ISC Class 12 Urdu Syllabus 2026-27
Urdu is offered as a modern Indian language elective in the ISC Class 12 board examination by CISCE. It is a richly literary language with a distinguished tradition in classical poetry (Ghazal, Nazm, Qasida, Marsiya) and prose (Nasr), and its study at ISC level encompasses prescribed literary and non-literary texts, grammar (Qawaid), translation (Tarjuma), and composition (Insha). Studying Urdu at the ISC level develops sensitivity to literary language, command of Nastaliq script and its conventions, and a deep engagement with one of South Asia's most celebrated literary and cultural traditions.
This complete guide covers the full ISC Class 12 Urdu syllabus for the 2026-27 session, including all prescribed text types, the grammar syllabus, translation and composition requirements, the exam pattern, marking scheme, and expert preparation tips.
Quick Facts: ISC Class 12 Urdu 2026-27
Detail | Information |
Board | CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) |
Examination | ISC (Indian School Certificate) Class 12 |
Subject Name | Urdu |
Subject Code | 862 |
Class | 12 (ISC Senior Secondary Certificate) |
Total Marks | 100 (Written) |
Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
Session | 2026-27 |
Subject Type | Elective Modern Indian Language |
Medium of Examination | Urdu (Nastaliq script) |
Minimum Pass Marks | 33% in the written paper |
ISC Class 12 Urdu Exam Pattern 2026-27
The ISC Class 12 Urdu written examination carries 100 marks and is 3 hours long. The paper is divided into three sections: Section A covers textual comprehension of prescribed prose and poetry, Section B covers grammar (Qawaid), and Section C covers translation and composition (Tarjuma aur Insha).
Section | Content | Marks |
Section A | Textual Questions: questions on prescribed Nasr (prose) and Nazm / Ghazal (poetry) texts | 40 Marks |
Section B | Qawaid (Grammar): grammar exercises on all prescribed grammar topics | 30 Marks |
Section C | Tarjuma aur Insha (Translation and Composition): translation tasks and written composition in Urdu | 30 Marks |
Grand Total |
| 100 Marks |
Section A: Textual Questions (40 Marks)
• Seen passage questions based on prescribed Nasr (prose) and Nazm / Ghazal (poetry) texts from the approved textbook
• Unseen passage (Ghair Nisaabi Ibaara): a short Urdu prose passage not from the prescribed texts, with comprehension and vocabulary questions
• Literary analysis questions: questions on theme (Mauzu), meaning (Maana), literary devices (Sanaate Adab), and significance of prescribed texts
• Mazmoon (central idea): stating the main idea or message of a prescribed passage or poem in the student's own words
• Vocabulary questions (Lughat): giving the Urdu meaning or explanation of underlined words from the prescribed texts
Section B: Qawaid (Grammar) (30 Marks)
Section B tests knowledge and application of Urdu grammar (Qawaid) including parts of speech, Muzaaf and Muzaaf Ilaih, verb forms and tenses, sentence types, figures of speech (Sanaate Adab), idioms (Muhavare), and proverbs (Kahawatein).
Section C: Tarjuma aur Insha (Translation and Composition) (30 Marks)
• Urdu to English translation (Tarjuma: Urdu se Angrezi): translating a short Urdu prose passage into accurate English
• English to Urdu translation (Tarjuma: Angrezi se Urdu): translating short English sentences or a passage into correct Urdu
• Mazmoon Nigari (Essay Writing): writing a structured essay in Urdu on a given topic
• Khat Nigari (Letter Writing): writing a formal or informal letter in Urdu following the correct Urdu epistolary format
• Khulasa Nigari (Summary Writing): writing a concise summary in Urdu of a given passage
• Kahani Nigari (Story Writing): writing or completing a short story in Urdu based on a given outline or moral
Section A: Prescribed Texts
The prescribed texts for ISC Class 12 Urdu are drawn from the officially approved textbook for this syllabus. Students must confirm the current prescribed textbook title and specific texts from the CISCE official website (www.cisce.org) or their school, as texts may be updated between sessions. The following outlines the nature, scope, and skills assessed through the prescribed text component.
