CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2024-25 Released Download PDF: Check Chapter Wise Syllabus, Weighatage & Preparation Tips
Content Writer | Updated On - Oct 31, 2025
CBSE has recently released the syllabus of Biology Class 12 for the academic year 2024-25. This updated syllabus will help students to effectively prepare for their Biology exams and secure better marks.
- With a total of 100 marks, the paper is divided into two components, theory and practical.
- The theory section carries 70 marks, while the practical section accounts for 30 marks.
- The Bio Class 12 syllabus is organized into 5 units, covering a wide range of topics in Biology.
Practical sessions are also incorporated to provide students with hands-on experience and help them develop critical laboratory skills. Practical applications are highly valued in addition to academic understanding. The practical syllabus of biology class 12 covers experiments, specimen identification, and data analysis to give students a comprehensive education. It is essential for students to thoroughly understand the syllabus to prepare a strategic study plan and excel in their examinations.
- CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2024-25: Highlights
- CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus NCERT: What’s New?
- What Is CBSE Biology Class 12 Syllabus Chapter Wise?
3.1 Deleted Topics Of Bio Class 12 Syllabus 2025
3.2 What Is Bio Class 12 Syllabus Chapter-Wise Weightage?
- What Is CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Syllabus 2025?
4.1 Part A – List of Experiments
4.2 Part B – Spotting (Study and Observe)
4.4 Deleted Topics From CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Syllabus
4.5 What Is CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Marking Scheme?
- Practical Examination For Visually Impaired Students Of Classes 11 & 12
- What Are The Important Topics Of Bio Class 12 Syllabus 2025?
- What Is CBSE Class 12 Biology 2025 Exam Blueprint?
7.1 Question Paper Design Of Class 12 Biology Syllabus (Theory) 2025
- How To Prepare For CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam?
8.1 Recommended Books For Class 12 Biology Syllabus NCERT
8.2 How To Score 99% In CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam?
- FAQs
CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2024-25: Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam 2025 |
| Exam date | To Be Announced |
| Exam Mode | Pen & Paper Test |
| Official Website | cbseacademic.nic.in |
CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus NCERT: What’s New?
- The new syllabus of Biology Class 12 includes two new topics: Plant Physiology and Biotechnology and its Applications.
- The new curriculum includes changes to some existing topics, such as Cellular Respiration and Evolution.
- It emphasises experiential learning, with a focus on hands-on activities and projects.
What Is CBSE Biology Class 12 Syllabus Chapter Wise?
Given below are the details of the CBSE Biology class 12 syllabus chapter wise.
| Unit | Chapter | Syllabus Of Biology Class 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Reproduction | Chapter 2: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants | Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination – types, agencies and examples; out breeding devices; pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization; post-fertilization events – development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed and formation of fruit; special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed dispersal and fruit formation. |
| Chapter 3: Human Reproduction | Male and female reproductive systems; microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; gametogenesis -spermatogenesis and oogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilisation, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; pregnancy and placenta formation (elementary idea); parturition (elementary idea); lactation (elementary idea). | |
| Chapter 4: Reproductive Health | Need for reproductive health and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); birth control – need and methods, contraception and medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies – IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (Elementary idea for general awareness). | |
