CBSE Class 11 Sociology Syllabus 2026-27
The CBSE Class 11 Sociology syllabus 2026-27 carries subject code 039 and splits the total 100 marks into an 80-mark theory paper and a 20-mark project work assessment. This page was verified against the official CBSE curriculum document published on cbseacademic.nic.in on 2026-07-13, so every marks figure, unit name, and project rubric below matches what the board has published for the current session.
Course Structure: Unit-wise Marks Distribution for Class 11 Sociology
The theory paper runs for 3 hours and carries a maximum of 80 marks. The syllabus is organised into two groups, each tied to one of the two prescribed NCERT textbooks. Group A (Introducing Sociology) accounts for 44 marks, and Group B (Understanding Society) accounts for the remaining 36 marks.
| Group | Unit Number | Unit Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — Introducing Sociology | 1 | Sociology, Society and its Relationship with other Social Science disciplines | 10 |
| 2 | Terms, Concepts and their use in Sociology | 10 | |
| 3 | Understanding Social Institutions | 12 | |
| 4 | Culture and Socialization | 12 | |
| Group A Total | 44 | ||
| B — Understanding Society | 7 | Social Change and Social Order in Rural and Urban Society | 12 |
| 9 | Introducing Western Sociologists | 12 | |
| 10 | Indian Sociologists | 12 | |
| Group B Total | 36 | ||
| Theory Grand Total | 80 | ||
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sociology And Society | Coming soon |
| 2 | Terms, Concepts And Their Use In Sociology | Coming soon |
| 3 | Understanding Social Institutions | Coming soon |
| 4 | Culture And Socialisation | Coming soon |
| 5 | Doing Sociology : Research Methods | Coming soon |
| 1 | Social Structure, Stratification And Social Processes In Society | Coming soon |
| 2 | Social Change And Social Order In Rural And Urban Society | Coming soon |
| 3 | Environment And Society | Coming soon |
| 4 | Introducing Western Sociologists | Coming soon |
| 5 | Indian Sociologists | Coming soon |
Class 11 Sociology Course Content: Topics in Each Unit
Each unit covers a defined set of sub-topics. The breakdown below summarises what a student must prepare for the 80-mark theory paper.
Group A — Introducing Sociology (44 Marks)
- Unit 1: Sociology, Society and its Relationship with other Social Sciences — Introducing Society (individuals and collectivities, pluralities and inequalities among societies), Introducing Sociology (emergence, nature and scope), and the relationship of Sociology with other Social Science disciplines.
- Unit 2: Terms, Concepts and their use in Sociology — Social Groups and Society, Social Stratification, Status and Role, and Society and Social Control.
- Unit 3: Understanding Social Institutions — Family, Marriage and Kinship; Work and Economic Life; Political Institutions; Religion as a Social Institution; and Education as a Social Institution.
- Unit 4: Culture and Socialization — Defining Culture, Dimensions of Culture, Socialization, and Agencies of Socialisation and Sociology.
Group B — Understanding Society (36 Marks)
- Unit 7: Social Change and Social Order in Rural and Urban Society — Types, causes and consequences of social change; social order (domination, authority and law; contestation, crime and violence); concepts of village, town and city; and social order and social change in rural and urban areas.
- Unit 9: Introducing Western Sociologists — The context of Sociology, Karl Marx on class conflict, Emile Durkheim on division of labour in society, and Max Weber on interpretive sociology, ideal type and bureaucracy.
- Unit 10: Indian Sociologists — G.S. Ghurye on caste and race, D.P. Mukherjee on tradition and change, A.R. Desai on the state, and M.N. Srinivas on the village.
Exam Pattern: Class 11 Sociology Question Paper Design
The CBSE Class 11 Sociology syllabus 2026-27 question paper design favours application over simple recall. The official competency weightage shows that 40 percent of the theory paper tests whether a student can apply sociological concepts to new situations, meaning memorising definitions alone is not enough.
| S.No. | Competency | Total Marks | Weightage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knowledge and Understanding — recalling facts, terms and basic concepts; demonstrating understanding by organising, comparing and interpreting ideas. | 30 | 37.5% |
| 2 | Application of Knowledge and Concepts — solving problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge, examining information, making inferences and defending judgments. | 32 | 40% |
| 3 | Formulate, Analyse, Evaluate and Create — compiling information in a new pattern and proposing alternative solutions. | 18 | 22.5% |
| Total | 80 | 100% | |
Because application questions carry the highest weightage, the most effective study strategy is to pair each concept with a real-world example. When studying social stratification, a student should practise explaining it using caste, class and gender inequalities observed in Indian society. When studying social change, they should connect the causes and consequences to urbanisation or globalisation they see around them.
