ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2028 Yoga

ICSE
INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION
YEAR 2028

YOGA
(84)

Developed by:
Research, Development and Curriculum Division (RDCD)
CISCE

January 2026
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

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 carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100 marks.

PAPER I (THEORY)
SECTION I: HUMAN BIOLOGY

1. The Nervous System
The neuron, central nervous system and peripheral nervous system, the sense organs. Role of Yoga in
maintaining the health of the nervous system.
The neuron: Structure (cyton, axon, terminal branches, synapse, myelin sheath) and function (carry messages
in the nervous system in the form of electrical impulses); Kinds of neurons: Sensory, Motor, Association.
Nerves and ganglia: definition only.
The Central Nervous System: The Brain: Meninges, Forebrain: Cerebrum (Temporal, Parietal, Occipital,
Frontal) and Diencephalon; Midbrain; Hindbrain (Cerebellum, Pons, Medulla oblongata). Location and
basic function of each of the above parts.
The Spinal Cord: Structure and function; Reflex action: Simple reflex, Conditioned reflex;
The Peripheral Nervous System: Somatic nervous system: Cranial nerves and spinal nerves (the number of
cranial and spinal nerves present in the body); the Autonomic nervous system: Sympathetic nervous system
and Parasympathetic nervous system (location and function).
The Sense Organs
Eyes: Structure and function of different constituent parts; common eye defects: Myopia, Hyperopia,
Cataract.
Ear: outer ear, middle ear, inner ear (structure and function of the constituent parts);the Eustachian Tube;
role of the ear in maintaining balance.
The sense of smell: importance of the olfactory nerve; flavour: a combination of taste and smell;
The sense of taste: The 4 fundamental tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour;
The Sense of touch: Nerve endings in the skin related to pressure, pain, hot, cold;
How Yoga helps to maintain the health of the nervous system and sense organs.

2. The Endocrine System
A study of the Pituitary gland, the Thyroid, the Adrenal glands and the Pancreas; role of Yoga in maintaining
the health of the endocrine glands.
The above must be studied with respect to the following: location, hormones secreted, effects of over-secretion
and under secretion of hormones.
How yoga helps to regulate the functioning of the endocrine glands and helps in achieving hormonal balance.

3. The Circulatory System
Structure and functioning of the heart; disorders of the circulatory system; the lymphatic system; composition
of blood; role of yoga in improving blood circulation.
Heart: Location, covering (pericardium), chambers of the heart, blood vessels entering and leaving the heart:
Vena Cava, aorta, pulmonary artery, the pulmonary vein; blood supply to the heart: coronary arteries;
Valves: Bicuspid, Tricuspid, Semilunar Valves; Circulation of blood in the heart: systole and diastole; blood

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vessel types: arteries, capillaries, veins, structure and function; some of the other main blood vessels: Hepatic
portal vein, Hepatic artery and vein, Renal artery and vein;
Some disorders of the circulatory system: atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, angina:
definition of each disorder; Composition of blood: plasma, the liquid component of blood; a brief description
of the structure and functions of RBC, WBC and platelets disorders of the blood: Haemophilia, anaemia.(The
types of WBCs and the blood groups need not be studied);
How yoga helps to improve blood circulation and hence enhances the body’s immunity.

4. The Excretory System
Organs of excretion; Parts of the excretory system; urine formation, disorders of the excretory system; Role
of Yoga.
Lungs, skin and kidneys are the three organs of excretion; parts of the excretory system: the Kidney, Cortex
and Medulla; Ureters; Bladder; Urethra.
Disorders of the excretory system: Kidney failure, Gout, Kidney stones;the Dialysis machine:meaning of each.
How the practice of yoga helps in maintaining the health of the excretory system and hence the elimination of
waste from the body.

