CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2026-27
This page covers the CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2026-27 for subject code 042. Every figure on this page was verified against the official CBSE curriculum document (Physics_SecP2_2026-27.pdf) on 2026-07-13. Class XI and XII form a composite course, but Class XII’s theory paper carries 70 marks and the practical/internal assessment carries 30 marks (NCERT, p. 11).
Updated course structure and paper pattern for this academic session are laid out below. If you need the prescribed textbook or what changed from last year, those sections appear further down the page.
Class 12 Physics Course Structure: Units, Chapters, and Marks
The theory exam is worth 70 marks and runs for 3 hours. The CBSE curriculum document organises the content into nine units, but the marks attach at the unit level, not the chapter level (NCERT, p. 12).
| Unit | Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Electrostatics Chapter-1: Electric Charges and Fields Chapter-2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance |
16 |
| Unit II | Current Electricity Chapter-3: Current Electricity |
|
| Unit III | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism Chapter-4: Moving Charges and Magnetism Chapter-5: Magnetism and Matter |
17 |
| Unit IV | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents Chapter-6: Electromagnetic Induction Chapter-7: Alternating Current |
|
| Unit V | Electromagnetic Waves Chapter-8: Electromagnetic Waves |
18 |
| Unit VI | Optics Chapter-9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Chapter-10: Wave Optics |
|
| Unit VII | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Chapter-11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
12 |
| Unit VIII | Atoms and Nuclei Chapter-12: Atoms Chapter-13: Nuclei |
|
| Unit IX | Electronic Devices Chapter-14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits |
7 |
| Total | 70 |
Because marks attach at the unit level, Unit I’s 16 marks are shared across Electric Charges and Fields plus Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance. Similarly, Unit V’s 18 marks span Electromagnetic Waves and Optics. A student cannot skip a chapter assuming it carries no weight; the marks pool covers all chapters listed under that unit.
Chapter-Wise Study Material for Each Unit Above
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapter One | Coming soon |
| 2 | Chapter Two | Coming soon |
| 3 | Chapter Three CURRENT ELECTRICITY | Coming soon |
| 4 | Chapter Four | Coming soon |
| 5 | Chapter Five | Coming soon |
| 6 | Chapter Six | Coming soon |
| 7 | Chapter Seven | Coming soon |
| 8 | Chapter Eight | Coming soon |
| 1 | Chapter Nine | Coming soon |
| 2 | Chapter Ten | Coming soon |
| 3 | Chapter Eleven | Coming soon |
| 4 | Chapter Twelve | Coming soon |
| 5 | Chapter Thirteen | Coming soon |
| 6 | Chapter Fourteen | Coming soon |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern: Question Typology and Marks Split
The CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2026-27 sets the theory paper at a maximum of 70 marks over 3 hours. The board splits these marks across three competency levels to discourage rote learning (NCERT, p. 23).
| S No. | Typology of Questions | Total Marks | Approximate Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remembering & Understanding: Recalling facts, terms, and basic concepts; demonstrating understanding by organizing, comparing, and interpreting. | 27 | 38% |
| 2 | Applying: Solving problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge and rules in a different way. | 22 | 32% |
| 3 | Analysing, Evaluating & Creating: Breaking information into parts, making inferences, defending opinions, and combining elements in new patterns. | 21 | 30% |
| Total Marks | 70 | 100% | |
| Practical | 30 | ||
| Gross Total | 100 |
CBSE notes that internal variations may be made to this template while keeping the overall weightage the same. For the exact question paper design, refer to the Sample Question Paper for 2026-27 published by CBSE on its website (NCERT, p. 23).
Here is the practical insight students often miss: 53 of the 70 theory marks (76%) come from application, analysis, evaluation, and creation. Pure recall preparation is insufficient. The curriculum document states that board papers will feature more questions based on real-life situations requiring you to apply and synthesise information, reducing predictability (NCERT, p. 13).
To avoid losing those 53 marks, practise numericals, case-based scenarios, and derivations rather than memorising definitions alone.
