CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 is designed by the Central Board of Secondary Education to provide students with a clear understanding of human geography, India’s people and economy, and applied geographical skills.
The CBSE class 12 Geography syllabus is strictly based on the latest NCERT textbooks - Fundamentals of Human Geography, India: People and Economy, and Practical Work in Geography - Part II. Students can access the official syllabus directly from the CBSE official website and the prescribed books on the NCERT portal.
The curriculum includes 70 marks of theory and 30 marks of practical work, combining conceptual knowledge with fieldwork, map skills, and data interpretation. 35 marks are allotted to Fundamentals of Human Geography, 35 marks to India: People and Economy, and 30 marks to Practical Work in Geography - Part II.
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Key Summary
- The syllabus of geography class 12 CBSE 2025-26 is divided into two books - Fundamentals of Human Geography and India People and Economy.
- Fundamentals of Human Geography and India People and Economy each carry 35 marks in CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus.
- The Practical Work in Geography Part II is worth 30 marks, which includes data handling, diagrams, and a viva.
- A total of 17 chapters exist in the theories section (8 in Fundamentals of Human Geography + 9 in India: People and Economy).
- The examination has a total mark of 100, with 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practicals. Theory is divided in half: 35 marks Fundamentals of Human Geography and 35 marks India: People and Economy, including map work.
- Three NCERT books, known as Fundamentals of Human Geography, India: People and Economy, and Practical Work in Geography - Part II, have to be learned by students.
- The syllabus provides a balance of concepts, applied learning, and map skills to board exam preparation.
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Chapter-Wise Weightage
- CBSE Class Chapter Wise Syllabus
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Marks Distribution
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Map Work
- Fundamentals of Human Geography
- India - People and Economy
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Deleted Syllabus
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Question Paper Pattern 2025-26
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Books
- CBSE Class 12 Geography External Assessment/Geography Practical Guidelines
- CBSE Class 12 Geography Previous Year Question Papers
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Chapter-Wise Weightage
Here is the detailed CBSE Class 12 Geography syllabus and chapter-wise weightage of both theory books with units and chapters:
Fundamentals of Human Geography (35 Marks)
| Unit | Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Chapter 1 | Human Geography | 3 |
| Unit II | Chapter 2 | The World Population Density Distribution and Growth | 8 |
| Chapter 3 | Human Development | ||
| Unit III | Chapter 4 | Primary Activities | 19 |
| Chapter 5 | Secondary Activities | ||
| Chapter 6 | Tertiary and Quaternary Activities | ||
| Chapter 7 | Transport, Communication, and Trade | ||
| Chapter 8 | International Trade | ||
| Map Work (Based on identification of features on the World Political Map) | 5 | ||
| Total | 35 | ||
India: People and Economy (35 Marks)
| Unit | Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Chapter 1 | Population Distribution, Density Growth, and Composition | 5 |
| Unit II | Chapter 2 | Human Settlements | 3 |
| Chapter 3 | Land Resources and Agriculture | ||
| Unit III | Chapter 4 | Water Resources | 10 |
| Chapter 5 | Mineral And Energy Resources | ||
| Chapter 6 | Planning and Sustainable Development in the Indian Context | ||
| Unit IV | Chapter 7 | Transport and Communication | 7 |
| Chapter 8 | International Trade | ||
| Unit V | Chapter 9 | Geographical Perspective on selected issues and problems | 5 |
| Map Work (Based on locating and labelling on a political map of India) | 5 | ||
| Total | 35 | ||
Practical Work in Geography – Part II (30 Marks)
| Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Data: Its Source and Compilation | 18 |
| Chapter 2 | Data Processing | |
| Chapter 3 | Graphical Representation of Data | |
| Chapter 4 | Spatial Information Technology | 7 |
| Practical Record Book and Viva Voce | 5 | |
| Total | 30 | |
CBSE Class Chapter Wise Syllabus
The CBSE Class 12 Geography syllabus unit-wise and chapter-wise wise is discussed in the tables below. The syllabus is discussed for books like Fundamentals of Human Geography, India: People and Economy, and Geography Practical Part II.
