoram, Aravali, Vindhyas, Satpura, Western and Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Khasi, Mount Godwin Austin (K2), Mount Kanchenjunga, Deccan Plateau, Chota Nagpur Plateau.

Plains (To be marked): Gangetic Plains and Coastal plains — Konkan, Malabar, Coromandel, Northern Circars.

Desert (To be marked): Thar (The Great Indian Desert)

Rivers (To be identified): Indus, Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gomti, Gandak, Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauveri.

Water Bodies (To be marked): Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait, Andaman Sea, Wular Lake.

Passes (To be marked): Karakoram.

Latitude and Longitudes (To be identified): Tropic of Cancer, Standard Meridian (82° 30'E).

Direction of Winds (To be marked): Southwest Monsoons (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal Branches), Northeast Monsoons and Western Disturbances.

Distribution of Minerals (To be identified): Oil — Mumbai High (Offshore Oil Field) and Digboi. Iron — Singhbhum. Coal — Jharia.

Soil Distribution (To be marked): Alluvial, Black and Red Soil.

Cities (To be identified): Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Allahabad.

Population (To be marked): Distribution of Population (Dense and sparse).

PART II: GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA

Unit 3 — Climate

Distribution of Temperature, Rainfall, winds in Summer and Winter and factors affecting the climate of India: latitudes, altitude, distance from sea, winds, Himalayas, jet streams, and El Nino.

Monsoon and its mechanism.

Seasons: Summer; Monsoon, Retreating Monsoon and Winter.

Temperature and pressure conditions, wind movements, local winds, precipitation and interpretation of climate data.

Unit 4 — Soil Resources

(a) Types of Soil Types of soil: alluvial, black, red and laterite. Mode of formation, distribution, composition and characteristics such as colour, texture, minerals and crops associated.

(b) Soil Erosion Meaning, agents and causes.

(c) Soil Conservation Importance and methods.

Unit 5 — Natural Vegetation

(a) Importance of Forests

(b) Types of Vegetation Distribution and correlation with their environment: tropical evergreen, tropical deciduous, tropical desert, littoral and mountain.

(c) Forest Conservation Afforestation, reforestation, social forestry, agroforestry and Van Mahotsav.

Unit 6 — Water Resources

(a) Sources Surface water and ground water.

(b) Need for Conservation

(c) Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting and its importance.

(d) Irrigation Importance and methods — wells, tube well, tanks, canal, drip and sprinkler irrigation.

Unit 7 — Mineral and Energy Resources

(a) Minerals Iron ore, Manganese, Copper, Bauxite — uses and their distribution (two leading states and their prominent mining areas).

(b) Conventional Sources Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas — distribution, advantages and disadvantages.

(c) Hydel Power Bhakra Nangal Dam and Hirakud Projects and their benefits.

(d) Non-conventional Sources Solar, wind, tidal, geo-thermal, nuclear and bio-gas — important areas and advantages and disadvantages.

Unit 8 — Agriculture

(a) Indian Agriculture Importance, problems and benefits. Green Revolution — meaning and impact of first green revolution.

(b) Types of Farming in India Subsistence and commercial: intensive, extensive, plantation and mixed.

(c) Agricultural Seasons Rabi, kharif, zayad.

(d) Climatic Conditions, Soil Requirements, Methods of Cultivation, and Distribution (Major Producing States) of the Following Crops:

(i) Rice, wheat, millets and pulses. (ii) Sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soya bean). (iii) Cotton, jute and tea.

Unit 9 — Manufacturing Industries

Importance and classification: large scale, small scale, mineral-based, agro-based, public and private sector.

(a) Agro Based Industry Sugar, Textile (Cotton and Silk).

(b) Mineral Based Industry Integrated Iron and Steel plants: Tata Steel, Rourkela, Vishakhapatnam. Petro Chemical and Electronics (some key centres) — relevance in the modern world.

Unit 10 — Transport

Importance and Modes.

(a) Roadways Factors affecting its development, advantages and disadvantages. Expressways, national highways, NSEW Corridor and Golden Quadrilateral — meaning and importance.

(b) Railways Factors affecting its development, advantages and disadvantages.

(c) Airways Advantages and disadvantages.

(d) Waterways Inland and coastal, advantages and disadvantages.

Unit 11 — Waste Management

(a) Impact of Waste Accumulation Spoilage of landscape, pollution, health hazards.

(b) Need for Waste Management

(c) Key Terms (in brief) Global warming, acid rain, eutrophication, biomagnification and thermal pollution.

