CBSE Senior Secondary Syllabus 2027 Sociology

FOR CBSE SENIOR SECONDARY SYLLABUS EXAM PREPARATION

CBSE Senior Secondary
Syllabus 2027
Question Paper ·
Sociology
EXAM YEAR TYPE SUBJECT

CBSE Senior Secondary Syllabus 2027 Question Paper Sociology

Notes · Sample Papers · Previous Year Papers · Mock Tests

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Subject Code-039
Class XI-XII
CLASS XI-XII(2026-27)
(2025-26)

Rationale

Sociology is introduced as an elective subject at the senior secondary stage. The syllabus
is designed to help learners to reflect on what they hear and see in the course of everyday
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life and develop a constructive attitude towards society in change; to equip a learner with
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concepts and theoretical skills for the purpose. The curriculum of Sociology at this stage
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should enable the learner to understand dynamics of human behavior in all its
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complexities and manifestations. The learners of today need answers and explanations
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to satisfy the questions that arise in their minds while trying to understand social world.
Therefore, there is a need to develop an analytical approach towards the social structure
so that they can meaningfully participate in the process of social change. There is scope
in the syllabus not only for interactive learning, based on exercises and project work but
also for teachers and students to jointly innovate new ways of learning.

 Sociology studies society. The child’s familiarity with the society in which she /he
lives in makes the study of Sociology a double edged experience. At one level
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Sociology studies institutions such as family and kinship, class, caste and tribe
religion and region- contexts with which children are familiar of, even if differentially.
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For India is a society which is varied both horizontally and vertically. The effort in the

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books will be to grapple overtly with this both as a source of strength and as a site

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for interrogation.
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Significantly the intellectual legacy of Sociology equips the discipline with a plural
perspective that overtly engages with the need for defamiliarisation, to unlearn and
question the given. This interrogative and critical character of Sociology also makes
it possible to understand both other cultures as well as relearn about one’s own
culture.
This plural perspective makes for an inbuilt richness and openness that not too
many other disciplines in practice share. From its very inception, Sociology has had
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establishing causal correspondences with considerable sophistication. Not

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surprisingly its field work tradition also entails large scale survey methods as well as

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distinction between what has often been seen as distinct approaches of Sociology
and Social Anthropology. The syllabus provides ample opportunity to make the
child familiar with the excitement of field work as well as its theoretical significance
for the very discipline of Sociology.

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 The plural legacy of Sociology also enables a bird’s eye view and a worm’s eye view
of the society the child lives in. This is particularly true today when the local is
inextricably defined and shaped by macro global processes.
 The syllabus proceeds with the assumption that gender as an organizing principle of
society cannot be treated as an add on topic but is fundamental to the manner that all
chapters shall be dealt with.
 The chapters shall seek for a child centric approach that makes it possible to connect
the lived reality of children with social structures and social processes that Sociology
studies.
 A conscious effort will be made to build into the chapters a scope for exploration of
society that makes learning a process of discovery. A way towards this is to deal with
sociological concepts not as givens but a product of societal actions humanly
constructed and therefore open to questioning.

Objectives

 To enable learners to relate classroom teaching to their outside environment.
 To introduce them to the basic concepts of Sociology that would enable them to
observe and interpret social life.
 To be aware of the complexity of social processes.
 To appreciate diversity in Indian Society and the world at large.
 To build the capacity of students to understand and analyze the changes in
contemporary Indian society.

COURSE STRUCTURE
CLASS XI(2026-27)
Class XI (2025-26)

Time: 3 Hours Max. Marks: 80
Units Marks

A Introducing Sociology
1. Sociology, Society and its relationship with other Social Science 10
disciplines
2. Terms, concepts and their use in Sociology 10
3. Understanding Social Institutions 12
4. Culture and Socialization 12
Total 44

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B Understanding Society
7. Social Change and Social order in Rural and Urban Society 12

9. Introducing Western Sociologists 12
10. Indian Sociologists 12
Total 36
Total 80
Project Work 20

COURSE CONTENT

A. INTRODUCING SOCIOLOGY 44 Marks
Unit 1 Sociology, Society and its Relationship with other Social Sciences
 Introducing Society: Individuals and collectivities. Pluralities and
Inequalities among societies.
 Introducing Sociology: Emergence. Nature and Scope.
 Relationship with other Social Science disciplines

Unit 2 Terms, Concepts and their use in Sociology
 Social Groups and Society
 Social Stratification
 Status and Role
 Society & Social Control

Unit 3 Understanding Social Institutions
 Family, Marriage and Kinship
 Work & Economic Life
 Political Institutions
 Religion as a Social Institution
 Education as a Social Institution

Unit 4 Culture and Socialization
 Defining Culture
 Dimensions of Culture
 Socialization
 Agencies of Socialisation &Sociology

