CBSE Class 10 Geography — Model Paper

 Board Exam 2026 Preparation Series

CBSE Class 10 Geography — Model Paper
5 MCQs + 3 Very Short Answer Questions

📗 Class 10 CBSE🌍 Social Science – Geography🗓️ Board Exam 2026📖 Contemporary India – II

Welcome to this CBSE Class 10 Geography Model Paper for Board Exam 2026. This practice paper includes 5 Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each) and 3 Very Short Answer Questions (2 marks each), carefully selected from the NCERT textbook Contemporary India – II. Attempt the full paper first, then check your answers and explanations at the end to assess your preparation.

Subject: Social Science (Geography)Class: X (10th)
Total Questions: 8 (5 MCQ + 3 VSA)Total Marks: 11
MCQ Marks: 1 mark eachVSA Marks: 2 marks each
Book: Contemporary India – II (NCERT)  |  Time: 25–30 minutes

SECTION A — Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Each question carries 1 mark  |  No negative marking  |  Choose the most appropriate option.

Q1.  Which one of the following types of soil is the most widely found in India and is ideal for growing cotton?

(A)  Alluvial soil

(B)  Red and Yellow soil

(C)  Black soil (Regur soil)

(D)  Laterite soil

Q2.  The Hirakud Dam is built across which of the following rivers?

(A)  Godavari

(B)  Krishna

(C)  Mahanadi

(D)  Damodar

Q3.  Which of the following is a Rabi crop that is sown in winter and harvested in summer?

(A)  Rice

(B)  Maize

(C)  Cotton

(D)  Wheat

Q4.  Which of the following states is the largest producer of mica in India?

(A)  Rajasthan

(B)  Jharkhand

(C)  Odisha

(D)  Andhra Pradesh

Q5.  The Golden Quadrilateral Super Highway connects which four major cities of India?

(A)  Delhi – Mumbai – Chennai – Kolkata

(B)  Delhi – Jaipur – Ahmedabad – Mumbai

(C)  Mumbai – Pune – Hyderabad – Bengaluru

(D)  Kolkata – Bhubaneswar – Visakhapatnam – Chennai

SECTION B — Very Short Answer Questions (VSA)

Each question carries 2 marks  |  Answer in 2–3 sentences  |  Be precise and use correct geographical terms.

Q6.  What is meant by "watershed management"? Mention any one benefit of watershed development programmes in India.

[2 marks | Chapter: Water Resources]

Q7.  Distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals. Give one example of each.

[2 marks | Chapter: Minerals and Energy Resources]

Q8.  State any two advantages of roadways over railways as a mode of transport in India.

[2 marks | Chapter: Lifelines of the National Economy]

✅ Answer Key — Section A (MCQs)

Q No.Correct AnswerChapter / Topic
Q1(C) Black soil (Regur soil)Resources and Development – Soil Types
Q2(C) MahanadiWater Resources – Major Dams
Q3(D) WheatAgriculture – Rabi Crops
Q4(B) JharkhandMinerals and Energy Resources – Mica
Q5(A) Delhi – Mumbai – Chennai – KolkataLifelines – Golden Quadrilateral

🔍 MCQ Explanations

Q1 — Black Soil: Black soil, also called Regur soil, is found mainly in the Deccan Plateau — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and some parts of Tamil Nadu. It has high moisture-retaining capacity and is extremely fertile for cotton, hence called the "black cotton soil." It is not the most widely found soil — that distinction belongs to alluvial soil — but it is the most ideal for cotton.

Q2 — Hirakud Dam: The Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha. It is one of the longest dams in the world, stretching about 26 km. It serves the purposes of irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation.

Q3 — Wheat is a Rabi Crop: Rabi crops are sown in October–November and harvested in March–April. Wheat is the most important rabi crop in India. Rice, maize, and cotton are kharif crops sown in June–July and harvested in September–October.

Q4 — Mica from Jharkhand: Jharkhand (formerly Bihar) is the leading producer of mica in India. Mica is used extensively in electrical and electronic industries. The Koderma–Gaya–Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the most important mica-producing region.

Q5 — Golden Quadrilateral: The Golden Quadrilateral is a six-lane superhighway project connecting India's four largest cities: Delhi (north), Mumbai (west), Chennai (south), and Kolkata (east). It is one of the largest highway projects in the world and is managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

✅ Model Answers — Section B (Very Short Answer)

Q6 — Watershed Management

Definition: Watershed management refers to the efficient management and conservation of all resources — natural (like land, water, plants, and animals) and human — within a watershed area (a region drained by a river or stream). It involves conserving water and soil by managing the entire drainage basin as a single unit.

One Benefit: Watershed development programmes in India — such as the Haryali and Neeru-Meeru projects — have helped recharge groundwater levels, reduced soil erosion, improved availability of drinking water, and provided better irrigation facilities to rural and semi-arid areas, thereby improving the livelihoods of local communities.

Marking Hint: 1 mark for correct definition of watershed management + 1 mark for any one valid benefit.

Q7 — Ferrous vs Non-ferrous Minerals

BasisFerrous MineralsNon-ferrous Minerals
Iron ContentContain ironDo NOT contain iron
ExamplesIron ore, manganese, chromite, pyriteCopper, bauxite, gold, silver, lead, zinc
UseMainly used in iron and steel industryUsed in electrical, electronic and other industries

Marking Hint: 1 mark for correct distinction + 1 mark for one correct example each. A tabular format is recommended for clarity.

Q8 — Advantages of Roadways over Railways

Advantage 1 — Door-to-door Service: Roads provide the convenience of door-to-door transport of both goods and passengers, which railways cannot offer because railways are limited to fixed tracks and stations. Goods transported by road do not require additional loading and unloading at multiple points.

Advantage 2 — Connectivity to Remote Areas: Roads can be built on difficult terrain such as hilly areas, dense forests, and remote villages where it is impossible or very expensive to construct railway lines. This makes roads the only viable mode of transport for a large part of rural India. Road construction costs are also significantly lower than railway construction costs.

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