CBSE Class 12 Physics Question Paper with Answer Key 2026: PDF Download, Exam Analysis

CBSE Class 12 Physics Answer Key 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) successfully conducted the Class 12th Physics (Code 042) exam today, February 20, 2026, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Based on students' review, the difficulty level of the paper was easy to moderate. The live updates on this page have started. You can check out the unofficial CBSE 12th Physics Answer Key 2026 for the objective portion here based on students' reviews and online resources. As per the CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2026 , you will require a minimum of 33% marks in each of the five subjects, both in theory and practical/internal assessments separately. Moreover, an overall 33% aggregate is also required.

CBSE Class 12 Physics consists of a theory of 70 marks for 3 hours, with 15 minutes of reading time. The 70-mark theory paper is divided into 5 sections (A to E) with 33 total questions. It has 50% competency-based question weightage, including MCQs, assertion-reasoning, and case studies. There is no overall choice, but internal choices are there within sections. The unofficial CBSE Class 12 Physics Answer Key 2026 will help you to evaluate your performance and you will be confident about your score before the result. Read the entire article to know more on the CBSE Class 12 Physics Answer Key 2026.
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CBSE Class 12 Physics Unofficial Answer Key 2026

We have provided the CBSE Class 12 Physics Unofficial Answer Key 2026 for all the sets (Set 1, 2, 3, and 4) in the table below. The table has been updated for Section A (objective questions) as the exam is concluded now:

Section A: Set 1 (55/4/1)

Q.No.	Question	Answers
1	Two wires of same length and same area of cross section...	a)
2	Two particles of masses m1 and m2...	a)
3	An electron moves around the nucleus in a circular orbit of radius r and makes n revolutions per second. The value of the equivalent current in the orbit is?	b) ne
4	The dimensions of the rate of change of magnetic flux are:	b)
5	Two identical conductors 1 and 2 are placed on two frictionless...	d)
6	An ac voltage is given as v = 14 sin (314t) V. The average and the effective value of the voltage (in V) over a cycle are respectively:	b) 10 and 14
7	The ratio of the amplitude of electic field to the amplitude of the magnetic field associated with an electromagnetic wave propagating in glass in (n=1.5) is?	b) 2x 10^8 ms^-1
8	While studying photoelectic emission from a given surface, the wavelength of the incident radiation is changed from 600 nm to 400 nm, keeping the intensity of radiation the same. Then:	b) cutoff potential will increase

Section A: Set 2 (55/4/2)

Q.No.	Question	Answers
1	A wire is gradually stretched to make it 100% longer. Its resistance will be increased by?	c) 300%
2	A closely wound long solenoid of self-inductance L is cut into two identical solenoids. The value of the self-inductance of each small solenoid will be?	a) L/2
3	Which of the following characteristics of electrons determines the current in the conductor?	a) drift velocity only
4	TBU	TBU
5	Paschen series in the spectrum of the Hydrogen atom lies in?	a) infrared region
6	The kinetic energy of a charged particle is increased to 4 times its initial value. The de Broglie wavelength associated with the particle will be?	d) decrease by 50% of its initial value
7	In a reverse-biased p-n junction diode, the applied voltage mostly drops across?	c) depletion region
8	TBU	TBU
9	An AC voltage is given as v= 14sin (314t)V. The average and the effective value of the Voltage (in V) over a cycle are respectively?	c) 0 and 10
10	TBU	TBU
11	TBU	TBU
12	In an experiment on photoelectric emission, the intensity of incident radiationis halved, keeping its frequency constant. As a result?	b) maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons will remain the same

Section A: Set 2 (55/5/2)

Q.No.	Question	Answers
1	The energy of an electron in an orbit in hydrogen atom is (- 3 * 4ev)/6 Its angular momentum in the orbit will be:	c) h/pi
2	The momentum of a photon associated with a microwave of wavelength 4-00 cm is:	a) 1.66 * 10 ^ - 32 * kgm * s ^ - 1
3	The radius of a nucleus of a mass number 125 is	a) 6.0 fm
4	The rms and the average value of an ac voltage V = V_{0} sin ot volt over a cycle respectively will be:	c) V 0 / √ 2, 0
5	A good diode checked by a multimeter should indicate :	a) high resistance in reverse bias and a low resistance in forward bias
6	Two point charges Q and Qare located at points (d, 0) and (0, d) respectively, in x-y plane. The electric field vec E at the origin will be :	c)
7	An electron is moving with velocity v_{0} hat i . If a uniform electric field vec E = E 0 hat j is set up in the region, the electron will :	c) describe a parabolic path
8	A charged particle of mass m having kinetic energy K passes undeflected through a region with electric field...	b)
9	A rectangular loop of size 5 cm x 8 cm is lying in x-y plane in a uniform magnetic field...	c) 8 x 10 -2 Wb
10	Which of the following statements is not true for electric energy in ac form compared to that in de form?	d) ac is less dangerous.
11	The magnetic field in a place electromagnetic wave travelling in a glass (n = 1.5) is given by...	a) 0.5 x 10 3 m -1
12	The energy of an electron revolving in inthe nth orbit in Bohr model of hydrogen atom is proportional to:	d) 1/n 2

