CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 - Download PDF Here

Pratha Shishodia

Updated On: June 19, 2025 05:00 PM

CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 PDF is available on the official website of CBSE Academics. The CBSE 12th Geography syllabus 2026 has two parts: Fundamentals of Human Geography and India: People and Economy. Get all details on the syllabus here. 
CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25
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CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 consists of two books. These are Fundamentals of Human Geography and India People and Economy. The first book comprises 3 units and 8 chapters in total while the second book contains 5 units and 9 chapters. The Unit 3 of both books will have the maximum weightage in the CBSE 12th Geography exam. The CBSE Class 10 Geography syllabus 2025-26 is now available on the official website of the Central Board of Secondary Education at cbseacademic.nic.in in a PDF format. Some chapters included in the syllabus are Human Geography, The World Population Density Distribution and Growth, Primary Activities, Secondary Activities, Tertiary and Quaternary Activities, Population Distribution Density Growth and Composition, Transport and Communication, etc.

Students must develop a detailed study plan to successfully start their preparations for the board exams taking into account the units with the most weight. The theory paper for geography will be conducted for 70 marks. In addition to this, CBSE will also conduct a practical examination, which has a weightage of 30 marks in total. Out of 30 marks, 02 marks will be counted for the practical record book and 03 marks for the viva voce. After completing the syllabus students must start solving the CBSE Class 12 Geography Previous Year Question Paper and CBSE Class 12 Geography Sample Paper 2025-26 . Read the article to know more about the detailed CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 :

CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 Download PDF

The Central Board of Secondary Education has released the latest PDF of the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 by clicking on the direct link given below:

CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 : Course Structure

Students can refer to the detailed information about the course structure of the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 from the table given below and use it to prepare well for the board exams. The course is divided into two books:

Fundamental of Human Geography

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

No. of Periods

Marks Weightage

Unit 1

1

Human Geography

7

3

Unit 2

2

The World Population Density Distribution and Growth

9

8

3

Human Development

7

Unit 3

4

Primary Activities

12


19

5

Secondary Activities

10

6

Tertiary and Quaternary Activities

10

7

Transport, Communication and Trade

15

8

International Trade

10

Map Work (Based on the identification of features on World Political Map)

Total

90

35

Book - India People and Economy

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

No. of Periods

Weightage

Unit 1

1

Population Distribution Density Growth and Composition

10

5

Unit 2

2

Human Settlements

8

3

Unit 3

3

Land Resources and Agriculture

9


10

4

Water Resources

9

5

Mineral And Energy Resources

9

6

Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

7

Unit 4

7

Transport and Communication

11

7

8

International Trade

9

Unit 5

9

Geographical Perspective on selected issues and problems

8

5

Map Work (Based on Marking and labelling on a political Map of India)

10

5

Total

90

35

CBSE Class 12 Geography Practical Syllabus 2025-26

30 marks will be allotted for the practical session which will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education based on the following course structure:

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

No. of Periods

Weightage

1

Data-its source and Compilation

5

18

2

Data Processing

8

3

Graphical Representation of Data

15

4

Spatial Information Technology

12

7

Practical Record Book and Viva Voce

5

Total

40

30

CBSE Class 12 Geography Unit-Wise Syllabus 2025-26

Students can refer to the detailed information about the unit-wise syllabus for Geography from the tables given below according to the different books included in the curriculum:

Book - Fundamental of Human Geography

Unit 1:





Chapter-1 Human Geography: Nature and Scope ● Approaches to study Human Geography Regional and Systematic Geography, Dualism ● Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature ● Fields and subfields of Human Geography ● Nature of Human Geography ● Introduction to Human Geography ● Schools of thought in Human Geography
Unit 2: Chapter- 2 The World Population Distribution, Density and Growth
  • Population-distribution and density
  • Factors influencing the distribution of population
  • Population Growth
  • Components of Population change
  • Demographic Transition
  • Population Control Measures

