Class 9 Social Science Syllabus
Chapter-by-chapter topics, exercises, and linked study resources according to the 2026-27 curriculum.
Understanding Social Science
Meaning and Interdisciplinary Nature of Social Sciences
Meaning, scope, and interdisciplinary character of the social sciences.
Integration of Geography, History, Political Science, and Economics
How the four major social sciences connect to understand society.
Scientific Methods, Historical Evidence, and Critical Inquiry
Methods of inquiry, evidence-based reasoning, and critical analysis in social science.
Shaping of the Earth's Surface
Endogenic and Exogenic Forces
Internal and external processes that shape the Earth's surface.
Plate Tectonics, Folding, Faulting, Earthquakes, and Volcanism
Major geological processes responsible for changing landforms.
Major Landforms: Mountain Systems, Plateaus, and Alluvial Plains
Formation and characteristics of major landform systems.
Human Interaction with Varied Physical Terrains
Ways people adapt to and use different physical landscapes.
Atmosphere and Climate
Atmospheric Structure, Layers, and Gaseous Composition
Layers of the atmosphere and its major gaseous components.
Atmospheric Pressure, Pressure Belts, and Global Wind Systems
Pressure patterns and global circulation of winds.
Weather Variables and Long-Term Climate Controls
Difference between weather and climate and factors controlling them.
Mechanism of the Indian Monsoon and Seasonal Variations
Formation, movement, and seasonal behaviour of the Indian monsoon.
Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic Periods
Chronological development of early human societies.
Stone Tool Technology, Habitation Sites, and Rock Paintings
Early technologies, settlements, and archaeological evidence including Bhimbetka.
Transition from Foraging to Domestication and Agriculture
Development from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to food production.
State and Society up to 1000 CE
Urban Planning, Fortifications, Drainage Systems, and Great Bath
Urban organisation and major architectural features of Harappan cities.
Craft Specialisation, Metallurgy, Seals, and Script
Craft production, metalworking, seals, and writing traditions.
Harappan and Mesopotamian Urban Centres
Comparative study of the Indus Valley and Mesopotamian civilisations.
Environmental Changes and Theories of Urban Decline
Environmental factors and explanations associated with the decline of urban centres.
Democracy
River Valley Foundations: Nile and Huang He
Role of river systems in the emergence of Egyptian and Chinese civilisations.
Egyptian Social Hierarchy, Architecture, and Afterlife Beliefs
Social organisation, monumental architecture, and religious beliefs in ancient Egypt.
Chinese Bronze Age Technologies and Writing Systems
Technological development and early Chinese writing traditions.
Dynastic Politics in China
Formation and development of early Chinese dynastic states.
Elections
Rigvedic Society and Pastoral Economy
Social organisation, pastoral life, tribal assemblies, and values of the Rigvedic period.
Later Vedic Transformation
Iron metallurgy, agrarian settlements, and changes in social organisation.
Varna Order
Development and significance of the varna system in the Later Vedic period.
Philosophical Inquiries and Upanishadic Thought
Philosophical and spiritual ideas expressed in the Upanishads.
Building Blocks in Economics- The Problem of Choice
Mahajanapadas: Monarchies and Gana-Sangha Republics
Formation and characteristics of early kingdoms and republics.
Ascendancy of Magadha
Strategic, iron, agricultural, and geographical factors behind Magadha's rise.
Mauryan Empire and Imperial Statecraft
Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya, and organisation of the Mauryan state.
Ashoka's Dhamma, Rock Edicts, and Welfare Administration
Ashoka's policy of Dhamma, inscriptions, and administrative approach.
The Price Puzzle: What Drives the Market
Concept and Universal Values of Democracy
Meaning of democracy and its fundamental values.
Rule of Law, Institutional Checks and Balances, and Fundamental Rights
Core democratic safeguards and institutional accountability.
Participatory and Representative Governance Models
Different ways citizens participate in democratic governance.