CBSE Class 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography Syllabus
Chapter-wise CBSE class 12 syllabus for Fundamentals of Human Geography is discussed in the tables below.
CBSE Class 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography Syllabus- Unit 1
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Human Geography: Nature and Scope |
|
CBSE Class 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography Syllabus- Unit 2
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | The World Population Distribution, Density, and Growth |
|
| 3 | Chapter- 3 Human Development |
|
CBSE Class 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography Syllabus- Unit 3
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Primary Activities | Concept and types:
|
| 5 | Secondary Activities |
|
| 6 | Tertiary Activities |
|
| 7 | Transport and Communication |
|
| 8 | International Trade |
|
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Syllabus
Chapter-wise CBSE class 12 syllabus for India: People and Economy is discussed in the tables below.
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Syllabus- Unit 1
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Population Distribution, Density, Growth, and Composition |
|
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Syllabus- Unit 2
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Human Settlements |
|
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Syllabus- Unit 3
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Land Resources and Agriculture |
|
| 4 | Water Resources |
|
| 5 | Mineral and Energy Resources |
|
| 6 | Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context |
|
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Syllabus- Unit 4
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Transport and Communication |
|
| 8 | International Trade |
|
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Syllabus- Unit 5
| Chapter Number | Chapter Name | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems |
|
CBSE Class 12 Practical Work in Geography – Part II Syllabus
Chapter-wise CBSE class 12 syllabus for Practical Work in Geography – Part II is discussed in the table below.
| Chapter | Topics |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Data - Its Source and Compilation
|
| Chapter 2 | Data Processing
|
| Chapter 3 | Graphical Representation of Data
|
| Chapter 4 | Spatial Information Technology
|
CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Marks Distribution
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Human Geography | 35 |
| India: People and Economy | 35 |
| Practical Work (Part II) | 30 |
| Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Practical Marks Distribution
The marks distribution in the CBSE Class 12 Geography Practical Syllabus is as follows:
| Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data - Its Source and Compilation | 18 |
| 2 | Data Processing | |
| 3 | Graphical Representation of Data | 7 |
| 4 | Spatial Information Technology | 5 |
| Practical Record Book and Viva Voce | 5 | |
| Total | 30 | |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Unit Wise Weightage
CBSE class 12 Geography unit-wise weightage is different for each book of the CBSE Class 12 Geography syllabus 2025-26. Units in the Fundamentals of Human Geography class 12 Geography carry 35 marks, and units in the India: People and Economy book carry 35 marks. 30 marks are allotted to practical work in Geography.
CBSE Class 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography Unit-Wise Weightage
| Unit No. | Number of Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I | 1 | 3 |
| Unit II | 2 | 8 |
| Unit III | 5 | 19 |
| Map Work | - | 5 |
| Total | 35 | |
CBSE Class 12 India: People and Economy Unit-Wise Weightage
| Unit No. | Number of Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I | 1 | 5 |
| Unit II | 1 | 3 |
| Unit III | 4 | 10 |
| Unit IV | 2 | 7 |
| Unit V | 1 | 5 |
| Map Work | - | 5 |
| Total | 35 | |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Important Topics
CBSE class 12 Geography important topics are the topics with high weightage in the CBSE class 12 exam. The high-weightage topics in CBSE class 12 Geography are listed below.
| Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Primary Activities, Secondary Activities, Tertiary and Quaternary Activities, and Transport, Communication, and Trade | 19 marks |
| Data: Its Source and Compilation | 18 marks |
| Water Resources, Mineral, And Energy Resources, and Planning and Sustainable Development in the Indian Context | 10 marks |
| The World Population Density Distribution and Growth | 8 marks |
| Population Distribution, Density Growth, and Composition | 5 marks |
| Geographical Perspective on selected issues and problems | 5 marks |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Map Work
Here is a list of maps that form a part of CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26. The map work is categorized into 2 categories:
Fundamentals of Human Geography
Map work on the identification of features based on units I to III on the outline physical/political map of the World.