This habit of linking theory to lived reality directly maps to the 32 marks reserved for application.
Project Work and Internal Assessment: 20 Marks Breakdown
The remaining 20 marks are earned through a single project undertaken during the academic year. The work is split between a written project file (15 marks) and a viva (5 marks). The viva tests whether the student genuinely understands the research they have submitted.
Project File: 15 Marks Rubric
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 2 |
| Statement of Purpose | 2 |
| Research Question | 2 |
| Methodology | 3 |
| Data Analysis | 4 |
| Conclusion | 2 |
| Total (Project File) | 15 |
Viva: 5 Marks
The viva is conducted by the internal and external examiners. They ask questions directly from the project file to verify that the study is the student’s own original work.
Monthly Project Timeline
The official document lays out a month-by-month rubric showing exactly when each project milestone is assessed throughout the academic year.
| Month | Periodic Work | Assessment Rubric | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| April–July | Project guidelines, background reading, theme discussions, final topic selection, initiation and synopsis. | Introduction, statement of purpose, hypothesis or research question, review of literature, methodology, questionnaire and data collection. | 5 |
| August–October | Planning and organisation: forming an action plan, feasibility or baseline study, updating the action plan, data collection. | Significance and relevance of the topic; challenges encountered during research. | 6 |
| November–January | Content and data analysis, interpretation, conclusion, limitations, suggestions, bibliography, annexures and overall presentation. | Content analysis and relevance in the current scenario; conclusion, limitations, bibliography, annexures and presentation. | 5 |
| January–February | Final assessment and viva by both internal and external examiners. | External and internal viva based on the project. | 4 |
| Total | 20 | ||
The timeline shows that a student cannot leave the project to the last minute. The first phase, worth 5 marks, is completed in the opening months of the session, and the data analysis phase, worth 6 marks, runs through the middle of the year.
Deletions and Changes in the CBSE Class 11 Sociology Syllabus
The official 2026-27 curriculum document lists the active units for Class 11 as Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10. The document does not use the word deleted or reduced in the text provided, nor does it explicitly state that any content has been rationalised for this session. The units simply follow the numbering and structure of the two prescribed NCERT textbooks.
Students are often confused by the missing unit numbers (5, 6 and 8) in the Class 11 list. These numbers do not represent dropped chapters. They reflect a composite textbook structure across Classes 11 and 12; the missing units appear in the Class 12 syllabus. For Class 11, only Units 1–4, 7, 9 and 10 are in scope. A verified no explicit deletion
statement is itself information, as it prevents students from relying on unverified rumours about dropped chapters.
Prescribed NCERT Books for Class 11 Sociology
The CBSE document specifies two NCERT textbooks for Class 11. The structural mapping between these books and the syllabus groups is direct:
- Introducing Sociology, Class XI (Published by NCERT) — covers Group A (Units 1–4, 44 marks).
- Understanding Society, Class XI (Published by NCERT) — covers Group B (Units 7, 9, 10, 36 marks).
A student who is preparing for the theory exam may also find our Class 11 Sociology notes useful alongside the official syllabus. You can also explore our broader Class 11 notes and the general CBSE notes hub for cross-subject revision resources.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Class 11 Sociology Syllabus
What is the marks distribution for the CBSE Class 11 Sociology theory paper 2026-27?
The theory paper is worth 80 marks and lasts 3 hours. Group A (Introducing Sociology) carries 44 marks across Units 1–4, while Group B (Understanding Society) carries 36 marks across Units 7, 9 and 10. The remaining 20 marks are for project work.
How many marks are awarded for the Sociology project work and viva?
Project work accounts for 20 marks in total. The written project file is worth 15 marks, covering the introduction, statement of purpose, research question, methodology, data analysis and conclusion. The viva based on the project file is worth 5 marks.
Which NCERT books are prescribed for Class 11 Sociology in the 2026-27 session?
The two prescribed books are Introducing Sociology and Understanding Society, both published by NCERT for Class XI. The first book covers Group A, and the second book covers Group B of the syllabus.
Does the Class 11 Sociology question paper focus more on theory or application?
The paper favours application. The official question paper design allocates 32 marks (40%) to application of knowledge and concepts, 30 marks (37.5%) to knowledge and understanding, and 18 marks (22.5%) to higher-order skills like formulating, analysing, evaluating and creating.
Has the CBSE deleted any units from the Class 11 Sociology syllabus for 2026-27?
The official curriculum document lists active units (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10) without explicitly stating that any content has been deleted or rationalised. The missing numbers reflect the composite textbook structure across Classes 11 and 12, not removed chapters.
Reference: CBSE Class 11 Sociology curriculum document, session 2026-27 as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.