ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2027 Yoga

ICSE YEAR 2027

INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION

YOGA
(84)

February 2025
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
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Trust and fair play.
Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.

CLASS X
There will be one written paper of two hours duration How Yoga helps to maintain the health of the
carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100 nervous system and sense organs.
marks.
2. The Endocrine System
PAPER I (THEORY) A study of the Pituitary gland, the Thyroid, the
SECTION I: HUMAN BIOLOGY Adrenal glands and the Pancreas; role of Yoga in
maintaining the health of the endocrine glands.
1. The Nervous System
The neuron, central nervous system and peripheral The above must be studied with respect to the
nervous system, the sense organs. Role of Yoga in following: location, hormones secreted, effects of
maintaining the health of the nervous system. over-secretion and under secretion of hormones.
The neuron: Structure (cyton, axon, terminal How yoga helps to regulate the functioning of the
branches, synapse, myelin sheath) and function endocrine glands and helps in achieving hormonal
(carry messages in the nervous system in the form balance.
of electrical impulses); Kinds of neurons: Sensory,
Motor, Association. Nerves and ganglia: definition 3. The Circulatory System
only. Structure and functioning of the heart; disorders of
The Central Nervous System: The Brain: the circulatory system; the lymphatic system;
Meninges, Forebrain: Cerebrum (Temporal, composition of blood; role of yoga in improving
Parietal, Occipital, Frontal) and Diencephalon; blood circulation.
Midbrain; Hindbrain (Cerebellum, Pons, Medulla Heart: Location, covering (pericardium),
oblongata). Location and basic function of each of chambers of the heart, blood vessels entering and
the above parts. leaving the heart: Vena Cava, aorta, pulmonary
The Spinal Cord: Structure and function; Reflex artery, the pulmonary vein; blood supply to the
action: Simple reflex, Conditioned reflex; heart: coronary arteries; Valves: Bicuspid,
Tricuspid, Semilunar Valves; Circulation of blood
The Peripheral Nervous System: Somatic nervous in the heart: systole and diastole; blood vessel
system: Cranial nerves and spinal nerves (the types: arteries, capillaries, veins, structure and
number of cranial and spinal nerves present in the function; some of the other main blood vessels:
body); the Autonomic nervous system: Sympathetic Hepatic portal vein, Hepatic artery and vein,
nervous system and Parasympathetic nervous Renal artery and vein;
system (location and function). Some disorders of the circulatory system:
The Sense Organs atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, myocardial
infarction, angina: definition of each disorder;
Eyes: Structure and function of different
Composition of blood: plasma, the liquid
constituent parts; common eye defects: Myopia,
component of blood; a brief description of the
Hyperopia, Cataract.
structure and functions of RBC, WBC and platelets
Ear: outer ear, middle ear, inner ear (structure and disorders of the blood: Haemophilia, anaemia.
function of the constituent parts); the Eustachian (The types of WBCs and the blood groups need not
Tube; role of the ear in maintaining balance. be studied);
The sense of smell: importance of the olfactory How yoga helps to improve blood circulation and
nerve; flavour: a combination of taste and smell; hence enhances the body’s immunity.
The sense of taste: The 4 fundamental tastes: sweet, 4. The Excretory System
salty, bitter, sour;
Organs of excretion; Parts of the excretory system;
The Sense of touch: Nerve endings in the skin
urine formation, disorders of the excretory system;
related to pressure, pain, hot, cold;
Role of Yoga.