| Chapter | Topics | Map item (The Map present on the official website of the Government of India should be used) |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Human Geography | Nil |
| Chapter 2 | The World Population Density Distribution and Growth | Nil |
| Chapter 3 | Human Development | Nil |
| Chapter 4 | Primary Activities | Areas of subsistence gathering (Fig 4.2) Major areas of nomadic herding of the world (Fig 4.4) Major areas of commercial livestock rearing (Fig 4.6) Major areas of extensive commercial grain farming (Fig 4.12) Major areas of mixed farming of the World (Fig 4.14) |
| Chapter 5 | Secondary Activities | Nil |
| Chapter 6 | Tertiary and Quaternary Activities | Nil |
| Chapter 7 | Transport, Communication, and Trade | Terminal Stations of Transcontinental Railways Trans-Siberian, Trans Canadian, Trans-Australian Railways Major Sea Ports Europe: North Cape, London, Hamburg North America: Vancouver, San Francisco, New Orleans ∙ South America: Rio De Janeiro, Colón, Valparaíso Africa: Suez and Cape Town Asia: Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Aden, Karachi, Kolkata Australia: Perth, Sydney, Melbourne Major Airports: Asia: Tokyo, Beijing, Mumbai, Jeddah, Aden Africa: Johannesburg & Nairobi Europe: Moscow, London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome North America: Chicago, New Orleans, Mexico City South America: Buenos Aires, Santiago, Australia: Darwin and Wellington Inland Waterways Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Rhine waterway,s and St. Lawrence Seaway |
| Chapter 8 | International Trade | Nil |
India - People and Economy
Map work on locating and labelling features based on the outline political/physical map of India.
| Chapter | Topics | Map item (Map present on the official website of the Government of India should be used) |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Population Distribution Density, Growth, and Composition | State with the highest population density & state with the lowest population density (2011) |
| Chapter 2 | Human Settlement | Nil |
| Chapter 3 | Land Resources and Agriculture | Leading producing states of the following crops: (a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Cotton (d) Jute (e) Sugarcane (f) Tea, and (g) Coffee |
| Chapter 4 | Water Resources | Nil |
| Chapter 5 | Mineral And Energy Resources | Mines: Iron-ore mines: Mayurbhanj, Bailadila, Ratnagiri, Bellary ∙ Manganese mines: Balaghat, Shimoga Copper mines: Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Khetari Bauxite mines: Katni, Bilaspur, and Koraput Coal mines: Jharia, Bokaro, Raniganj, Neyveli Oil Refineries: Mathura, Jamnagar, Barauni |
| Chapter 6 | Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context | Nil |
| Chapter 7 | Transport and Communication | Nil |
| Chapter 8 | International Trade |
|
| Chapter 9 | Geographical Perspective on selected issues and problems | Nil |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Deleted Syllabus
The table given below contains the CBSE Class 12 Geography Deleted Syllabus 2025-26:
Fundamentals of Human Geography
| Chapter | Page No. | Deleted Topics/ Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| UNIT 1 | ||
| Chapter 1: Human Geography: Nature and Scope | 4-5 | Human Geography Through the Corridors of Time, Last Paragraph of Fields and Sub-Fields of Human Geography |
| UNIT 2 | ||
| Chapter 2: The World Population Distribution, Density and Growth | 9 11-14 | Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, Activity on Migration News Collage, Trends in Population Growth, Doubling Time of World Population, Spatial Pattern of Population Change, Impact of Population Change, Fig.2.2 |
| Chapter 3: Population Composition | 17-21 | Full Chapter |
| UNIT 3 | ||
| Chapter 6: Secondary Activities | 51-53 | Traditional Large Scale Industrial Regions, The Ruhr Coal Field, Iron and Steel Industry, Cotton Textile Industry |
| Chapter 7: Tertiary and Quarternary Activities | 60-61 | Factors Affecting Tourism, Collage and Activity on Medical Tourism |
| Chapter 9: International Trade | 84–85 87 | Important Aspects of International Trade, Regional Trade Blocs, Figures 9.1 and 9.3 |
| UNIT 4 | ||
| Chapter 10: Human Settlements | 91-102 | Full Chapter |
| Appendix 1 | 103-109 | Full Appendix |
| Note: The questions given in the exercises related to the deleted content of different chapters should not be considered. | ||
