CBSE 12th Science Syllabus 2025-26: Download Subject-wise Syllabus PDF

Unit I: Electrostatics

Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields

Electric charges, conservation of charge, Coulomb's law (force between point charges), superposition principle, continuous charge distribution, electric field (due to point charge & dipole), electric dipole torque, electric flux, Gauss's theorem & applications (infinitely long straight wire, infinite plane sheet, thin spherical shell – inside & outside field).

Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electric potential & potential difference, potential due to point charge, dipole & system of charges, equipotential surfaces, potential energy (two point charges & dipole), conductors & insulators, dielectrics, electric polarization, capacitors (series & parallel), parallel plate capacitor with/without dielectric, energy stored in capacitor.

Unit II: Current Electricity

Chapter 3: Current Electricity

Electric current, drift velocity, mobility, Ohm’s law, V-I characteristics (linear & non-linear), electrical energy & power, resistivity & conductivity, temperature dependence, internal resistance of cell, potential difference & EMF, combination of cells (series & parallel), Kirchhoff’s rules, Wheatstone bridge.

Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Magnetic field concept, Oersted’s experiment, Biot–Savart law (application to circular loop), Ampere’s law (applications to straight wire, solenoid), force on moving charge, force on current-carrying conductor, force between two parallel conductors (ampere definition), torque on current loop, current loop as magnetic dipole, moving coil galvanometer (conversion to ammeter/voltmeter).

Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter

Bar magnet as equivalent solenoid, magnetic field due to bar magnet (axis & equator – qualitative), torque on magnetic dipole, magnetic field lines, magnetic materials (para, dia, ferro), magnetization, effect of temperature on magnetic properties.

Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction

Faraday’s laws, induced EMF, Lenz’s law, self & mutual induction.

Chapter 7: Alternating Current

AC basics, peak & RMS values, reactance & impedance, LCR series circuit (phasors only), resonance, AC power, power factor, wattless current, AC generator, transformer.

Unit V: Electromagnetic Waves

Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves

Displacement current, properties of EM waves, transverse nature (qualitative), electromagnetic spectrum (radio to gamma rays) & uses.

Unit VI: Optics

Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Reflection, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction, total internal reflection, optical fibers, refraction at spherical surfaces, lenses (thin lens formula, lens maker’s formula, magnification, power, combination), prism refraction, microscopes & telescopes (magnifying power).

Chapter 10: Wave Optics

Wavefront & Huygen’s principle, reflection & refraction using wavefronts, interference (Young’s double slit, fringe width formula), coherent sources, diffraction at a single slit (qualitative).

Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Dual nature of light, photoelectric effect (Hertz & Lenard’s observations), Einstein’s equation, experimental study of photoelectric effect, de Broglie relation, matter waves.

Unit VIII: Atoms and Nuclei

Chapter 12: Atoms

Alpha particle scattering, Rutherford’s model, Bohr’s model (radius, velocity, energy of nth orbit), hydrogen spectrum (qualitative).

Chapter 13: Nuclei

Nucleus composition & size, nuclear force, mass-energy relation, mass defect, binding energy, variation of binding energy per nucleon, nuclear fission & fusion.

Unit IX: Electronic Devices

Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics

Energy bands (conductors, semiconductors, insulators – qualitative), intrinsic & extrinsic semiconductors (p & n type), p–n junction diode (I-V characteristics), diode as rectifier.

Units

Key Topics

Marks

Unit 1: Solutions

Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids, solubility of gases in liquids, solid solutions, Raoult’s law, colligative properties -relative lowering of  vapor  pressure,  elevation  of  boiling  point,  depression  of  freezing  point,  osmotic pressure,  determination  of  molecular  masses  using  colligative  properties,  abnormal molecular mass, Van't Hoff factor

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Unit 2: Electrochemistry

Redox reactions,  EMF  of a cell,  standard  electrode  potential,  Nernst  equation  and  its application to chemical cells, Relation between Gibbs energy change and EMF of a cell, conductance  in  electrolytic  solutions,  specific  and  molar  conductivity,  variations  of conductivity  with  concentration,  Kohlrausch's  Law,  electrolysis  and  law  of  electrolysis (elementary  idea),  dry  cell-electrolytic  cells  and  Galvanic  cells,  lead  accumulator,  fuel cells, corrosion.

