NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science 2025-26

NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science 2025-26 - Download PDF

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Aug 05, 2025 05:14 PM IST

The National Council of Educational Research and Training has newly revised Class 8 Social Science books for the academic session 2025-26. These textbooks are said to follow the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and try to develop critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and holistic understanding. The new Class 8 Social Science book PDF titled "Exploring Society: India and Beyond" divides its meaningful themes into those of Geography, History, Civics, and Economics. Students can now download the latest NCERT Social Science Class 8 PDF for free from the official website.

This Story also Contains

NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book PDF 2025-26
NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapters
How to Download NCERT Books for class 8 Social Science (2025-26) for Free?
NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book Overview
Why has the NCERT Class 8 Social Science syllabus changed?
Why the New NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book Is in the News
NCERT Books for Class 8 Subject-Wise

NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science 2025-26 - Download PDF

In this article, you will find direct links to download the NCERT Class 8 Social Science PDF, check the chapter-wise structure, and understand the salient features of the latest version.

NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book PDF 2025-26

Students can now download the latest NCERT Class 8 Social Science book that 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

NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapters

Thematic pattern organising of the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook-"Exploring Society: India and Beyond" (2025-26) has been done according to the National Curriculum Framework. Chapter-wise specification follows along with page numbers.

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
Theme D – Governance and Democracy	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

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

The NCERT Class 8 SST new book 2026 PDF Download is free and allows students to access the complete syllabus. Students can follow the steps given below for NCERT Class 8 Textbook PDF Download.

1. Visit the official NCERT website at ncert.nic.in.

2. On the home page, click on 'Publications' then choose 'PDF (I-XII) option.

3. Choose Class VII, choose Social Science, and pick the name of the desired textbook.

4. Click 'Go': This will display the complete list of chapters.

5. Click on the chapter-wise links to download the content.

NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book Overview

Book Name: Exploring Society: India and Beyond - Part 1
First Edition: July 2025 | ISBN: 978-93-5729-293-1
Published by: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi
Price: ₹65.00
Pages: Approximately 190 (including a glossary)
Aligned to: National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023
Designed for: Final year of Middle Stage (Grade 8)
Approach: Thematic, multidisciplinary, rooted in Indian ethos, and global perspective

Some Special Features:

Features maps, illustrations, and side notes
Includes QR codes for extended learning
Includes reflective activities (e.g., Let's Explore, Think About It, Don't Miss Out)

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. The syllabus for class 8 2025–26 will be available soon.

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 Class 8 Social Science Book Is in the News

This new controversy was created with respect to the newly published NCERT class 8 SST new 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 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

Follow the links below to know more about the subject-wise NCERT books for class 8.

NCERT Books for Class 8 English

NCERT Books for Class 8 Maths

NCERT Books for Class 8 Science

NCERT Books for Class 8 Hindi

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When will the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science books be available?

The latest NCERT Class 8 Social Science book, titled "Exploring Society, India and Beyond," was released on July 16, 2025. They are now available on the official website.

2. Where can students get the NCERT Class 8 Social Science book?

The NCERT Class 8 Social Science books are available in PDF format on NCERT's official website (ncert.nic.in) and as printed copies in bookstores.

3. How to remember dates of historical events?

Students should keep revising dates to remember it. They can also make a chart and paste it on the wall to revise regularly.

4. Will the Class 8 Social Science books help with competitive exams?

Yes, the Class 8 Social Science books build a strong foundation in Social Science, which is useful for competitive exams.

5. What are the changes in new NCERT Class 8 Social Science book?

The newly released book has significant curriculum changes. The topics like the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire and Maratha resistance are now shifted from Class 7 to Class 8. It also covers darker period of the Mughal era.

Also Read

NCERT Books for Class 8 Social Science 2025-26 - Download PDF

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NCERT Books for Class 8 Science 2025-26 PDF - Download Now

NCERT Books for Class 8 Maths 2025-26: Download PDF Here

NCERT Books for Class 8 English 2025-26: Download PDF

NCERT Books for Class 8 2025-26: Download All Subjects PDF

NCERT Solutions For Class 8 Science Chapter 10 - Light: Mirrors and Lenses

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 12 - How Nature Works in Harmony

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 11 - Keeping Time with the Skies

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 3 - Health: The Ultimate Treasure

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 2 - The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 6 Reproduction in Animals

NCERT Syllabus for Class 8 Hindi 2025-26: Download All Chapters PDF Here

NCERT Syllabus for Class 8 2025-26, Download All Subjects Latest Syllabus PDF

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