India People and Economy
| Chapter | Page No. | Deleted Topics/ Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| UNIT 1 | ||
| Chapter 2: Migration: Types, Causes and Consequences | 15–22 | Full Chapter |
| Chapter 3: Human Development | 23–31 | Full Chapter |
| UNIT 2 | ||
| Chapter 4: Human Settlements | 35-37 | Classification of Towns based on Population Size, Fig.4.5, Tables 4.2 and 4.3 |
| UNIT 3 | ||
| Chapter 7: Mineral and Energy Resources | 78 | Box information, Fig. 7.4 |
| Chapter 8: Manufacturing Industries | 85-103 | Full Chapter |
| UNIT 4 | ||
| Chapter 10: Transport and Communication | 120-121 | Box Information and First Three Lines from page 121 |
| Note: The questions given in the exercises related to the deleted content of different chapters should not be considered. | ||
Practical Work in Geography—Part II
| Chapter | Page No. | Deleted Topics/ Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 2: Data Processing | 22–30 | Measures of Dispersion, Rank Correlation, along with All Related Figures |
| Chapter 4: Use of Computers in Data Processing and Mapping | 55-70 | Full Chapter |
| Chapter 5: Field Surveys | 71-84 | Full Chapter |
| Annexure | 101–105 | Full Annexure |
| Note: The questions given in the exercises related to the deleted content of different chapters should not be considered. | ||
CBSE Class 12 Geography Question Paper Pattern 2025-26
CBSE Class 12 Geography question paper pattern 2025-26 is given below:
| Exam | Type of Questions | Marks per Question | No. of Questions | Total Marks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theory Exam | 30 | 70 | |||
| Section A | MCQs | 1 | 14 | 14 | |
| Section B | Short Answer | 3 | 7 | 21 | |
| Section C | Long Answer | 5 | 5 | 25 | |
| Section D | Map-based | 2 | 5 | 10 | |
| Practical Exam | 30 | ||||
| Written | - | - | - | 25 | |
| Practical File | - | - | - | 2 | |
| Viva | - | - | - | 3 | |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus Marking Scheme
- The CBSE Class 12 Geography exam pattern for 2025-26 has been officially outlined through the sample question paper and marking scheme available on the CBSE Academic Website.
- These documents serve as the authentic blueprint for how the board examination will be structured and evaluated.
- As per the official format, the paper consists of 30 compulsory questions divided into five sections (A to E), which include 17 multiple-choice questions, 2 source-based questions, 4 short-answer questions, 5 long-answer questions, and 2 map-based questions, together accounting for 70 marks in total.
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CBSE Class 12 Paper AnalysisCBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus- Question Paper Blueprint
CBSE Class 12 Geography question paper will be based on the following domains and structure.
| Domains | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Remembering and Understanding | 41% |
| Application | 37% |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | 22% |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Books
The books listed below are must-study resources to prepare CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26. Students are advised to give first preference to the NCERT Books over other private books while preparing for the Geography exam.
| Book Name | Publication/Author |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Human Geography | NCERT |
| India People and Economy | NCERT |
| Practical Work in Geography - Part II | NCERT |
| Satish Geography for Class 12 | Satish Brothers |
| CBSE Chapter-wise Solved Papers 2018-2009 Geography Class 12 | Arihant Experts |
CBSE Class 12 Geography External Assessment/Geography Practical Guidelines
- Students are required to prepare a practical file that includes all topics mentioned in the practical syllabus.
- The file must be entirely handwritten and should include a cover page, index page, and acknowledgment.
- All statistical diagrams and maps should be neatly drawn with proper titles, scales, and indices. Data for diagrams can be sourced from NCERT textbooks or the Census.
- The practical file will be evaluated by both internal and external examiners during the CBSE practical examinations.
- A written test of 25 marks will be conducted on the same day of the practical exam, based on the practical syllabus.
- A viva voce will also be conducted, covering only the practical syllabus.
