Complete syllabus with all units, chapters, topics, marks distribution, exam pattern, study tips and scoring strategies. Everything you need in one place.

Quick Overview

Exam Structure 2026-27

The theory paper carries 80 marks and project work carries 20 marks. The paper tests reading of political events, source analysis and essay-style answers.

Theory Paper Pattern (80 Marks)

Project Work (20 Marks)

Unit-Wise Marks Distribution 2026-27

Complete Syllabus 2026-27: All Units and Topics

Part A: Contemporary World Politics

Unit 1: The Cold War Era

•      Emergence of two power blocs after World War II

•      NATO and Warsaw Pact formation and significance

•      Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and India's role

•      Arenas of Cold War: Korea, Cuba, Vietnam

•      Impact of Cold War on newly independent nations

Unit 2: The End of Bipolarity

•      Disintegration of the Soviet Union and its causes

•      Shock therapy in post-communist societies

•      Consequences of Soviet collapse for world politics

•      Formation of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Unit 3: US Hegemony in World Politics

•      US as the sole superpower after Cold War

•      Gulf War 1991 and Operation Desert Storm

•      9/11 attacks and War on Terror

•      Iraq War 2003 and its global consequences

•      Challenges to US hegemony

Unit 4: Alternative Centres of Power

•      Rise of European Union (EU) as a political and economic bloc

•      ASEAN formation and significance

•      China's economic rise and global influence

•      India-China-Russia triangle in world politics

Unit 5: Contemporary South Asia

•      Democratic transitions in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh

•      Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict

•      India's relations with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka

