CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Syllabus - Free PDF Download
CISCE Syllabus 2025-26 ICSE Class 8: The CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Syllabus for the examination year 2025-26 has been released by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, CISCE. The board will hold the final examination at the end of the year following the annual assessment scheme, which has led to the release of the syllabus. The 2025-26 CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Board Exam will entirely be based on the most recent syllabus. Therefore, students must thoroughly understand the new CISCE syllabus to prepare for their annual exam properly.
The detailed CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Syllabus for 2025-26 is below.
Academic year:
CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Revised Syllabus
CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Course Structure 2025-26 With Marking Scheme
| # | Unit/Topic | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | History | |
| 1.1 | A Period of Transition | |
| 1.2 | The Growth of Nationalism | |
| 1.3 | India in the 18th Century | |
| 1.4 | Traders to Rulers | |
| 1.5 | British Policies and Impacts | |
| 1.6 | The Great Uprising of 1857 | |
| 1.7 | Socio-religious Reforms | |
| 1.8 | India's Struggle for Freedom | |
| 2 | Civics | |
| 2.1 | The Three Main Organs of the Indian Government: Legislature, Executive, Judiciary | |
| 2.2 | United Nations | |
| Total | - |
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Syllabus
1: History
CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Syllabus
1.1 A Period of Transition
- The Period of Transition
- Sources – Primary and Secondary
- The Transition from Medieval to Modern Age
- (a brief mention of Renaissance, Reformation, Voyages, discoveries)
- The Industrial Revolution
- Imperialism
1.2 The Growth of Nationalism
- The French Revolution
- Introduction of French Revolution
- Causes of the Outbreak
- Course of the French Revolution
- Impact of French Revolution
- The post-revolution period
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- The American War of Independence
- Introduction of American War of Independence
- Colonies of European Powers
- Plantations and the Slave Labour
- Increasing incidence of Taxation
- Townshend Acts
- Boston Tea Party
- American War of Independence
- First Continental Congress, September 5, 1774
- Second Continental Congress, May - 10, 1775
- Battle of Bunker Hill
- Declaration of Independence
- War
- French Alliance
- Victory at Yorktown
- Results
- American Civil War
background, causes, beginnings, the role of Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address
1.3 India in the 18th Century
- The Decline of the Mughal Empire
- Rise of Independent/Regional Kingdoms
Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal, Rajputs, Sikhs, Mysore, Marathas (brief)
1.4 Traders to Rulers
- The Advent of the English East India Company
- Conquest of Bengal
Battle of Plassey, Buxar - causes and results
- Dual Government
Drawbacks of Dual government
- The Policy of British Expansion
(meaning and examples) – The doctrine of lapse, Subsidiary Alliance, Annexation of Awadh (pretext)
1.5 British Policies and Impacts
- Economic Policy
- Land Revenue System (Permanent Settlement, Mahalwari, Ryotwari), highlight Permanent Settlement only,
- The Exploitation of Artisans and Weavers
- The Drain of Wealth
- Introduction of Modern Education
- Wood’s Despatch
(What was Wood’s despatch and its effects)
1.6 The Great Uprising of 1857
- Early Resistance to British Rule in India
- Causes of First War of Independence
- Immediate Cause
- Leaders and Spread of the Uprising
- Consequences of the First War of Independence
- Nature of the War
1.7 Socio-religious Reforms
- Contribution of Social Reformers
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar
- Dayanand Saraswati
- Swami Vivekanand
- JyotibaPhule
- Annie Beasant
- Veerasalingam
- Kandukuri
- Sree Narayana Guru
- Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
- Singh Sabhas
1.8 India's Struggle for Freedom
- India’s Struggle for Freedom
- Early Political Associations
- The Indian National Congress (formation and objectives),
- The Moderates- leaders,
- methods,
- demands Partition of Bengal- only the Anti-Partition Movement-Swadeshi and Boycott to be covered briefly,
- Surat split- a brief understanding
- Home Rule Movement
- leaders and objectives,
- Lucknow Pact (1916)- as Unity Pact (a brief understanding).
- Gandhian Era (1917 – 1947)
- Early Campaigns
- kheda
- Champaran
- Ahmedabad
- Mass Movements
- Non-cooperation (causes, withdrawal, impact),
- Rowlatt Act,
- Jallianwala,
- Khilafat (ChauriChaura)
- Civil Disobedience Movement
- (causes)
- Simon Commission,
- Lahore Session Quit India-Forward Bloc and INA (objectives only)
- Independence and partition – Cabinet Mission Plan, Mountbatten plan, Indian Independence Act (only clauses).
- Early Political Associations
- Rise of Nationalism
- Introduction
- Centralization of administration during British rule
- Economic exploitation
- Western Education
- Study of Ancient Indian History
- Contribution of Newspapers
- Formation of the Indian National Congress
2: Civics
CISCE ICSE Class 8 History and Civics Syllabus
2.1 The Three Main Organs of the Indian Government: Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
- Indian Government: Legislature
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, composition, term, election, qualifications, Presidency officer. Powers and functions of the Union Parliament
- Indian Government: Executive
- The President, The Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers- qualifications,
election (method not procedure) powers and functions
- The President, The Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers- qualifications,
- Indian Government: the Judiciary
- The Supreme Court and High Court
- Composition, qualifications of judges, appointment
- Jurisdiction and Functions
- Original, Appellate, Revisory, Judicial Review, Court of Record, Writs, what are Writs-few examples
- The Supreme Court and High Court
- Powers and Functions of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha
- Composition and Powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Council of Ministers and the Cabinet
- The Supreme Court
- The High Courts
- Composition
- Qualifications of Judges
- Appointment of Judges
- Conditions of Service
(i) Retirement, Removal and Transfer
(ii) Salaries and Emoluments of Judges
(iii) Restrictions on Practice
(iv) Other Conditions
2.2 United Nations
- United Nations: Aims and Principles
- Organs of the United Nations > The General Assembly
- Organs of the United Nations >The Security Council
- Organs of the United Nations >International Court of Justice
- United Nations: Agencies
- UNESCO
- UNICEF
- WHO
- The Objectives of the United Nations
- Main Objectives of the United Nations
- Principles of the United Nations
- Headquarters
- Flag
- Official Languages
- Finances
- Membership
- India, an Original Member