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Lungs, skin and kidneys are the three organs of Works: The Yajurvedas, The Brihadaryanka and
excretion; parts of the excretory system: the Bhramanas, Yoga Yagnavalkya Samhita.
Kidney, Cortex and Medulla; Ureters; Bladder; 3. Narsi Mehta
Urethra.
Birth and early life, three miraculous events in his
Disorders of the excretory system: Kidney failure, life. His teaching and contributions- composition
Gout, Kidney stones; the Dialysis machine: ‘Vaishnava Jan To….’
meaning of each.
4. Sri Aurobindo
How the practice of yoga helps in maintaining the
health of the excretory system and hence the His early life and education abroad; his mastery
elimination of waste from the body. over several European and Indian languages;
return to India; experience of the silent mind after
5. Personal hygiene through Yoga guidance from Lele; Sri Aurobindo as one of the
Purpose of maintaining hygiene in Yoga; Yogic leaders of the freedom movement the newspaper -
care and/or cleaning of sense organs. Vande Mataram; solitary confinement in Alipore
Purpose of maintaining hygiene in yoga: removal Jail; acquittal and journey to Pondicherry;
of diseases, purification of the body, maintaining meeting with Mirra Alfassa who would in later
efficiency of the body, better immunity, long life, years be called the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo
moral and spiritual elevation. Ashram; Auroville, Matri Mandir and the Sri
Aurobindo Society.
Yogic Care and/ or cleaning of the sense organs:
Care of teeth, mouth, cleaning of the tongue Teachings of Sri Aurobindo: Yoga results in
(jivhamulashodhanam: benefits and procedure), ‘accelerated evolution’; Sri Aurobindo’s Integral
cleaning of the ears (karnarandhradhouti Yoga, guidelines on how man can consciously
procedure and its benefits); care of eyes: factors collaborate with the Divine in accelerating his
affecting the health of the eye, eye exercises-trataka evolution (An understanding of the human
consciousness as having four beings
(central fixation)-candle gazing.
simultaneously coexistent in it: (1) The Physical
Being (2) The emotional being (3) the mental
SECTION II: SAGES OF INDIA being (4) The spiritual being); the triple formula
Candidates are to write notes on the lives and of Aspiration, Rejection and Surrender. His
words: ‘All life is Yoga’ – bringing perfection,
teachings of the following sages: Vyasa, Yagnavalkya,
peace and harmony into all aspects of day-to-day
Narsi Mehta, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekanand, life.
Ramana Maharishi.
Works of Sri Aurobindo: Savitri, The Life Divine,
For each of the above sages, the candidates need to Synthesis of Yoga (couple of sentences on the
know briefly, two important aspects of their works. contents and/or purpose of the above books)
1. Vyasa 5. Swami Vivekananda
Birth and early life; his birthday is celebrated as Vision of his Guru Ramakrishna: story of the
Guru Purnima; training under his father Rishi seven sages and a little boy. Childhood stories of
Parasara, his role as the grandfather of Pandavas Narendra’s courage and truthfulness. His first
and Kauravas, his son Shuka. meeting with Sri Ramakrishna and his historical
question: “Sir, have you seen God?” His father’s
Works: The Bhramasutras, The Mahabharata, demise and leaving the family in poverty; his first
Srimad Bhagvatam, The Puranas, Vyasa Bhashya. living experience with the Divine Mother in the
2. Yagnavalkya Kali temple at Dakshineshwar. starting the
Ramakrishna Mission order post Ramakrishna’s
Birth and education, dynamics of his relationship demise. His travels in India right upto
with his guru Vaisampayana (growing Kanyakumari where he was inspired to travel
disagreement between the two at the ashram, Meet abroad; his speech at the Parliament of World
at Mount Meru, King Supriya and the formation of Religions. Setting up centres of the Ramakrishna
the Krishna Yajurveda); relationship with Surya Mission in the West. Setting up the Belur Math.
Bhagvan, King Janaka, Gargi and Maitreyi Inspiring speeches to Indian youth. Early death.

