CBSE Class 12 History Syllabus 2027: Chapters, Marks and Project
Content Curator | Updated On - Oct 29, 2026
The CBSE Class 12 History syllabus for the 2027 board exam is part of the 2026-27 curriculum. History has subject code 027. The course has 12 themes in three NCERT books, five marks of map work and a 20-mark project.
The written paper carries 80 marks and lasts three hours. Each of the three parts carries 25 marks, while map work carries the remaining five marks. CBSE has not given separate chapter-wise marks within each part.
CBSE Class 12 History Syllabus 2027 Highlights
- Academic session: 2026-27; board examination: 2027
- Subject code: 027
- Theory paper: 80 marks and 3 hours
- Project work: 20 marks
- Syllabus: 12 themes in three parts, plus map work
CBSE Class 12 History Syllabus 2026-27 PDF
The current History syllabus includes the course structure, all 12 themes, map locations, question-paper design and project rules. The same document covers Classes 11 and 12, so the Class 12 section begins later in the PDF.
| Document | Link |
|---|---|
| History syllabus, subject code 027 | Download the official History syllabus PDF |
The Class 12 subject-wise syllabus has the curriculum links for other subjects.
CBSE Class 12 History Course Structure 2026-27
The 80-mark theory paper is divided into three equal parts of 25 marks each and a five-mark map question. Project work adds 20 marks to make the subject total 100.
| Part | Themes | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Themes in Indian History Part I | 1 to 4 | 25 |
| Themes in Indian History Part II | 5 to 8 | 25 |
| Themes in Indian History Part III | 9 to 12 | 25 |
| Map work | Locations from all three parts | 5 |
| Theory total | 12 themes and map work | 80 |
| Project work | Internal assessment | 20 |
CBSE Class 12 History Chapter-wise Syllabus
The syllabus follows Indian history from Harappan cities to the making of the Constitution. Each theme also uses a type of historical evidence, such as archaeology, inscriptions, travel accounts, official records, photographs or debates.
| Theme | Chapter | Main coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bricks, Beads and Bones | Harappan cities, social life, archaeology and different views of historians. |
| 2 | Kings, Farmers and Towns | Early states and economies from about 600 BCE to 600 CE, with inscriptions as evidence. |
| 3 | Kinship, Caste and Class | Early societies, social rules and the Mahabharata as a source. |
| 4 | Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings | Religious developments, Buddhism, Jainism, sculpture and buildings. |
| 5 | Through the Eyes of Travellers | Society between the tenth and seventeenth centuries through travellers' accounts. |
| 6 | Bhakti-Sufi Traditions | Bhakti and Sufi ideas, saints, devotional texts and religious change. |
| 7 | An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara | Architecture, city planning, water systems and travellers' accounts of Vijayanagara. |
| 8 | Peasants, Zamindars and the State | Agrarian society and the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. |
| 9 | Colonialism and the Countryside | British revenue systems and the use of colonial records and reports. |
| 10 | Rebels and the Raj | The Revolt of 1857, its spread, coordination, unity and visual records. |
| 11 | Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement | The nationalist movement, Gandhian leadership and historical sources such as newspapers and letters. |
| 12 | Framing the Constitution | The Constituent Assembly and the debates that shaped the Constitution. |
Only these 12 themes are included in the 2027 exam syllabus. Theme numbers from older editions do not apply to the current syllabus.
CBSE Class 12 History Map Work Syllabus
Map work carries five marks. The locations come from all three parts of the syllabus, covering archaeological sites, kingdoms, cities, the Revolt of 1857 and the national movement.
| Part | Map area | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | Mature Harappan sites | Harappa, Banawali, Kalibangan, Balakot, Rakhigarhi, Dholavira, Nageshwar, Lothal, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro and Kot Diji |
| Mahajanapadas and cities | Vajji, Magadha, Kosala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara, Avanti, Rajgir, Ujjain, Taxila and Varanasi | |
| Ashokan inscriptions | Sanchi, Topra, Meerut Pillar and Kaushambi; kingdoms of the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas | |
| Kingdoms and towns | Kushanas, Shakas, Satavahanas, Vakatakas, Guptas, Mathura, Kanauj, Puhar, Braghukachchha, Shravasti, Rajgir, Vaishali, Varanasi and Vidisha | |
| Major Buddhist sites | Nagarjunakonda, Sanchi, Amaravati, Lumbini, Bharhut, Bodh Gaya and Ajanta | |
| Part II | Vijayanagara and nearby centres | Bidar, Golconda, Bijapur, Vijayanagara, Chandragiri, Kanchipuram, Mysore, Thanjavur, Kolar and Tirunelveli |
| Territories under Babur, Akbar and Aurangzeb | Delhi, Agra, Panipat, Amber, Ajmer, Lahore and Goa | |
| Part III | British control in 1857 | Punjab, Sindh, Bombay, Madras, Berar, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Surat, Calcutta, Patna and Allahabad |
| Main centres of the Revolt of 1857 | Delhi, Meerut, Jhansi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Azamgarh, Calcutta, Benaras, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Agra and Awadh | |
| National movement centres | Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Benaras, Amritsar, Chauri Chaura, Lahore, Bardoli, Dandi, Bombay and Karachi |
CBSE Class 12 History Question Paper Design
The 2026-27 sample paper has 34 compulsory questions in five sections. It includes 21 MCQs, six short answers, three long answers, three source-based questions and one map question. Internal choices are available in Sections B, C and E.
