The NCERT Class 8 Social Science syllabus 2025-26 is well designed under the CBSE syllabus along with the National Curriculum Framework of School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. The new format of the revised textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond - Part 1, involves a theme based approach which is more than the rote learning process; it encourages critical thinking; inquiry-based learning and global comprehension of the society. The curriculum is structured into coherent themes covering an interconnection of concepts in Geography, History, Political Science and Economics instead of solid subject divisions. Every theme is designed to make the students relate what they learn in the classroom to the real life-just as one may learn about the rich Indian cultures, or environmental and resource concerns, or discuss governance and democracy, or learn about economic developments in NCERT syllabus.
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This theme-integrated process not only enables the students to be qualified in school examination and scholarship examination as well as competitive entrance exams but also gives them a generalized view of world. The NCERT syllabus for class 8 aims at building social consciousness, political literacy, environmental awareness and analytical skills, which are vital to the 21 st century student. The NCERT Class 8 Social Science: Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part 1 can be downloaded (in PDF format) at the NCERT official site, free of cost. With concise explanations, practical examples and organization of its chapters into a systematic flow, it effectively helps the students develop good base capacity of higher learning and life-long education.
The NCERT Class 8 Social Science syllabus of 2025-26 is based on the NCF-SE 2023 and is covered using a new updated textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond - Part 1. This theme-based teaching incorporates a combination of history, geography, political science and economics through interrelated units, abandoning the dated approach of teaching subject-wise. The program is based on the concepts of critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and real life, so students are able to realize what India has been, is currently, and can be in their holistic vision.
Theme | Chapter No. | Chapter Title | Page No. |
Theme A – India and the World: Land and the People | Chapter 1 | Natural Resources and Their Use | 1 |
Theme B – Tapestry of the Past | — | A Note on History’s Darker Periods | 20 |
Chapter 2 | Reshaping India’s Political Map | 21 | |
Chapter 3 | The Rise of the Marathas | 61 | |
Chapter 4 | The Colonial Era in India | 83 | |
Theme D – Governance and Democracy | Chapter 5 | Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System | 117 |
Chapter 6 | The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive | 139 | |
Theme E – Economic Life Around Us | Chapter 7 | Factors of Production | 163 |
Glossary | 186 | ||
Images and Maps from External Sources | 188 |
Also read -
Theme A — India and the World: Land and the People
Chapter 1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Presents some of the fundamental terms like renewable and non-renewable resources, distribution of resources and significance of responsible use and Sustainability
Theme B — Tapestry of the Past
Chapter 2 – Reshaping India’s Political Map
Discusses the shifting of historical political borders in the country throughout history.
Chapter 3 – The Rise of the Marathas
Analyses how the Maratha empire originated and the socio-political power of the empire.
Chapter 4 - The Colonial Era in India
Covers the onset and effects of British colonial rule, its economic and cultural impacts on Indian society.
Theme D — Governance and Democracy
Chapter 5 – Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System
Explores democratic rights and the functioning of elections in modern India.
Chapter 6 – The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive
Explains the structure of India’s governance, the roles of central institutions, and the interplay between legislative and executive bodies.
Theme E — Economic Life Around Us
Chapter 7 – Factors of Production
Introduces land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship—fundamentals of economic activities and national development.
Students can follow the guidelines given below to download the NCERT Class 8 Social Science syllabus :
Step 1: Go to the official NCERT website at http://ncert.nic.in.
Step 2: On the home page, in the 'Search' option and type 'Syllabus' and click on it. This will take you to the syllabus page.
Step 3: Click on the 'Syllabus for Classes on the Elementary Level' option. The syllabus PDF will open.
Step 4: Choose the "Required Subject Class VI to VIII Syllabus" in the PDF.
Step 5: The NCERT Class 8 Social Science syllabus PDF will be displayed on your screen. Download and save it for future use.
Note*: The Class 8 Social Science latest syllabus is not updated on the NCERT official website.
Students can now download the latest NCERT Class 8 Social Science book which reads as "Exploring Society: India and Beyond" for the academic year 2025-26. It has been prepared in accordance with the updated NCF-SE 2023 guidelines, and parts of its publication are downloadable online with no charges. To download the chapterwise textbook, click on the link below.
Book Title | Download PDF |
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Click Here |
The new CBSE Class 8 Social Science syllabus 2025 26 provides a new NCERT textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part 1 which is classified into themes and not the classical Geography, History, and Civics categories. The syllabus aims at clarity of concepts, life-based applications and critiquing. Easy tips on how to prepare:
Revise Smartly Before Exams: Do quick reviews of your notes in the last 7–10 days before the test. Focus on high-weightage chapters and frequently asked concepts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is published in Hindi and English versions, both in print and a free PDF version on the NCERT official website.
There are a total of 7 chapters in the new SST book based on the four different themes.
As compared to the previous categorisation consisting of History, Geography, and Civics, the new curriculum is structured around broad topics, including resources, governance, livelihoods, cultural diversity and the global connections.
It has incorporated activity-based practices, case studies and real-life examples to promote critical thinking and thought application.
Yes, NCERT is enough to seek in school exams, but students can have some extra reference literature in case they want to learn more or prepare to pass a competitive exam.
While it doesn’t have a separate current affairs section, topics encourage students to connect concepts with recent events in governance, economy, and global issues.
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