ICSE Class 10 Environmental Applications Syllabus 2025–26

There will be one paper of two hours duration carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100 marks.

Theory – 100 Marks

1. Caring for our Basic Resources

   1. Caring for our Soil
      • Causes and consequences of soil erosion
      • Soil conservation strategies: contour bunding, tree breaks, check dams
      • Fuel wood crisis: environmental & health impact
      • Waste generation: toxicity & environmental impact
      • Treatment of wastes: effluent treatment, biological treatment, reuse strategies
      • Combating deforestation: JFM, community forestry
      • Alternatives to timber: design solutions, alternate materials

      Suggested Activities/Visits:

      • Visit industry for waste generation/treatment study
      • Make models of Chula for reduced firewood consumption
      • Make model of solar cooker
      • Set up compost pit

   2. Caring for our Air
      • Technical methods to control air pollution
      • Strategies to reduce air pollution (Economic, Technical, Traffic management, e.g., Curitiba, Brazil)
      • Legislation as a means to reduce air pollution (examples: Taj Mahal trapezium, Delhi)
      • Remote sensing satellites and their applications
      • International norms on air pollution

      Suggested Activities/Visits:

      • Visit a pollution control board
      • Interact with an environmental NGO

   3. Caring for our Water
      • Techniques of watershed management
      • Rainwater harvesting (roof water, rural areas, check dams, bunds)
      • Small dams vs. large dams
      • Water recycling
      • Alternatives to existing sewage treatment (e.g., dry compost toilets)

      Suggested Activities/Visits:

      • Carry out rainwater harvesting in the neighbourhood
      • Visit a catchment area of the city
      • Visit to a nearby dam

2. Resource Use

   • Impact of globalization on environment
   • Role of NGOs in sustaining environment
   • Evolving a sustainable growth paradigm (Gandhi’s model, Khadi, Dastkar, Auroville, Gandhigram, etc.)
   • North-South divide: resource use patterns
   Suggested Activities/Visits:
   • Visit a Khadi production centre or other such units

3. Appropriate Eco-friendly Technologies

   • Scope/limitation of indigenous and modern technology (industry examples: fishing/weaving)
   • Need for developing intermediate & appropriate technology (power sector)
   • Developing least cost options (EIA, planning)
   • Natural resource accounting
   Suggested Activities/Visits:
   • Visit a modern power plant
   • Visit a village with traditional occupation (weaving, pottery, etc.)
   • Visit a Bio-gas plant

4. Initiatives I Can Take

   • In my local environment
   • In my future career choice
   • In supporting initiative in my State or Country

   Goal: By end of Class X, students should understand the broad impact of their personal decisions on environment and society, and be able to connect with processes in society/governance.

Internal Assessment – 100 Marks

Students should complete two case studies and one project from the list.

Suggested List of Projects/Case Studies

1. Caring for our Basic Resources
   • Soil:
     • Projects: Reduce waste, plastic issues, safe disposal of plastic, toxic wastes, ocean dumping
     • Case studies: Tarun Bharat Sangh (Alwar), Anna Hazare (Ralegoan Siddhi), Auroville’s afforestation, mining/brick industry, city vs rural resource use, India's population problem
   • Air:
     • Projects: Monitor pollution in busy places, vehicle impact on health, public transport to reduce air pollution
     • Case studies: Power from garbage, medical waste through incineration, pollution reduction city planning, Bhopal gas tragedy, Chernobyl
   • Water:
     • Projects: Analyze water wastage in modern sewage systems
     • Case studies: Water shortage in Kerala/Chirapunji, Rajasthan's systems, salt water intrusion, groundwater depletion, surface water contamination, laws on rainwater harvesting, politics of water sharing (Cauvery, Narmada, Tehri Dam, Three Gorges China)
2. Resource Use
   • Projects: Impact of displacement/violation movements, government/NGO supports for local sustainable growth
   • Case studies: NGO reports on globalisation impact, “Captive minds captive lives” - Vandana Shiva, “The unseen worker” - National Foundation of India, Excerpts from Schumacher "Small is Beautiful", Voluntary action and Gandhian approach - D.K. Oza, J.C. Kumarappa, Gandhi's writings
3. Appropriate Eco-friendly Technologies
   • Projects: Can non-conventional sources meet growing power demand?
   • Case studies: Dr. A.K.N. Reddy's village network - Tumkur, MNES publications

Guidelines for Evaluating Project Work

1. Clear Question/Problem Statement - focus and clarity
2. Formulating an Action Plan - steps to progress question
3. Gathering Primary Data
   • 50-70% should be primary (student field work, surveys etc.)
4. Secondary Data
   • Books, Internet etc. as substantiation
5. Collating Data and Generating Solutions
   • Organisation, analysis, creative and feasible solutions
6. Project Report should include:
   1. Topic/Issue/Problem Statement
   2. Action Plan
   3. Data Presentation (charts, graphs, bar/pie diagrams; separate primary/secondary data)
   4. Data Analysis
   5. Solutions offered
   6. Personal learning
   7. Bibliography/Acknowledgements
7. Viva-Voce (Optional):
   • With teacher/external examiner/researcher

Guidelines for Evaluating Case Studies

Based on secondary data (not primary); presented as report (about 1500 words).

• Comprehensiveness
• Accuracy
• Range of sources
• Inferences drawn
• Connections made
• Perspective gained

Marks breakup: Project – 30, Case studies – 20, Total – 50

Evaluation and Marks Awarding

• Internal Examiner (Subject teacher): 50 marks
• External Examiner: 50 marks
• The Head of School sends total (out of 100) to CISCE (online entry via CAREERS portal).

Internal Assessment Marking Guidelines (with Grades)