5. Personal hygiene through Yoga
Purpose of maintaining hygiene in Yoga; Yogic care and/or cleaning of sense organs.
Purpose of maintaining hygiene in yoga: removal of diseases, purification of the body, maintaining efficiency
of the body, better immunity, long life, moral and spiritual elevation.
Yogic Care and/ or cleaning of the sense organs:
Care of teeth, mouth, cleaning of the tongue (jivhamulashodhanam: benefits and procedure), cleaning of the
ears(karnarandhradhouti procedure and its benefits); care of eyes: factors affecting the health of the eye, eye
exercises-trataka(central fixation)-candle gazing.

SECTION II: SAGES OF INDIA
Candidates are to write notes on the lives and teachings of the following sages: Vyasa, Yagnavalkya, Narsi Mehta,
Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekanand, Ramana Maharishi.
For each of the above sages, the candidates need to know briefly, two important aspects of their works.

1. Vyasa
Birth and early life; his birthday is celebrated as Guru Purnima; training under his father Rishi Parasara,
his role as the grandfather of Pandavas and Kauravas, his son Shuka.
Works: The Bhramasutras, The Mahabharata, SrimadBhagvatam, The Puranas, Vyasa Bhashya.

2. Yagnavalkya
Birth and education, dynamics of his relationship with his guru Vaisampayana (growing disagreement
between the two at the ashram, Meet at Mount Meru, King Supriya and the formation of the Krishna
Yajurveda); relationship with Surya Bhagvan, King Janaka, Gargi and Maitreyi
Works: The Yajurvedas, The Brihadaryanka and Bhramanas, Yoga Yagnavalkya Samhita.

3. Narsi Mehta
Birth and early life, three miraculous events in his life. His teaching and contributions-composition
‘Vaishnava Jan To….’

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4. Sri Aurobindo
His early life and education abroad; his mastery over several European and Indian languages; return to
India; experience of the silent mind after guidance from Lele; Sri Aurobindo as one of the leaders of the
freedom movement the newspaper - Vande Mataram; solitary confinement in Alipore Jail; acquittal and
journey to Pondicherry; meeting with Mirra Alfassa who would in later years be called the Mother of the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram; Auroville, Matri Mandir and the Sri Aurobindo Society.
Teachings of Sri Aurobindo: Yoga results in ‘accelerated evolution’; Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga,
guidelines on how man can consciously collaborate with the Divine in accelerating his evolution (An
understanding of the human consciousness as having four beings simultaneously coexistent in it: (1) The
Physical Being (2) The emotional being (3) the mental being (4) The spiritual being); the triple formula of
Aspiration, Rejection and Surrender. His words: ‘All life is Yoga’ – bringing perfection, peace and harmony
into all aspects of day-to-day life.
Works of Sri Aurobindo: Savitri, The Life Divine, Synthesis of Yoga(couple of sentences on the contents and/or
purpose of the above books)

5. Swami Vivekananda
Vision of his Guru Ramakrishna: story of the seven sages and a little boy. Childhood stories of Narendra’s
courage and truthfulness. His first meeting with Sri Ramakrishna and his historical question: “Sir, have you
seen God?”His father’s demise and leaving the family in poverty; his first living experience with the Divine
Mother in the Kali temple at Dakshineshwar. starting the Ramakrishna Mission order post Ramakrishna’s
demise. His travels in India right upto Kanyakumari where he was inspired to travel abroad;his speech at the
Parliament of World Religions.Setting up centres of the Ramakrishna Mission in the West. Setting up the Belur
Math.Inspiring speeches to Indian youth. Early death.
Literary Works by Swami Vivekananda: Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga. Practical Vedanta, My India
– the India Eternal, My Master.
Teachings: The soul of man is more powerful than anything else;service to man is service to God; His teaching
of Vedanta, the world is one; civilization will be complete in the world when India gives to the world the
marvels of its spirituality and in exchange, receives from the world the marvels of modern science; to preach
unto mankind their divinity and how to make it manifest in every movement of life.There can be no salvation
if one has faith in Gods outside but no faith in oneself. The real atheist is one who doesn’t believe in himself.

