CBSE Class 12 Political Science Syllabus 2026-27
CBSE Class 12 Political Science Syllabus 2026-27 includes updated topics, chapter list, and exam pattern as per the latest CBSE guidelines. CBSE released this syllabus on 1 April 2026 for the academic session 2026-27.
The syllabus covers unit-wise topics, prescribed chapters, and exam structure for board exams. It helps students understand what to study, which topics to focus on, and how the question paper will be designed.
Students looking for the latest syllabus can download the CBSE Class 12 Political Science Syllabus 2026-27 PDF from the link below.
CBSE Class 12 Political Science Question Paper Design 2026-27
| S. No. | Competencies | Marks | Percentage |
| 1 | Knowledge and Remembering: Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts. | 22 | 27.5% |
| 2 | Understanding: Understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, explaining, describing, and stating main ideas. | 24 | 30% |
| 3 | Applying: Solve problems by applying acquired knowledge, facts to interpret a situation/ cartoon/ clippings/ sources/ Map | 22 | 27.5% |
| 4 | Analysis and Evaluation: Classify, compare, contrast, or differentiate between pieces of information; organize and/ or integrate from a variety of sources; Examine, synthesize information into parts and identify motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations. | 12 | 15% |
| 80 | 100% |
Note: Competency based questions for the examinations to be conducted in the
academic year 2026-27 will be 50% in class XII.
| Book | Objective Type (1M) | SA Type I (2M) | SA Type II (4M) | Passage/Map/Cartoon based Questions (4M) | LA Type (6M) | Total Weightage |
| Contemporary World Politics | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 40 |
| Politics in India since Independence | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 40 |
| Project/Practical | 20 | |||||
| Total No. of Marks and Questions | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 80+20 |
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NOTE-
- Question paper will be in five parts (A, B, C, D & E). There will be an internal choice in Part C and Part-E.
- In order to assess different mental abilities of learners, question paper is likely to include questions based on passages, visuals such as maps, cartoons.
- Map question can be given from any lesson of Book 2 (Politics in India since Independence);
but weightage of lessons should remain unaltered. The Maps available in the official websites of Govt of India may be used. - Cartoon and passage-based questions can be asked from either textbook, but weightage of lessons should be maintained
Guidelines For Project Work Class 12
Project Work: 20 Marks
Rationale
Political Science as a field of study in senior secondary classes enable students to get an exposure to political activities and processes that they are exposed to in everyday life. The study of political science has emerged as a multifaceted discipline, involving a contemporary interdisciplinary approaches and empirical framework, emphasizing more on field work rather than theoretical perceptions. The connect between government and citizen ensures the emergence of an active and reflective citizens and vibrant democracy. CBSE has therefore incorporated project work in Political Science to enable students to extend their interest beyond textbooks and provide them with a platform to gather information, value the decisions made to shape the community and visualise future course of action to be taken to ensure healthy democracy.
Objectives of project work
To enable learners to:
- probe deeper, initiate action and reflect on knowledge and skills acquired during the course of class XI and XII
- analyse and evaluate real world scenarios using social constructivism, a theory based on observation and scientific study
- become independent and empowered to choose their topic and gather data from a variety of source, investigate varied viewpoints acquired and arrive at logical deductions.
- enquire into, and reflect on, issues independently /in collaboration with others and identify the limitations
- develop 21st century skills of communication, cooperation, coordination, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration to produce an extended and independent work.
Role of the teacher
A teacher should:
- help each learner select the topic based on recently published extracts from the news media, government policies, RBI bulletin, NITI Aayog reports, IMF/World Bank reports etc., after detailed discussions and deliberations of the topic.
- play the role of a facilitator to support and monitor the project work of the learner through periodic discussions.
- guide the research work in terms of sources for the relevant data.
- ensure that students understand the relevance and usage of primary evidence and other sources in their projects
- ensure that students are able to derive a conclusion from the content; cite the limitations faced during the research and give appropriate references used in doing the research work
- educate learner about plagiarism and the importance of quoting the source of the information to ensure authenticity of research work
Project overview:
The Project work will be implemented for 20 Marks.
- Out of 20 marks, 10 marks are to be allotted to viva voce and 10 marks for project work.
- For class XII, the evaluation for 20 marks project work should be done jointly by the internal and external examiners and for class XI the evaluation can be done by the internal examiner.
- The project can be individual/pair/group of 4-5 each. The Project can be made on any of the topics given in the syllabus of a particular class or any contemporary issues.
- The project work can be culminated in the form of films, albums, songs, storytelling, debate,
Role Play, Skit, Presentation, Model, Field Survey, Mock Drills/Mock Event etc. - The teacher should give enough time for preparation of the Project Work. The topics for Project Work taken up by the student must be discussed by the teacher in classroom.
- Students can use primary sources available in city archives, Primary sources can also include newspaper cuttings, photographs, film footage and recorded written/speeches. Secondary sources may also be used after proper authentication.
- Viva-Voce
- At the end of the stipulated term, each learner will present the research work in the Project File to the External and Internal examiner.
- The questions should be asked from the Research Work/ Project File of the learner.
- The Internal Examiner should ensure that the study submitted by the learner is his/her original work.
- In case of any doubt, authenticity should be checked and verified
The marks will be allocated under the following heads:
| Sl.no. | Components | Marks Allotted |
| 1. | Introduction/overview | 2 |
| 2. | Variety Of Contents | 3 |
| 3 | Presentation | 3 |
| 4 | Conclusion | 1 |
| 5 | Bibliography | 1 |
| 6 | Viva-voce | 10 |
| Total | 20 |
The Changes for Class 12 (2026-27) Year-end Board Examinations are as under:
| (Class-12) | ||
| Periodic Assessment | Academic Session 2025-26 | Academic Session 2026-27 |
| Composition of question paper for year-end examination/ Board Examination (Theory) |
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