ISC Class 11 Syllabus 2027 History

ISC YEAR 2027

INDIAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION

HISTORY
(851)

February 2025
____________________________________________________________________________________________

© Copyright, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
All rights reserved. The copyright to this publication and any part thereof solely vests in the Council for the Indian
School Certificate Examinations. This publication and no part thereof may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or
stored in any manner whatsoever, without the prior written approval of the Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations.

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

Trust and fair play.
Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.

HISTORY (851)

Aims:
1. To provide accurate knowledge of significant 5. To develop the capacity to read historical views
events and personalities of the period under in the light of new evidence or new interpretation
study, in sequence and in context. of evidence.
2. To familiarize candidates with factual evidence 6. To foster a sense of historical continuity.
upon which explanations or judgements about the 7. To encourage diminution of prejudices and to
period must be founded. develop a more international approach to world
3. To develop an understanding of the existence of history.
problems and relevance of evidence of 8. To develop the ability to express views and
explanations. arguments clearly using correct terminology of
4. To develop the capacity to marshal facts and the subject.
evaluate evidence and to discuss issues from a 9. To familiarise candidates with various types of
historical point of view. historical evidence and to provide some
awareness of the problems involved in evaluating
different kinds of source materials.

CLASS XI
There will be two papers in the subject: (iii) Development of modern industries.
Paper I: Theory 3 hours ------ 80 marks An account of the growth of large scale
machine based industries in western India,
Paper II: Project Work -------20 marks
its economic impact.
PAPER I (THEORY) – 80 MARKS (iv) Colonial Forest Policy - impact on local
communities.
SECTION A
An overview of the 19th century Colonial
INDIAN HISTORY Forest Policy. Political and economic impact
1. Emergence of the Colonial Economy of the Colonial Forest Policy on local
communities.
(i) Development of the means of transport and
communication.
2. Social Movements
Transportation: a brief look at the
development of the railways. (i) Struggle against caste – Jyotirao Phule,
Narayan Guru, Veerasalingam.
(ii) Effect of British revenue policy:
A brief outline of their contributions to
Impact on peasants and artisans
Indian society.
Disruption of the traditional economy. (ii) The Women’s Question
A general account of the impact of the Women’s condition in India in the 19th
British revenue policies on peasants and century. Features of the following Acts:
artisans.
Abolition of Sati (1829), Widow Remarriage
(1856), Female Infanticide Prevention

ISC Examination Year 2027 1

(1870) and Age of Consent (1891) - their (ii) Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934).
impact on Indian women. A general account of the features of the
Movement; main terms of the Gandhi-Irwin
3. Protest Movements against Colonial Rule Pact; the 1st and 2nd Round Table
Circumstances that led to different protest Conferences; resumption of the Movement
movements: the Indigo Uprising (1859), Deccan and the Poona Pact.
riots (1875), Munda Uprising (1899-1900) and
the impact on the colonial policies. (iii) Government of India Act, 1935.
The main features of Government of India
4. Growth of Nationalism Act, 1935 should be explained.
(i) Swadeshi Movement A critical account of the election of 1937. A
Partition of Bengal and anti-Partition summary of the main developments under
Movement including the Swadeshi and Congress and non-Congress ministries
Boycott Movement: causes and Impact of the should be included.
Movement.
SECTION B
(ii) Foundation of the Muslim League.
Circumstances leading to its foundation. WORLD HISTORY
Objectives of the Muslim League. 7. World War I: Causes, events leading to it;
Peace settlements
5. Gandhian Nationalism (1916 – 1922)
(i) Main long-term causes: alliance system,
(i) Agitation against the Rowlatt Act, imperialism, militarism (arms race),
Jallianwala Bagh (1919). nationalism.
The reasons behind the Rowlatt Act and its Main short-term causes: events from 1908 to
main terms to be studied in brief. A general 1914.
account of the satyagraha against the Act, (ii) Paris Peace Settlements-Changes in the map
leading to Jallianwala Bagh. of Europe; critical evaluation of the Treaty
(ii) The launching of the passive resistance of Versailles.
movement by Gandhi: Khilafat and Non-
Cooperation Movement (1919-1922). 8. The Great Depression
(i) Causes leading to the Wall Street Crash of
The launching of the Khilafat and the
Non-Cooperation Movements. There should 1929 and its impact on the economy of USA,
be a connected chronological account of Germany & Japan.
both the movements and their suspension. (ii) Roosevelt and the New Deal – (a) Aims (b)
Measures taken.
6. Gandhian Nationalism (1927 – 1937) 9. Rise of Communism under Stalin in Russia
(i) Lahore session and declaration of 'Poorna (1917 -1939)
Swaraj' as the Congress objective. (i) The Russian Revolution of 1917 - causes of
Events leading to the Lahore session – Simon the March Revolution and its results;
Commission: a brief explanation of the weaknesses of the Provisional Government
reasons for its boycott; demand for leading to the November Revolution.
Dominion Status by 1929 (Nehru Report). (ii) Lenin: reasons for New Economic Policy
The main points of the Poorna Swaraj (NEP) and its impact.
Resolution. (iii) Rise of Stalin to power and factors assisting
his rise.