(d) Methods of Safe Disposal Segregation, dumping and composting.

(e) Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Need and methods for reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Internal Assessment — 20 Marks

Project Work Requirements

Candidates will be required to prepare a project report on any one topic. The topics for assignments may be selected from the list of suggested assignments given below. Candidates can also take up an assignment of their choice under any of the broad areas given below.

Suggested List of Assignments

1. Local Geography: (a) Land use pattern in different regions of India — a comparative analysis. (b) The survey of a local market on the types of shops and services offered.

2. Environment: Wildlife conservation efforts in India.

3. Current Geographical Issues: Development of tourism in India.

4. Transport in India: Development of Road, Rail, Water and Air routes.

5. Industries: List different types of industries in the States and collect information about the types of raw materials used, modes of their procurement and disposal of wastes generated. Classify these industries as polluting or environment friendly and suggest possible ways of reducing pollution caused by these units.

6. Industrialisation: Need for industrialization in India, the latest trends and its impact on economy of India.

7. Field Visit: Visit a water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant or garbage dumping or vermicomposting sites in the locality and study their working.

Evaluation

The assignments/project work is to be evaluated by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner. The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the school, who could be from the faculty, but not teaching the subject in the section/class. For example, a teacher of Geography of Class VIII may be deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X, Geography projects.

The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will assess the assignments independently.

The total marks obtained out of 20 are to be sent to CISCE by the Head of the school. The Head of the school will be responsible for the online entry of marks on CISCE's CAREERS portal by the due date.

Internal Assessment Marking Criteria

Preparation Tips — Theory (80 Marks)

General:

• The paper is 2 hours for 80 marks — approximately 1.5 minutes per mark. Plan your time carefully.

• Always use sketches, diagrams, graphs and charts wherever possible — the syllabus explicitly states this is expected

• Label all diagrams neatly with a pencil and ruler

Part I: Map Work

• Practise six-figure grid references regularly — the difference between four-figure and six-figure must be clearly understood

• Learn all eight cardinal points (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) and practise marking directions

• Memorise contour patterns — steep slope has contours close together, gentle slope has contours further apart

• Know the difference between dendritic, trellised and radial drainage patterns — draw and label each

• Learn all conventional symbols for the Survey of India map — roads, railways, vegetation, water bodies, buildings

• Practise locating all Map of India features repeatedly until you can mark them quickly and accurately

• Know which features are "to be marked" and which are "to be identified" — they are tested differently

Unit 3: Climate

• Make a clear chart of all four seasons: Summer, Monsoon, Retreating Monsoon, Winter — with temperature, pressure, wind direction, and rainfall for each

• Understand the mechanism of monsoon thoroughly — this is a high-weightage topic

• Know El Nino and its effect on Indian monsoon

• Practise interpreting climate data tables and graphs

Unit 4: Soil Resources

• Make a comparison table: Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite — colour, texture, formation, distribution, crops

• Know the differences clearly — examiners frequently ask compare-and-contrast questions

Unit 5: Natural Vegetation

• Know the five types of vegetation with their rainfall requirements, regions, and characteristic trees

• Littoral (mangrove) vegetation and Mountain vegetation are frequently neglected — revise both

Unit 6: Water Resources

• Know all irrigation methods with their advantages and disadvantages

• Rainwater harvesting — know the method and importance in detail

Unit 7: Mineral and Energy Resources

• For each mineral: know uses, two leading states, and prominent mining areas

• For conventional sources: know distribution, advantages AND disadvantages — both are asked

• For non-conventional: know important areas for each type

Unit 8: Agriculture

• For each crop: know climatic conditions, soil requirements, methods of cultivation, and major producing states — all four aspects

• Green Revolution: know its meaning, impact, benefits AND limitations

• Know the three agricultural seasons clearly with example crops for each

Unit 9: Manufacturing Industries

• For Iron and Steel: know the location, raw materials, and significance of each plant specifically named (Tata Steel, Rourkela, Vishakhapatnam)

• For Sugar and Textile: know the distribution and why certain regions are prominent

Unit 10: Transport

• For each mode: always prepare advantages AND disadvantages — questions frequently ask for both

• Know the Golden Quadrilateral and NSEW Corridor routes specifically

Unit 11: Waste Management

• Know all five key terms (global warming, acid rain, eutrophication, biomagnification, thermal pollution) — definitions in brief

• Know the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with methods

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Preparation Tips — Internal Assessment (20 Marks)

• Choose a project topic from the suggested list that you can research thoroughly and present with maps, diagrams, and data