Chapter- 3 Human Development
  • Human development - concept; selected indicators
  • Growth and Development
  • The four pillars of Human Development
  • Approaches to Human Development
  • Measuring Human Development- HDI, HPI and GNH
  • International comparisons
Unit 3: Chapter- 4 Primary Activities Concept and types:
● Hunting and Gathering, Pastoralism; Nomadic Herding, Commercial Livestock Rearing
● Types of agriculture:  ❖ Primitive Subsistence ❖ Intensive Subsistence
● Commercial Agriculture ❖  Plantation Agriculture ❖  Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation ❖ Mixed Farming ❖ Dairy farming ❖ Mediterranean Agriculture ❖ Market Gardening and Horticulture ❖ Cooperative Farming ❖ Collective Farming
● Mining, factors affecting mining
● Methods of Mining

Chapter- 5 Secondary Activities
● Manufacturing: Characteristics of Modern large-Scale Manufacturing
● Factors influencing industrial Location
● Classification of manufacturing Industries: On the basis of Size, Inputs /raw material, Output /Products and Ownership
● Concept of High tech Industry Chapter- 6 Tertiary Activities
● Tertiary activities-concept and types
● Trade and commerce: Retail and Wholesale trading Transport, Factors Affecting Transport;
● Communication
● Services
● People engaged in tertiary activities
● Tourism, Major tourist regions
● Tourist attractions - some examples from selected countries
● Medical Services for Overseas Patients in India
● Quaternary and Quinary activities-concept
● The Digital Divide

Chapter- 7 Transport and Communication
● Transport
● Modes of Transportation:
● Land transport: Roadways, Highways, Road Density, Border Roads.
● Railways: Trans-continental Railways: Trans-Siberian, Trans Canadian, Australian Trans Continental,
● Water Transport: Important Sea Routes, Shipping Canals, Inland waterways
● Air transport: Inter-Continental air routes
● Pipelines
● Communications: Satellite Communications and Cyber Space- Internet

Chapter- 8 International Trade
● History of International trade
● Why Does International Trade Exist?
● Basis of International Trade
● Balance of Trade
● Types of International Trade: Bilateral and Multi-lateral trade
● Case for Free Trade
● Concept of Dumping
● World Trade Organisation
● Regional Trade Blocs
● Concerns Related to International Trade
● Gateways of International trade: Ports
● Types of Port

Book - India People and Economy

Unit 1:
  • Distribution of Population
  • Density of Population
  • Growth of population
  • Four distinct phases of population growth
  • Regional Variation in Population Growth
  • Population Composition: Rural – Urban Composition, Linguistic Composition, Religious Composition
  • Composition of Working Population
  • Promoting Gender Sensitivity through ‘Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao’ Social Campaign.
Chapter- 1 Population Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition
Unit 2: Chapter- 2 Human Settlements
  • Rural settlements - types and distribution
  • Urban settlements - types, distribution
  • Evolution of Towns in India
  • Urbanisation in India
  • Functional Classification of Towns
  • Smart Cities Mission
Unit 3: Chapter- 3 Land Resources and Agriculture
  • Land resources- general land use
  • Land use categories
  • Land-use Changes in India
  • Common Property Resources
  • Agricultural Land Use in India
  • Cropping Seasons in India
  • Types of Farming
  • Geographical conditions and distribution of major crops (Wheat, Rice, Tea, Coffee, Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane and Rubber);  Agricultural development in India
  • Growth of Agricultural Output and Technology
  • Problems of Indian Agriculture
Chapter- 4 Water Resources
  • Water resources- Surface water and Groundwater Resources
  • Lagoons and Backwaters
  • Water Demand and Utilisation - irrigation, domestic, industrial and other uses;
  • Emerging Water Problems: Deterioration of Water Quality
  • Water Conservation and Management; Prevention of Water Pollution; Rain water harvesting and Watershed management
Chapter- 5 Mineral and Energy Resources
  • Mineral Resources: Introduction and Types 17
  • Major mineral belts of India
  • Distribution of Ferrous Minerals (Iron ore and Manganese), Non-Ferrous Minerals (Bauxite and Copper); Non-metallic minerals (Mica)
  • Energy Resources: Conventional sources (Coal, Petroleum and Natural gas) and non-conventional sources (Nuclear, Solar, Wind, Tidal and Wave and Geothermal and Bio energy)
  • Conservation of Mineral Resources
Chapter - 6 Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context
  • Planning- Introduction
  • Target Area Planning: Hill Area Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Programme.
  • Concept of Sustainable Development
  • Case Studies –  1. Integrated Tribal Development Project in Bharmaur* Region, 2. Indira Gandhi Canal (Nahar) Command Area
Unit 4: Chapter- 7 Transport and Communication
● Means of transport: Land (Road transport, Rail transport and Oil and Gas pipelines), Water transport (Inland waterways and Oceanic routes) and Air transport
● Communication Networks- Personal and Mass Communication Systems