ISC Examination Year 2027 2

(iv) Main features of Stalin’s domestic policy: PAPER II (PROJECT WORK) –
Collectivisation of agriculture.
Industrialisation: First and Second Five
20 MARKS
Year Plans Candidates will be required to undertake one project
Purges of 1937-1938. on any one of the following history topics from 18th-
20th centuries (India/World).
10. Rise of Fascism under Mussolini in Italy
(1919-39) 1. Politics – leadership, domestic policy, foreign
(i) Post-War discontent and the rise to power of policy.
Benito Mussolini. 2. Military – any war: causes, course and
Conditions which gave rise to Fascism; a consequences. Strategies & tactics. Technology.
brief chronological account of the events Outcome: peace settlements.
which brought Mussolini to power from the 3. Economy – economic policy: terms and impact.
election of 1921 to the march on Rome in Currency, communication, trade. Agriculture and
October 1922. industry.
(ii) Main features of Mussolini's domestic 4. Society & culture – Traditions, food, clothing,
policy. festivals, role and status of women, education,
Critical appraisal of Mussolini’s policies art, architecture, sculpture, music, dance,
particularly his economic policy. literature.
11. Rise of Nazism under Hitler in Germany 5. Religion – philosophy, ideas, beliefs, practices,
(1933-39) impact.
The project may be in any one of the following
(i) Rise of Hitler to power and factors assisting
categories:
his rise.
1. A case study.
Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic as a
2. A field visit/ investigation.
background to the rise of Nazism; events
from 1932 onwards leading to Hitler 3. A local history.
becoming Chancellor of Germany in 1933; 4. Interview/oral evidence.
the reasons for his popularity among 5. Book review/ film review/ posters/ newspapers/
different groups should be explained. advertisements/ cartoons and art.
(ii) The Nazi State: from 1933 onwards. The project may or may not be based on the syllabus;
Outline of the changes made by Hitler in students must be encouraged to produce original,
government, the cultural life and education, creative and insightful perspectives on an allied
army (the Night of the Long Knives), the aspect of the topic.
economy and religious life. Escalation of the
The written outcome of the project, in the form of
campaign against the Jews should be done
800–1500-word essay should be structured as
in some detail, till the "Final Solution".
given below:
Reasons why his policies were accepted
among different groups.  Introduction - Background and context to be
12. Rise of Militarism in Japan (1919-37) discussed very briefly.
Reasons for the rise of militarism in the  Main body - Explanation, Interpretation,
1930s. Analysis and Critical Evaluation of a range of
evidence: the research material gathered by the
student.
 Conclusion - Brief summing up of the topic.

ISC Examination Year 2027 3

 Bibliography – a list of all material referred to in 4. Viva Range of 5
the essay, including print, electronic, oral & questions based on
audio-visual material, referenced correctly, in a the project only.
standard format. TOTAL 20
 Appendix – optional, only if it is crucial for the GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS:
better understanding of the project essay. 1. It must be emphasized that the process of doing
the project is as important as the finished
List of Suggested Projects product.
1. Leaders- political, social, cultural, religious, 2. Once the project/projects are chosen, there
military should be a process of brainstorming to
2. Growth of political organizations in the 18th - encourage students to make out a draft/structure
early 20th centuries. for the project before embarking on research.
3. Impact of British colonial policies before/ after 3. During the brainstorming/discussion, the teacher
1857. should discuss the assessment criteria with the
4. Industrialisation - Impact on the lives of the students.
people. 4. The teacher should discuss the draft with the
5. Birth of totalitarian ideologies. student with regard to the central question and
the type of sources to be used.
6. The 1920s Cultural Movement in USA - Jazz
Age. 5. The students should be guided on doing the
research and looking at different types of
7. Changes in nature of warfare – late 19th and early
evidence.
20th century conflicts, World War I.
6. Books and suitable reference materials could be
8. Growth of feminist movements in the West.
suggested and even put up on the library notice
9. Music/art as a medium of protest. board for guidance of the students.
10. Books that changed the course of history. 7. Internet sites could be suggested, but care must
EVALUATION CRITERIA: be taken in selecting, using and citing these sites.
Mark allocation for the Project will be as follows: 8. Students must be cautioned against plagiarism
and be penalized for the same.
Assessment objective Criteria Marks
1. Process Candidates should 5 9. Marks must be awarded for content and
be able to: originality and not for decorative elements and
Identify the topic, embellishments.
Plan and detail a 10. Projects must be the original work of the
research project. students.
2. Understanding, Candidates should 5
application of be able to:
knowledge and Explain issues and
Analysis themes clearly and
in context.
Interpret, analyse
and evaluate
critically the topic.
3. Presentation Overall format 5
and referencing

ISC Examination Year 2027 4