CBSE Class 10 English Answer Key 2026 (Available): Set-wise Unofficial Key PDF, Exam Analysis

Class 10 CBSE Answer Key 2026 PDF Download

Particulars

Analysis

Overall Difficulty Level

Easy to moderate

Difficulty Level of Section A: Reading Skills

Easy to moderate

Difficulty Level of Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar

Easy 

Difficulty Level of Section C: Language through Literature

Moderate

Topics with Highest Weightage in Exam

Discursive Passage, Letter Writing

Expected Number of Good Attempts

Section A – Reading

Q. 1. Meaning of “long and diverse history”
Answer: Pancake has been cooked for 30,000 years across various cultures.

1.1 Uniqueness of the ‘tinnai’
Answer: It can be used for cooking and also for eating.

1.2 How are American pancakes light?
Answer: Made with baking powder; popular in the 18th century.

1.3 True/False: Every culture adopted the pancake.
Answer: True

1.4 Which pancake uses fermentation?
Answer: (A) Dosa and appam

1.5 Meaning of ‘blank canvas’
Answer: (A) Like a painter starts with a blank canvas, a diner can get creative.

1.6 Two positive food connects people
Answer: Symbolizes community, celebration, and shared cultural identity.

1.7 Meaning of ‘warm, edible hug’
Answer: (A) Comfort food that provides emotional security.

Section B – Grammar:

Q. 2. Term ‘active internet user’ conveys
Answer: (B) People who use internet actively.

2.1 Assertion (Language is a reason gender gap)
Answer: (B) Both true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.

2.2 Word meaning ‘comparatively’
Answer: Relatively

2.3 Period of maximum internet usage
Answer: (C) 2020 to 2023 (Percentage grew by 9%)

2.4 Reason for fewer women users
Answer: Digital divide, lack of awareness, or infrastructural limitations.

2.5 Fill: Infrastructure limitations ____ impact.
Answer: Impact

2.6 Reason for urban connection increase
Answer: Higher density of population.

2.7 Two ways to bridge digital gap
Answer: Targeted awareness campaigns and digital literacy programs.

2.8 Judy’s ‘welcomed digital living’
Answer: Indian use of research, shopping, entertainment, and smart homes.

Section C – Literature

Q. 3. Mocoa completion (tense)
Answer: (C) Have not eaten

3.1 Identify error: “to identifying”
Answer: Error: Identifying; Correction: Identify

3.2 Report Vanish asked her friend Shifa if she would like to come for her birthday party next day.
Answer: (Correct sentence structure)

3.3 Choose option: jaw (gums)
Answer: Jaw

3.4 Report: “Sonali might not mother if he could reach his son.”
Answer: (Sentence correction required)

3.5 Correction: appear ‘hear’
Answer: (A) Error: Their; Correction: To

3.6 School diary completion
Answer: (A) Monday

3.7 Newspaper report correction
Answer: (D) These (to match proposal)

3.8 Report dialogue: “Did you have dinner?”
Answer: The attendant asked the passenger if he had had his dinner.

3.9 Grandparent’s mention (modal)
Answer: (D) Would

3.10 Question tag: “lived, carry”
Answer: (D) Didn’t

3.11 Report student’s question
Answer: The student asked the writer what had prompted him/her to become a professional writer.

Section A – Reading

Q. 1 (i) Meaning of “Lungs of the Earth” (Para 1)
Answer: Refers to forests because they regulate temperature and help clean the air.

1 (ii) Forests sustain biodiversity by —
Answer: (A) Balancing climate change and creating livelihoods for people.

1 (iii) Evidence of critical ecosystem services (Para 2)
Answer: Forests provide water conservation, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration.

1 (iv) Statistics on deforestation reveal —
Answer: (C) Forest cover is rapidly declining (66,000 hectares lost between 2019–2021).

1 (v) True/False: Deforestation causes erratic rainfall
Answer: True

1 (vi) Challenge in compensatory afforestation (Para 5)
Answer: Planting monoculture species can disrupt ecosystems rather than restore natural biodiversity.

Section B – Grammar & Writing

Q. 2 (i) Assertion–Reason: EVs are gaining traction. Reason: Government wants to reduce carbon emissions.
Answer: (A) Both are true, and the reason is the correct explanation.

2 (iv) Inference from 1.5 million EV sales in 2023
Answer: The Indian EV market is expanding rapidly and has shown significant growth compared to previous years.

2 (v) Meaning of ‘range anxiety’
Answer: The fear of running out of battery charge.

2 (vi) Type of EV that dominated 2023 sales
Answer: Two-wheelers

Section B – Grammar:

Q. 3 (i) Fill in the blank:
“The assistant manager ______ on this campaign for eight months.”
Answer: (B) Will have been working.