| Genetics and Evolution | Chapter 5: Principles of Inheritance and Variation | Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy; elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory of inheritance; chromosomes and genes; Sex determination – in humans, birds and honey bee; linkage and crossing over; sex-linked inheritance – haemophilia, colour blindness; Mendelian disorders in humans – thalassemia; chromosomal disorders in humans; Down’s syndrome, Turner’s and Klinefelter’s syndromes. |
| Chapter 6: Molecular Basis of Inheritance | Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central Dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation; gene expression and regulation – lac operon; Genome, Human and rice genome projects; DNA fingerprinting. | |
| Chapter-7: Evolution | Origin of life; biological evolution and evidence for biological evolution (palaeontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidence); Darwin’s contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution; mechanism of evolution – variation (mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples, types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy – Weinberg’s principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution. | |
| Biology and Human Welfare | Chapter 8: Human Health and Diseases | Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm) and their control; Basic concepts of immunology – vaccines; cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence – drug and alcohol abuse. |
| Chapter 10: Microbes in Human Welfare | Microbes in food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers. Antibiotics; production and judicious use. | |
| Biotechnology and its Applications | Chapter-11: Biotechnology – Principles and Processes | Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology). |
| Chapter 12: Biotechnology and its Applications | Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy; genetically modified organisms – Bt crops; transgenic animals; biosafety issues, biopiracy and patents. | |
| Ecology and Environment | Chapter 13: Organisms and Populations | Population interactions – mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; population attributes – growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution. (Topics excluded: Organism and its Environment, Major Abiotic Factors, Responses to Abiotic Factors, Adaptations) |
| Chapter-14: Ecosystem | Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy (Topics excluded: Ecological Succession and Nutrient Cycles) | |
| Chapter 15: Biodiversity and Its Conservation | Biodiversity- concept, patterns, importance; loss of biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, Sacred Groves, biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife, sanctuaries and Ramsar sites. |
Deleted Topics Of Bio Class 12 Syllabus 2025
The board decided to keep the 30% cut in the syllabus of Biology Class 12. Students may get the updated syllabus PDF by visiting the official website.
| Units | Chapters | Pages | Deleted Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit-VI – Reproduction | Chapter 1: Reproduction in Organisms | 3-18 | The whole chapter deleted |
| Unit-VIII – Biology and Human Welfare | Chapter 9: Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production | 165–176,178 | The whole chapter deleted |
| Unit-X – Ecology and Environment | Chapter 13: Organisms and Populations | 220, 221–222, 223–225, 225–226, 250–252, 253–254, 254–255, | 13.1 Organism and Its Environment
|
| Chapter 14: Ecosystem | 14.6 Ecological Succession
| ||
| Chapter 16: Environmental Issues | 270–286 | Full Chapter |
What Is Bio Class 12 Syllabus Chapter-Wise Weightage?
The table below reflects each unit of the Biology syllabus, along with the title and mark allocation to the chapters. Refer to the table for more understanding.
| Unit | Title | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| VI | Reproduction | 16 |
| VII | Genetics and Evolution | 20 |
| VIII | Biology and Human Welfare | 12 |
| IX | Biotechnology and its Applications | 12 |
| X | Ecology and Environment | 10 |
| Total | 70 |
What Is CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Syllabus 2025?
The Biology Practical syllabus allows students to conduct experiments and learn about numerous biological principles. Furthermore, the practical test curriculum for CBSE Class 12 Biology covers elements that will most likely be taught in professional courses such as MBBS and BDS.
The CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical syllabus is broken into three sections: experiment list, spotting, and practicals. Each section’s detailed curriculum is presented below.
