ICSE Class 10 History and Civics Syllabus

ICSE Class 10 History and Civics Syllabus For Academic Session 2025-2026

The ICSE Class 10 History and Civics syllabus is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of significant historical events, as well as the functioning of the Indian political system. Below is a detailed breakdown of the ICSE Class 10 History and Civics syllabus:

Civics

1. The Union Legislature

• The Union Parliament:
  • Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, qualifications for membership, election process, term, and powers.
  • Functions of the Union Parliament: Legislative, executive, financial, judicial, electoral, and amendment functions.
  • Law-Making Process: Stages in the passage of a bill, types of bills (ordinary bills, money bills, and constitutional amendment bills).
  • Parliamentary Committees: Types and importance of parliamentary committees.

2. The Union Executive

• The President:
  • Election of the President: Method of election, qualifications for election, term, impeachment, and powers of the President.
  • Powers of the President: Executive, legislative, judicial, and emergency powers.
• The Vice-President:
  • Role and Responsibilities: Election, term, functions, and powers.
• The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers:
  • The Prime Minister: Appointment, powers, and functions of the Prime Minister.
  • The Council of Ministers: Composition, categories (Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers), collective responsibility, and role in administration.

3. The Judiciary

• The Supreme Court:
  • Composition: Chief Justice of India and other judges, appointment, qualifications, and term.
  • Powers and Jurisdiction: Original jurisdiction, appellate jurisdiction, advisory jurisdiction, judicial review, and writ jurisdiction.
• The High Courts:
  • Structure and Composition: Chief Justice and other judges, appointment, qualifications, and term.
  • Powers and Functions: Original, appellate, and supervisory jurisdiction, power of judicial review.

History

1. The Indian National Movement (1857 – 1917)

• The First War of Independence, 1857:
  • Causes of the revolt (political, economic, social, religious, and military causes), outbreak, spread, and consequences.
  • Significance of the revolt.
• Growth of Nationalism:
  • Factors leading to the growth of nationalism (economic exploitation, socio-religious reform movements, the role of the press, influence of Western education).
  • Foundation of Indian National Congress: Objectives, early demands, role of moderates and extremists.
• The Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement:
  • Causes, events leading to the partition, and the impact of the partition.
  • The Swadeshi Movement: Objectives, leaders, methods, and impact.
• The Muslim League:
  • Formation, objectives, and role in the Indian National Movement.

2. Mass Phase of the National Movement (1915 – 1947)

• Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement:
  • Gandhian Ideology: Non-violence and Satyagraha.
  • Major Movements:
    • Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Causes, events, and significance.
    • Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Causes, events, and significance.
    • Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922): Causes, events, and outcomes.
    • Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934): Causes, events (Dandi March), and outcomes.
    • Quit India Movement (1942): Causes, events, and significance.
• The Partition of India:
  • Causes leading to the partition (religious, political, and communal factors).
  • Role of the Muslim League, demand for Pakistan, and the impact of the partition.

3. The Contemporary World

• The First World War:
  • Causes of the war (militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism), major events, and consequences.
• The League of Nations:
  • Formation, objectives, structure, successes, and failures.
• The Second World War:
  • Causes of the war (Treaty of Versailles, rise of fascism and Nazism, failure of the League of Nations), major events, and consequences.
• The United Nations:
  • Formation, objectives, structure (General Assembly, Security Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat), specialized agencies (WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF).
• The Non-Aligned Movement:
  • Origin, objectives, role in world politics.

4. The Indian Constitution

• Features of the Constitution:
  • Preamble: Key concepts (Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic).
  • Fundamental Rights: Description of the six fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
  • Fundamental Duties: The duties of Indian citizens.
  • Directive Principles of State Policy: Objectives, differences between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, examples.

5. The Independence and Partition of India

• Mountbatten Plan:
  • Key features of the plan, how it led to independence and partition.
  • The impact of partition on India and Pakistan.

This detailed syllabus ensures that students gain a thorough understanding of both historical events that shaped modern India and the workings of the country's political institutions. It prepares them for advanced studies in history, political science, and related fields.