CBSE Class 11 Geography Syllabus 2026-27

CBSE has released the official CBSE Class 11 Geography Syllabus 2026-27 on April 2, 2026. Students must follow the updated syllabus for annual exam preparation, practical work, map work, and internal assessment. The latest Geography curriculum includes unit-wise topics, chapter-wise details, and the revised CBSE paper pattern for the 2026-27 academic session.

Our experts have provided a detailed analysis of important units and the latest exam pattern to help students prepare effectively. Oswal Publishers has also updated its CBSE Class 11 Geography books according to the latest CBSE guidelines and syllabus changes.

Students can download the official Class 11 Geography Syllabus 2026-27 PDF from the link given below.

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Table Of Contents−
CBSE Class XI MLQB 01

CBSE Class 11 Geography Latest Syllabus 2026-27

Book- Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Chapter No. Chapter Name Weightage
Unit-I Geography as a Discipline
1 Geography As a Discipline 3
Unit-II The Earth
2 The Origin and Evolution of the Earth 9
3 Interior of the Earth
4 Distribution of oceans and continents
Unit-III Landforms
5 Geomorphic Processes 6
6 Landform and their Evolution
Unit-IV Climate
7 Composition and Structure of Atmosphere 8
8 Solar Radiation, Heat balance and Temperature
9 Atmospheric Circulations and Weather Systems
10 Water in the Atmosphere
11 World Climate and Climate Change (To be tested through internal assessments in the form of project and presentation)
Unit-V Water (Oceans)
12 Water (Oceans) 4
13 Movements of Ocean Water
Unit-VI Life on the Earth
14 Biodiversity and Conservation (To be tested through internal assessments in the form of project and presentation) –
Map Work 5
Total 35

Book-India Physical Environment

Chapter No. Chapter Name Weightage
Unit-I Introduction
1 India- Location 5
Unit-II Physiography
2 Structure and Physiography 13
3 Drainage System
Unit-III Climate Vegetation and Soil
4 Climate 12
5 Natural Vegetation
Unit-IV Natural Hazards and Disasters: Causes Consequences and Management
6 Natural Hazards and Disasters (To be tested through internal assessment in the form of Projects and presentation) –
Map 5
Total 35

Book-Geography Practical Part I

Chapter No. Chapter Name Weightage
1 Introduction to Maps 3
2 Map Scale 4
3 Latitude Longitude and Time 4
4 Map Projections 5
5 Topographical Maps 4
6 Introduction to Remote Sensing 5
Practical file and Viva 5
Total 30

Course Content – Class 11 (2026-26)

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Unit Content
Unit 1: Geography as a Discipline Chapter 1 Geography as a Discipline
  • Introduction to Geography as a discipline
  • Geography as an integrating discipline: Spatial and Temporal synthesis
  • Approaches to study Geography: Systematic and Regional
  • Branches of Geography: Physical Geography, Human Geography and Bio Geography
  • Physical Geography and its importance
Unit 2: The Earth Chapter 2 The Origin and Evolution of The Earth
  • Origin and evolution of the earth
  • Early theories: Origin of the Earth
  • Modern Theories: Origin of the universe
  • Formation of Stars and Planets
  • Evolution of the Earth: Lithosphere, Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
  • Origin of Life
Chapter 3 Interior of the Earth
  • Sources of Information about the Interior of the Earth (Direct and Indirect)
  • Earthquakes: Earthquake Waves, Shadow zones, Types, Scales to measure earthquake intensity, effects, frequency of earthquake occurrences
  • Structure of the Earth
  • Volcanoes and Volcanic landforms
Chapter 4 Distribution of Oceans and Continents
  • Continental Drift Theory, and Evidence in support of Continental Drift and Force for Drift
  • Post- Drift Studies
  • Ocean Floor Configuration
  • Distribution of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
  • Concept of Seafloor Spreading
  • Plate Tectonics: Types of Plate boundaries, Rate and forces for the Plate Movement
  • Movement of the Indian Plate
Unit 3: Landforms Chapter 5 Geomorphic processes
  • Geomorphic processes: Exogenic and Endogenic
  • Endogenic Process: Diastrophism, Volcanism
  • Exogenic Processes: Weathering, Landslides
  • Soil: Processes and factors of Soil Formation
Chapter 6 Landforms and their Evolution
  • Running water: Erosional and Depositional Landforms
  • Wind: Erosional and Depositional Landforms
Unit 4: Climate Chapter 7 Composition and Structure of Atmosphere
  • Atmosphere- composition and structure; elements of weather and climate
Chapter 8 Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature
  • Solar radiation: Variability of Insolation
  • Processes of Heating and Cooling of Atmosphere
  • Terrestrial Radiation
  • Heat budget of the earth
  • Temperature- Factors controlling temperature, Horizontal distribution of temperature, Inversion of temperature
Chapter 9 Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems
  • Atmospheric Pressure: Horizontal and Vertical Variation of Pressure
  • Forces affecting velocity and direction of Wind
  • General Circulation of the atmosphere: Pressure belts; Winds: Planetary, Seasonal and Local; air masses and Fronts; Tropical and Extratropical cyclones; Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Chapter 10 Water in the Atmosphere
  • Humidity-Absolute and Relative humidity
  • Evaporation and condensation
  • Different Forms of Condensation: dew, frost, fog, mist and cloud; Precipitation
  • Types of Rainfall and world distribution of rainfall
Chapter 11 World Climate and Climate Change