6. Sri Ramana Maharishi
Birth and early life; His death experience which led to the all-consumingquestion for him, “Who am I”?His
travel to Thiruvannamalai; His Enlightenment; Setting up of the Ramana Ashram; granting his mother
moksha at the time of her moving on.
Teachings: Self enquiry: Who am I? and his method of self-enquiry.
Works: Who Am I, 5 Hymns to Arunachala, 40 verses on Reality.

SECTION III: THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI
The Four Padas
(i) Samadhi Pada
Chitta Vrittis: definition of Yoga. The different types of Chitta Vrittis: Klishta and Aklishta; Pramana
Viparyaya Vikalpa, Nidra, Smriti;
Ways to still the Chitta Vrittis: Abhyasa and Vairagya, Ishwar Pranidhana, the Pranava Mantra, the four
virtues, Pranayama (elongating the bahya kumbhak), heightened awareness of the senses, concentrating on

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a light beyond all sorrow, contemplating and recollecting the experiences of dreams-filled or dreamless sleep
during the waking state.
Obstacles: Vyadhi, Styana, Samshaya, Pramada, Alasya, Avirati, Bhrantidarshana,
Alabdhahumikatva,Anavasthi-tattva.Accompaniments of the obstacles: Dukha, Daurmansya, Angamejayatva
and ShvasaPrashvasa.
Samadhi - definition and types of Samadhis (Sabeej, Nirbeej, Savitarka, Nirvitarka, Savichara, Nirvichara).

(ii) Sadhana Pada
Kriya yoga, Kleshas, cause of pain: identification of the seer (drashtu) with the seen; Kaivalya: destruction
of ignorance through right knowledge breaks the link between the seer and the seen and leads to liberation
or kaivalya (refer to Sutra 2.25, the students need not learn the Sutra); Ashtang yoga; Pratipaksha Bhavanam
(refer to Sutra 2.33, the students need not learn the Sutra).

(iii) Vibhuti Pada
Concept and definition of Samyama, study of the following objects of samyama and the powers attained:
distinguishing marks on another man’s body, qualities of friendliness and compassion, strength such as that
of an elephant, the sun, the moon, the pole star, the naval, the pit of the throat, the head, the heart; These
Vibhutis (attainments)are hindrances to achieve the spiritual goal.

(iv) Kaivalya Pada
5 ways of spiritual accomplishment; Karma: black, white or black and white; subject and object (relationship
between the two in the light of Patanjali’s yoga sutras); Chit and Chitta; dharma megha samadhi.

SECTION IV: SOME IMPORTANT SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY AND SOME SUTRAS

1. Some of the Orthodox Philosophies
Sankhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Purva Mimansa with respect to each philosophy - Meaning of the name, founder,
dates, important texts, tenets, salvation, concept of God.
Tenets of Sankhya
Purusha and Prakriti (dualistic system) (the student needs to know just a basic understanding of these terms);
Gunas, 23 evolutes of Prakriti.
Tenets of Yoga
Yoga also called Sa Ishvara Sankhya; 5 vrittis and 5 Chitta Bhumis; 5 kleshas; 4 virtues; Ashtang yoga.
Tenets of Vedanta
Basic meaning of the following terms: Advaita, Brahman, Jagat, Mithya, Maya, Sookshma (subtle) and Sthool
(gross) buddhi
Tenets of Purva Mimansa
Importance of rituals and Mantras, concept of many Gods and Goddesses, concept of divinity in non-living
objects, Karma and dharma.

2. Some of the Heterodox Philosophies
Buddhism and Jainism with respect to each philosophy - meaning of the name, founder, dates, important
texts, tenets, salvation, concept of God.