Chapter- 8 International Trade
  • Changing Pattern of the Composition of India’s Exports and Import
  • Direction of Trade
  • Sea Ports as Gateways of International Trade
  • Major Seaports of India along with their hinterlands.
  • Airports
Unit 5: Chapter- 9 Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems
● Environmental pollution- Introduction and types
● Urban-waste disposal
● Rural-Urban Migration: Case Study
● Problems of Slums
● Land degradation: Case study

Practical

Chapter- 1 Data – Its Source and Compilation
● What is Data, Sources of data: Primary, Secondary and Unpublished sources.
● Tabulation and Classification of Data
● Grouping of Data
● Frequency Polygon  18

Chapter- 2 Data Processing
● Tabulating and processing of data
● Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and Mode
● Comparison of Mean, Median and Mode

Chapter- 3 Graphical Representation of Data
● Representation of data- General rules for drawing diagrams, graphs and maps, construction of line graphs, polygraphs, simple bar diagrams, line and bar diagram, Multiple bar, Compound bar, Pie diagram, Flowchart
● Thematic maps; Construction of Dot Map; Choropleth Map and Isopleth map

Chapter- 4   Spatial Information Technology Introduction to GIS; Advantages of GIS, Components of GIS, Spatial data formats, Sequence of GIS activities; Spatial data input, Entering attribute data, Data Linkages and matching, Spatial analysis: Overlay Analysis Operation and Buffer Operation

CBSE Class 12 Geography Internal Assessment Guidelines 2025-26

Students will have to prepare a practical file in which they will have to cover all the topics mentioned in the practical syllabus. The file should include a cover page, index page, and acknowledgment. Students must draw maps and statistical diagrams neatly with appropriate headings and scales. They can refer to the dates from the NCERT textbooks. This file will be checked by both the internal and external examiners during the Geography practical examination. The students will have to face a written exam of 25 marks which will be based on the practical syllabus given above. In addition, viva will be conducted according to the practical syllabus.

  • Written Exam - 25 Marks
  • Practical file- 02 Marks
  • Viva- 03 Marks

CBSE Class 12 Geography Map-Based Syllabus 2025-26

The following is a list of maps included in the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 . There are two categories for the map work. Only map items are designated for identification on the World Fundamentals of Human Geography's outline political map.

Fundamentals of Human Geography

Chapter Map Work
Primary Activities
  • Subsistence gathering areas (Fig 4.2)
  • Major regions of the world for extensive commercial grain farming (4.12)
  • Major regions for mixed farming worldwide (4.14)
  • Major regions for commercial livestock rearing (4.6)
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, Colon, Valparaiso 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 Waterways, and St. Lawrence Seaways

People and Economy

Chapter Map Work
Population: Distribution Density, Growth and Composition The states with the densest and highest populations, respectively, in 2011
Land Resources and Agriculture states that produce the most of the following crops: Rice, wheat, cotton, jute, sugarcane, tea, and coffee are the first five items on the list.
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, Jamnager, Barauni
International Trade Mark and label the major sea ports and airports on an outline map of India.
  • Major Sea Ports: Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Kochi, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Haldia
  • International Airports: Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram & Hyderabad.

