CBSE Class 12 Political Science Syllabus 2025-26
Official chapter-wise syllabus for CBSE Class 12 Political Science — unit-wise marks distribution, list of deleted/reduced topics, and the 2025-26 exam paper pattern. Use this page alongside the Class 12 Political Science preparation guide for full exam readiness.
2025-26
Academic Year
80
Theory Marks
20
Practical Marks
15
Total Chapters
Unit-Wise Marks Distribution
80 marks (theory)Part A — Book 2: 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
50% of theory marks
Part B — Book 1: 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
50% of theory marks
Chapter-Wise Syllabus
15 chapters| # | Chapter | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The End of Bipolarity | 6 |
| 2 | Contemporary Centres of Power | 6 |
| 3 | Contemporary South Asia | 6 |
| 4 | International Organisations | 6 |
| 5 | Security in the Contemporary World | 6 |
| 6 | Environment and Natural Resources | 6 |
| 7 | Globalisation | 4 |
| 8 | Challenges of Nation Building | 6 |
| 9 | Era of One-Party Dominance | 4 |
| 10 | Politics of Planned Development | 2 |
| 11 | India's External Relations | 6 |
| 12 | Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System | 4 |
| 13 | The Crisis of Democratic Order | 4 |
| 14 | Regional Aspirations | 6 |
| 15 | Recent Developments in Indian Politics | 8 |
Deleted / Reduced Topics 2025-26
Note: The following topics have been deleted or reduced from the CBSE Class 12 Political Science syllabus. Do not spend time studying these for the 2025-26 board exam. Always verify with the official CBSE syllabus document before your exam.
The Cold War Era
Entire chapter removed from CBSE 2025-26 Class 12 syllabus — Cold War context covered within other chapters
US Hegemony in World Politics
Entire chapter removed from CBSE 2025-26 Class 12 syllabus — US Hegemony context covered within other chapters
Alternative Centres of Power
Renamed to 'Contemporary Centres of Power' in CBSE 2025-26 syllabus
Rise of Popular Movements
Entire chapter removed from CBSE 2025-26 Class 12 syllabus
India's External Relations
Nuclear doctrine and detailed missile programme history — only broad India-China, India-Pakistan relations tested
Environment and Natural Resources
Detailed comparison of Kyoto Protocol articles — only CBDR principle and India's stance required
Exam Paper Pattern 2025-26
80 marks total| Section | Marks/Q | Count | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | 1 | 20 | 20 | |
| Section B | 2 | 6 | 12 | |
| Section C | 4 | 5 | 20 | |
| Section D | 6 | 4 | 24 | |
| Section E | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| Total Theory Marks | 80 | |||
Practical / Internal Assessment Marks — assessed throughout the year by your school (projects, lab work, notebooks).
How to Use This Syllabus
Prioritise by marks
Use the unit-wise distribution above. Focus first on units with 20+ marks — they give the best return on study time.
Skip deleted topics
CBSE will not ask deleted topics in the board exam. Don't waste time on them — use that time for NCERT exercises instead.
Know the paper pattern
Section E (Case Study) has new-format questions many students ignore. Practise these separately — they're easy marks.
You know the syllabus. Now practise it.
ClearSteps gives you chapter-wise mock tests aligned to the exact CBSE Class 12 Political Science syllabus, with AI evaluation against the official marking scheme.