CBSE Class 10 Sanskrit Syllabus 2026-27 — Shemushi Bhag-2 (10 Chapters), Grammar & Two Board Exams

What's New in 2026-27?

• Two Board Exams policy: Mandatory first exam + optional improvement exam.
• Reduced chapters: Shemushi Bhag-2 now has 10 chapters instead of 12. Two chapters have been removed to allow deeper engagement with the remaining texts.
• Continued emphasis on applied grammar: Grammar questions test practical application — sandhi, samas, pratyay, karak — through MCQs and fill-in-the-blanks.
• Writing skills enhanced: Letter writing (formal/informal), picture description, and paragraph writing in Sanskrit carry dedicated marks.

Syllabus Overview — Marks Distribution

Section	Topic	Marks
अपठित अवबोधनम् (Unseen Comprehension)	अपठित गद्यांश/पद्यांश	10
रचनात्मक कार्यम् (Writing Skills)	पत्र-लेखनम्, चित्र-वर्णनम्, अनुच्छेद-लेखनम्	15
अनुप्रयुक्त व्याकरणम् (Applied Grammar)	संधि, समास, प्रत्यय, कारक, अव्यय, लकार	20
पठित अवबोधनम् (Textbook Comprehension)	शेमुषी भाग-2 — गद्य + पद्य + नाटक	35
Total Theory		80
Internal Assessment	Periodic Tests, Portfolio, Activities	20
Grand Total		100

Chapter-wise Syllabus — शेमुषी भाग-2 (Shemushi Part 2)

Ch.	Chapter Name	Key Themes / Summary
1	शुचिपर्यावरणम् (Shuchiparyavaranam)	Clean Environment — A poem advocating for environmental cleanliness and protection. Discusses the importance of pure air, clean water, and green surroundings. Connects ancient Indian ecological wisdom with modern environmental challenges.
2	बुद्धिर्बलवती सदा (Buddhibalavatee Sada)	Intelligence is Always Powerful — A story demonstrating that wit and intelligence triumph over brute strength. Through a clever narrative, it shows how quick thinking can overcome seemingly impossible situations.
3	शिशुलालनम् (Shishulaalanam)	Nurturing Children — A chapter on the importance of child-rearing, love, and care. Drawn from classical Sanskrit texts, it emphasises the responsibilities of parents and society in nurturing the next generation.
4	जननी तुल्यवत्सला (Jananee Tulayavatsala)	A Mother Treats All Children Equally — A powerful narrative about maternal love and equality. The story illustrates how a true mother does not discriminate between her children, teaching values of fairness and unconditional love.
5	सुभाषितानि (Subhaashitaani)	Wise Sayings — A collection of Sanskrit subhashitas (proverbs) covering knowledge, conduct, friendship, wealth, and dharma. Each shloka contains timeless wisdom applicable to modern life.
6	सौहार्दं प्रकृतेः शोभा (Sauhaardam Praakrteh Shobha)	Harmony is Nature's Beauty — A chapter celebrating the harmony found in nature and encouraging humans to live in balance with the natural world. Discusses the aesthetic and philosophical beauty of natural coexistence.
7	विचित्रः साक्षी (Vichitrah Saakshee)	The Strange Witness — A dramatic/legal story where an unusual witness plays a crucial role. Teaches about truth, justice, and the importance of honest testimony. The narrative has elements of humour and surprise.
8	सूक्तयः (Sooktayah)	Good Sayings — Another collection of pithy, meaningful shlokas from various Sanskrit texts. Topics include the value of education, the importance of good conduct, the power of patience, and the nature of true friendship.
9	भूकम्पविभीषिका (Bhookampvibhishika)	The Terror of Earthquakes — A chapter describing the devastation caused by earthquakes, written in simple Sanskrit prose. Discusses causes, effects, and safety measures. Relevant to disaster management awareness.
10	अन्योक्तयः (Anyoktayah)	Indirect Expressions / Allegorical Verses — Poems that convey meaning indirectly through allegory and metaphor. Common subjects include the lotus, the swan, the cuckoo, and the cloud — each representing human qualities and values.

