CBSE Syllabus for Class 8 Hindi 2025-26
Hindi is not another school subject – it's your bridge to Indian culture and heritage. When you learn about Kabir's poems or folk stories, you're learning the language that is shared by millions of Indians. Class 8 Hindi familiarises you with this rich heritage and prepares you for exams.
The 2025-26 CBSE syllabus has been designed to help you achieve good marks and enjoy Hindi. This guide has it all: both term syllabi, how the marks are allocated, and helpful study tips. So, whether you aspire to top grades or simply wish to improve your Hindi, we will assist you in acing your final exams.
1.0Overview of CBSE Syllabus for Class 8 Hindi
The CBSE syllabus for Class 8 Hindi is divided into four main sections, each focusing on different aspects of language learning:
- Reading Comprehension (अपठित बोध)
- Grammar (व्याकरण)
- Literature (पाठ्यपुस्तक एवं पूरक पाठ्यपुस्तक)
- Writing Skills (लेखन कौशल)
These components together assess the student's ability to understand, analyse, and communicate effectively in Hindi. The theoretical exam is of 80 marks, supplemented by a 20-mark internal assessment that evaluates continuous performance.
2.0CBSE Chapter-wise Syllabus for Class 8 Hindi
*The questions and their types may vary from school to school, but follow the same pattern of evaluation in term-end theory exams.
3.0Detailed CBSE Class 8 Hindi Syllabus
The CBSE Class 8 Hindi syllabus typically includes three prescribed textbooks: Vasant (वसंत), Bharat Ki Khoj (भारत की खोज), and sometimes Durva (दूर्वा). The assessment focuses on a balanced approach to language and literature.
I. Reading Comprehension (अपठित बोध) - (Approx. 10 Marks)
- अपठित गद्यांश (Unseen Prose Passage): Students will be tested on their ability to comprehend and analyze an unseen prose passage, answering objective and short answer questions based on its content.
- अपठित काव्यांश (Unseen Poetry Excerpt): Similar to prose, students will answer questions based on an unseen poem, evaluating their understanding of its theme, emotions, and literary elements.
II. Grammar (व्याकरण) - (Approx. 15-20 Marks) This section aims to strengthen fundamental Hindi grammar concepts. Key topics include:
- शब्द विचार (Word Study): तत्सम, तद्भव, देशज, विदेशी शब्द (Tatsam, Tadbhav, Deshaj, Foreign words), रूढ़, यौगिक, योगरूढ़ शब्द (Root, Compound, Yog-Roodh words), पर्यायवाची (Synonyms), विलोम शब्द (Antonyms).
- वाक्य विचार (Sentence Structure): सरल, संयुक्त, मिश्र वाक्य (Simple, Compound, Complex sentences).
- संज्ञा (Noun): भेद (Types), वचन (Number), लिंग (Gender).
- सर्वनाम (Pronoun): भेद (Types).
- विशेषण (Adjective): भेद (Types), अवस्थाएँ (Degrees of comparison).
- क्रिया (Verb): भेद (Types), वाच्य (Voice - कर्तृवाच्य, कर्मवाच्य, भाववाच्य - Active, Passive, Impersonal).
- अव्यय (Indeclinables): क्रिया विशेषण (Adverb), संबंधबोधक (Postposition), समुच्चयबोधक (Conjunction), विस्मयादिबोधक (Interjection).
- काल (Tense): भूतकाल (Past), वर्तमान काल (Present), भविष्यत काल (Future).
- कारक (Case): सभी कारक भेद (All case forms).
- संधि (Conjunction/Joining of words): स्वर संधि (Vowel Sandhi) - दीर्घ, गुण, वृद्धि, यण, अयादि (Dirgha, Guna, Vriddhi, Yan, Ayadi).
- उपसर्ग एवं प्रत्यय (Prefixes and Suffixes).
- मुहावरे एवं लोकोक्तियाँ (Idioms and Proverbs).
- वर्तनी (Spelling) and वाक्य शुद्धीकरण (Sentence Correction).
III. Literature (पाठ्यपुस्तक एवं पूरक पाठ्यपुस्तक) - (Approx. 30-35 Marks)
- Prescribed Textbooks:
- वसंत, भाग - 3 (Vasant, Part-3): This is the primary textbook containing various prose and poetry chapters. Chapters include a mix of stories, essays, poems, and one-act plays.
