CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2026-27

CBSE has released the Class 12 Geography syllabus for the academic session 2026-27 on 1 April 2026. Students can check the latest syllabus and download the official CBSE Class 12 Geography syllabus PDF for exam preparation.

The CBSE Class 12 Geography syllabus 2026-27 includes theory units, map work, and practical components based on NCERT textbooks. Key sections cover Human Geography, India: People and Economy, and Practical Work in Geography.

The syllabus defines the chapter list, unit-wise topics, and exam structure for the board exam. Students can use it to understand chapter weightage, important topics, and improve answer accuracy.

This page provides a clear unit-wise breakdown of the syllabus along with the latest CBSE paper pattern for the 2026-27 session.

Students can download the CBSE Geography syllabus Class 12 PDF from the link below and access the complete chapter and unit structure.

Download the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2026-27 PDF and start preparation with the correct topics.

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Table Of Contents−
CBSE Class 12 MLQB

CBSE Class 12 Geography Latest Syllabus 2026-27

Book-India People and Economy

Chapter No. Chapter Name Weightage
Unit I
1 Human Geography 3
Unit II
2 The World Population Density Distribution and Growth 8
3 Human Development
Unit III
4 Primary Activities 19
5 Secondary Activities
6 Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
7 Transport, Communication and Trade
8 International Trade
Map Work (Based on identification of features on World Political Map) 5
Total 35
Chapter No. Chapter Name Weightage
Unit I
1 Population Distribution Density Growth and Composition 5
Unit II
2 Human Settlements 3
Unit III
3 Land Resources and Agriculture 10
4 Water Resources
5 Mineral And Energy Resources
6 Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context
Unit IV
7 Transport and Communication 7
8 International Trade
Unit V
9 Geographical Perspective on selected issues and problems 5
Map Work (Based on Marking and labelling on a political Map of India) 5
Total 35

Geography Practical-II

Chapter No. Chapter Name Weightage
1 Data-its source and Compilation 18
2 Data Processing
3 Graphical representation of Data
4 Spatial Information Technology 7
Practical Record Book and Viva Voce 5
Total 30
Book: Fundamentals of Human Geography
Unit 1 Chapter-1 Human Geography: Nature and Scope
  • Introduction to Human Geography
  • Approaches to study Human Geography – Regional and Systematic Geography, Dualism
  • Nature of Human Geography
  • Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature
  • Schools of thought in Human Geography
  • Fields and subfields of Human Geography
Unit 2 Chapter-2 The World Population Distribution, Density and Growth
  • Population distribution and density
  • Factors influencing distribution
  • Population growth
  • Components of population change
  • Demographic Transition
  • Population Control Measures
Chapter-3 Human Development
  • Human development – concept, selected indicators
  • Growth and Development
  • Four pillars of Human Development
  • Approaches to Human Development
  • Measuring Human Development – HDI, HPI, GNH
  • International comparisons
Unit 3 Chapter-4 Primary Activities
  • Concept and types
  • Hunting, Gathering, Pastoralism, Nomadic Herding, Commercial Livestock Rearing
  • Types of agriculture:
    • Primitive Subsistence
    • Intensive Subsistence
  • Commercial Agriculture:
    • Plantation Agriculture
    • Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation
    • Mixed Farming
    • Dairy Farming
    • Mediterranean Agriculture
    • Market Gardening and Horticulture
    • Cooperative Farming
    • Collective Farming
  • Mining – factors affecting mining
  • Methods of Mining
Chapter-5 Secondary Activities
  • Manufacturing – characteristics of modern large-scale manufacturing
  • Factors influencing industrial location
  • Classification of manufacturing Industries: On the basis of Size, Inputs /raw material, Output /Products and Ownership
  • Concept of High-tech Industry
Chapter-6 Tertiary Activities
  • Tertiary activities-concept and types
  • Trade and Commerce: Retail and Wholesale trading, Transport, Factors Affecting Transport
  • Communication
  • Services
  • People engaged in tertiary activities
  • Tourist attractions - some examples from selected countries
  • Medical Services for Overseas Patients in India
  • Quaternary and Quinary activities-concept
  • The Digital Divide
Chapter-7 Transport and Communication
  • Transport
  • Modes of transportation
  • Land transport: Roadways, Highways, Road Density, Border Roads.
  • Land transport: Roadways, Highways, Road Density, Border Roads. ● Railways: Trans-continental Railways: Trans-Siberian, Trans Canadian,Australian Trans Continental
  • Water Transport: Important Sea Routes, Shipping Canals, Inland waterways
  • Air transport: Inter-Continental air routes
  • Pipelines
  • Communications: Satellite Communications and Cyber Space- Internet
Chapter-8 International Trade
  • History of international trade
  • Why international trade exists
  • Basis of International Trade
  • Balance of trade
  • Types of International Trade: Bilateral and Multi-lateral trade
  • Case for Free Trade
  • Concept of Dumping
  • World Trade Organisation
  • Regional trade blocs
  • Concerns Related to International Trade
  • Gateways of International trade: Ports
  • Types of Port
Book: India: People and Economy
Unit 1 Chapter-1 Population
  • Distribution of Population
  • Density of Population
  • Growth of population
  • Four distinct phases of population growth
  • Regional Variation in Population Growth
  • Population Composition: Rural – Urban Composition, Linguistic Composition, Religious Composition
  • Composition of Working Population
  • Promoting Gender Sensitivity through ‘Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao’ Social Campaign.
Unit 2 Chapter-2 Human Settlements
  • Rural settlements - types and distribution
  • Urban settlements - types, distribution
  • Evolution of Towns in India
  • Urbanisation in India
  • Functional Classification of Towns
  • Smart Cities Mission
Unit 3 Chapter-3 Land Resources and Agriculture
  • Land resources- general land use
  • Land use categories
  • Land-use Changes in India
  • Common Property Resources
  • Agricultural Land Use in India
  • Cropping Seasons in India
  • Types of Farming
  • Geographical conditions and distribution of major crops (Wheat, Rice, Tea, Coffee, Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane and Rubber);
  • Agricultural development in India
  • Growth of Agricultural Output and Technology
  • Problems of Indian Agriculture
Chapter-4 Water Resources
  • Water resources- Surface water and Groundwater Resources
  • Lagoons and Backwaters
  • Water Demand and Utilisation - irrigation, domestic, industrial and other uses;
  • Emerging Water Problems: Deterioration of Water Quality
  • Water Conservation and Management; Prevention of Water Pollution; Rain water harvesting and Watershed management
Chapter-5 Mineral and Energy Resources
  • Mineral Resources: Introduction and Types
  • Major mineral belts of India
  • Distribution of Ferrous Minerals (Iron ore and Manganese), Non-Ferrous Minerals (Bauxite and Copper); Non-metallic minerals (Mica)
  • Energy Resources: Conventional sources (Coal, Petroleum and Natural gas) and non-conventional sources (Nuclear, Solar, Wind, Tidal and Wave and Geothermal and Bio energy)
  • Conservation of Mineral Resources
Chapter-6 Planning and Sustainable Development
  • Planning- Introduction
  • Target Area Planning: Hill Area Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Programme.
  • Concept of Sustainable Development
  • Case Studies –