Prescribed Nasr (Prose) Texts
Nature and Scope of Prescribed Prose
• Prose selections drawn from classical and modern Urdu literary tradition including Dastaan (narrative fiction), Afsaana (short story), Insha (literary essay), Khaka (character sketch), Roodaad (travelogue), and Sawaaneh (biographical writing)
• Authors represent the major traditions of Urdu prose: classical Dastaan writers, 19th century reformers (Sir Syed Ahmad Khan), and 20th century masters of the Afsaana (Premchand, Ismat Chughtai, Saadat Hasan Manto, Krishan Chander, Rajinder Singh Bedi) and the literary essay (Patras Bokhari, Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi)
• Thematic coverage: social realism, human relationships, partition and its human cost, satire and humour, cultural identity, women in society, poverty and injustice, and philosophical reflection on the human condition
• Each prose piece is studied for its style, narrative technique, characterisation, themes, and the author's use of Urdu language
Key Skills Tested Through Nasr
• Mazmoon (central idea): explaining the main theme or message of the prescribed prose piece
• Mafhoom (meaning): explaining the meaning of selected passages or paragraphs in the student's own words
• Lughat (vocabulary): giving the Urdu meaning or explanation of underlined words and phrases in context
• Character analysis (Kirdar Nigari): describing and evaluating the characters, their motivations, and their relationships
• Thematic analysis: identifying the central theme and discussing how the author develops it through plot, character, and language
• Stylistic questions: identifying the author's tone, narrative point of view, and use of literary devices such as irony, symbolism, and descriptive language
• All extended answers written in accurate Urdu using Nastaliq script
Prescribed Nazm and Ghazal (Poetry) Texts
Nature and Scope of Prescribed Poetry
• Poetry selections drawn from the full range of classical and modern Urdu poetic forms including Ghazal (lyric form in rhyming couplets with a Radif and Qafia), Nazm (modern Urdu poem with a unified theme), Qasida (panegyric ode), Marsiya (elegy), and Rubai (quatrain)
• Poets representing the major periods and traditions of Urdu poetry: classical masters (Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Momin Khan Momin, Daagh Dehlvi), the Progressive tradition (Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri), and modern Urdu poetry (Ahmad Faraz, Bashir Badr, Gulzar)
• Thematic coverage: Ishq (love and longing), Hasrat (yearning and loss), Inqilaab (social revolution and justice), Watan (patriotism), Gham (sorrow), Falsafa (philosophical reflection), Tasawwuf (mystical love), Tabassum (wit and irony)
• Each poem is studied for its Mauzu (theme), Ahsas (feeling), poetic devices (Sanaate Adab), metre (Wazn), rhyme scheme (Qafia aur Radif), and literary significance
Key Skills Tested Through Nazm and Ghazal
• Sher ka Mafhoom (meaning of a couplet): explaining the meaning of a selected sher (couplet) or verse in the student's own words
• Mazmoon / Khayal (central theme): identifying and explaining the main idea or feeling conveyed by the poem or Ghazal
• Sanaate Adab (literary device) identification: naming and explaining the figure of speech or literary device used in a given sher
• Qafia aur Radif: identifying the rhyme word (Qafia) and the repeated word or phrase (Radif) in a prescribed Ghazal
• Maqta and Matla: identifying the opening couplet (Matla) and the poet's signature couplet (Maqta) in a Ghazal
• Tashreeh (explanation): writing a detailed explanation of a given sher or stanza with reference to language, imagery, and meaning
• Comparative questions: comparing the theme, tone, or style of two prescribed poems or two poets where required
Section B: Qawaid (Grammar) Syllabus
The grammar section tests knowledge and application of standard Urdu grammar including morphology, syntax, figures of speech, and vocabulary-based tasks. Students are expected to identify, explain, and correctly use all prescribed grammar structures.