- Examples of chapters often found: लाख की चूड़ियाँ, बस की यात्रा, दीवानों की हस्ती, भगवान के डाकिये, क्या निराश हुआ जाए, यह सबसे कठिन समय नहीं, कबीर की साखियाँ, सुदामा चरित, जहाँ पहिया है, अकबरी लोटा, सूरदास के पद, पानी की कहानी, बाज और साँप.
- भारत की खोज (Bharat Ki Khoj): This supplementary reader, based on Jawaharlal Nehru's work, focuses on India's rich history, culture, and heritage.
- Chapters often include: अहमदनगर का किला, तलाश, सिंधु घाटी सभ्यता, युगों का दौर, नयी समस्याएँ, अंतिम दौर – एक, अंतिम दौर – दो, तनाव, दो पृष्ठभूमियाँ - भारतीय और अंग्रेज़ी.
- दूर्वा, भाग - 3 (Durva, Part-3): This book is sometimes used as an additional or alternative supplementary reader, with various stories and poems.
- Question Types:
- Comprehension questions from chapters (short and long answer).
- Value-based questions.
- Character analysis and theme-based questions.
- Poetry appreciation (भावार्थ, central idea).
IV. Writing Skills (लेखन कौशल) - (Approx. 20 Marks)
- अनुच्छेद लेखन (Paragraph Writing): Writing short paragraphs on given topics (approx. 80-100 words), based on hints or a picture.
- पत्र लेखन (Letter Writing): Formal and Informal letters (e.g., application, complaint, invitation, congratulatory).
- संवाद लेखन (Dialogue Writing): Writing dialogues between two or more characters on a given situation.
- विज्ञापन लेखन (Advertisement Writing): Designing a creative advertisement for a product, event, or public message.
- सूचना लेखन (Notice Writing): Drafting a formal notice for a school or community event.
4.0Internal Assessment (आंतरिक मूल्यांकन)
The internal assessment measures your performance beyond the term-end theory exam. It totals 20 marks and covers four key areas, each worth 5 marks:
5.0Study Smarter, Not Harder: Study Aids for a Solid Exam Preparation
NCERT textbooks are your building blocks, but come on – they're only the beginning. To ace your Hindi exams, you have to look beyond the fundamentals and equip yourself with the appropriate tools.
- Past year question papers: PYQs reveal precisely what examiners enjoy asking and how they construct questions. Take time to work through these papers – you'll begin to recognise patterns and won't be surprised during the actual exam.
- Sample papers: These exam simulators are your closest buddies in developing stamina for exams. Set the timer, sit in a noise-free room, and attempt these papers under simulated exam conditions.
- CBSE Support Materials: These books, published by the Board itself, contain chapter overviews and grammar exercises that plug the gaps left by textbooks. Consider them your safety net.
- Quick Revision Tools: Flashcards might seem old-school, but they work wonders for last-minute revision. Create cards for tricky grammar rules, literary terms, and new vocabulary.
- Reference books: Reference books like Golden Hindi and Arihant's All in One aren't replacements for NCERT – they're upgrades. They offer deeper explanations, more practice questions, and different perspectives on the same topics.
- NCERT solutions: NCERT solutions make you learn something textbooks can't, i.e., how to write perfect score answers. They indicate the structure, the points to mention, and the words that earn you full marks.
6.0Quick Tips to Succeed in the Hindi Exam
Be thoroughly familiar with the syllabus: Learn how many marks each section has so that you can manage your study hours effectively and not miss something crucial.
- Practice reading unseen passages weekly: The more you practice reading unseen passages, the faster you will read and the easier those difficult passages will be to read at the time of the exam.
- Practice some grammar daily: Utilise some time daily on संधि, समास, उपसर्ग, प्रत्यय, and लिंग to develop good grammar skills without tension later on.
- Make short summaries: Write a short summary in your own words after completing each chapter or poem to recall the main points clearly.
- Practice writing in various formats: Write letters, essays, dialogues, and emails within word limits on a regular basis to enhance writing and make it simpler in exams.
- Practice solving old papers within a time limit: Practising old papers with a timer improves speed and identifies the topics most frequently asked.
- Participate actively in internal activities and tests: Be serious about all project work, listening, and speaking tasks to score full marks for your internal tests with ease.