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CBSE Class 12 Business Studies Syllabus 2026-27

Get the complete CBSE Class 12 Business Studies Syllabus 2026-27 with all parts, chapters, topics, marks distribution, exam pattern, and expert tips. Everything in one place.

 

Quick Overview

 

Parameter

Details

Conducting Body

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

Subject

Business Studies (Subject Code: 054)

Academic Year

2026-27

Theory Marks

80 Marks

Project Work

20 Marks

Total Marks

100 Marks

Theory Duration

3 Hours

Official Website

 

Exam Structure 2026-27

 

The theory paper carries 80 marks and Project Work carries 20 marks.

 

Theory Paper Pattern (80 Marks)

 

Section

Question Type

Questions

Marks

A

MCQs and Objective Type (1 mark each)

20

20

B

Short Answer Type - I (3 marks each)

4

12

C

Short Answer Type - II (4 marks each)

5

20

D

Long Answer Type (6 marks each)

4

24

E

Case-Based Questions (4 marks each)

1

4

Total

 

34

80

 

Project Work (20 Marks)

 

Component

Marks

Project File

15 Marks

Viva Voce

5 Marks

Total

20 Marks

 

Part-Wise Marks Distribution 2026-27

 

Business Studies is split into Part A: Principles and Functions of Management and Part B: Business Finance and Marketing.

 

Part

Unit

Unit Name

Periods

Marks

A

1

Nature and Significance of Management

16

 

A

2

Principles of Management

14

 

A

3

Business Environment

12

 

A

4

Planning

14

 

A

5

Organising

15

 

A

6

Staffing

16

 

A

7

Directing

20

 

A

8

Controlling

14

 

 

 

Part A Total

121

50

B

9

Financial Management

20

 

B

10

Financial Markets

18

 

B

11

Marketing Management

20

 

B

12

Consumer Protection

12

 

 

 

Part B Total

70

30

 

 

Grand Total

191

80

 

Complete Syllabus 2026-27: All Units and Topics

 

Use this as your chapter-wise revision checklist.

 

Part A: Principles and Functions of Management (50 Marks)

 

Unit 1: Nature and Significance of Management

•        Management - concept, characteristics, objectives

•        Management as Science, Art and Profession

•        Levels of Management - Top, Middle, Lower

•        Management functions: Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Controlling

•        Coordination - nature and importance

 

Unit 2: Principles of Management

•        Taylor's Scientific Management - principles and techniques

•        Techniques: Functional Foremanship, Standardisation, Method Study, Motion Study, Time Study, Fatigue Study, Differential Piece Wage System

•        Fayol's Principles of Management - all 14 principles

•        Comparison of Taylor and Fayol

 

Unit 3: Business Environment

•        Business Environment - meaning, importance, features

•        Dimensions: Economic, Social, Technological, Political, Legal

•        LPG - Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation - impact on Indian business

 

Unit 4: Planning

•        Planning - meaning, importance, limitations

•        Planning process - steps

•        Types of plans: Objectives, Strategy, Policy, Procedure, Rule, Method, Budget, Programme

 

Unit 5: Organising

•        Organising - meaning, process, importance

•        Organisational Structure - Functional and Divisional structures

•        Formal and Informal Organisation

•        Delegation - elements: Authority, Responsibility, Accountability

•        Decentralisation - meaning, importance, differences from delegation

 

Unit 6: Staffing

•        Staffing - meaning, importance, process

•        Recruitment - meaning, sources: internal and external

•        Selection - process and steps

•        Training and Development - methods: On-the-job and Off-the-job

•        Importance of training to organisation and employee

 

Unit 7: Directing

•        Directing - meaning, importance, elements

•        Motivation - meaning, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory

•        Financial and Non-Financial Incentives

•        Leadership - meaning, styles: Autocratic, Democratic, Laissez-faire

•        Communication - process, formal and informal communication, barriers, how to overcome

 

Unit 8: Controlling

•        Controlling - meaning, importance, steps in process

•        Relationship between Planning and Controlling

•        Techniques of Controlling: ROI, Budgetary Control, Break-Even Analysis, Management Audit, PERT and CPM

 

Part B: Business Finance and Marketing (30 Marks)

 

Unit 9: Financial Management

•        Financial Management - meaning, objectives, role of Financial Manager

•        Financial Decisions - Investment, Financing, Dividend decisions

•        Capital Structure - factors affecting, trading on equity

•        Fixed Capital and Working Capital - meaning, factors affecting

 

Unit 10: Financial Markets

•        Financial Market - meaning, functions

•        Money Market - instruments: Treasury Bill, Commercial Paper, Call Money, Certificate of Deposit, Commercial Bill

•        Capital Market - Primary and Secondary Market

•        Stock Exchange - functions, NSE, BSE, SENSEX, NIFTY

•        SEBI - objectives, functions, powers

 

Unit 11: Marketing Management

•        Marketing - meaning, functions, marketing vs selling

•        Marketing Mix - 4 Ps: Product, Price, Place, Promotion

•        Product - levels, branding, labelling, packaging

•        Price - factors affecting pricing

•        Place - channels of distribution: Zero level, One level, Two level, Three level

•        Promotion - Advertising, Personal Selling, Sales Promotion, Public Relations

•        Consumer behaviour and market segmentation

 

Unit 12: Consumer Protection

•        Consumer Protection - importance, Consumer Protection Act 2019

•        Rights of consumers: Right to Safety, Right to Information, Right to Choose, Right to be Heard, Right to Redressal, Right to Consumer Education

•        Consumer Responsibilities

•        Redressal agencies: District Commission, State Commission, National Commission

•        Consumer organisations and NGOs - role

 

Important Dates 2026-27

 

Event

Expected Timeline

CBSE Syllabus Release

April - May 2026

Half-Yearly Examinations

September - October 2026

Pre-Board Examinations

November - December 2026

CBSE Board Registration

October - November 2026

CBSE Admit Card Release

January - February 2027

CBSE Class 12 Board Exams

February - March 2027

CBSE Result Declaration

May - June 2027

Verify all dates on cbse.gov.in before the exam season.