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Literary Works by Swami Vivekananda: Raja Samadhi - definition and types of Samadhis
Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga. Practical (Sabeej, Nirbeej, Savitarka, Nirvitarka,
Vedanta, My India – the India Eternal, My Master. Savichara, Nirvichara).
Teachings: The soul of man is more powerful than (ii) Sadhana Pada
anything else; service to man is service to God; Kriya yoga, Kleshas, cause of pain: identification
His teaching of Vedanta, the world is one; of the seer (drashtu) with the seen; Kaivalya:
civilization will be complete in the world when destruction of ignorance through right knowledge
India gives to the world the marvels of its breaks the link between the seer and the seen and
spirituality and in exchange, receives from the
leads to liberation or kaivalya (refer to Sutra 2.25,
world the marvels of modern science; to preach
the students need not learn the Sutra); Ashtang
unto mankind their divinity and how to make it
manifest in every movement of life. There can be yoga; Pratipaksha Bhavanam (refer to Sutra 2.33,
no salvation if one has faith in Gods outside but the students need not learn the Sutra)
no faith in oneself. The real atheist is one who (iii) Vibhuti Pada
doesn’t believe in himself. Concept and definition of Samyama, study of the
following objects of samyama and the powers
6. Sri Ramana Maharishi attained: distinguishing marks on another man’s
Birth and early life; His death experience which body, qualities of friendliness and compassion,
led to the all-consuming question for him, “Who strength such as that of an elephant, the sun, the
am I”? His travel to Thiruvannamalai; His moon, the pole star, the naval, the pit of the throat,
Enlightenment; Setting up of the Ramana Ashram; the head, the heart; These Vibhutis (attainments)
granting his mother moksha at the time of her are hindrances to achieve the spiritual goal.
moving on.
Teachings: Self enquiry: Who am I? and his (iv) Kaivalya Pada
method of self-enquiry. 5 ways of spiritual accomplishment; Karma:
Works: Who Am I, 5 Hymns to Arunachala, 40 black, white or black and white; subject and object
verses on Reality. (relationship between the two in the light of
Patanjali’s yoga sutras); Chit and Chitta; dharma
SECTION III: THE YOGA SUTRAS OF megha samadhi.
PATANJALI
SECTION IV: SOME IMPORTANT SCHOOLS
The Four Padas OF PHILOSOPHY AND SOME SUTRAS
(i) Samadhi Pada 1. Some of the Orthodox Philosophies
Chitta Vrittis: definition of Yoga. The different
types of Chitta Vrittis: Klishta and Aklishta; Sankhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Purva Mimansa with
Pramana Viparyaya Vikalpa, Nidra, Smriti; respect to each philosophy - Meaning of the name,
Ways to still the Chitta Vrittis: Abhyasa and founder, dates, important texts, tenets, salvation,
Vairagya, Ishwar Pranidhana, the Pranava concept of God.
Mantra, the four virtues, Pranayama (elongating Tenets of Sankhya
the bahya kumbhak), heightened awareness of the Purusha and Prakriti (dualistic system) (the
senses, concentrating on a light beyond all student needs to know just a basic understanding
sorrow, contemplating and recollecting the of these terms); Gunas, 23 evolutes of Prakriti.
experiences of dreams-filled or dreamless sleep Tenets of Yoga
during the waking state.
Yoga also called Sa Ishvara Sankhya; 5 vrittis and
Obstacles: Vyadhi, Styana, Samshaya, Pramada,
5 Chitta Bhumis; 5 kleshas; 4 virtues; Ashtang
Alasya, Avirati, Bhrantidarshana,
yoga.
Alabdhahumikatva, Anavasthi-tattva.
Accompaniments of the obstacles: Dukha, Tenets of Vedanta
Daurmansya, Angamejayatva and Shvasa Basic meaning of the following terms: Advaita,
Prashvasa. Brahman, Jagat, Mithya, Maya, Sookshma
(subtle) and Sthool (gross) buddhi

