ICSE Geography Class 10 Syllabus 2027-28
There is one paper of two hours duration carrying 80 marks and Internal Assessment of 20 marks. The Paper consists of two parts - Part I and Part II.
Part I (compulsory) consists of two questions. Question 1 is based on Topographical Map. Question 2 is based on outline Map of India. In Part II, you are expected to answer any five questions.
1. Interpretation of Topographical Maps
(a) Locating features with the help of a four figure or a six-figure grid reference.
(b) Definition of contour and contour interval. Identification of landforms marked by contours (steep slope, gentle slope, hill, valley, ridge / water divide, escarpment), triangulated height, spot height, bench mark, relative height/ depth.
(c) Interpretation of colour tints and conventional symbols used on a topographical survey of India map.
(d) Identification and definition of types of scale given on the map. Measuring distances and calculating area using the scale given therein.
(e) Marking directions between different locations, using eight cardinal points.
(f) Identify: Site of prominent villages and/or towns, types of land use / land cover and means of communication with the help of the index given at the bottom of the sheet.
(g) Identification of drainage (direction of flow and pattern) and settlement patterns.
(h) Identification of natural and man-made features.
2. Map of India
On an outline map of India, you are required to locate, mark and name the following:
(6 map features for marking and 4 features for identification)
Mountains, Peaks and Plateaus: Himalayas, Karakoram, Aravali, Vindhyas, Satpura, Western and Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Mount Godwin Austin (K2), Mount Kanchenjunga. Deccan Plateau, Chota Nagpur Plateau.
Plains: Indo-Gangetic Plains, Coastal plains - Konkan, Kanara, Malabar, Coromandal, Northern Circars.
Desert: Thar (The Great Indian Desert)
Rivers: Indus, Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gomti, Gandak, Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Son, Damodar, Bhrahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauveri, Tungabhadra.
Water Bodies: Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait, Andaman Sea, Chilka Lake, Wular Lake.
Passes: Karakoram, Nathu-La Passes.
Latitude and Longitudes: Tropic of Cancer, Standard Meridian (82° 30'E).
Direction of Winds: South West Monsoons (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal Branches), North East Monsoons and Western Disturbances.
Distribution of Minerals: Oil - Mumbai High (Offshore Oil Field) and Digboi. Iron - Singhbhum, Coal - Jharia.
Soil Distribution: Alluvial, Laterite, Black and Red Soil.
Cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chandigarh, Srinangar, Vishakhapatnam, Allahabad.
Population: Distribution of Population (Dense and sparse).
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.
4. Soil Resources
(a) Types of soils (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.
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.
6. Water Resources
(a) Sources (Surface water and ground water).
(b) Need for conservation
(c) Rainwater harvesting and its importance.
(d) Irrigation: Importance and methods - wells, tube well, tanks, canal, drip and sprinkler irrigation.
7. Mineral and Energy Resources
(a) 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).
8. Agriculture in India
(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:
- rice, wheat, millets and pulses.
- sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soya bean).
- cotton, jute and tea.
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 & Steel plants (Tata Steel, Rourkela, Vishakhapatnam) Petro Chemical and Electronics (some key centres) relevance in the modern world.
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.
11. Waste Management
(a) Impact of waste accumulation - spoilage of landscape, pollution, health hazards.
(b) Need for waste management.
(c) Understanding key terms - global warming, acid rain, eutrophication, biomagnification and thermal pollution (in brief).
(d) Methods of safe disposal - segregation, dumping and composting.
(e) Need and methods for reducing, reusing and recycling waste.