| Section | Question type | Questions | Marks each | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Multiple-choice questions | 21 | 1 | 21 |
| B | Short-answer questions | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| C | Long-answer questions | 3 | 8 | 24 |
| D | Source-based questions | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| E | Map question | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 34 | 80 | ||
CBSE Class 12 History Competency-based Weightage
The paper gives 39 marks to knowledge and understanding. Another 36 marks test application, analysis, evaluation and evidence-based answers. Map skills carry five marks.
| Skill tested | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | 21 | 26.25% |
| Understanding | 18 | 22.50% |
| Applying and analysing | 24 | 30% |
| Formulating, evaluating and creating | 12 | 15% |
| Map skills | 5 | 6.25% |
Long-answer questions carry the largest share at 24 marks. The current Class 12 exam pattern explains the broader board-paper structure.
CBSE Class 12 History Project Work
Project work carries 20 marks and runs through the session. The report must be handwritten and may be completed individually or in a group. In Class 12, the final evaluation includes internal and external examiners, and the viva is based on the student's own project file.
| Period | Work assessed | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| April to July | Topic selection, synopsis, purpose, objectives, research question, source review and method | 6 |
| August to October | Planning, data collection, relevance of the topic and problems faced during research | 5 |
| November to January | Analysis, conclusion, limitations, bibliography, annexures and overall presentation | 5 |
| January to February | Final assessment and viva | 4 |
| Total | 20 | |
CBSE Class 12 History Project Topics
CBSE gives 18 suggested topics. Schools can discuss the final topic with students and may allow an individual or group project.
| No. | Suggested topic | No. | Suggested topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indus Valley Civilisation: excavations and new views | 10 | Architecture of the Vijayanagara Empire |
| 2 | History and legacy of the Mauryan Empire | 11 | Life of women in Mughal rural society |
| 3 | Mahabharata: the great epic of India | 12 | British land revenue systems in India |
| 4 | History and culture of the Vedic period | 13 | The Revolt of 1857 |
| 5 | Buddha Charita | 14 | Philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev |
| 6 | History of Jainism | 15 | Vision of Kabir |
| 7 | Bhakti Movement: different views and commentaries | 16 | The Indian Constitution |
| 8 | Mystical side of Sufism | 17 | Comparison of stupas and pillar edicts |
| 9 | Global legacy of Gandhian ideas | 18 | Mughal and Vijayanagara architecture |
CBSE Class 12 History Books
The prescribed books are NCERT's Themes in Indian History Part I, Part II and Part III. Each book matches one 25-mark part of the theory paper. The map locations come from the related themes in these books.
The official Class 12 sample paper page has the History sample paper and marking scheme. Previous History question papers can be used to see how the sections appear in board papers.
CBSE Class 12 History Syllabus 2027 FAQs
How many chapters are there in CBSE Class 12 History for 2026-27? +
There are 12 themes or chapters. They are divided equally across Themes in Indian History Parts I, II and III.
How many marks does the Class 12 History paper carry? +
The written paper carries 80 marks. Project work carries another 20 marks, making the subject total 100.
Does CBSE give fixed marks to each History chapter? +
No. Each of the three parts carries 25 marks, but CBSE does not give a fixed mark total to every chapter within a part.
How many marks are given for map work in History? +
Map work carries five marks in the 80-mark theory paper.
Is the Class 12 History project handwritten? +
Yes. The current CBSE project guidelines say that the project report should be handwritten. Eco-friendly material may be used.
Which books are used for CBSE Class 12 History? +
The prescribed NCERT books are Themes in Indian History Part I, Part II and Part III.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.