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Unit 3: Chemical Kinetics

Rate  of  a  reaction  (Average  and  instantaneous),  factors  affecting  rate  of  reaction: concentration, temperature, catalyst; orderand molecularity of a reaction, rate law and specific rate constant, integrated rate equations and half-life (only for zero and first order, reactions),  concept  of  collision  theory  (elementary  idea,  no  mathematical  treatment), activation energy, Arrhenius equation

7

Unit 4: d and f Block Elements

General   introduction,   electronic   configuration,   occurrence   and   characteristics   of transition metals, general trends in properties of the first row transition metals –metallic character,  ionization  enthalpy,  oxidation  states,  ionic  radii,  colour,  catalytic  property, magnetic properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation, preparation and properties of K2Cr2O7and KMnO4.Lanthanides -Electronic  configuration,  oxidation  states,  chemical  reactivity  and lanthanide contraction and its consequences.Actinides -Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanides

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Unit 5: Coordination Compounds

Coordination compounds -Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic properties and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds. Bonding, Werner's theory, VBT, and CFT; structure and stereoisomerism, importance of coordination compounds (in qualitative analysis, extraction of metals and biological system).

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Unit 6: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Haloalkanes: Nomenclature,  nature  of  C–X  bond,  physical  and  chemical  properties, optical rotation mechanism of substitution reactions.Haloarenes: Nature of C–X bond, substitution reactions (Directive influence of halogen in monosubstituted compounds only).Uses    and    environmental    effects    of -dichloromethane,    trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, DDT

6

Unit 7: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Alcohols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties(of primary  alcohols  only),  identification  of  primary,  secondary  and  tertiary  alcohols, mechanism of dehydration, uses with special reference to methanol and ethanol.Phenols: Nomenclature,  methods  of  preparation,  physical  and  chemical  properties, acidic nature of phenol, electrophilic substitution reactions, uses of phenols.Ethers: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses

6

Unit 8: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes  and  Ketones: Nomenclature,  nature  of carbonyl  group,  methods  of preparation,  physical  and  chemical  properties,  mechanism  of  nucleophilic  addition, reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes, uses.
Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties; uses.

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Unit 9: Amines

Amines: Nomenclature, classification, structure, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines.Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions and importance in synthetic organic chemistry.

6

Unit 10: Biomolecules

Carbohydrates -Classification (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccahrides(glucose and fructose),     D-L     configuration     oligosaccharides     (sucrose,     lactose,     maltose), polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, glycogen); Importance of carbohydrates.Proteins -Elementary  idea  of -amino  acids,  peptide  bond,  polypeptides,  proteins, structureof  proteins-primary,  secondary,  tertiary  structure  and  quaternary  structures (qualitative idea only), denaturation of proteins; enzymes. Hormones -Elementary idea excluding structure.Vitamins -Classification and functions.Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA

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Unit I: Relations and Functions

Chapter 1: Relations and Functions

Types of relations – reflexive, symmetric, transitive, equivalence; one-to-one and onto functions.

Chapter 2: Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Definition, domain, range, principal values, graphs of inverse trigonometric functions.

Unit II: Algebra

Chapter 3: Matrices

Types of matrices, operations (addition, multiplication, scalar multiplication), properties, transpose, inverse of a matrix.

Chapter 4: Determinants

Determinant of up to 3×3 matrix, minors, cofactors, adjoint, inverse, area of triangle, solving linear equations using inverse of a matrix.

Unit III: Calculus

Chapter 5: Continuity and Differentiability

Continuity, differentiability, chain rule, derivatives of inverse trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions, second-order derivatives.

Chapter 6: Applications of Derivatives

Rate of change, increasing/decreasing functions, maxima and minima (first and second derivative test).

