ISC Class 12 Kannada Syllabus 2026-27

The ISC (Indian School Certificate) Class 12 Kannada syllabus for the academic session 2026-27 is prescribed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). Kannada is the official language of Karnataka and one of the classical languages of India, with a literary tradition extending back over fifteen hundred years. The Kannada literary heritage encompasses a remarkable range of poetic, prose, and dramatic works, from the celebrated Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna of the early medieval period to the distinguished voices of modern and contemporary Karnataka literature. As an ISC language subject, Kannada provides students with a rigorous academic framework for engaging with this tradition at an advanced level.

The Class 12 Kannada syllabus builds directly on the foundation established in Class 11 and represents the culminating year of formal school-level study of the language. The curriculum is designed to develop advanced reading comprehension, precise written expression, grammatical accuracy, and an informed appreciation of the major literary forms and authors of Kannada literature. Students engage with a curated selection of prescribed texts representing the breadth of the Kannada literary tradition across poetry (Padya), prose (Gadya), and drama (Nataka).

The ISC Kannada examination tests four core competencies: reading and comprehension of unseen passages, written composition in a variety of functional and creative forms, grammar and language use, and critical engagement with prescribed literary texts. This integrated approach develops students who are not merely proficient users of Kannada but confident, analytical readers and thoughtful writers in one of India's oldest and most celebrated classical languages.

This page covers the complete ISC Class 12 Kannada syllabus for 2026-27, including the examination pattern, the section-wise breakdown of the theory paper, the prescribed texts, the marking scheme, and expert preparation tips to help students plan their academic year with clarity and purpose.

Quick Facts: ISC Class 12 Kannada 2026-27

ISC Class 12 Kannada Exam Pattern 2026-27

The ISC Class 12 Kannada examination for the session 2026-27 consists of a written theory paper of three hours duration carrying 80 marks, and an internal assessment component carrying 20 marks conducted throughout the academic year by the school. The theory paper is divided into three sections, each testing a distinct competency area. There is no separate practical examination for Kannada.

Overall Assessment Structure

Theory Paper: Section-wise Breakdown

The 80-mark theory paper is structured into three sections. Section A tests reading comprehension through unseen passages. Section B tests writing skills across functional and creative composition types. Section C tests detailed knowledge and critical appreciation of the prescribed literary texts. Each section is compulsory, but internal choice is offered within sections.

Internal Assessment: Components

ISC Class 12 Kannada Marking Scheme 2026-27

ISC Class 12 Kannada Detailed Syllabus 2026-27

The ISC Kannada syllabus for Class 12 is organised into four interconnected areas: reading comprehension, writing skills, grammar and language study, and the study of prescribed literary texts. Together, these areas develop students who can read Kannada with depth and critical precision, write in the language with accuracy and appropriate register, and engage meaningfully with the rich literary heritage of one of India's longest-attested and most celebrated classical languages.

Section A: Reading Comprehension

This section tests students' ability to read and understand unseen passages in Kannada. Two passages are provided, which may include a prose extract, a factual or informational passage, and occasionally a short poem or verse extract. Questions test a range of reading sub-skills, from literal recall to inference, vocabulary in context, and the ability to summarise ideas concisely in the student's own Kannada.

1.1 Comprehension of Unseen Prose Passages

•        Reading for literal comprehension: identifying stated facts, events, and information directly from the passage

•        Reading for inference: drawing conclusions from implied meaning; identifying the author's tone, purpose, and perspective

•        Vocabulary in context: understanding word meanings from surrounding text; antonyms, synonyms, and contextual definitions in Kannada

•        Summary writing in Kannada: condensing a passage to a specified word limit while retaining key ideas, expressed entirely in the student's own language

•        Appreciation of prose style: recognising figurative language, descriptive writing, and narrative or expository technique

1.2 Comprehension of Unseen Poetry or Verse

•        Reading a short Kannada poem or verse extract and responding to comprehension and appreciation questions

•        Identifying the central idea, theme, mood, and emotional register of the poem

•        Understanding imagery, metaphor, and poetic devices characteristic of Kannada verse

•        Paraphrasing selected lines or stanzas in clear, simple Kannada prose

Section B: Writing Skills

This section develops students' ability to write accurately and effectively in a range of functional and creative forms in Kannada. Students are assessed on their command of standard written Kannada, the appropriateness of register and tone to the writing task, the organisation and coherence of their content, and the correctness of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Students select from the choices offered within the section.

