CBSE Class 11 Geography Syllabus 2026-27
The CBSE Class 11 Geography syllabus 2026-27 is split into 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work. Subject code 029 covers three prescribed NCERT books: Fundamentals of Physical Geography, India Physical Environment, and Practical Work in Geography Part I.
Verified against the official curriculum document on 2026-07-13, this page provides the exact unit-wise marks, the internal assessment split, and the official map work items so you can plan your year without guessing.
Class 11 Geography Syllabus 2026-27: Verified Overview
The theory component totals 70 marks, divided equally between Fundamentals of Physical Geography (35 marks) and India Physical Environment (35 marks). The remaining 30 marks come from the Practical Work in Geography Part I book, which includes a written exam, a practical file, and a viva.
The official curriculum lists no fully deleted chapters for this session. However, three chapters and one specific topic are designated for formative-only assessment, meaning they are tested through internal projects and presentations—never in the written exam. We break down exactly which chapters to set aside and which to drill for the board-style written paper.
Course Structure and Unit-Wise Marks Distribution
Below are the three tables extracted from the official curriculum (pp. 3-4). Marks are grouped by unit, so when a unit lists multiple chapters, those chapters share the listed weightage.
Book 1: Fundamentals of Physical Geography (35 Marks)
| Unit | Chapter No. and Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit-I Geography as a Discipline | 1. Geography As a Discipline | 3 |
| Unit-II The Earth | 2. The Origin and Evolution of the Earth 3. Interior of the Earth 4. Distribution of Oceans and Continents |
9 |
| Unit-III Landforms | 5. Geomorphic Processes 6. Landforms and their Evolution |
6 |
| Unit-IV Climate | 7. Composition and Structure of Atmosphere 8. Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature 9. Atmospheric Circulations and Weather Systems 10. Water in the Atmosphere 11. World Climate and Climate Change (Internal Assessment Only) |
8 |
| Unit-V Water (Oceans) | 12. Water (Oceans) 13. Movements of Ocean Water |
4 |
| Unit-VI Life on the Earth | 14. Biodiversity and Conservation (Internal Assessment Only) | — |
| Map Work | 5 | |
| Total | 35 | |
Book 2: India Physical Environment (35 Marks)
| Unit | Chapter No. and Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit-I Introduction | 1. India- Location | 5 |
| Unit-II Physiography | 2. Structure and Physiography 3. Drainage System |
13 |
| Unit-III Climate, Vegetation and Soil | 4. Climate 5. Natural Vegetation |
12 |
| Unit-IV Natural Hazards and Disasters | 6. Natural Hazards and Disasters (Internal Assessment Only) | — |
| Map Work | 5 | |
| Total | 35 | |
Book 3: Practical Work in Geography Part I (30 Marks)
| Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above is linked through our Class 11 Geography notes collection, which you can use alongside the broader Class 11 notes hub or our main CBSE notes directory.
Exam Pattern and Competency Weightage
CBSE designs the question paper around three cognitive domains (p. 20). The exact format of the sample paper is released separately, but this percentage split governs every question in the theory exam.
| Cognitive Domain | What It Tests | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering and Understanding | Recalling facts, terms, and basic concepts; demonstrating understanding by organizing and interpreting information. | 41% |
| Application | Using a concept in a new situation by applying acquired knowledge and rules. | 37% |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | Breaking information into parts, making inferences, and synthesizing elements into a new structure. | 22% |
Use this breakdown to direct your revision: 41% of the paper rewards straightforward recall and comprehension, so lock in your definitions and facts first before tackling application-heavy map and data questions.
Internal Assessment and Practical Work Guidelines
The 30-mark practical component is detailed on page 10 of the official document. Competitors often group this vaguely as just “practical work,” but the marks are distributed across three distinct elements.
| Component | Marks | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Written Exam | 25 | Based on the entire prescribed Practical Work in Geography Part I syllabus. |
| Practical File | 3 | Handwritten file covering all practical topics with a cover page, index, and acknowledgment. |
| Viva | 2 | Oral questions based strictly on the practical syllabus. |
Your practical file must be completely handwritten with a cover page, index, and acknowledgment. Draw all maps and diagrams neatly with appropriate headings and scales; data can be taken from the NCERT textbook. The file will be assessed at the term-end practical examinations, and the viva will cover the practical syllabus only.
Map Work Syllabus: World and India Outline Maps
Map work carries 10 marks total, split evenly: 5 marks for the world map (Physical Geography) and 5 marks for the India map (India Physical Environment). The official curriculum (pp. 8-9) consolidates these items by chapter so you know exactly what to practice locating and labelling.
