NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science – Free PDF Download (2025 Edition)

Download NCERT Textbook Class 8 Social Science 2025-26 PDF

The NCERT Book for Class 8 Social Science contains significant ideas of History, Geography, Civics and Economics in a straightforward and easy-to-understand format. The organisation of these chapters serves to reinforce the foundation of knowledge, and this is incredibly beneficial in the study of more advanced subjects in upper classes. The NCERT Social Science book for class 8 PDF has also been put online so that students can access it conveniently, download the book and save it on their devices by clicking the link below. Using this online framework, students will be able to view their learning content wherever they wish without relying on the physical resource.

NCERT Textbook Class 8 Social Science - Chapter-wise Links

The NCERT textbook for class 8 Social Science, which was revised recently in the 2025-26 academic year, is currently available in English only. The new book includes 7 chapters which address the most essential areas of History, Geography, Civics and Economics in an understandable and interesting style. The book is designed in a strict manner as per the latest NCERT syllabus as required by CBSE, making sure that students are not just well-established in the field of Social Science, but also that they are well-equipped to take school exams. The NCERT textbook for class 8 Social Science, 2025, is composed in an easy language that includes illustrations and examples that simplify complex topics. The table given below allows students to download the NCERT book for class 8 Social Science PDF chapter-by-chapter, so they can have it quickly and effectively revise anytime.

How to Download NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science (2025-26) for Free?

To revise efficiently and speedily, the Class 8 NCERT Social Science book is also in the PDF format that can be downloaded by students. The online version of the book makes the process of learning easier since the online version can be read at any time without relying on the printed version. On its official site, NCERT has provided a few simple steps that students may follow in order to download the file easily. Using these steps, the Class 8 NCERT Social Science book PDF will be available to the learners in a few minutes, and they can study or revise easily regardless of where they are.

• Step 1: Visit the official NCERT website at ncert.nic.in.
• Step 2: On the home page, click on 'Publications' then choose 'PDF (I-XII) option.
• Step 3: Choose Class VII, choose Social Science, and pick the name of the desired textbook.
• Step 4: Click 'Go': This will display the complete list of chapters.
• Step 5: Click on the chapter-wise links to download the content.

NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science Chapter Overview

The new Class 8 NCERT Social Science book, Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), is designed as a sequence of thematic units instead of more conventional subject-based divisions, and in line with the National Curriculum Framework of School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

Theme A – India and the World: Land and the People

Chapter 1: Natural Resources and Their Use - This chapter helps the students learn the various types of resources (renewable vs non-renewable), how they are distributed, and why they should be used sustainably.

Theme B – Tapestry of the Past

Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map - Clarifies how political boundaries have changed throughout Indian history and how they have affected regional identities.

Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas - Discusses the politics, organisation and the influence of the Maratha Empire.

Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India - This chapter is about the impacts of colonialism on society, the economy of India, and the government of India.

Theme D – Governance and Democracy

Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System - Covers the idea of one person one vote, and the structure and functioning of the electoral system in India.

Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive - Delves into the workings of India's parliamentary-style democracy, which includes the functions of the legislature and executive branches.

Theme E – Economic Life Around Us

Chapter 7: Factors of Production - Introduces the essentials of production—land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship—and their role in economic growth

How to Prepare from the NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book?

NCERT textbook for class 8 Social Science is one of the most effective tools to have a sound basis in History, Geography, and Civics. It is written in plain language and has clear explanations, thus making the students grasp real-world concepts with ease. In the higher classes, board-oriented study is much simpler when you prepare correctly from this book. Any student can achieve good grades in Social Science with good strategies and practice.

• Go through each chapter bit by bit and attempt to grasp all the concepts rather than memorise them simultaneously.
• Highlight key lines during the process of reading to allow ease of revision in the future.
• Having completed a chapter, see whether you have understood it properly by trying to explain the key points in your own words.
• Solve the NCERT exercise questions at the end of every chapter because many exam questions come directly from them.
• Write brief notes about dates, definitions, and key terms to enable you to update them in a short period of time before examinations.
• Read the diagrams, maps and tables since they assist you in visualising concepts.
• You should revise every week to make sure that the chapters remain in your memory and you have not forgotten about previous topics.
• You should practice writing short and long answers in order to know how to state your ideas concisely in the examinations.
• Try to relate chapters of the Social Sciences with what is happening in real life- that is easier to learn and more interesting.

Why has the NCERT Class 8 Social Science syllabus changed?

As part of the changes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, NCERT is creating new syllabi and textbooks in stages. The textbooks are already available on the website. Syllabus for 8th class 2025–26 is also available.

• The NEP aims to include competency-based learning materials so that the students can not only learn but also analyse the topics on their own.
• The focus is to let the students understand the concepts in depth, not just memorise them.
• The real facts have been presented in order to make the students aware of the real historical events.
• The new book, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, will focus on India's history from the 13th to the mid-19th century. Moreover, a unique note on History’s Darker Period is also incorporated to help the students understand the sensitive topics better.
• The key idea is to make the students aware of the real truth and help them analyse the historical events in an unbiased manner.

Why the New NCERT Social Science Book Class 8 is in the News?

This new controversy was created with respect to the newly published Class 8 NCERT Social Science book 2026. The book garners attention, specifically for a map that shows Jaisalmer as part of the Maratha Empire. However, the royal family of Jaisalmer has condemned the act, calling it a fallacy. The book makes mention of Mughal rulers like Babur, Akbar, and Aurangzeb, stamping the trio as brutal and intolerant. Some express their opinions, condemning the unfairness exhibited in the book of Muslim rulers from their perspective, while advocating for the so-called better representation of Hindu rulers. Others find this as justice in the display of truth. NCERT argues that the text is mainly factual and enhances critical thinking among students. Thus, the controversy continues on how history should be imparted to children.

NCERT Books for Class 8 Subject-Wise

The NCERT Books Class 8 (2025-26) are based on the expertise of subject specialists and correspond to the most recent CBSE syllabus, offering students a solid basis in all subjects. These books describe each concept in simple language by giving examples, activities and illustrations in Mathematics, Science, English and Hindi. The links to all subject-wise NCERT Class 8 books in PDF format can be accessed easily by students and studied at any time to effectively learn and prepare to take exams.