Grammar Topics (व्याकरणम्)

Topic	Sub-topics	Marks
संधि (Sandhi)	स्वर संधि (दीर्घ, गुण, वृद्धि, यण्, अयादि), व्यंजन संधि, विसर्ग संधि — identification, joining, and splitting	4-5
समास (Samas)	तत्पुरुष, कर्मधारय, द्विगु, बहुव्रीहि, अव्ययीभाव, द्वन्द्व — identification and vigraha	4-5
प्रत्यय (Pratyay)	कृत् प्रत्यय (क्त, क्तवतु, शतृ, शानच्, तव्यत्, अनीयर्, ल्यप्) + तद्धित (मतुप्, त्व, तल्, इन्)	3-4
कारक एवं विभक्ति	प्रथमा to सप्तमी vibhakti, their karak mapping, usage in sentences	3-4
लकार (Tenses)	लट् (present), लृट् (future), लङ् (past), लोट् (imperative), विधिलिङ् (potential) — conjugation of common dhatus	3-4
अव्यय (Indeclinables)	Common avyayas and their usage in sentence construction	2

New Two Board Exams Policy (2026-27 Onwards)

Starting from the 2026-27 session, CBSE Class 10 students will have the option to appear for two board examinations instead of one. This is a significant policy change under NEP 2020.

• First Board Exam (February-March 2027): This is MANDATORY for all students. It covers the full syllabus and follows the standard 80+20 marks pattern (80 marks theory + 20 marks internal assessment).
• Second Board Exam (May 2027): This is OPTIONAL and available as an improvement opportunity. Students who are unsatisfied with their first exam performance can re-appear to improve their scores.
• Best Score Counts: If a student appears for both exams, the higher score of the two will be considered for the final result and certificate.
• No Penalty for Not Appearing: There is no negative consequence for choosing not to appear for the second exam. It is purely an improvement opportunity.
• Same Syllabus: Both exams cover the same syllabus — there is no reduction or change in scope for the second exam.

This policy aims to reduce exam anxiety and give students a fair chance to demonstrate their best performance. It is especially beneficial for students who face health issues, personal difficulties, or exam-day nervousness during the first attempt.

Exam Pattern 2026-27

Section	Question Types	Marks
अपठित अवबोधनम्	MCQ + Short Answer from unseen Sanskrit passage	10
रचनात्मक कार्यम्	Letter writing + Picture description + Paragraph in Sanskrit	15
अनुप्रयुक्त व्याकरणम्	Sandhi, Samas, Pratyay, Karak, Lakar — MCQ + fill in blanks	20
पठित अवबोधनम्	Extract-based + Translation + SA + LA from Shemushi Bhag-2	35
Total		80

Preparation Tips

1. Shemushi chapters carry 35 marks: This is the highest-weighted section. Read every chapter carefully. Practise translating Sanskrit to Hindi and vice versa. The extract-based questions test exact understanding of the text.
2. Master lakar (tenses) conjugation: Unlike Class 9, Class 10 tests five lakars. Create conjugation tables for common dhatus (गम्, पठ्, लिख्, खाद्, कृ, भू, अस्, दा) in all five lakars.
3. Practise sandhi with splitting AND joining: Questions ask both directions — given a combined word, split it (विच्छेद), and given two words, combine them (संधि). Practise both.
4. Memorise subhashitas from chapters 5 and 8: These chapters contain important shlokas. Know their meaning, context, and be able to explain them in Hindi. MCQs often test these.
5. Write Sanskrit letters weekly: Letter writing in Sanskrit (पत्र-लेखनम्) carries 5 marks. Practise formal letters (प्रधानाचार्यं प्रति, सम्पादकं प्रति) and informal letters (मित्रं प्रति).
6. Use the reduced syllabus wisely: With only 10 chapters instead of 12, you have more time per chapter. Invest this time in thorough understanding rather than surface-level reading.

---

Prepared by Bright Tutorials, Nashik (Shop No. 53-57, Business Signature, Hariom Nagar, Nashik Road, Nashik 422101) | brighttutorials.in | This syllabus guide is based on the official CBSE curriculum for 2026-27. Students should refer to the latest CBSE circulars for any updates. For personal study use only.