    • 1. Integrated Tribal Development Project in Bharmaur Region
    2. Indira Gandhi Canal (Nahar) Command Area
Unit 4 Chapter- 7 Transport and Communication
  • Means of Transport: Land (Road transport, Rail transport and Oil and Gas pipelines), Water transport (Inland waterways and Oceanic routes) and Air transport
  • Communication Networks- Personal and Mass Communication Systems
Chapter- 8 International Trade
  • Changing Pattern of the Composition of India’s Exports and Import
  • Direction of Trade
  • Sea Ports as Gateways of International Trade
  • Major Seaports of India along with their hinterlands.
  • Airports
Unit 5 Chapter- 9 Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems
  • Environmental pollution- Introduction and types
  • Urban-waste disposal
  • Rural-Urban Migration: Case Study
  • Problems of Slums
  • Land degradation: Case study

Book- Geography Practical Part II

Chapter- 1 Data – Its Source and Compilation

  • What is Data, Sources of data: Primary, Secondary and Unpublished sources.
  • Tabulation and Classification of Data
  • Grouping of Data
  • Frequency Polygon

Chapter- 2 Data Processing

  • Tabulating and processing of data
  • Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and Mode
  • Comparison of Mean, Median and Mode

Chapter- 3 Graphical Representation of Data

  • Representation of data- General rules for drawing diagrams, graphs and maps, construction of line graphs, polygraphs, simple bar diagrams, line and bar diagram, Multiple bar, Compound bar, Pie diagram, Flowchart
  • Thematic maps; Construction of Dot Map; Choropleth Map and Isopleth map

Chapter- 4 Spatial Information Technology

Introduction to GIS; Advantages of GIS, Components of GIS, Spatial data formats, Sequence of GIS activities; Spatial data input, Entering attribute data, Data Linkages and matching, Spatial analysis: Overlay Analysis Operation and Buffer Operation

Map Work

Book: Fundamentals of Human Geography

(Map work on identification of features based on units I to III on the outline physical/political map of the World)

Chapter Map item (Map present on official website of Govt. of India should be used)
Chapter 1 - Human Geography Nil
Chapter 2 - The World Population Density Distribution and Growth Nil
Chapter 3 - Human Development Nil
Chapter 4 - Primary Activities Areas of subsistence gathering
Major areas of nomadic herding of the world
Major areas of commercial livestock rearing
Major areas of extensive commercial grain farming
Major areas of mixed farming of the World
Chapter 5 - Secondary Activities Nil
Chapter 6 - Tertiary and Quaternary Activities Nil
Chapter 7 - Transport, Communication and Trade Terminal Stations of Transcontinental Railways
Trans-Siberian, Trans Canadian, Trans-Australian Railways

