
CBSE Class 12 Computer Science syllabus 2026-27 covers Python programming, computer networks and database management. The subject code is 083. The theory paper carries 70 marks, while the practical assessment carries 30 marks.
The syllabus applies to the Class 12 board exam held in 2027. Students can download the CBSE Class 12 Computer Science syllabus PDF and check every unit, practical-file requirement and project rule.
The current curriculum is for the 2026-27 academic session and the 2027 board exam. It includes the full theory syllabus, practical marks, report-file work, suggested programs, project guidelines and reading material.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Subject | Computer Science, code 083 |
| Session | 2026-27 |
| Prerequisite | Computer Science studied in Class XI |
| Download the syllabus |
The theory syllabus has three units. Programming carries 40 of the 70 theory marks, database management carries 20 and computer networks carries 10. The practical assessment adds another 30 marks.
| Unit | Marks | Share of theory marks |
|---|---|---|
| Computational Thinking and Programming - 2 | 40 | 57.1% |
| Computer Networks | 10 | 14.3% |
| Database Management | 20 | 28.6% |
| Total theory | 70 | 100% |
This 40-mark unit begins with the Python topics studied in Class XI and then moves to functions, errors, files and stacks. Functions include built-in, module and user-defined functions; positional and default parameters; returned values; program flow; and local and global variables.
Recursion is not named as a separate topic in the current syllabus.
Exception handling covers try, except and finally. File handling covers relative and absolute paths and three file types. Text files include read, write, append, seek() and tell(). Binary files use the pickle module for creating, reading, searching, appending and updating records. CSV work uses the csv module, reader and writer functions.
The data-structure part is limited to stacks. Students study push and pop operations and implement a stack with a Python list.
The 10-mark networks unit starts with ARPANET, NSFNET and the Internet. It explains the parts of data communication, bandwidth, data transfer rate, IP addresses and the difference between circuit switching and packet switching.
The unit includes twisted-pair, coaxial and fibre-optic cables, along with radio waves, microwaves and infrared. Network devices include modem, Ethernet card, RJ45, repeater, hub, switch, router, gateway and Wi-Fi card. Students also study PAN, LAN, MAN and WAN, and bus, star and tree topologies.
Protocols include HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, PPP, SMTP, TCP/IP, POP3, TELNET and VoIP. Web services cover the World Wide Web, HTML, XML, domain names, URLs, browsers, web servers and web hosting.
The 20-mark database unit covers relations, attributes, tuples, domains, degree, cardinality and keys. The key types are candidate, primary, alternate and foreign keys.
SQL starts with DDL and DML, data types and constraints. Commands cover creating and changing databases and tables, inserting and updating records, deleting records, selecting data and sorting results. Queries also use IN, BETWEEN, LIKE, null checks, aggregate functions, GROUP BY, HAVING, cartesian products, equi-joins and natural joins.
Python-SQL connectivity brings the programming and database parts together. The syllabus includes connect(), cursor(), execute(), commit(), fetchone(), fetchall() and rowcount. Students use these methods to insert, update, delete and display data.
The practical assessment carries 30 marks. The lab test checks one Python program and four SQL queries. Logic carries 60% of the Python-program marks; documentation and code quality carry 20% each.
| Practical component | What it includes | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Python lab program | Logic, documentation and code quality | 8 |
| SQL lab test | Four queries based on one or two tables | 4 |
| Report file | Python, SQL and Python-SQL connectivity work completed during the year | 7 |
| Project | A useful application based on Class XI and XII concepts | 8 |
| Viva voce | Questions on the practical and project work | 3 |
| Total | 30 | |
The report file carries 7 marks. It must contain at least 15 Python programs, 5 sets of SQL queries using one or two tables, and 4 programs based on Python-SQL connectivity.
The suggested Python work is based mainly on text, binary and CSV files and a stack. The database work covers table creation, data changes, grouping and Python-SQL connectivity.
| Area | Suggested work |
|---|---|
| Text files | Read a file line by line, count character types, or remove selected lines and write them to another file |
| Binary files | Create student records, search by roll number and update marks |
| Python basics and stack | Build a dice simulator and implement stack push and pop with a list |
| CSV files | Store user IDs and passwords, then read and search the records |
| SQL | Create a student table and use ALTER, UPDATE, ORDER BY, DELETE, GROUP BY and aggregate functions |
| Python-SQL | Connect Python to an SQL database and run queries through the program |
The project carries 8 marks and uses concepts from Classes XI and XII. Students work in groups of two or three and begin at least six months before the submission date.
The project should solve a useful real-world problem with Python file handling or Python-SQL connectivity. CBSE gives examples such as invoice software for GST work, school software, applications for students with disabilities, games and mobile applications. The finished work must be original and should not copy copyrighted material.
The 2026-27 sample paper has 37 questions in five sections, carries 70 marks and lasts three hours. All questions are compulsory, but some questions have an internal choice. Programming answers must be written in Python.
| Section | Questions | Marks for each question | Section marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 21 | 1 | 21 |
| B | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| C | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| D | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| E | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Total | 37 | - | 70 |
The sample paper includes short Python output questions, SQL commands, file-handling programs, stack operations, Python-SQL connectivity and a network case. This shows how the three syllabus units can appear across both short and long questions. The official marking scheme gives the expected answers and mark split.
CBSE recommends the NCERT Computer Science textbook for Class XII and support material available on its website. The current syllabus PDF remains the main check for the exact topics included in the 2027 board exam.
Students can also use the Class 12 subject-wise syllabus and Class 12 question papers for the rest of the board-exam material.
The 2027 board exam follows the 2026-27 syllabus. It has Python programming, computer networks and database management, along with a practical assessment.
The subject carries 100 marks: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for the practical assessment.
It must have at least 15 Python programs, 5 sets of SQL queries using one or two tables, and 4 Python-SQL connectivity programs.
Yes. The current curriculum gives Class XI Computer Science as the prerequisite, and the first unit begins with a revision of Class XI Python topics.
Recursion is not named as a separate topic in the current Class XII syllabus. The functions section covers function types, parameters, returned values, program flow and variable scope.
The project should solve a useful problem with Python file handling or Python-SQL connectivity. Examples include invoice software, a school application, a game or software that helps students with disabilities.
The current sample paper says that all programming questions must be answered in Python.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.