2.1 Formal Writing

•        Formal letter writing: letters of complaint, request, application, enquiry, and official correspondence following standard Kannada letter conventions

•        Notice writing: official notices for schools, organisations, and community events in the prescribed Kannada format

•        Report writing: formal reports on events, meetings, surveys, or social issues in structured, standard Kannada

2.2 Informal and Creative Writing

•        Informal letter writing: personal letters to friends, relatives, and acquaintances in natural, idiomatic Kannada

•        Essay writing: argumentative, descriptive, narrative, and reflective essays on given topics; approximately 250 to 350 words in length

•        Story writing: composing a short story in Kannada from given visual or verbal prompts

•        Dialogue writing: writing a conversation between two or more characters on a given situation or theme

•        Expansion of a proverb (Kannada gaade): developing a short essay or paragraph from a given Kannada proverb

2.3 Functional Writing

•        Diary entry: writing a personal diary passage in Kannada recording an experience, emotion, or event

•        Speech writing: composing a structured speech in Kannada for a given occasion or topic

•        Paragraph writing: developing a well-structured paragraph on a given topic or opening sentence

•        Slogan writing: crafting concise, effective slogans in Kannada for social, educational, or civic purposes

Section C: Prescribed Texts

This section requires students to engage in close critical reading of the prescribed literary texts. The CISCE prescribes specific Kannada texts for Class 12 each session, drawn from across the genres of prose (Gadya), poetry (Padya), and drama (Nataka). The selection includes works by celebrated Kannada authors and spans a range of literary periods, styles, and themes, from the earliest Kannada poetic traditions to the distinctive voices of modern and contemporary Karnataka literature, including the rich output of the Navya (Modernist) and Bandaya (Protest Literature) movements. Students must demonstrate both detailed textual knowledge and the ability to analyse, interpret, and appreciate the literary qualities of every prescribed work.

3.1 Prescribed Prose (Gadya)

•        Close reading and comprehension of prescribed prose extracts, essays, and short stories

•        Understanding the central argument, theme, and narrative or discursive structure of each prose work

•        Identifying the author's viewpoint, tone, and characteristic stylistic and linguistic features

•        Contextual questions (sandarbha): identifying the speaker or narrator, the context, and the significance of given passages

•        Short answer questions on character, plot, setting, theme, and language of prescribed prose texts

•        Critical appreciation: analysing the literary merits and social, philosophical, or cultural significance of selected prose works

3.2 Prescribed Poetry (Padya)

•        Reading and recitation of prescribed poems with correct intonation, rhythm, and emotional expression

•        Understanding the literal and figurative meaning of all prescribed poems

•        Identification and explanation of poetic devices: upama (simile), roopaka (metaphor), anuprasa (alliteration), yamaka (rhyme), utpreksha (poetic fancy), and other alankaras characteristic of Kannada poetry

•        Understanding the rasa (emotional essence) and bhava (feeling) of each prescribed poem, including the nine rasas of the classical tradition

•        Understanding the metrical forms (chandas) used in classical Kannada poetry, including Shatpadi, Tripadi, and Ragale

•        Paraphrasing: expressing the meaning of selected stanzas in clear prose Kannada

•        Reference to context questions: identifying the poem, the poet, the occasion, and the significance of given lines

•        Critical appreciation of the poem's imagery, structure, and thematic and emotional impact

3.3 Prescribed Drama (Nataka)

•        Reading and understanding the prescribed Kannada drama text in its entirety

•        Character analysis: identifying key characters, their traits, motivations, relationships, and development across the play

•        Dramatic structure: understanding the plot, conflict, rising action, climax, and resolution

•        Dialogue analysis: understanding how character, theme, and dramatic tension are constructed through spoken Kannada

•        Themes and social context: identifying the central themes and the social, historical, or philosophical issues addressed by the playwright

•        Stage directions and dramatic technique: understanding the stagecraft and performative dimensions of the play

•        Reference to context and critical appreciation questions on key scenes, speeches, and exchanges

3.4 Grammar and Language Study (Integrated Throughout)

•        Vibhakti (case suffixes) and their correct usage in formal and literary Kannada

•        Samaas (compound words): types including Tatpurusha, Dvandva, Bahuvrihi, and Avyayibhava; formation and analysis

•        Alankara (figures of speech): identification, explanation, and application in both literary analysis and original composition

•        Kaala (tense) and Kriya (verb): correct conjugation of verbs across all tenses in standard and literary Kannada

•        Vakya parivartane (sentence transformation): active to passive voice, direct to indirect speech, and related transformations

•        Sandhi (phonological junction rules) in written Kannada: identification, classification, and application

•        Word formation: roots (dhatu), prefixes (upasarga), and suffixes (pratyaya) in Kannada grammar

•        Proverbs (gaade) and idioms: meaning, usage, and application in written compositions

•        Punctuation in Kannada: correct use of all standard punctuation marks in formal written Kannada

Prescribed Authors and Literary Texts: ISC Kannada 2026-27

The CISCE prescribes specific texts for the ISC Class 12 Kannada examination each session. Students and teachers must obtain the confirmed list of prescribed texts for 2026-27 directly from the official CISCE website at cisce.org or from the CISCE-published syllabus document for the session, and must ensure they are using the correct editions. The following represents the standard categories and types of authors and works included in the ISC Kannada prescription.

