CBSE Class 12 Sociology Syllabus 2026-27
The CBSE Class 12 Sociology syllabus 2026-27 carries subject code 039 and follows an 80-mark theory plus 20-mark project work split. This page was verified against the official CBSE curriculum document on 2026-07-13, so you are reading the current session’s units, marks distribution, and project scheme — not a stale copy of last year’s syllabus.
Course Structure: Unit-wise Marks Distribution
The theory paper is 80 marks across two parts. Part A (Indian Society) carries 40 marks, and Part B (Social Change and Development in India) carries the remaining 40 marks (NCERT, p. 6).
| Unit No. | Unit Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part A: Indian Society (40 Marks) | ||
| 1 | Introducing Indian Society | Non-evaluative |
| 2 | The Demographic Structure of Indian Society | 10 |
| 3 | Social Institutions: Continuity and Change | 10 |
| 5 | Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion | 10 |
| 6 | The Challenges of Cultural Diversity | 10 |
| 7 | Suggestions for Project Work | Non-evaluative |
| Part A Total | ||
| Part B: Social Change and Development in India (40 Marks) | ||
| 8 | Structural Change | 5 |
| 9 | Cultural Change | 5 |
| 11 | Change and Development in Rural Society | 10 |
| 12 | Change and Development in Industrial Society | 10 |
| 15 | Social Movements | 10 |
| Part B Total | ||
| Grand Total (Theory) | 80 | |
A key detail: Unit 1 and Unit 7 are marked non-evaluative. These cover introductory context and project guidance, so they are not directly tested in the board paper. Do not spend board revision time drilling them — focus on the units that carry marks.
You may notice gaps in the unit numbers (e.g. jumping from Unit 6 to Unit 8, or from Unit 12 to Unit 15). This is simply how CBSE sequences the chapters in the NCERT book — it is not a sign of deleted chapters.
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introducing | Coming soon |
| 2 | The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society | Coming soon |
| 3 | Social Institutions Continuity and Change | Coming soon |
| 4 | The Market as a Social Institution | Coming soon |
| 5 | Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion | Coming soon |
| 6 | The Challenges of Cultural Diversity | Coming soon |
| 7 | Suggestions for Project Work | Coming soon |
| 1 | 1 Structural Change | Coming soon |
| 2 | 2 Cultural Change | Coming soon |
| 3 | Panchayati Raj Ministry prepares software to aid transfer of funds | Coming soon |
| 4 | Change and 4 Development in Rural Society | Coming soon |
| 5 | Change and 5 Development in Industrial Society | Coming soon |
| 6 | Phir bhi dil is Hindustani | Coming soon |
| 7 | Cell-shocked city suffers silently | Coming soon |
| 8 | 8 Social Movements | Coming soon |
Exam Pattern and Competency Weightage
The board theory exam lasts 3 hours and carries 80 marks. The question paper design, taken from the official CBSE document (NCERT, p. 9), splits the paper into three competency bands.
| S.No. | Competency | Total Marks | Weightage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knowledge and Understanding | 30 | 37.5% |
| 2 | Application of Knowledge and Concepts | 32 | 40% |
| 3 | Formulate, Analyse, Evaluate and Create | 18 | 22.5% |
| Total | 100% | ||
The largest share of the paper — 40% — tests the application of sociological concepts. You will face questions built on real-life situations, not just direct recall. To prepare for this band, practise linking theories to current social scenarios rather than only memorising definitions from the textbook.
The exact number of questions, section breaks, and internal choices are released separately with the CBSE sample question paper. The syllabus PDF fixes only the overall competency weightage shown above, so do not rely on a fabricated section structure.
Project Work: Internal Assessment Scheme
Project work carries 20 marks and is assessed throughout the academic year. The final split is 15 marks for the project file and 5 marks for the viva (NCERT, p. 6).
The 15-mark file is graded across six rubric components, each targeting a specific part of your research:
- Introduction — 2 marks
- Statement of Purpose — 2 marks
- Research Question — 2 marks
- Methodology — 3 marks
- Data Analysis — 4 marks
- Conclusion — 2 marks
Teachers are expected to grade your progress month-by-month. The official guidelines (NCERT, p. 12) lay out four assessment windows so you know exactly when each phase is evaluated — not just the final 20-mark total.
| Months | Periodic Work Assessed | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| April – July | Synopsis, topic selection, methodology draft, research question | 5 |
| August – October | Action plan, feasibility, data collection, challenges faced | 6 |
| November – January | Data analysis, interpretation, conclusion, bibliography, presentation | 5 |
| January – February | Final viva by internal and external examiners | 4 |
| Total | 20 | |
Evaluators use a checklist from the syllabus (NCERT, p. 11) to judge the quality of your project. They look for:
- Stakeholders: identifying who is affected by the issue you studied.
- Short-term vs long-term implications: distinguishing immediate effects from lasting consequences.
- Advantages and disadvantages: presenting a balanced view rather than a one-sided argument.
- Validity and reliability of data: ensuring your sources are appropriate.
- Citations: footnoting and listing every reference in the bibliography.
The final viva is conducted by both an internal and an external examiner. They ask questions drawn directly from your project file, so you must be ready to defend your methodology and conclusions orally.
Prescribed NCERT Books for Class 12 Sociology
CBSE prescribes two NCERT textbooks for Class 12 Sociology (NCERT, p. 8), each mapped to one part of the syllabus:
- Indian Society, Class XII, NCERT — covers Part A.
- Social Change and Development in India, Class XII, NCERT — covers Part B.
Both books are available as free downloads on the official CBSE academic website, where the board also publishes the curriculum document and detailed project guidelines.
Deletions and Changes in the 2026-27 Syllabus
The official CBSE Sociology curriculum document for 2026-27 does not list any deletions, dropped chapters, or changed weightage from the previous published version. There is no rationalisation note in the PDF.
A verified “no change” statement is itself useful information — many competing pages either skip this detail or falsely claim chapters were removed. If you see a gap in the unit numbering (such as the jump from Unit 6 to Unit 8), that is simply how CBSE numbers the NCERT book’s chapters. It is not a deletion.
If a student asks whether a specific topic like Globalisation and Social Change is still in the course, the answer lies in the unit list: the syllabus carries Units 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 15 for evaluative purposes. Any topic not under those unit headings is not part of the tested syllabus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total marks for CBSE Class 12 Sociology theory paper?
The theory paper is 80 marks and must be completed in 3 hours. It covers both Part A (Indian Society, 40 marks) and Part B (Social Change and Development in India, 40 marks).
How many marks is the Class 12 Sociology project work?
Project work carries 20 marks in total. This is split into 15 marks for the project file (assessed across six rubric components like methodology, data analysis, and conclusion) and 5 marks for the final viva conducted by internal and external examiners.
Which NCERT books are prescribed for CBSE Class 12 Sociology 2026-27?
CBSE prescribes two NCERT textbooks: Indian Society and Social Change and Development in India, both for Class XII. The first maps to Part A, and the second covers Part B of the syllabus.
What does non-evaluative mean for Units 1 and 7 in the Sociology syllabus?
Non-evaluative means these units are taught for introductory context and background reading, but they are not directly tested in the board exam. Unit 1 (Introducing Indian Society) and Unit 7 (Suggestions for Project Work) set the stage for later units and the project, so you should read them without spending revision time drilling them for the final paper.
Reference: CBSE Class 12 Sociology curriculum document, session as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.