Marking Scheme for CBSE Class 12 Geography External Assessment / Geography Practical
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Written Exam | 25 Marks |
| Practical File | 2 Marks |
| Viva | 3 Marks |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Previous Year Question Papers
Candidates can download the previous year's question paper by following the links given below.
| Year | CBSE Class 12 Geography Question Paper |
|---|---|
| 2025 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2024 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2023 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2022 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2020 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2019 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2018 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2017 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2016 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2015 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2014 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2013 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
| 2012 | CBSE Class 12 Question Paper |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ques. What number of chapters are in Geography Class 12 CBSE?
Ans. CBSE Class 12 Geography has a total of 17 theory chapters. These are separated into 2 major NCERT textbooks:
- Basics of Human Geography - 8 chapters that include human geography concepts, population, human development, economic activities, and trade.
- India: People and Economy - 9 chapters on the people of India, resources, agriculture, industries, trade, and planning.
The practical book (Practical Work in Geography Part II) is not integrated, and it is evaluated by the use of practical work, maps, and field work.
Ques. Is Class 12 2025-26 syllabus for CBSE released?
Ans. The CBSE Class 12 Geography 202526 syllabus is available. The syllabus is available in the CBSE Academic portal, where students can access the complete PDF of the syllabus and theory, practical, and internal assessment guidelines. This allows making everything in accordance with the current board requirements.
Ques. How many books are there for the CBSE class 12 Geography syllabus?
Ans. Class 12 Geography has three NCERT books:
- Basics of Human Geography - includes the world population, human development, and economy.
- India: People and Economy - is dedicated to resources, agriculture, industries, and planning of India.
- Practical Work in Geography Part II focuses more on practical skills such as map work, data handling, and field surveys.
Taken together, the books consist of theoretical and practical knowledge that is mandatory in board exams.
Ques. What is the Class 12 Geography 2025 weightage?
Ans. The overall marks in Geography in Class 12 are 100, which are as follows:
- Theory: 70 marks (35 marks in Fundamentals of Human Geography and 35 marks in India: People and Economy)
- Practical/Internal Assessment: 30 marks, which will include:
- Practical file – 2 marks
- Written practice examination 25 marks
- Viva – 3 marks
This type of design will be a good balance between the theoretical and practical competencies.
Ques. How many books are there in the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26?
Ans. There are a total of 3 books for Class 12 Geography - Fundamentals of Human Geography. India People and Economy, and Practical Work in Geography- Part II. Students have to refer to all these books.
Ques: Which portion of CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 is deleted?
Ans: CBSE Board has deleted the following chapters from the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26:
- Population Composition
- Human Settlements
- Migration: Types, Causes, and Consequences
- Human Development
- Manufacturing Industries
- Use of Computers in Data Processing and Mapping
- Field Surveys
Ques: How many marks have been allotted for practicals and VIVA in CBSE Class 12 Geography?
Ans: Out of the total 100 marks, 30 marks have been allotted for practical and viva. Students must secure passing marks separately in the practical exam and the written examinations.
Ques: Is CBSE Class 12 Geography Sample Paper 2025-26 released?
Ans: CBSE has released the Class 12 Geography Sample Papers for 2025-26 on its official website, cbseacademic.nic.in. The sample papers are based on the latest CBSE class 12 exam pattern.
Ques: How many marks are carried by the CBSE Class 12 Geography theory paper?
Ans: The total marks for the CBSE Class 12 Geography theory paper are 70, with a weightage of 35 marks from each of the two main books.
Ques: How many MCQ-type questions will be included in the CBSE Class 12 Geography Exam?
Ans: There will be around 14 MCQ-type questions in the CBSE Class 12 Geography question paper.
Ques: What is the question paper pattern for the CBSE Class 12 2026 Geography theory exam?
Ans: CBSE Class 12 Geography question paper consists of four sections: A, B, C, and D. The maximum marks for the theory exam are 70. The question paper will include MCQs, short-answer type, long-answer type, and map-based questions.
Ques: What is the minimum passing mark in CBSE Class 12 Geography?
Ans: Students are required to secure a minimum of 33% marks to pass the CBSE Class 12 Geography Exam 2025-26.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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