(To be tested through internal assessments in the form of project and presentation)
Unit 5: Water (Oceans) Chapter 12 Water (Oceans)
  • Hydrological Cycle
  • Major and Minor Relief Features of the Ocean Floor
  • Temperature and Salinity of Ocean Waters: Factors, Horizontal and Vertical distribution of temperature and Salinity
Chapter 13 Movements of Ocean Water
  • Movements of ocean water- Waves, Tides and Currents
Unit 6: Life on the Earth Chapter 14 Biodiversity and Conservation

(To be tested through internal assessment in the form of project and presentation)
Book - India: Physical Environment
Unit 1: Introduction Chapter 1 India — Location, Size, Latitudinal and Longitudinal extent, Indian Standard time, India and its neighbours
Unit 2: Physiography Chapter 2 Structure and Physiography
  • Physiographic Divisions: (1) The Northern and North-eastern
Mountains (2) The Northern Plain (3) The Peninsular Plateau (4) The Indian Desert (5) The Coastal Plains (6) The Islands.

Chapter 3 Drainage System
  • Drainage patterns
  • Concepts of River basin, Catchment Area, Watershed
  • Drainage and River systems of India: the Himalayan and the Peninsular
  • Extent of Usability of River Water- linking of rivers, problems in using river water and water pollution
Unit 3: Climate, Vegetation and Soil Chapter 4 Climate
  • Weather and climate
  • Unity and diversity in the Monsoon Climate
  • Factors determining the climate of India
  • The Nature and characteristics of Indian Monsoon
  • The Rhythm of Seasons
  • Distribution of Rainfall
  • Monsoon and the Economic Life in India
  • Global Warming
Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation
  • Natural vegetation – Introduction
  • Forest types and distribution
  • Conservation of forests
  • Wildlife; conservation; biosphere reserves
Unit 4: Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and Management Chapter 6 Natural Hazards and Disasters
(To be tested through internal assessment in the form of Projects and presentation)
Book - Geography Practical Part I
Chapter 1 Introduction to Maps
  • Essentials of map making
  • History of map making
  • Maps-types
  • Uses of maps
Chapter 2 Map Scale
  • Scales-methods and construction
  • Conversion of scale
Chapter 3 Latitude, Longitude and Time
  • Drawing of Parallels of latitude and Meridians of longitude
  • Longitude and time
  • International date line
Chapter 4 Map Projections
  • Map projection – typology, construction and properties of projection: Conical with one standard parallel and Mercator’s projection (only two projections)
Chapter 5 Topographical Maps
  • Study of topographic maps (1 : 50,000 or 1 : 25,000 Survey of India maps); Conventional Symbols, contour cross section and identification of landforms – slopes, hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution of settlements
Chapter 6 Introduction to Remote Sensing
  • Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing data-acquisition, platform and sensors and data products (photographic and digital)
Map Work
Book - Fundamentals of Physical Geography
(Map items for locating and labelling only on the outline political world map)
Chapter Map item (Map present on official website of Govt. of India should be used)
Chapter 4
Distribution of oceans and continents
  • Political Map of all Continents of the world
  • Major Oceans of the world: Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Southern Ocean ∙ Major lithospheric plates and Minor lithospheric plates, Ring of fire (Pacific Ocean), Mid- Atlantic Ridge.
Chapter 9
Atmospheric Circulations and Weather Systems 		Major Hot Deserts of the world:
  • Mojave Desert – Nevada, US
  • Patagonian Desert – Argentina
  • Sahara – Africa
  • Gobi Desert – Mongolia, Asia
  • Thar desert – India
  • Great Victoria Desert – Australia
Chapter 12
Water (Oceans)
  • Major Seas
  • Black Sea
  • Baltic Sea
  • Caspian Sea
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • North Sea
  • Red Sea
  • Bay of Fundy (Canada) – Famous for the highest tides in the world
Chapter 13
Movements of Ocean Water 		Ocean Currents
Cold currents Warm currents
  • Humboldt c.
  • California c.
  • Falkland c.
  • Canaries c.
  • West Australian c.
  • Oyashio c.
  • Labrador c
  • Alaska c.
  • Brazilian c.
  • Agulhas c.
  • Kuroshio c.
  • Gulf stream c.
Chapter 14 Biodiversity and Conservation Ecological hotspots
  • Eastern Himalaya, India
  • Western ghats, India
  • Indonesia, Asia
  • Eastern Madagascar, Africa
  • Upper Guinean forests, Africa
  • Atlantic forest, Brazil
  • Tropical Andes
Map Work
Book - India Physical Environment
(Map items for locating and labelling only on the outline political map of India)
Chapter Map item (Map present on official website of Govt. of India should be used)
Chapter-1 India- Location
  • Latitudinal extent of India
  • Longitudinal extent of India
  • Standard Meridian of India
  • Important latitude passing through India (Tropic of Cancer)
  • Southern Most Point of mainland of India (Kanya Kumari)
Chapter-2 Structure and Physiography
  • Mountains: Karakoram Range, Garo- Khasi- Jaintia hills, Aravalli Range, Vindhyan Range, Satpura Range, Western ghats & Eastern ghats
  • Peaks: K2, Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi, Nanga Parvat, Namcha Barwa and Anaimudi
  • Passes: Shipkila, Nathula, Palghat, Bhor ghat and Thal ghat
  • Plateaus: Malwa, Chhotnagpur, Meghalaya and Deccan Plateau
  • Coastal Plains: Saurashtra, Konkan, North and South Kanara, Malabar, Coromandel and Northern Circars
  • Islands: Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands
Chapter-3 Drainage System
  • Rivers: Brahmaputra, Indus, Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Damodar, Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari, Narmada, Tapti and Luni
  • Lakes (Identification): Wular, Sambhar, Chilika, Kolleru, Pulicat & Vembanad
  • Straits, Bays, Gulfs: Palk Strait, Rann of Kachchh, Gulf of Kachchh, Gulf of Mannar & Gulf of Khambat
Chapter-4 Climate
  • Area with highest temperature in India
  • Area with lowest temperature in India
  • Area with highest rainfall in India
  • Area with lowest rainfall in India
Chapter-5 Natural Vegetation (Identification on an outline map of India) Tropical evergreen, Tropical deciduous, Tropical thorn, Montane and Littoral/ Swamp forests. Wildlife reserves: (locating and labeling)
  • National Parks: Corbett, Kaziranga, Ranthambore. Shivpuri, Simlipal
  • Bird Sanctuaries: Keoladeo Ghana and Ranganathittu
  • Wild life Sanctuaries: Periyar, Rajaji, Mudumalai, Dachigam,