•      SAARC and regional cooperation

Unit 6: International Organisations

•      United Nations (UN) structure, functions and limitations

•      UN Security Council: composition and reform debate

•      India's bid for permanent UNSC membership

•      World Bank, IMF and their role

•      NGOs and their global influence

Unit 7: Security in the Contemporary World

•      Traditional vs non-traditional security threats

•      Terrorism, WMDs, human rights violations

•      Human security concept

•      India's security challenges: border disputes, insurgency, terrorism

Unit 8: Environment and Natural Resources

•      Global environmental issues: climate change, ozone depletion

•      Kyoto Protocol, Rio Summit and Paris Agreement

•      Resource geopolitics: oil, water, forests

•      Common but differentiated responsibilities principle

Unit 9: Globalisation

•      Meaning and dimensions of globalisation

•      Economic, cultural and political globalisation

•      Debate on globalisation: critics vs supporters

•      India and globalisation: LPG reforms 1991 and impact

Part B: Politics in India Since Independence

Unit 10: Challenges of Nation Building

•      Partition of 1947: challenges, displacement, violence

•      Integration of princely states: Hyderabad, Kashmir, Junagadh

•      Reorganisation of states on linguistic basis

•      States Reorganisation Commission 1953

Unit 11: Era of One-Party Dominance

•      Congress dominance in first three general elections

•      Nature of Congress as a social and ideological coalition

•      First General Election 1952 and electoral outcomes

•      Rise of opposition parties: Communist Party, Jan Sangh, Socialists

Unit 12: Politics of Planned Development

•      Planning Commission and Five-Year Plans

•      Mixed economy model: public sector vs private sector debate

•      Green Revolution: success and regional imbalances

•      Land reforms and their limited implementation

Unit 13: India's External Relations

•      Nehru's foreign policy: non-alignment, Panchsheel

•      India-China War 1962 and its aftermath

•      India-Pakistan Wars 1947, 1965, 1971

•      Nuclear policy and Pokhran tests

•      India's changing relations with the USA and USSR/Russia

Unit 14: Challenges to the Congress System

•      Fourth General Election 1967 and Congress decline

•      Coalition governments in states

•      Congress split 1969 and Indira Gandhi's rise

•      Garibi Hatao slogan and 1971 elections

Unit 15: Crisis of Democratic Order

•      JP Movement and political turmoil 1974-75

•      Emergency 1975-77: causes, impact, lessons

•      Suspension of civil liberties and press censorship

•      1977 elections and fall of Indira Gandhi

•      Janata Party government and internal contradictions

Unit 16: Rise of Popular Movements

•      Chipko Movement and environmental activism

•      Dalit Panthers and anti-caste movements

•      Anti-arrack movement in Andhra Pradesh

•      Farmers movements and backward class politics

•      Women's movement in post-independence India

Unit 17: Regional Aspirations

•      Demands for autonomy and separatism in northeast India

•      Punjab crisis and Operation Blue Star 1984

•      Jammu and Kashmir conflict and political developments

•      Challenges of regionalism and federalism in India

Unit 18: Recent Developments in Indian Politics

•      Mandal Commission and OBC reservations controversy

•      Rise of BJP and coalition politics in the 1990s

•      Babri Masjid demolition 1992 and communal politics

•      Economic liberalisation and political realignments

•      UPA and NDA coalition governments

Important Dates 2026-27

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

Unit-Wise Priority at a Glance

Study Tips for CBSE Class 12 Political Science

1. Learn Key Terms and Definitions First

•      Every answer in Political Science must begin with a clear definition

•      Know terms like: hegemony, bipolarity, NAM, federalism, secularism, coalition

•      CBSE awards marks for using correct political terminology

2. Make a Timeline for Every Unit

•      Political Science is heavily date and event driven

•      Maintain a one-page timeline for Part A (1945-2000) and Part B (1947-2004)

•      Examiners reward answers that place events in correct chronological context

3. Focus on Part B More Than Part A

•      Part B (Indian Politics) is more scoring because events are familiar and concrete

•      Units 15, 17 and 18 are high-priority and appear every year in long answer questions

•      Prepare short notes of 8-10 lines for each unit for quick revision

4. Practice Passage-Based Questions

•      Passage-based questions carry 4 marks and are easy if you read carefully

•      Answer only what the passage implies, do not import outside knowledge

•      Practise at least 10 passages from CBSE sample papers 2026-27

Scoring Tips for the Board Exam

•      Attempt MCQs first to secure 20 marks before moving to descriptive answers

•      For 6-mark long answers, write introduction, 4 main points with examples, conclusion

•      Use specific examples: name leaders, years, events, and policies in every answer

•      For 2-mark short answers, write 2 clear, direct sentences, one point each

•      In passage questions, underline key words in the question before answering

•      Always mention India's stand in world politics questions, examiners reward this

•      Write legibly and leave a line between answers, presentation adds marks

•      Leave 10 minutes at the end to review MCQs and short answers

Common Mistakes to Avoid

•      Confusing Part A and Part B events, for example mixing Cold War with Indian Emergency

•      Writing general knowledge instead of NCERT-based textbook answers

•      Skipping Unit 2 (End of Bipolarity) and Unit 4 (Alternative Centres), both are regularly tested

•      Not giving examples in long answers, vague answers score poorly

•      Ignoring Emergency (Unit 15) which appears almost every year for 6 marks

•      Writing very long introductions, get to the main points in the first 2 lines

•      Confusing SAARC with ASEAN or NAM, keep regional organisations clearly separate

•      Not practising MCQs, students lose easy marks due to careless errors

Best Resources for Preparation

•      NCERT Political Science: Contemporary World Politics and Politics in India Since Independence (Class 12)

•      CBSE Sample Papers 2026-27 on cbseacademic.nic.in, practise full papers under timed conditions

•      CBSE Question Bank: unit-wise passage and long answer practice

•      Previous Year CBSE Papers (7 years): identify repeated units and question formats

•      Arihant All in One Political Science Class 12: good for MCQ and short answer practice

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many units are in CBSE Class 12 Political Science?

There are 18 units across two parts. Part A has 9 units on Contemporary World Politics and Part B has 9 units on Politics in India Since Independence.

Q2. Which part carries more marks in Class 12 Political Science?

Both parts carry 40 marks each in the theory paper. However, Part B is generally more scoring for students as Indian political events are more familiar and relatable.

Q3. Is there map work in Class 12 Political Science?

No. Political Science does not include map-based questions. The exam focuses on political analysis, source-based passages and essay-style long answers.

Q4. Which units are most important for board exam 2026-27?

Units 15 (Emergency), 18 (Recent Developments), 3 (US Hegemony), 6 (International Organisations) and 13 (India's External Relations) are the highest-priority units.

Q5. Is NCERT enough to score 90+ in Political Science?

Yes. NCERT is the primary resource for CBSE Political Science. Read both books thoroughly, practise CBSE sample papers and previous year questions to comfortably score 90+.

Disclaimer: This content is based on the official CBSE Political Science curriculum. Always verify the latest syllabus on cbse.gov.in as CBSE may update it.