Chapter 7: Integrals

Integration as the reverse of differentiation, methods (substitution, partial fractions, by parts), properties of definite integrals.

Chapter 8: Application of the Integrals

Area under curves – lines, circles, parabolas, ellipses (standard form).

Chapter 9: Differential Equations

Order, degree, general and particular solutions, solving by separation of variables and homogeneous equations.

Unit IV: Vectors and Three-dimensional Geometry

Chapter 10: Vectors

Magnitude and direction, types of vectors, scalar (dot) and vector (cross) product, and applications.

Chapter 11: Three-dimensional Geometry

Direction cosines/ratios, equations of lines, shortest distance, angle between two lines.

Unit V: Linear Programming

Chapter 12: Linear Programming Problem

Constraints, objective function, graphical method, feasible/infeasible regions, optimal solutions.

Unit VI: Probability

Chapter 13: Probability

Conditional probability, multiplication theorem, independent events, Bayes’ theorem, total probability.

History

• Theme 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones: The Harappan Civilisation;

•  Theme 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE); 

• Theme 3: Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE); 

• Theme 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE); 

• Theme 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society (10th–17th Centuries); 

• Theme 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (8th–18th Centuries); 

• Theme 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (14th–16th Centuries);

•  Theme 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (16th–17th Centuries); 

• Theme 9: Colonialism and the Countryside: Exploring Official Archives; 

• Theme 10: Rebels and the Raj: The Revolt of 1857 and its Representations; 

• Theme 11: Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement: Civil Disobedience and Beyond; 

• Theme 12: Framing the Constitution: The Beginning of a New Era.

Political Science

• Part A – Contemporary World Politics: The End of Bipolarity; Contemporary Centres of Power; Contemporary South Asia; International Organisations; Security in the Contemporary World; Environment and Natural Resources; Globalisation. 

• Part B – Politics in India Since Independence: Challenges of Nation-Building; Era of One-Party Dominance; Politics of Planned Development; India’s External Relations; Challenges to and Restoration of Congress System; The Crisis of Democratic Order; Regional Aspirations; Recent Developments in Indian Politics.

Geography

• Part A – Fundamentals of Human Geography: Human Geography: Nature and Scope; The World Population Distribution, Density and Growth; Human Development; Primary Activities; Secondary Activities; Tertiary Activities; Transport and Communication; International Trade. 

• Part B – India: People and Economy: Population Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition; Human Settlements; Land Resources and Agriculture; Water Resources; Mineral and Energy Resources; Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context; Transport and Communication; International Trade; Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems. 

• Part C – Practical Work in Geography Part II: Data Processing; Spatial Information Technology; Practical Work and Map Work.

Psychology

• Unit I: Variations in Psychological Attributes; 

• Unit II: Self and Personality; 

• Unit III: Meeting Life Challenges; 

• Unit IV: Psychological Disorders; 

• Unit V: Therapeutic Approaches; 

• Unit VI: Attitude and Social Cognition; 

• Unit VII: Social Influence and Group Processes.

Fine Arts

• Painting: History of Indian Art, including Rajasthani School of Miniature Painting, Pahari School of Miniature Painting, Mughal School of Miniature Painting, Deccan School of Miniature Painting, Indian National Flag, Bengal School of Painting, and Modern Trends in Indian Art. 

• Graphics: History of Indian Art and practical printmaking. 

• Sculpture: History of Indian Art and three-dimensional practical work. 

• Applied Art–Commercial Art: History of Indian Art and applied/commercial art practical work.

• Competency-based questions in the form of MCQs, case-based questions, source-based questions, or any other types - 40-50%
• Select response type or MCQs – 20%
• Short answer/long answer type questions- 30-40%

100 (theory + practical)

• 80 marks theory + 20 marks Project works for Commerce subjects (Accountancy, Business Studies & Economics) 
• 70 marks theory + 30 marks practical for Physics, Chemistry & Biology 
• 80 marks Maths written exam + 20 marks internal assessment