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Read the given source… (Social Science 2026 32/1/1 Q8)

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 32/1/1 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2026: question 8

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 32/1/1, section A, question 8, for 4 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q8 · 4 marks · Case-basedCompetency-basedNationalism in India

Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

'To the altar of this revolution we have brought our youth as incense'

Many nationalists thought that the struggle against the British could not be won through non-violence. In the year 1928, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) was founded at a meeting in Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi. Amongst its leaders were Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das and Ajoy Ghosh. In a series of dramatic actions in different parts of India, the HSRA targeted some of the symbols of British power. In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta threw a bomb in the Legislative Assembly. In the same year there was an attempt to blow up the train that Lord Irwin was travelling in. Bhagat Singh was 23 when he was tried and executed by the colonial government. During his trial, Bhagat Singh stated that he did not wish to glorify 'the cult of the bomb and pistol' but wanted a revolution in society –
'Revolution is the inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is the imprescriptible birthright of all. The labourer is the real sustainer of society. To the altar of this revolution we have brought our youth as incense, for no sacrifice is too great for so magnificent a cause. We are content. We await the advent of revolution. Inquilab Zindabad!'

  1. 8.1

    Why is the formation of 'Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA)' considered as a turning point in the freedom struggle of India?

    1 mark
  2. 8.2

    How did Bhagat Singh's trial speeches transform him from a revolutionary to a philosopher of freedom?

    1 mark
  3. 8.3

    In what way did Bhagat Singh redefine the meaning of 'revolution' for his generation? Explain.

    2 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 32/1/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Re-read the quoted lines of Bhagat Singh in the source.

Hint 2

Note what he said he did not want to glorify.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (i) Many nationalists felt the British could not be defeated through non-violence. The HSRA brought a new generation of young revolutionaries and spread nationalist spirit.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) In his trial speeches Bhagat Singh rejected the glorification of 'the cult of the bomb and pistol'. He spoke of freedom, justice and social equality, and these ideas made him a philosopher of freedom.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) He called revolution the inalienable right of mankind and freedom the imprescriptible birthright of all.

    1 mark

  4. He saw revolution as a change in society, in which the labourer is the real sustainer, and he asked youth to sacrifice for the cause. His slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' raised the spirit of freedom.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) It brought young revolutionary leadership; (ii) he spoke of freedom, justice and social change, not violence; (iii) he made revolution a right of mankind and a social change, backed by youth sacrifice.

Where the marks are

  • 8.1 any one valid point (1 mark)
  • 8.2 any one valid point (1 mark)
  • 8.3 revolution as an inalienable right (1 mark)
  • 8.3 social transformation, youth sacrifice, Inquilab Zindabad (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Nationalism in India, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 32/1/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.