Unit 1: Asmaa (Nouns) and Their Types
• Ism (Noun): definition and importance in Urdu sentence structure
• Types of Ism: Ism-e-Zaat (proper noun), Ism-e-Sifat (adjective noun), Ism-e-Masdar (infinitive / verbal noun), Ism-e-Fail (agent noun), Ism-e-Mafool (patient noun), Ism-e-Makan (noun of place), Ism-e-Alat (noun of instrument)
• Gender (Jins): Muzakkar (masculine) and Muannas (feminine); rules for gender assignment in Urdu; common masculine-feminine pairs; irregular gender forms
• Number (Adad): Waahid (singular) and Jamaa (plural); rules for forming plural in Urdu: regular patterns and irregular plurals from Arabic and Persian
• Muzaaf and Muzaaf Ilaih (Genitive Construction): the Izafat construction linking two nouns; rules for the Izafat vowel (e / -i) and its use; Muzaaf (the possessed) and Muzaaf Ilaih (the possessor)
Unit 2: Zameer (Pronouns)
• Types of Zameer: Zameer-e-Mutakallim (first person: main, hum), Zameer-e-Mukhatab (second person: tu, tum, aap), Zameer-e-Ghaib (third person: woh, yeh, woh log, yeh log)
• Zameer-e-Ishaari (demonstrative pronouns): yeh (this / these), woh (that / those)
• Zameer-e-Mausool (relative pronouns): jo, jis, jisne, jise, jinhe
• Zameer-e-Istifhami (interrogative pronouns): kaun, kya, kisse, kisko, kinse
• Honorific levels in Urdu pronouns: the three levels of tu (intimate), tum (familiar), and aap (formal/respectful) and their corresponding verb forms
• Agreement of verbs with pronoun subjects in gender and number
Unit 3: Sifat (Adjectives)
• Types of Sifat: Sifat-e-Zaati (qualitative adjective), Sifat-e-Nisbati (relational adjective formed with -i suffix), Sifat-e-Istifhami (interrogative adjective), Sifat-e-Miqdar (adjective of quantity), Sifat-e-Adad (numeral adjective)
• Agreement of adjectives: adjectives derived from Arabic and Persian that do not change form; Urdu-origin adjectives ending in -aa that change to -i (feminine) and -e (plural oblique)
• Comparative and superlative: use of se zyaada (more than), se kam (less than), sab se zyaada (most), sab se kam (least); Tafzeel (degree of comparison)
• Attributive vs predicative use of adjectives in Urdu sentences
Unit 4: Fail (Verbs) and Tenses (Zamaana)
• Masdar (Infinitive / Verbal Noun): the base form of the verb ending in -na; use of Masdar as subject and object
• Present Tense (Haal): Simple Present (Haal-e-Mutlaq), Present Continuous (Haal-e-Istimraar), Present Perfect (Haal-e-Qareeb)
• Past Tense (Maazi): Simple Past (Maazi-e-Mutlaq), Past Continuous (Maazi-e-Istimraar), Past Perfect (Maazi-e-Baeed), Past Habitual (Maazi-e-Aadat)
• Future Tense (Mustaqbil): Simple Future (Mustaqbil-e-Mutlaq), Future Continuous (Mustaqbil-e-Istimraar)
• Tense transformation: converting sentences from one tense to another while maintaining meaning and gender-number agreement
• Active and Passive Voice (Maluom aur Majhool): formation of passive voice in Urdu using jaana with the past participle; transformation from active to passive and passive to active
• Direct and Indirect Speech (Braah-e-Rast aur Bailvasta Kalam): rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech in Urdu including tense changes, pronoun changes, and changes to time and place expressions
• Fail-e-Lazim and Fail-e-Mutaddi (Intransitive and Transitive Verbs): distinction, identification, and effect on sentence structure (Ne construction with transitive verbs in simple past)
Unit 5: Harf (Particles and Prepositions)
• Types of Harf: Harf-e-Jar (postpositions / prepositions), Harf-e-Ataf (conjunctions), Harf-e-Nida (interjections), Harf-e-Nafi (negation particles)
• Common postpositions (Harf-e-Jar): mein (in), par (on), se (from / with / than), ko (to / for), tak (until / up to), ke liye (for), ke saath (with), ke baad (after), ke pehle (before), ke upar (above), ke neeche (below)
• Conjunctions (Harf-e-Ataf): aur (and), lekin / magar (but), ya (or), kyunki (because), isliye (therefore), agar (if), jab (when), to (then), phir bhi (even then), haalaanki (although)