CBSE Class 12 Geography Question Paper Design 2025-26

Students can refer to the following points regarding the question paper design for the CBSE class 12th Geography Paper. Make sure to follow the structure when preparing for the board exams so that you can attempt the paper in the allotted time and get a good score:

  • The question paper will consist of a total of 30 questions.
  • The students must attempt all the questions.
  • Section A consists of 17 MCQ-type questions for one mark each.
  • Section B consists of question number 18 and 19 which are source-based questions for 3 marks each.
  • Section C consists of question number 20 to 23 which are short answer type questions for 3 marks each. Students must write the answer to these questions in about 80 to 100 words.
  • Section D consists of question number 24 to 28 which are long answer-type questions for 5 marks each. Students must write the answer to these questions in about 120 to 150 words.
  • Section E consists of question number 29 and 30 which are map-based questions. These questions are for 5 marks each.

CBSE Class 12 Geography Deleted Syllabus 2025-26

There are some units and chapters that have been deleted from the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 recently by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Check out the information about the same here:

Fundamental of Human Geography

Chapter Page No. Deleted Topics/ Chapters
UNIT 1
Chapter 1: Human Geography Nature and Scope 4-5 Geographical Humanities The final paragraph of Human Geography's Fields and Sub-Fields: Through the Corridors of Time
UNIT 2
Chapter 2: The World Population Distribution, Density and Growth 9 11-14 Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.3: Migration News Collage Activity Population Growth Trends, World Population Doubling Time, The impact of population change, the spatial pattern of population change, and figure 2.2
Chapter 3: Population Composition 17-21 Full Chapter
UNIT 3
Chapter 6: Secondary Activities 51-53 The Ruhr Coal Field, the Iron and Steel Industry, the Cotton Textile Industry, and Traditional Large-Scale Industrial Regions
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

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

CBSE Class 12 Geography Books 2025-26

There are a lot of books that the students can consider when preparing for the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 . Check out some of the popular side books here:

  • Arihant All In One Class 12th Geography For Cbse Exam 2025-26
  • Arihant CBSE Chapterwise Solved Papers (2023-2011) Geography Class 12
  • Together With Cbse Question Bank Class 12 Geography Exam 2025-26
  • CBSE Chapterwise Solved Papers 2023-2014 Geography Class 12th (2025-26 Exam)
  • Arihant CBSE Exams 2025-26 I-Succeed 15 Sample Question Papers Geography Class 12th
  • CBSE Question Bank Class 12 Geography, Chapterwise, And Topicwise Solved Papers For Board Exams 2025-26 by Oswaal Books

Students must download the latest CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2025-26 to learn more about the content of the curriculum including the units and the chapters which will be appearing in the theory and practical paper. Syllabus is one of the most needed resources to start the study sessions for the board exam.

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FAQs

What format will the CBSE Class 12 Geography Question Paper 2024-25 follow?

CBSE Class 12 Geography Question Paper 2024-25 will be divided into five sections, A, B, C, and D, E. The theory exam has a maximum score of 70 marks. There will be multiple choice questions (MCQs), short answer, long answer, source-based questions, and map-based questions on the question paper.

What is the weightage of the CBSE Class 12 Geography Practical Paper 2024-25?

Out of the total 100 marks, 30 marks have been allotted for the CBSE Class 12 Geography Practical Paper 2024-25. Passing scores in both the written and practical exams must be obtained independently by the students.

Can I get previous year questions papers for CBSE Class 12 Geography?

Students can visit the official website of the CBSE to download the CBSE Class 12 Geography previous year question papers. The board provides previous year's question papers in PDF format.

Which books should be read to cover the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25?

To prepare for the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25, students can read Fundamental of Human Geography and India People and Economy. The NCERT books prescribed by the board have a complete syllabus in them.

What are the important topics to be covered in the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25?

While studying the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25, students must cover all the topics mentioned in the syllabus. All the units should be covered one by one.

Where can students find the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25?

CBSE board has released the CBSE Class 12 Geography Syllabus 2024-25 on its website, cbse.nic.in. Students can visit the official website to download the Geography syllabus in the PDF format. 

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