 

Chapter Priority at a Glance

 

Chapter

Priority

Expected Marks

Directing (Unit 7)

Very High

10-12 Marks

Organising (Unit 5)

Very High

8-10 Marks

Marketing Management (Unit 11)

Very High

8-10 Marks

Staffing (Unit 6)

High

6-8 Marks

Financial Management (Unit 9)

High

6-8 Marks

Principles of Management (Unit 2)

High

6-8 Marks

Financial Markets (Unit 10)

High

5-6 Marks

Controlling (Unit 8)

Medium

4-6 Marks

Consumer Protection (Unit 12)

Medium

4-5 Marks

Planning (Unit 4)

Medium

3-5 Marks

 

Study Tips for CBSE Class 12 Business Studies

 

 

1. Use Mnemonics for Definitions and Lists

 

•        Business Studies is definition-heavy - create short mnemonics for all principles and features

•        Example: Taylor's 4 principles: S-M-H-S (Science, Mental Revolution, Harmony, Cooperation, Max Output)

•        Write definitions in your own words after understanding - rote learning loses marks in application questions

 

2. Master All 14 Fayol Principles with Examples

 

•        Fayol's 14 principles come every year for 3-6 marks

•        Learn each principle with a real-life business example - examiners reward application

•        Compare Fayol and Taylor in a table - comparison questions appear frequently

 

3. Focus on Directing and Marketing

 

•        Directing alone can fetch 10-12 marks - Motivation, Leadership, Communication

•        For Marketing, learn all 4 Ps with examples - Product, Price, Place, Promotion

•        Practice case-based questions on Marketing Mix - 1 case-based question is guaranteed

 

4. Prepare Financial Markets and SEBI Thoroughly

 

•        Money Market instruments are asked as MCQs every year - memorise all 5

•        SEBI objectives and functions appear in 3-4 mark questions consistently

•        Know the difference between Primary Market and Secondary Market clearly

 

5. Practice Case-Based and Application Questions

 

•        CBSE now includes case-based questions which require analysis, not just recall

•        Read the case, identify the concept, chapter and relevant theory before answering

•        Solve CBSE sample papers and previous year papers for case question practice

 

Scoring Tips for the Board Exam

 

•        Attempt MCQs first - 20 direct marks to secure before moving to longer answers

•        Always start answers with a definition of the concept - 1 mark is always for definition

•        Use headings and subpoints in long answers - never write in paragraph blocks

•        For 6-mark questions, write 6 distinct points - one point per mark

•        In case-based questions, always identify the management concept or principle explicitly

•        Use business examples and real companies where possible - Reliance, Tata, Infosys

•        Do not exceed the required number of points - quality beats quantity in Business Studies

•        Revise all diagrams - Maslow's Hierarchy, Channel of Distribution, Communication process

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

 

•        Mixing up Taylor and Fayol - their principles are different and must not be confused

•        Writing all features instead of asked features - read question carefully for exact requirement

•        Confusing Delegation and Decentralisation - know the difference clearly

•        Skipping examples in answers - Business Studies answers without examples lose presentation marks

•        Ignoring Consumer Protection Act 2019 - it replaced the 1986 act and updated provisions must be used

•        Confusing Primary Market and Secondary Market roles in the answer

•        Not preparing Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory - it appears every year alongside Maslow

•        Writing definitions only without importance or significance in long answer questions

 

Best Resources for Preparation

 

•        NCERT Business Studies Part 1 and Part 2 Class 12 - must follow as primary reference

•        CBSE Sample Papers 2026-27 on cbseacademic.nic.in

•        NCERT Exemplar Problems - for application and case-based question practice

•        Poonam Gandhi - Business Studies Class 12 - widely used reference for detailed explanations

•        CBSE Question Bank - chapter-wise objective and long answer practice

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Q1. How many units are in CBSE Class 12 Business Studies?

There are 12 units split across two parts. Part A has 8 units on Management (50 marks) and Part B has 4 units on Finance and Marketing (30 marks).

 

Q2. Which chapter is most important in Business Studies?

Directing (Unit 7) is the most important chapter, carrying 10-12 marks. It covers Motivation, Leadership and Communication which are tested in both theory and case-based questions.

 

Q3. Is there a case-based question in Business Studies board paper?

Yes. One case-based question of 4 marks is included in the paper. It tests your ability to identify and apply management concepts from a given real-life situation.

 

Q4. Is Project Work compulsory in Class 12 Business Studies?

Yes. Project Work carries 20 marks and is compulsory. It includes a project file (15 marks) and a viva voce (5 marks).

 

Q5. Is NCERT enough for scoring 90+ in Business Studies?

NCERT is the most important resource for Business Studies. Read both parts thoroughly, practice case-based questions from CBSE sample papers, and you can comfortably score 90+.

 

Disclaimer

 

This content is based on the official CBSE Business Studies curriculum. Always verify the latest syllabus on cbse.gov.in as CBSE may update it.

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