3 (ii) Error Correction:
“Being checked all the figures.”
Answer: Error: Being checked
Answer: Correction: Having checked

3 (iv) Fill in the blank:
“_____ candidates must carry their identification proof.”
Answer: (B) All

3 (vi) Error Correction:
“…there was less books on the subject.”
Answer: Error: less
Answer: Correction: fewer

3 (vii) Fill in the blank:
“My friends ______ the movie tickets before we reached.”
Answer: (B) Had collected

3 (x) Fill in the blank:
“If we had consulted the engineer, we ______ this mistake.”
Answer: (C) Would have avoided

Section C – Literature

Q. 6A (i) Fowler’s feeling on seeing Ausable
Answer: (C) Surprised and disappointed

6A (ii) Ausable’s reaction shows he was —
Answer: Observant

7B (ii) “The long branches are compared to —”
Answer: Newly discharged patients.

Section A – Reading

1 (i) Primary psychological trigger behind FOMO
Answer: (D) Fear of being left out of rewarding experiences

1 (ii) Reason FOMO pervades every dimension
Answer: (B) Constant edits and updates on social media platforms

1 (iii) Impact of the ‘experience economy’
Answer: Intensifies pressure to participate in events (music festivals, food events), as experiences are commodified.

1 (iv) Impact of FOMO on decision-making
Answer: Causes worry and hesitation in plans; leads to impulsive choices like overspending or overcommitting.

1 (v) Emotional consequences of FOMO
Answer: Leads to lowered self-esteem, impaired concentration, exhaustion, and possible depression.

1 (vi) Two effective ways to deal with FOMO
Answer: Setting specific time limits for social media and practicing mindful breathing/meditation.

1 (vii) Statement: Effort is needed to exit FOMO state
Answer: TRUE

1 (viii) Meaning of ‘resilience’ in context
Answer: (B) Ability to withstand emotional anxiety caused by FOMO.

Section B – Writing & Grammar

2 (i) Why global demand for beauty products increased
Answer: Evolving beauty standards and influence of social media.

2 (ii) Meaning of ‘thrives on innovation’
Answer: (B) The industry is growing and evolving day by day.

2 (iii) Word indicating anticipated growth
Answer: Projected

2 (iv) Factors shaping daily buying
Answer: Trend-driven and innovative solutions; increasing awareness of skincare routines.

2 (v) Assertion–Reason (Indian market profit/growth)
Answer: (D) Assertion is false (It refers to revenue, not profit), but Reason is true.

2 (vi) Impact of e-commerce on revenue
Answer: Expanded access to Tier II and Tier III cities; online sales contribute 25% of total sales.

2 (vii) Dominant skincare segment share
Answer: 35%

2 (viii) Significance of men’s grooming demand
Answer: Symbolizes aspirational pursuit of refinement and diminishing traditional cosmetic stereotypes.

2 (ix) Two major challenges faced by the industry
Answer: Intense competition and concerns over copied products/ethical sourcing.

3 (i) Correct form: “The group ___ (walk).”
Answer: Had been walking / Walked (as per context)

3 (ii) Correct option: “Several/Both/All people…”
Answer: Several

3 (iii) Error Correction: “…but he had forget…”
Answer: Error: forget
Answer: Correction: forgotten

3 (iv) Report: “…but remarked ___”
Answer: …that those were hard times.

3 (v) Error Correction: “It feel like…”
Answer: Error: feel
Answer: Correction: feels

3 (vi) Report: “Which are your books?”
Answer: Sahil asked Shekhar which his books were.

3 (vii) Verb form: “A case ___ against the driver.”
Answer: (A) Was registered

3 (viii) Correct option: “Anita ___ likely complete.”
Answer: Would

3 (ix) Error Correction: “…must be disinfect.”
Answer: Error: disinfect
Answer: Correction: disinfected

3 (x) Report Question: “Which books are we going…?”
Answer: Suhani asked Sneha which books they were going to purchase that day from the Book Fest.

3 (xi) Replace: “Since Sheenam study…”
Answer: (C) Has been studying

3 (xii) Error Correction: “…culture we carries…”
Answer: Error: carries
Answer: Correction: carry

Section C – Literature

6 (i) Mandela: “We, who were outlaws…”
Answer: (B) Due to Apartheid, many countries broke diplomatic relations with South Africa.

6 (ii) Tone of Mandela in the excerpt
Answer: (C) 1 and 2 (Unifying and Determined)

6 (iii) Description of Richard Ebright
Answer: Persistent

6 (iv) What is NOT true about Ebright
Answer: (D) Irrational

7 (i) Description of crocodile’s tears
Answer: (C) False and deceptive

7 (ii) Amanda’s tone when imagining herself an orphan
Answer: (D) Peaceful

CBSE Class 10 English Unofficial Answer Keys 2026 PDF