Major Sea Ports
Europe: North Cape, London, Hamburg
North America: Vancouver, San Francisco, New Orleans
South America: Rio de Janeiro, Cologne, Valparaiso
Africa: Suez and Cape Town
Asia: Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Aden, Karachi, Kolkata
Australia: Perth, Sydney, Melbourne

Major Airports
Asia: Tokyo, Beijing, Mumbai, Jeddah, Aden
Africa: Johannesburg & Nairobi
Europe: Moscow, London, Paris, Berlin and Rome
North America: Chicago, New Orleans, Mexico City
South America: Buenos Aires, Santiago
Australia: Darwin and Wellington

Inland Waterways
Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Rhine waterways and St. Lawrence Seaways
Chapter 8 - International Trade Nil

Map Work

Book: Fundamentals of Human Geography

(Map work on identification of features based on units I to III on the outline physical/political map of the World)

Chapter Map item (Map present on official website of Govt. of India should be used)
Chapter 1 - Population Distribution Density, Growth and Composition State with highest population density & state with lowest population density (2011)
Chapter 2 - Human Settlement Nil
Chapter 3 - Land Resources and Agriculture Leading producing states of the following crops:
  • Rice
  • Wheat
  • Cotton
  • Jute
  • Sugarcane
  • Tea
  • Coffee
Chapter 4 - Water Resources Nil
Chapter 5 - Mineral and Energy Resources Mines:
  • Iron-ore mines: Mayurbhanj, Bailadila, Ratnagiri, Bellary
  • Manganese mines: Balaghat, Shimoga
  • Copper mines: Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Khetri
  • Bauxite mines: Katni, Bilaspur, Koraput
  • Coal mines: Jharia, Bokaro, Raniganj, Neyveli
  • Oil Refineries: Mathura, Jamnagar, Barauni
Chapter 6 - Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context Nil
Chapter 7 - Transport and Communication Nil
Chapter 8 - International Trade
  • Major Sea Ports: Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Kochi, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Haldia
  • International Airports: Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram & Hyderabad
Chapter 9 - Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems Nil

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 Human Geography

  1. Population Composition-
    • Sex Composition
    • Age Structure
    • Age Sex Pyramid
    • Rural Urban Composition
    • Literacy
    • Occupation Structure
  2. Human Settlements
    • Classification of Settlements
    • Types and Patterns of Rural Settlement
    • Problems of Rural Settlement
    • Urban Settlement
    • Classification of Urban Settlement (On the basis of population, Occupational Structure
      and Administrative Set up)
    • Problems of Urban Settlement

Book- India People and Economy

  1. Migration-
    • Types
    • Causes
    • Consequences

Guidelines for External Assessment/ Geography Practical

  • A practical file must be prepared by students covering all the topics prescribed in the
    practical syllabus.
  • The file should be completely handwritten with a cover page, index page and acknowledgment.
  • All statistical diagrams and maps should be drawn neatly with appropriate headings,
    scale, index etc. Data to draw statistical diagrams can be taken from the NCERT textbook or Census.
  • The practical file will be assessed both by the internal and external examiners at the
    time of CBSE practical examinations.
  • Viva will be conducted based on practical syllabus only.
    1. Written Exam - 25 Marks
    2. Practical file- 02 Marks
    3. Viva- 03 Marks

CLASS XII

NCERT Prescribed Textbook

  1. Fundamentals of Human Geography
  2. India- People and Economy
  3. Practical work in Geography- Part II

Links for NCERT textbooks:

  1. https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?legy1=0-8
  2. https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?legy2=0-9
  3. https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?legy3=0-

Note:

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

QUESTION PAPER DESIGN GEOGRAPHY CLASSES XI-XII

S No. Domains %
1 Remembering and Understanding
Recalling facts, terms, basic concepts, data, and information.
Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas. 		41
2 Application
Use a concept in a new situation or unprompted use of abstraction by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules. 		37
3 Analysing, Evaluating and Creating
Examine and break information into parts and determine how the parts relate to one another and/or to an overall structure or purpose by identifying motives or causes so that its organizational structure may be understood. Distinguish between facts and inferences.
Make inferences and find evidence to support generalisations.
Synthesis: Builds a structure or pattern from diverse elements. Put parts together to form a whole, with emphasis on creating a new meaning or structure.
Create: Put elements together to form a new coherent or functional whole; reorganise elements into a new pattern or structure. 		22

Internal Assessment

S.no Marks
  • A practical file must be prepared by students covering all the topics prescribed in the practical syllabus.
  • The file should be completely handwritten with a cover page, index page and acknowledgment.
  • All statistical diagrams and maps should be drawn neatly with appropriate headings, scale, index etc. Data to draw statistical diagrams can be taken from the NCERT text book or Census.
  • The practical file will be assessed both by the internal and external examiners at the time of CBSE practical examinations.
  • A written exam of 25 marks will be conducted based on the above given practical syllabus on the day of the practical exam.
  • Viva will be conducted based on practical syllabus only.
Written Exam 25 Marks
Practical file 02 Marks
Viva 03 Marks

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)
  • 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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