Part A – List of Experiments
| List of Experiments |
|---|
| Prepare a temporary mount to observe pollen germination. |
| Study the plant population density by quadrat method. |
| Study the plant population frequency by quadrat method. |
| Prepare a temporary mount of the onion root tip to study mitosis. |
| Isolate DNA from available plant material (e.g., spinach, green pea seeds, papaya). |
Part B – Spotting (Study and Observe)
| Spotting (Study and Observe) |
|---|
| Flowers adapted to pollination by different agencies (wind, insects, birds). |
| Pollen germination on stigma through a permanent slide or SEM. |
| Identification of stages of gamete development (T.S. of testis and ovary). |
| Meiosis in onion bud cells or grasshopper testis through permanent slides. |
| T.S. of blastula through permanent slides (Mammalian). |
| Mendelian inheritance uses seeds of different colours/sizes of any plant. |
| Prepared pedigree charts of genetic traits (e.g., rolling of tongue, blood groups). |
| Controlled pollination – emasculation, tagging, and bagging. |
| Study of common disease-causing organisms like Entamoeba, Plasmodium, Ascaris and any fungus-causing ringworm through permanent slides, models, or virtual images. |
| Models showing symbolic association in root modules of leguminous plants, Cuscuta on the host, and lichens. |
| Flashcard models showing examples of homologous and analogous organs. |
Part C – Practicals
| Practicals |
|---|
| Study of flowers adapted to pollination by different agencies (wind, insects). |
| Identification of T.S. of morula or blastula of frog (model). |
| Study of mammalian inheritance pattern using beads/seeds of different sizes/textures. |
| Preparation of pedigree charts of genetic traits such as rolling of the tongue, and colour blindness. |
| Study of emasculation, tagging, and bagging by trying out an exercise on controlled pollination. |
| Identify common disease-causing organisms like Ascaris (model), and learn some common symptoms of the disease that they cause. |
| Comment upon the morphological adaptations of plants found in xerophytic conditions. |
Deleted Topics From CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Syllabus
To save time and avoid using it during exam preparation, students should be informed of the removed Biology syllabus for class 12. The goal of the removed material from biology was to improve student learning.
The reduced syllabus of Biology Practical is listed below:
| Part | Particulars | Deleted Practicals |
|---|---|---|
| A | List of Experiments | 2. Collect and study soil from at least two different sites and study them for texture, moisture content, pH, and water-holding capacity. Correlate with the kinds of plants found in them. 3. Collect water from two different water bodies around you and study them for pH, clarity and presence of any living organism.4. Study the presence of suspended particulate matter in the air at two widely different sites. 8. Study the effect of different temperatures and three different pH on the activity of salivary amylase on starch. |
| B | Study/observation of the following (Spotting) | 10. Two plants and two animals (models/virtual images) were found in xeric conditions. Comment upon their morphological adaptations. 11. Two plants and two animals (models/virtual images) found in aquatic conditions. Comment upon their morphological adaptations. |
What Is CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Marking Scheme?
Students must be fully informed of the most recent syllabus for each subject to perform successfully. The Biology Practical grading structure is shown below.
| Evaluation Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| One Major Experiment | 5 |
| One Minor Experiment (Experiments 2 & 3) | 4 |
| Slide Preparation (Experiment 1 & 4) | 5 |
| Spotting | 7 |
| Practical Record + Viva Voce | 4 |
| Investigatory Project + Project Record + Viva Voce | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
Practical Examination For Visually Impaired Students Of Classes 11 & 12
The practical examination will be of a two-hour duration with a mark allocation of 30 marks in total. Students can find below the evaluation scheme for the practical examination for better understanding.
| Topics | Marks |
|---|---|
| Identification/Familiarity with the apparatus | 5 |
| Written test (Based on given/prescribed practicals) | 10 |
| Practical Records | 5 |
| Viva | 10 |
| Total | 30 |
What Are The Important Topics Of Bio Class 12 Syllabus 2025?
| Chapter | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Sexual Reproduction In Flowering Plants |
|
| Human Reproduction |
|
| Reproductive Health |
|
| Principles of Inheritance & Variation |
|
| Molecular Basis Of Inheritance |
|
| Evolution |
|
| Human Health & Diseases |
|
| Microbes In Human Welfare |
|
| Biotechnology Principles and Processes |
|
| Biotechnology And Its Applications |
|
| Organisms And Population |
|
| Ecosystems |
|
| Biodiversity And Its Composition |
|
What Is CBSE Class 12 Biology 2025 Exam Blueprint?