Prescribed Prose Authors and Works

•        Essays and reflective prose by major 20th and 21st-century Kannada writers from the Navodaya, Pragati, Navya, and contemporary periods

•        Short stories (sanna kathegalu) by celebrated Kannada fiction writers, including writers associated with the Navya and Bandaya movements

•        Autobiographical and biographical prose: extracts from aatmacharite and jeevana charitra traditions in Kannada

•        Social and reform-oriented prose: works in the tradition of the Vachana movement and Basavanna's social philosophy, as well as modern humanist writing

•        Works by distinguished prose writers including Kuvempu, D.R. Bendre, S.L. Bhyrappa, P. Lankesh, U.R. Ananthamurthy, and their contemporaries

Prescribed Poetry Authors and Works

•        Classical Kannada poetry: selected verses from Pampa's Vikramarjuna Vijaya, Ranna's Gadayuddha, and the Vachana literary tradition of Basavanna and the Sharanas

•        Bhakti and devotional poetry: Vachanas (prose-poems) of the 12th-century Lingayat saint-poets, and works from the Haridasa tradition including Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa

•        Modern Kannada poetry: works by the Navodaya poets, particularly Kuvempu and D.R. Bendre, and the Navya movement

•        Contemporary Kannada poets whose work engages with social justice, Dalit experience, environmental concerns, and Karnataka's cultural identity

•        Women poets in Kannada: selected works by significant Kannada women writers including Jayalakshmi Patil and Pratibha Nandakumar

Prescribed Drama (Nataka)

•        A full-length Kannada play by a significant 20th or 21st-century Kannada playwright

•        Representative works from the tradition of Yakshagana-influenced drama or the modern Samajika Nataka (social drama) tradition

•        Plays by prominent Kannada playwrights such as T.P. Kailasam, Girish Karnad, Chandrashekhar Kambar, H.S. Shivaprakash, or their contemporaries

Chapter-wise Overview Table

Preparation Tips for ISC Class 12 Kannada 2026-27

ISC Kannada rewards students who combine a genuine connection to the language with systematic and well-organised study. The three sections of the theory paper test distinct competencies, and effective preparation must address each section individually while building the broader fluency in standard written Kannada that underpins performance across all three.

1. Read Widely in Standard Written Kannada

The most effective preparation for any language paper is extensive reading. Make it a regular habit to read Kannada newspapers such as Prajavani, Vijay Karnataka, and Udayavani, along with literary magazines, short stories, and essays throughout the academic year. Wide reading builds vocabulary naturally, exposes students to a variety of writing styles and registers, and develops the reading fluency essential for the comprehension section. Keep a vocabulary notebook to record unfamiliar Kannada words encountered in your reading, along with their meanings and example sentences.

2. Practise Section A Comprehension Regularly

The reading comprehension section rewards precision and conciseness. Practise working through unseen passages regularly, first without a time limit and then progressively under timed examination conditions. Pay particular attention to inference questions, which require reading between the lines rather than lifting answers verbatim, and to summary writing, which demands identifying the most important ideas and restating them within a specified word limit in your own Kannada. Direct copying from the passage earns little or no credit.

3. Master All Writing Formats in Section B

Section B covers a wide range of functional and creative writing forms, each with its own conventions of layout, register, tone, and structure. Study the correct format for formal letters, informal letters, notices, reports, and speeches in Kannada. Practise writing at least two examples of each form across the year. For essays and creative writing, always plan your content in rough before writing, organising your ideas into a clear introduction, a developed body, and a purposeful conclusion.

4. Study Prescribed Texts Thoroughly

Section C questions are based entirely on the prescribed texts, and thorough, repeated reading of every prescribed prose piece, poem, and drama is non-negotiable. Read each text multiple times: once for overall understanding, once analytically (noting themes, characters, imagery, and language), and once with specific attention to reference-to-context and critical appreciation preparation. For the drama, understand every scene and key exchange. For poetry, be able to paraphrase every poem and identify its central theme, rasa, alankara, and chandas.

5. Prepare Dedicated Notes for Reference to Context Questions

Reference to context questions (sandarbha) require you to identify the text, the speaker or narrator, the dramatic or narrative occasion, and the significance of quoted lines. Prepare a revision sheet for each prescribed text listing the most important and most quotable passages, with notes on context, speaker, and significance. Regular revision of these notes in the weeks before the examination ensures accurate and confident identification under time pressure.