• Begin research early — a good project requires primary or secondary data collection, not just copying from a textbook

• Use geographical terminology throughout — the Grade I descriptor explicitly requires "relevant geographical terms"

• Include: title page, table of contents, objectives, methodology, observations, analysis, conclusions, bibliography/references, maps and diagrams

• Placement of contents, maps, and diagrams is specifically assessed — do not put them in the wrong place

• Your conclusion must clearly link back to the original objectives — this is assessed in the Inference/Results criterion

• If doing a field visit project (Assignment 7), document your observations with notes, sketches, and if possible photographs

• Avoid copying analysis from other sources — Grade IV specifically penalises this

How to Score Grade I in Internal Assessment

FAQs — Geography

Q1. How long is the theory paper and how many marks is it? The theory paper is 2 hours for 80 marks.

Q2. Are diagrams compulsory in the theory paper? The syllabus explicitly states: "Candidates will be expected to make the fullest use of sketches, diagrams, graphs and charts in their answers." They are not optional — they are expected.

Q3. What is the difference between "to be marked" and "to be identified" in the Map of India question? "To be marked" means you must locate and mark the feature on the outline map. "To be identified" means the feature will already be marked on the map and you must name or identify it. 6 features are for marking and 4 are for identification.

Q4. What is a six-figure grid reference and how does it differ from a four-figure grid reference? A four-figure grid reference identifies a full grid square using the easting and northing of its bottom-left corner. A six-figure grid reference pinpoints a specific location within a grid square by adding a third digit to both the easting and northing, dividing the square into tenths.

Q5. What are the eight cardinal points? North (N), North-East (NE), East (E), South-East (SE), South (South), South-West (SW), West (W), North-West (NW).

Q6. What is the difference between dendritic, trellised and radial drainage patterns? Dendritic drainage looks like a tree with branches — forms on uniform slopes. Trellised drainage has tributaries joining the main river at right angles — forms in areas with alternating hard and soft rock. Radial drainage flows outward from a central high point like a hill or dome.

Q7. What is the difference between Representative Fraction and Statement Scale? A Representative Fraction (RF) expresses scale as a ratio (e.g., 1:50,000) — it has no units. A Statement Scale expresses the relationship in words (e.g., "1 cm represents 500 m"). A Linear Scale is a drawn line divided into units for direct measurement.

Q8. What are the four types of soil in the syllabus? Alluvial, Black (Regur), Red, and Laterite. Each must be known for colour, texture, mode of formation, distribution, and associated crops.

Q9. What is the difference between Rabi, Kharif and Zayad seasons? Rabi is the winter/spring crop season (sown October-November, harvested March-April) — wheat, mustard, gram. Kharif is the summer/monsoon crop season (sown June-July, harvested September-October) — rice, cotton, jute, groundnut. Zayad is the short summer season between Rabi and Kharif — watermelon, cucumber, vegetables.

Q10. What is the Golden Quadrilateral? The Golden Quadrilateral is a national highway network connecting India's four major metro cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata — forming a quadrilateral shape. It is part of the National Highways Development Project.

Q11. What is the NSEW Corridor? The North-South East-West Corridor connects Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, and Porbandar in the west to Silchar in the east. It is India's longest national highway project.

Q12. What is eutrophication? Eutrophication is the process by which a water body becomes enriched with nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilisers and sewage), leading to excessive growth of algae, depletion of oxygen, and death of aquatic life.

Q13. What is biomagnification? Biomagnification is the progressive increase in the concentration of a toxic substance (such as pesticides or heavy metals) as it moves up the food chain from one organism to the next.

Q14. What is the difference between afforestation and reforestation? Afforestation is planting trees on land that was not previously forested. Reforestation is replanting trees on land that was previously forested but has been cleared.

Q15. How many project assignments are suggested for internal assessment? Seven broad assignment areas are suggested. Candidates must prepare a project report on any one topic. They may also choose a topic of their own within the broad areas listed.

Q16. Who evaluates the internal assessment project? Both the Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner — 10 marks) and an External Examiner (10 marks), assessed independently. The External Examiner is a teacher nominated by the Head of School, not teaching Geography in that class/section.

Q17. What are the five criteria on which the project is marked? Preparation, Procedure/Testing, Observation, Inference/Results, and Presentation.

Quick Reference — Map of India Checklist

All content above is based directly on the official CISCE ICSE Geography Syllabus, Examination Year 2028. Verify with the latest document at cisce.org.