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Tenets of Buddhism
The 4 noble truths, the 8-fold path, two schools of Buddhism - Hinayana and Mahayana.
Tenets of Jainism
The 3 jewels, transmigration of the soul and moksha, everything has a jiva, no belief in Gods and Goddesses,
24 tirthankaras, Mahavira the 24th one.

3. Contemporary Philosophies
Eckhart Tolle's Philosophy: Power of Now
Tenets: mind controlling the human being and his addiction to thinking; consciousness beyond the mind;
presence or the awareness space in which thoughts arise; the Pain Body: The energy field of pain,
accumulated from the past that occupies the mind and body periodically as an inexplicable dark emotional
state; methods to enter the eternal Now as a means of breaking free from the addiction to thought:
• Tuning into the awareness of the breath and body.
• Dis-identification with the thinker, watching the thought.
• Surrendering to what is, dropping the resistance to what arises in the moment.
• Paying attention to environmental sounds and tuning into the silence between the sounds.

4. Five Important Sutras
Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2, 1.14, 1.33, 2.3, 2.28

PAPER 2 (INTERNAL ASSESSMENT)
The practical work is to be divided into two sections as follows:
Section A (40 Marks): Course Work - the course work will be assessed by the teacher on the basis of continuous
assessment. The candidate will be assessed on the basis of his/her output in the following areas:
(a) Degree of effort and progress in his/her yoga practice (judged through periodical tests).
(b) Assisting the yoga therapy sessions.
Improving his/her own health and well being through yoga therapy.
(c) Participation in programmes.

Section B (60 Marks): Practical Tests - There will be three tests in this section – to be assessed by an External
Examiner.
Test 1: Predetermined Asanas (30 marks)
The candidates must perform any six asanas from those given below:
Ardha Chandrasana, Parivritta Trikonasana, Chaturanga Dandasana, Salambha Shirshasana Sarvangasana,
Paschimottanasana, Urdhva Dhanurasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana.
Test 2: Directed asanas (20 marks)
The candidate must perform 4 or 5 asanas of the External Examiner's choice. (The examiner will select asanas
from the Class X syllabus only). The External Examiner may test the pupil's ability to adapt and modify asanas.

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Test 3: Pupil's preference of asanas (10 marks)
The candidate will perform two asanas of his/her choice.
Important Notes:
(a) Candidate must choose an asana from the Class X syllabus only.
(b) Candidate must not select an asana that he/she has already demonstrated in Test 1 and Test 2.

The practical work is to be covered under the following categories:
(A) Asanas
1. Ardha Chandrasana
2. Parivritta Trikonasana
3. Pashva Uttanasana
4. Uttanasana
5. Chaturanga Dandasana
6. Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana
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 Application (Interactive) Presentation
to perform the classical
pose)
Grade I • Immediately • Firmness and • Strength • Can adapt and modify as • Confidence
(4 marks) presents the required alertness. • Flexibility required by examiner. • Angle of presentation
asana. • Co-ordination. • Endurance (can hold the • Can clearly explain the and stance between
• Knows the meaning • Attention to pose) purpose. poses.
of the name of the details. • Stability • Co-operation and
asana. • Moment-to- keenness.
• Knows to which moment • Grace and poise.
general group the awareness.
asana belongs.
• Knows the benefits.

Grade II Fails to respond to any Any one of the Any one of the above Very competent at one of the Lack one of the above
(3 marks) one of the above above aspects aspects inadequate. above but only partially aspects.
aspects. lacking. manages the other.

Grade III Fails to respond to two Any two aspects Any two aspects Attempts both but is unclear Lack two of the above
(2 marks) of the above lacking. inadequate. aspects.
requirements.

Grade IV Fails to respond to three Any three aspects Any three aspects Guesses both the application Lack three of the above
(1 mark) of the above lacking. inadequate. and purpose. aspects.
requirements.
Grade V Respond incorrectly to Poor in all four All four aspects Unable to apply or explain All four aspects
(0 marks) all four aspects. inadequate. inadequate.

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