Practical Exam and Internal Assessment: 30 Marks Breakdown
The practical evaluation carries 30 marks and takes 3 hours. The official scheme on page 17 splits these marks across experiments, records, and a viva.
| Topic | Marks |
|---|---|
| Two experiments (one from each section) | 7 + 7 |
| Practical record (experiments and activities) | 5 |
| One activity from any section | 3 |
| Investigatory Project | 3 |
| Viva on experiments, activities, and project | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
The record you submit at the annual examination must include specific minimums (NCERT, p. 17). The split of these records is mandatory: at least 8 experiments (4 from each section) and at least 6 activities (3 from each section), plus your project report.
You cannot perform all experiments from one section and expect the record to qualify; the 4-plus-4 and 3-plus-3 split across Sections A and B is a strict requirement.
For visually impaired students, a separate evaluation scheme applies (NCERT, p. 20). The duration is 2 hours for 30 marks, split into identification/familiarity with apparatus (5 marks), a written test (10 marks), practical record (5 marks), and viva (10 marks). The full list of practicals and apparatus is in the official PDF on the CBSE academic site.
Deletions and Changes for 2026-27: What the Official Document Says
Many students search for a “deleted syllabus” list. The CBSE curriculum document itself does not list chapter or page-level deletions inline.
Instead, it offers a clear instruction on page 21 for Class XII (and similarly on page 10 for Class XI): “The content indicated in NCERT textbooks as excluded for the year 2026-27 is not to be tested by schools and will not be assessed in the Board examinations 2026-27.”
This means the exclusion loop points directly to the NCERT textbook’s own excluded-content markings. You must follow the markings inside your NCERT textbook to identify what will not be tested.
Here is the verified structural confirmation competitors often leave ambiguous: the 9-unit, 70-mark theory structure for 2026-27 matches the full NCERT chapter list with no dropped chapters in the CBSE curriculum document. A verified “no change in the structure” is itself information that thin competitor pages omit.
Prescribed NCERT Books for Class 12 Physics
The board prescribes specific NCERT textbooks and manuals for this session (NCERT, p. 21). Students should use only the NCERT-printed editions for 2026-27 because the excluded content markings appear in the NCERT book itself.
- Physics Class XII, Part-I (Published by NCERT)
- Physics Class XII, Part-II (Published by NCERT)
- Laboratory Manual of Physics for Class XII (Published by NCERT)
- Other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT, including multimedia
You can access the official curriculum document and prescribed textbooks on the NCERT official website. For the complete curriculum document and sample question papers, visit the CBSE academic website. You can also connect this syllabus page to our Class 12 Physics notes hub for chapter-wise explanations, or explore broader Class 12 notes and CBSE study materials across subjects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2026-27 reduced compared to last year?
The CBSE curriculum document does not list any structural reductions or dropped chapters inline. It states on page 21 that content marked as excluded in the NCERT textbooks will not be assessed. The 9-unit, 70-mark theory structure remains unchanged for this session (NCERT, p. 12).
What is the marks distribution for the Class 12 Physics theory paper 2026-27?
The theory paper carries 70 marks. The unit-wise distribution is: Electrostatics and Current Electricity (16 marks), Magnetic Effects, EMI and AC (17 marks), EM Waves and Optics (18 marks), Dual Nature, Atoms and Nuclei (12 marks), and Electronic Devices (7 marks) (NCERT, p. 12).
How many experiments and activities are required for the Class 12 Physics practical record?
The practical record must include at least 8 experiments with 4 from each section, and at least 6 activities with 3 from each section. A project report is also mandatory. The 4-plus-4 and 3-plus-3 split across sections A and B is a strict requirement (NCERT, p. 17).
Which chapters carry the highest marks weightage in Class 12 Physics 2026-27?
Electromagnetic Waves and Optics (Unit V and Unit VI together) carry the highest weightage at 18 marks. Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism along with EMI and AC follow at 17 marks (NCERT, p. 12).
Where can I find the exact deleted topics for Class 12 Physics 2026-27?
The CBSE curriculum document does not list deleted topics page by page. It directs students to the NCERT textbooks, where excluded content for 2026-27 is marked. That marked content will not be tested in the board examinations (NCERT, p. 21).
Reference: CBSE Class 12 Physics curriculum document, session as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.