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Tenets of Purva Mimansa (a) Degree of effort and progress in his/her yoga
Importance of rituals and Mantras, concept of practice (judged through periodical tests).
many Gods and Goddesses, concept of divinity in
(b) Assisting the yoga therapy sessions.
non-living objects, Karma and dharma.
2. Some of the Heterodox Philosophies Improving his/her own health and well being
through yoga therapy.
Buddhism and Jainism with respect to each
philosophy - meaning of the name, founder, dates, (c) Participation in programmes.
important texts, tenets, salvation, concept of God.
Tenets of Buddhism Section B (60 Marks): Practical Tests - There will be
The 4 noble truths, the 8-fold path, two schools of three tests in this section – to be assessed by an
Buddhism - Hinayana and Mahayana. External Examiner.
Tenets of Jainism Test 1: Predetermined Asanas (30 marks)
The 3 jewels, transmigration of the soul and
moksha, everything has a jiva, no belief in Gods The candidates must perform any six asanas from
and Goddesses, 24 tirthankaras, Mahavira the those given below:
24th one. Ardha Chandrasana, Parivritta Trikonasana,
3. Contemporary Philosophies Chaturanga Dandasana, Salambha Shirshasana
Sarvangasana, Paschimottanasana, Urdhva
Eckhart Tolle's Philosophy: Power of Now Dhanurasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana.
Tenets: mind controlling the human being and his Test 2: Directed asanas (20 marks)
addiction to thinking; consciousness beyond the
mind; presence or the awareness space in which The candidate must perform 4 or 5 asanas of the
thoughts arise; the Pain Body: The energy field of External Examiner's choice. (The examiner will select
pain, accumulated from the past that occupies the asanas from the Class X syllabus only). The External
mind and body periodically as an inexplicable dark Examiner may test the pupil's ability to adapt and
emotional state; methods to enter the eternal Now modify asanas.
as a means of breaking free from the addiction to
Test 3: Pupil's preference of asanas (10 marks)
thought:
• Tuning into the awareness of the breath and The candidate will perform two asanas of his/her
body choice.
• Dis-identification with the thinker, watching Important Notes:
the thought
• Surrendering to what is, dropping the (a) Candidate must choose an asana from the Class X
resistance to what arises in the moment syllabus only.
• Paying attention to environmental sounds and (b) Candidate must not select an asana that he/she has
tuning into the silence between the sounds already demonstrated in Test 1 and Test 2.
4. Five Important Sutras
Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2, 1.14, 1.33, 2.3, 2.28 The practical work is to be covered under the
following categories:

PAPER 2 (INTERNAL ASSESSMENT) (A) Asanas
1. Ardha Chandrasana
The practical work is to be divided into two sections
as follows: 2. Parivritta Trikonasana
Section A (40 Marks): Course Work - the course work 3. Pashva Uttanasana
will be assessed by the teacher on the basis of 4. Uttanasana
continuous assessment. The candidate will be assessed
on the basis of his/her output in the following areas: 5. Chaturanga Dandasana
6. Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana

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7. Matsyasana
8. Janu Shirshasana
9. Upavista Konasana (holding big toes, head
up)
10. Ardha Navasana
11. Paripoorna Navasana
12. Paschimottanaasana
13. Marichyasana III
14. Ardha Matsyendrasana I
15. Salambha Shirshasana
16. Urdhva Dhanurasana
17. Salambha Sarvangasana I
18. Halaasana
19. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

(B) Breathing\pranayama
1. Revision of the Full Yogic Breathing
2. Brahmari
Reference Book:
Light on Yoga: Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar - Harper
Collins, India

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INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN YOGA - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES
Criteria Knowledge of Asanas Precision Achievements (Ability to Application (Interactive) Presentation
perform the classical pose)
Grade I • Immediately presents • Firmness and • Strength • Can adapt and modify as • Confidence
(4 marks) the required asana alertness • Flexibility required by examiner. • Angle of presentation
• Knows the meaning of • Co-ordination • Endurance (can hold the • Can clearly explain the and stance between
the name of the asana • Attention to details pose) purpose. poses
• Knows to which • Moment-to- • Stability • Co-operation and
general group the asana moment keenness
belongs awareness • Grace and poise
• Knows the benefits
Grade II Fails to respond to any one Any one of the above Any one of the above aspects Very competent at one of the Lack one of the above
(3 marks) of the above aspects. aspects lacking. inadequate. above but only partially manages aspects.
the other.

Grade III Fails to respond to two of Any two aspects Any two aspects inadequate. Attempts both but is unclear Lack two of the above
(2 marks) the above requirements. lacking. aspects.
Grade IV Fails to respond to three of Any three aspects Any three aspects Guesses both the application and Lack three of the above
(1 mark) the above requirements. lacking. inadequate. purpose. aspects.

Grade V Respond incorrectly to all Poor in all four All four aspects inadequate. Unable to apply or explain All four aspects
(0 marks) four aspects. inadequate.

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