Note: The following topics are included in the syllabus but will be assessed only formatively
to reinforce understanding without adding to summative assessments. This reduces
academic stress while ensuring meaningful learning. Schools can integrate these with
existing chapters as they align well. Relevant NCERT textual material is enclosed for
reference.

Book: Fundamentals of Physical Geography

  • Minerals and Rocks- Major types of rocks and their characteristics

Guidelines for Internal Assessment/ Geography Practical

  1. A practical file must be prepared by students covering all the topics prescribed in
    the practical syllabus.
  2. The file should be completely handwritten with a cover page, index page and
    acknowledgment.
  3. All practical works should be drawn neatly with appropriate headings, scale, index
    etc. Data can be taken from the NCERT textbook.
  4. The practical file will be assessed at the time of term end practical examinations.
  5. A written exam of 25 marks will be conducted based on prescribed practical syllabus.
  6. Viva will be conducted based on practical syllabus only.
  7. Written Exam -25 Marks
  8. Practical file- 03 Marks
  9. Viva- 02 Marks

CLASS: 11

Prescribed Books:

  1. Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Class XI, Published by NCERT
  2. India, Physical Environment, Class XI, Published by NCERT
  3. Practical Work in Geography Part I, Class XI, Published by NCERT

Links for NCERT textbooks:

  1. https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?kegy2=0-14
  2. https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?kegy1=0-6
  3. https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?kegy3=0-6

Note:

  1. The above textbooks are also available in Hindi medium.
  2. Kindly refer to the latest editions of all NCERT Textbooks.

The Changes for Class 12 (2026-27) Year-end Board Examinations are as under:

(Class-11)
Periodic Assessment Academic Session 2025-26 Academic Session 2026-27
Composition of question paper for year-end examination/ Board Examination (Theory)
  • Competency Focused Questions in the form of MCQs/ Case Based Questions, Source-based Integrated Questions or any other type = 50%
  • Select response type questions (MCQ) = 20%
  • Constructed response questions (Short Answer Questions/Long Answer type Questions, as per existing pattern) = 30%
  • Competency Focused Questions in the form of MCQs/ Case Based Questions, Source-based Integrated Questions or any other type = 50%
  • Select response type questions (MCQ) = 20%
  • Constructed response questions (Short Answer Questions/Long Answer type Questions, as per existing pattern) = 30%

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