CBSE has finalised the syllabus for the 2026-27 academic session for Class 10 and Class 12, and the biggest confirmed change is in Class 10 Social Science — two Political Science chapters have been dropped, taking the subject’s total chapter count from 24 to 22. For every other subject, the rationalised, competency-based syllabus that CBSE introduced under NEP 2020 largely continues into this session. Here is a subject-wise breakdown for both classes, along with where to download the official syllabus PDF.
Class 10 Syllabus 2026-27
Science
Class 10 Science stays divided into Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with 13 chapters in total under the current rationalised structure:
- Chemistry (4 chapters): Chemical Reactions and Equations, Acids, Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Carbon and its Compounds
- Biology (5 chapters): Life Processes, Control and Coordination, How do Organisms Reproduce?, Heredity, Our Environment
- Physics (4 chapters): Light – Reflection and Refraction, The Human Eye and the Colourful World, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Chapters such as Periodic Classification of Elements, Sources of Energy, and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources continue to stay outside the exam syllabus this session too, as they have for the past few years.
Social Science
Social Science is the subject with the clearest confirmed change for 2026-27. The four sections remain History, Geography, Political Science and Economics, but Political Science now has 5 chapters instead of 7, bringing the subject’s overall count down from 24 to 22 chapters:
- History: 5 chapters — India and the Contemporary World – II
- Geography: 7 chapters — Contemporary India – II
- Political Science: 5 chapters — Power Sharing, Federalism, Gender, Religion and Caste, Political Parties, and Outcomes of Democracy
- Economics: 5 chapters — Understanding Economic Development
Each of the four sections carries 20 marks in the board exam. Because different coaching websites list the two dropped Political Science chapters slightly differently, students should confirm the exact excluded list against the official PDF rather than trusting any single source.
Mathematics
Class 10 Maths (both Standard and Basic) continues with 14 chapters spread across seven units — Number Systems, Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, and Statistics & Probability. The chapters are Real Numbers, Polynomials, Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Progressions, Triangles, Coordinate Geometry, Introduction to Trigonometry, Some Applications of Trigonometry, Circles, Areas Related to Circles, Surface Areas and Volumes, Statistics, and Probability. The exam pattern stays at 80 marks theory plus 20 marks internal assessment.
| Class 10 Subject | Chapters (2026-27) | Change from last session |
|---|---|---|
| Science | 13 | No new change reported |
| Social Science | 22 | Political Science reduced from 7 to 5 chapters |
| Mathematics | 14 | No new change reported |
Class 12 Syllabus 2026-27
For Class 12, CBSE has not announced a fresh round of chapter deletions this session. The syllabus is largely continued from 2025-26, built on the same rationalised NCERT textbooks that have been in use for the past few sessions.
Physics
Physics carries 70 marks theory and 30 marks practical. The syllabus spans Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, Atoms and Nuclei, Electronic Devices, and Communication Systems. A number of sub-topics within Current Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics were trimmed in earlier rationalisation rounds and stay out of the exam syllabus this session as well.
Chemistry
Chemistry follows the same 70:30 theory-practical split across ten units of roughly equal weightage. Full chapters such as Solid State, Surface Chemistry, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements, Polymers, and Chemistry in Everyday Life have been out of the exam syllabus since the NEP-2020 rationalisation and remain out for 2026-27 too — students should treat these as already excluded rather than newly dropped this year.
Biology and Mathematics streams
Biology students continue with Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology and Human Welfare, Biotechnology, and Ecology as the core units; chapters such as Reproduction in Organisms and Environmental Issues remain outside the syllabus from earlier rationalisation. Commerce and Humanities students taking Mathematics continue with Relations and Functions, Algebra, Calculus, Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry, Linear Programming, and Probability. Since Class 12 subject combinations vary widely by stream, students should always cross-check their specific elective on the official portal.
Where to Download the Official Syllabus PDF
Do not rely only on third-party syllabus PDFs. The only official source for the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 syllabus 2026-27 is the CBSE Academic website: cbseacademic.nic.in. On the site, open the “Curriculum” section, choose “Secondary Curriculum (IX-X)” or “Senior Secondary Curriculum (XI-XII)” for the 2026-27 session, and download the subject-wise PDF directly from there. CBSE also publishes any mid-session syllabus circulars on the same portal, so it is worth bookmarking.
A Quick Note for Students
Syllabus changes can feel confusing when different websites list different chapters, but the safest habit is simple: match your school’s chapter list against the official CBSE Academic PDF before you finalise your revision plan. Once that is sorted, focus on understanding concepts rather than memorising — the rationalised syllabus is designed to reward exactly that. All the best for the 2026-27 session!
Keep exploring: browse chapter-wise Class 10 and Class 12 notes here.