Section A: Set 3 (55/4/3)

Q.No.	Question	Answers
1	In a Young's double-slit experiment, the fringe width is found to be ẞ. If the entire apparatus is immersed in a liquid of refractive index µ, the new fringe width will be?	c) β/μ
2	A light of frequency ν is incident on a metal surface whose work function is W₀. The kinetic energy of the emitted electron is K. If the frequency of the incident light is doubled, then the Kinetic Energy of the emitted electron will be?	b) more than 2k
3	Which of the following statements is not true for the nuclear forces?	c) they are always attractive
4	TBU	TBU
5	Photons of energy 3.2 eV are incident on a photosensitive surface. If the stopping potential for the emitted electrons is 1.5 V, the work function for the surface is?	b) 1.7 eV
6	Which one of the following has a relative magnetic permeability between 0 and 1?	c) water
7	TBU	TBU
8	The name of the electromagnetic waves also known as "heat waves"?	d) infrared waves
9	A plane wavefront is incident on a concave mirror of radius of curvature 'R'. The radius of the refracted wavefront will be?	c) R/2
10	A proton and an alpha particle have the same kinetic energy. The ratio of De Broglie wavelengths associated with the proton to that with the alpha particle is?	b) 2

Also Read CBSE Class 12 Result 2026

On-Screen Marking Evaluation System for Class 12 Board Exams

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced an On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for the evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets, shifting from physical to digital assessment. This change has been implemented for the teachers to save transportation time and costs and enable them to “remain in their schools and continue regular duties." This will aim at efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in the assessment process. While the “evaluation of Class 10 answer books will continue in physical mode as before in 2026.”

How does OSM Work?

Answer sheets for the CBSE 12th exams will be scanned and uploaded in digital mode. This will allow the teachers to evaluate the answer books directly on computers from their own schools. This reduces physical transport time and costs. This will allow the teachers to speed up evaluation, with marks entered automatically to prevent errors.

Section A of the CBSE 12th Physics question paper contains sixteen questions, covering twelve MCQs and four assertion-reasoning-based questions of 1 mark each. Hope the above-mentioned CBSE Class 12 Physics Unofficial Answer Key 2026 for the objective portion for all the sets will help you in your progress.

CBSE Class 12 Physics Passing Marks 2026

You are required to score at least 33% marks separately in both theory and practical components to pass as per the CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2026 . Additionally, you need 33% marks in aggregate, in order to qualify in that subject. For Physics, in theory paper 23 is the minimum passing marks out of 70, while in the 30-mark practical exam, the minimum passing criteria is 9 marks. Failing in either of the component will lead you to appear for compartment exam. Hence, you must achieve a grade higher than 'E' across all assessments to get the Pass Certificate of the Board.

CBSE Class 12 Grading System 2026

The CBSE Class 12 Grading System 2026 follows a nine-point relative grading system, ranging from A1 (top 1/8th) to E (failed). Grades are awarded based on your rank, that reflect mark ranges and carry grade points for CGPA calculation. You need at least a D2 grade (33% marks) to pass each subject. CBSE will not award any overall division or percentage. To know your percentage, get the average of grade points of the 5 main subjects and multiply the average grade point by 9.5.

CBSE Class 12 Merit Certificates 2026

CBSE will award merit certificates in each subject to recognize the top performers. These will be given to the top 0.1% of students who pass that specific subject. It is mandatory to pass all subjects and the overall exam as per CBSE passing criteria. Merit Certificates will be issued only if at least 500 students pass the subject. Otherwise, no one will be awarded. If multiple students score exactly the same marks at cutoff for CBSE Class 12 Merit Certificates, all of them receive the certificate.

CBSE Class 12 Marksheet 2026

On successfully passing the CBSE Class 12 exam 2026, you will be provided with an original CBSE Class 12 Marksheet 2026 . You have to visit your respective school premises to collect the original marksheet after a few days of the result announcement. It is expected that the original marksheet will be released in the last week of May 2026. However, you can access the provisional marksheet through CBSE’s official website soon after the result is released.