The Biology question paper will be made based on certain criteria, which are listed below.
| Section | Type of Questions | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | MCQs | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| Section B | Short Answer Questions | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Section C | Short Answer Questions | 7 | 3 | 21 |
| Section D | Case-Based/Source-Based/Passage-Based/Integrated Assessment Questions | 2 | 4 | 08 |
| Section E | Long Answer Questions | 3 | 5 | 15 |
Question Paper Design Of Class 12 Biology Syllabus (Theory) 2025
| Competencies | |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding | 50% |
| Application of Knowledge / Concepts | 30% |
| Analyse, Evaluate and Create | 20% |
Note:
- Typology of questions - VSA includes MCQs, assertion–reasoning type questions, SA, LA-I, LA-II, and source-based/case-based/passage-based/integrated assessment questions.
- An internal choice of approximately 33% would be provided.
How To Prepare For CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam?
To effectively prepare for the Biology exam, students can follow these useful tips.
- Allocate at least 5 hours daily – It is recommended to dedicate a minimum of 5 hours each day to studying Biology. Given the subject's depth, it requires sufficient time and commitment.
- Prioritize chapters based on difficulty level – Organize your study schedule by prioritizing chapters based on their difficulty level.
- Create a study timetable - Develop a well-structured study timetable to plan your exam preparation. It enables you to track your progress and cover all necessary topics on time.
- Practice drawing diagrams – Devote extra time to practice drawing diagrams as they hold significance in Class 12 Biology.
- Read comprehensively – Read all the chapters thoroughly to gain a deep understanding of the concepts.
- Revise regularly – Make it a habit to revise daily. Regular revision helps reinforce learned concepts and prevents forgetting.
Recommended Books For Class 12 Biology Syllabus NCERT
NCERT books are the best materials to prepare for the Biology exam as they strictly follow the Bio Class 12 syllabus. Questions from NCERT books are sometimes directly asked in the question paper. Furthermore, for better preparation, some of the reference books are listed below.
| Book | Author Name |
|---|---|
| CBSE Biology Chapterwise Solved Papers Class 12 | Arihant Expert |
| Together with Biology | S. Chand |
| Class 12 Biology | Campbell and Reece |
| Biology for Class XII | B.P. Pandey |
| Trueman’s Elementary Biology for Class 12 | K.N. Bhatia and M.P. Tyagi |
How To Score 99% In CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam?
- Make handwritten notes - Watch videos of the lecture and prepare your notes simultaneously.
- NCERT Reading - Do read the chapters of NCERT multiple times to memorise them.
- Practice PYQs - Practice the previous year's questions of Biology to understand the pattern and type of questions.
- Multiple Revioson - Do multiple revisions of important concepts to keep them fresh in your mind.
- Answer Presentation - Focus on your answer presentation by practising and framing the answers by yourself. Try to keep the marking scheme of CBSE in mind while writing.
- Practice Diagrams - Learn all the important and related diagrams to make your answers more effective.
- High Weightage - Focus more on the high weightage topics.
Also Check:
FAQs
Ques. How to download CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus PDF for 2025?
Ans. To download the Biology Syllabus 2025 from the official website, follow the procedures outlined below.
- Navigate to cbseacademic.nic.in, the official website.
- From the main page, choose the ‘Curriculum’ tab.
- Select the ‘Senior Secondary Curriculum (XI-XII)’ option.
- Choose Academic Electives (Group A).
- Select the Biology tab and your displays will present the Biology curriculum for class 12 CBSE 2025.
- Save the syllabus as a PDF.
Ques. Has there been any reduction in CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus NCERT for the academic year 2024-25?
Ans. No new reductions have been introduced in the Class 12 Biology Syllabus of 2024-25. The topics deleted from the syllabus in the previous session remain excluded this year as well.
Ques. What is the significance of diagrams and illustrations in Class 12 Biology?
Ans. Diagrams and illustrations hold great significance in Biology as they enhance the understanding of concepts and make answers more impactful. It is crucial to practice sketching diagrams and accurately labelling them to reinforce comprehension.
Ques. Do I need to memorize all scientific names and terminologies in Biology?
Ans. While having a fundamental grasp of scientific names and terminologies is important in Biology, it is not necessary to memorize every single one. It is crucial to concentrate on comprehending the concepts and their practical applications.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.