6. Revise All Grammar Topics Systematically

Grammar is assessed across all three sections rather than in a dedicated section. Revise all prescribed grammar topics: vibhakti suffixes, samaas types, alankara, tense and verb conjugation, vakya parivartane, sandhi rules, and proverbs and idioms. Prepare a grammar revision notebook covering each topic with clear definitions, examples in Kannada, and practice exercises. Review it consistently in the final months of the year.

7. Engage with the Classical Literary Tradition

Unlike some other ISC language syllabi, the ISC Kannada prescription often includes works from the classical and medieval periods of Kannada literature, including the Vachana tradition, the Haridasa tradition, and the early Champu poetry tradition. These texts require additional contextual study. When preparing prescribed classical poems or Vachanas, read biographical and contextual notes on the saint-poets and understand the social and philosophical movements they belonged to. This contextual knowledge significantly strengthens responses to critical appreciation questions.

8. Take Internal Assessment Marks Seriously

Internal assessment carries 20 marks and is assessed by the school throughout the year. Submit written assignments on time, maintain a well-organised portfolio of all written work, prepare thoroughly for periodic tests, and participate actively in speaking, recitation, and listening activities. These marks are considerably easier to secure with consistent effort than equivalent marks in the written examination.

9. Solve Previous Years' ISC Kannada Papers

Solving past ISC Kannada question papers under timed conditions is one of the most efficient preparation strategies available. Work through at least the last eight to ten years' papers. This builds familiarity with the question patterns specific to the ISC Kannada paper, reveals how the prescribed texts are typically examined, and develops the time management skills needed to complete all three sections within the three-hour examination window. After each practice paper, review your responses carefully and identify specific areas for improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the subject code for ISC Class 12 Kannada?

The subject code for ISC Class 12 Kannada is 71, as prescribed by the CISCE for the 2026-27 academic session.

Q2. How many marks does the ISC Class 12 Kannada theory paper carry?

The ISC Class 12 Kannada theory paper carries 80 marks and is three hours in duration. The remaining 20 marks are allocated to internal assessment conducted by the school, bringing the total to 100 marks.

Q3. How is the ISC Kannada theory paper structured?

The 80-mark theory paper is divided into three sections. Section A (Reading Comprehension) carries 20 marks. Section B (Writing Skills) carries 30 marks. Section C (Prescribed Texts) carries 30 marks and tests knowledge and critical appreciation of the prescribed Gadya (prose), Padya (poetry), and Nataka (drama).

Q4. Are the prescribed texts for ISC Kannada the same every year?

The CISCE revises the prescribed text list periodically, though individual texts may remain on the list across multiple sessions. Students and teachers must obtain the confirmed prescribed text list for 2026-27 directly from the official CISCE website at cisce.org and verify that they are using the correct editions. Using an outdated or incorrect text list is a serious risk that must be avoided.

Q5. Is Kannada available as both a first language and a second language in ISC?

Yes. The CISCE offers Kannada as both a first language and, in some subject combinations, a second language option. The syllabus content and depth of literary study differ between the two versions. Students must confirm with their school and the CISCE which version they are registered for and ensure their preparation aligns precisely with the correct syllabus.

Q6. What classical literary traditions are covered in the ISC Kannada syllabus?

The ISC Kannada syllabus regularly includes works from the classical and medieval Kannada literary traditions, such as the Vachana tradition of the 12th-century Sharanas including Basavanna, Akkamahadevi, and Allama Prabhu; the Haridasa tradition of Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa; and the Shatpadi and Champu poetry of the early medieval period. Understanding the social, philosophical, and historical context of these traditions is essential for answering critical appreciation questions on classical prescribed texts.

Q7. Are grammar questions tested in a separate section in ISC Kannada?

Grammar is not tested in a dedicated separate section. Grammatical accuracy is assessed across all three sections: in the written compositions of Section B, in language-based questions within Section A, and in the language analysis components of Section C. Topics such as vibhakti, samaas, sandhi, and alankara must be mastered for strong performance across the entire paper.

Q8. How should students approach critical appreciation questions on classical Kannada poetry?

Critical appreciation of classical Kannada poetry requires students to analyse the work at multiple levels: its literal and figurative meaning, its rasa and bhava, the alankara and chandas employed, the social or devotional context of the poem, and its enduring literary significance. Structure your response with a brief identification of the text, followed by an analysis of content and theme, an analysis of poetic craft, and a conclusion on the poem's overall significance. For Vachanas and Haridasa kirtanas, contextual knowledge of the saint-poet's life and the social movement they represented adds considerable depth to your answer.

Q9. When is the ISC Class 12 Kannada examination conducted?

The ISC Class 12 board examinations are typically held in February and March. Students should refer to the official CISCE website at cisce.org for the confirmed date sheet and timetable for the 2026-27 session and plan their revision calendar accordingly.