World Map (Fundamentals of Physical Geography)
| Chapter | Map Items to Locate and Label |
|---|---|
| Ch. 4: Distribution of Oceans and Continents | Continents; Major Oceans (Indian, Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Southern); Major and Minor lithospheric plates; Ring of Fire (Pacific Ocean); Mid-Atlantic Ridge. |
| Ch. 9: Atmospheric Circulations and Weather Systems | Major Hot Deserts: Mojave (Nevada, US), Patagonian (Argentina), Sahara (Africa), Gobi (Mongolia, Asia), Thar (India), Great Victoria (Australia). |
| Ch. 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. |
| Ch. 13: Movements of Ocean Water | Cold Currents: Humboldt, California, Falkland, Canaries, West Australian, Oyashio, Labrador. Warm Currents: Alaska, Brazilian, Agulhas, Kuroshio, Gulf Stream. |
| Ch. 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. |
India Map (India Physical Environment)
| Chapter | Map Items to Locate and Label |
|---|---|
| Ch. 1: India- Location | Latitudinal and longitudinal extent; Standard Meridian; Tropic of Cancer; Southernmost point of mainland (Kanyakumari). |
| Ch. 2: Structure and Physiography | Mountains: Karakoram, Garo-Khasi-Jaintia, Aravalli, Vindhyan, Satpura, Western & Eastern Ghats. Peaks: K2, Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi, Nanga Parbat, Namcha Barwa, Anaimudi. Passes: Shipkila, Nathula, Palghat, Bhor Ghat, Thal Ghat. Plateaus: Malwa, Chhotanagpur, Meghalaya, Deccan. Coastal Plains: Saurashtra, Konkan, North & South Kanara, Malabar, Coromandel, Northern Circars. Islands: Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep. |
| Ch. 3: Drainage System | Rivers: Brahmaputra, Indus, Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Damodar, Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari, Narmada, Tapti, Luni. Lakes: Wular, Sambhar, Chilika, Kolleru, Pulicat, Vembanad. Straits/Gulfs: Palk Strait, Rann of Kachchh, Gulf of Kachchh, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Khambat. |
| Ch. 4: Climate | Areas with highest and lowest temperature; areas with highest and lowest rainfall. |
| Ch. 5: Natural Vegetation | Identification of forest types: Tropical evergreen, Tropical deciduous, Tropical thorn, Montane, Littoral/Swamp. National Parks: Corbett, Kaziranga, Ranthambore, Shivpuri, Simlipal. Bird Sanctuaries: Keoladeo Ghana, Ranganathittu. Wildlife Sanctuaries: Periyar, Rajaji, Mudumalai, Dachigam. |
Deletions, Changes, and Formative-Only Topics
For the 2026-27 session, the official curriculum PDF lists no fully deleted chapters. Instead, specific topics are shifted to formative assessment to reinforce understanding without adding to summative exam stress (p. 10).
Chapters tested ONLY through internal assessment projects (NOT in the written exam):
- Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change (Fundamentals of Physical Geography)
- Chapter 14: Biodiversity and Conservation (Fundamentals of Physical Geography)
- Chapter 6: Natural Hazards and Disasters (India Physical Environment)
Additionally, the topic Minerals and Rocks — Major types of rocks and their characteristics from the Fundamentals of Physical Geography book is included for formative-only assessment (p. 10). Schools can integrate these with existing chapters as they align well.
Prescribed NCERT Textbooks and Official Reference Links
The board prescribes three NCERT textbooks for Class 11 Geography, all of which are also available in Hindi medium (p. 10).
- Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Class XI — Available on the official NCERT portal.
- India, Physical Environment, Class XI.
- Practical Work in Geography Part I, Class XI.
You can access the Fundamentals of Physical Geography textbook on ncert.nic.in directly. Kindly refer to the latest editions of all NCERT textbooks as advised by the board.
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Interior Of The Earth | Coming soon |
| 6 | Landforms And Their Evolution | Coming soon |
| 8 | Solar Radiation, Heat Balance And Temperature | Coming soon |
| 11 | World Climate And Climate Change | Coming soon |
| 13 | Movements Of Ocean Water | Coming soon |
| 3 | Drainage System | Coming soon |
| 5 | Natural Vegetation | Coming soon |
| 1 | Introduction to Maps | Coming soon |
| 2 | Map Scale | Coming soon |
| 3 | Latitude, Longitude and Time | Coming soon |
| 4 | Map Projections | Coming soon |
| 5 | Topographical Maps | Coming soon |
| 6 | Introduction To Remote Sensing | Coming soon |
Frequently Asked Questions on Class 11 Geography Syllabus
Is the CBSE Class 11 Geography syllabus reduced for 2026-27?
No chapters have been fully deleted. The official curriculum lists no fully removed chapters. Instead, three chapters (World Climate, Biodiversity and Conservation, and Natural Hazards and Disasters) along with the Minerals and Rocks topic are shifted to formative-only assessment. These are tested through internal projects and are excluded from the summative written exam.
How many marks is map work in Class 11 Geography?
Map work carries a total of 10 marks. It is split evenly: 5 marks for the world map (part of Fundamentals of Physical Geography) and 5 marks for the India map (part of India Physical Environment).
Which Geography chapters are tested only through internal assessment projects?
Three chapters are tested via internal assessment projects and presentations: Chapter 11 (World Climate and Climate Change), Chapter 14 (Biodiversity and Conservation), and Chapter 6 (Natural Hazards and Disasters). The topic Minerals and Rocks is also formative-only.
What is the theory and practical marks split for Class 11 Geography?
The theory exam is worth 70 marks, divided between two books (35 marks each). The practical component is worth 30 marks, comprising a 25-mark written exam, a 3-mark practical file, and a 2-mark viva.
Are the NCERT Geography textbooks available in Hindi medium?
Yes. The official curriculum note explicitly states that all three prescribed NCERT textbooks for Class 11 Geography are also available in Hindi medium, and students should refer to the latest editions.
Reference: CBSE Class 11 Geography curriculum document, session 2026-27 as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.