• Negation particles: nahi (not), na (neither / do not), mat (do not, imperative), naa (emphatic no)
• Identifying and classifying Harf in given Urdu sentences
Unit 6: Jumla Sazi (Sentence Construction)
• Types of sentences by structure: Jumla-e-Filia (verbal sentence), Jumla-e-Ismia (nominal sentence)
• Types of sentences by purpose: Khabria (declarative), Istifhami (interrogative), Amria (imperative), Tamanni (optative / expressing a wish), Taajjub (exclamatory)
• Compound and complex sentences: joining simple sentences using conjunctions to form compound (Murakkab Murattab) and complex (Murakkab Ghair Murattab) sentences
• Ne construction: correct use of the ergative postposition ne with transitive verbs in simple past tense; common errors and correct usage
• Word order in Urdu: Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) as the standard order; flexibility with adverbials and focus constructions
• Identifying and correcting grammatical errors in given Urdu sentences
Unit 7: Sanaate Adab (Figures of Speech)
• Sanaate Lafzi (sound-based figures): Tajnees (pun / paronomasia: use of words similar in sound but different in meaning), Tarsee (ornamental parallelism / prose with rhyming words)
• Sanaate Maani (sense-based figures):
• Tashbih (Simile): comparing two unlike things using words like jaise, sa, si, se, ki manind; the four elements of Tashbih: Mushabbah (subject), Mushabbah Bih (object of comparison), Wajh-e-Shabaahat (point of similarity), Adaat-e-Tashbih (particle of comparison)
• Istiara (Metaphor): direct identification of the Mushabbah with the Mushabbah Bih without the use of a particle of comparison; Istiara-e-Asli and Istiara-e-Mardah
• Kinaya (Metonymy / Allusion): using a related word or expression instead of the direct term; meaning conveyed indirectly
• Majaz-e-Mursal (Synecdoche / Metonymy): a word used in a figurative sense related to its literal meaning by association (whole for part, cause for effect, etc.)
• Mubalaagha (Hyperbole): exaggeration for rhetorical effect
• Husn-e-Talil (Poetic Causation): assigning an imaginative or poetic cause to a well-known effect
• Tazaad (Antithesis): use of contrasting words or ideas in the same sher or sentence for rhetorical effect
• Iham (Amphiboly / Double Meaning): a word or phrase carrying two meanings, one obvious and one intended; common in classical Ghazal poetry
• Identifying the Sana'at from prescribed shers or given lines; writing the definition and one original example of each figure of speech
Unit 8: Muhavare aur Kahawatein (Idioms and Proverbs)
• Muhavare (Idioms): fixed expressions whose meaning differs from the literal meaning of the words; their correct use in sentences
• Prescribed common Urdu idioms: aankhein chaar hona, haath pair maarna, naak mein dum aana, muh ki khaana, aastan choomna, aag lagaana, baat banaana, chaand ka tukra, dil badhlaana, sar par sawaari karna, aankh uthaa ke na dekhna, kaan bhar dena, haath dhona, dam marna, paani paani hona
• Kahawatein (Proverbs): traditional sayings expressing wisdom or common experience; explaining the meaning and context of prescribed proverbs
• Prescribed common Urdu proverbs: Jab jaago tab saveraa, Naak kaatna apna hi nuksaan, Ek teer se do shikar, Ghar ki murgi daal baraabar, Andhe mein kaanaa raja, Jaise kar waisi bharni, Aadam ka beta baat ka kaccha, Boond boond se dariya banta hai, Naiki kar dariya mein daal, Jiski laathi uski bhains
• Using idioms and proverbs appropriately in essay writing and letter writing in Section C
Unit 9: Imla aur Rasm-ul-Khat (Spelling and Script Conventions)
• Correct Urdu spelling (Imla) of commonly misspelled words including words of Arabic and Persian origin
• Rasm-ul-Khat: conventions of Nastaliq script including the correct joining of letters, the Hamza, the Ain, and diacritical marks (Aeraab) where required
• Common spelling errors: confusing Ain with Hamza, Zaal with Ze, Saad with Seen, Qaaf with Kaaf, Haa-e-Do Chashmi with Choti Haa; correct forms to be known