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B. UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY 36 Marks

Unit 7 Social Change and Social Order in Rural and Urban Society
 Social Change: Types, Causes and Consequences
 Social Order: Domination, Authority and Law; Contestation, Crime
and Violence
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 Concepts: Village, Town and City
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 Social Order and Social Change in Rural and Urban Areas
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Unit 9
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Introducing Western Sociologists
 The Context of Sociology
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 Emile Durkheim: Division of Labour in society
 Max Weber: Interpretive Sociology, Ideal Type & Bureaucracy

Unit 10 Indian Sociologists
 G.S. Ghurye on Caste and Race
 D.P. Mukherjee on Tradition and Change
 A.R. Desai on the State
 M.N. Srinivas on the Village
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PROJECT WORK
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Max. Marks: 20
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A. Project undertaken during the academic year at school level 15 Marks
1. Introduction -2 Marks
2. Statement of Purpose – 2 Marks
3. Research Question – 2 Marks
4. Methodology – 3 Marks
5. Data Analysis – 4 Marks
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c. oB. Viva – based on the project work m.co
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05 Marks

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SOCIOLOGY

QUESTION PAPER DESIGN
Class XIXI(2026-27)
CLASS (2025-26)

S.No. Competencies Total Marks Weightage (%)

1 Knowledge & understanding
Exhibit memory of previously learned material by
recalling facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers. 30 37.5%
Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by
organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving
descriptions, and stating main ideas
2 Application of Knowledge and Concepts
Solve problems to new situations by applying
acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a
different way. Examine and break information into 32 40%
parts by identifying motives or causes. Make
inferences and find evidence to support
generalizations

Present and defend opinions by making judgments
about information, validity of ideas, or quality of work
based on a set of criteria.
3 Formulate, Analyse , Evaluate & Create
Compile information together in a different way by 18 22.5%
combining elements in a new pattern or proposing
alternative solutions.
Total 80 100%

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COURSE STRUCTURE
CLASS XII(2026-27)
Class XII (2025-26)

Time: 3 Hours Max. Marks: 80

Units Marks

A Indian Society
1. Introducing Indian Society Non- evaluative
2. The Demographic Structure of Indian Society 10
3. Social Institutions: Continuity and Change 10
5. Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion 10
6. The Challenges of Cultural Diversity 10
7. Suggestions for Project Work Non- evaluative
40
B Social Change and Development in India
8. Structural Change 5
9. Cultural Change 5
11.Change and Development in Rural Society 10
12. Change and Development in Industrial Society 10
15. Social Movements 10
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Total 80

COURSE CONTENT

A. INDIAN SOCIETY 40 Marks

Unit 1 Introducing Indian Society
Colonialism, Nationalism, Class and Community (Non- evaluative)
Unit 2 The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society
 Theories and concepts in demography
 Rural-Urban Linkages and Divisions
 Population Policy in India

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Unit 3 Social Institutions: Continuity and Change
 Caste and the Caste System
 Tribal Communities
 Family and Kinship
Unit 5 Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion

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 Social Inequality and Social Exclusion
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 Systems
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Backward Classes
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The struggles of the Differently Abled
Unit 6 The Challenges of Cultural Diversity
 Cultural communities and the nation state
 Regionalism in the Indian context
 The Nation state and religion related issues and identities
 Communalism, secularism and the nation state
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 State and Civil Society
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Unit 7
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Suggestions for Project Work
B. SOCIAL CHANGE AND g 40 Marks

Unit 8
a DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Structural Change
Understanding Colonialism, Industrialization, Urbanization
Unit 9 Cultural Change
 Social Reform Movements
 Different Kinds of Social Change: Sanskritisation, Westernisation,
Modernization, Secularization
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Unit 11 Change and Development in Rural Society
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 Land Reforms, Green Revolution and Emerging Agrarian

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 Circulation of labour
 Globalization, Liberalization and Rural Society

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Unit 12 Change and Development in Industrial Society
 From Planned Industrialization to Liberalization
 How people find Jobs
 Work Processes: How work is carried out, working conditions, home based
work, Strikes and Unions
Unit 15 Social Movements
 Concept of Social Movements
 Theories and Classification of Social Movements
 Environmental Movements
 Class-Based Movements: Workers, Peasants
 Caste-Based Movements: Dalit Movement, Backward Class/Castes,
Trends in Upper Caste Responses
 Tribal Movements
 Women’s Movements in Independent India

PROJECT WORK

Max. Marks: 20
C. Project undertaken during the academic year at school level 15 Marks
1. Introduction -2 Marks
2. Statement of Purpose – 2 Marks
3. Research Question – 2 Marks
4. Methodology – 3 Marks
5. Data Analysis – 4 Marks
6. Conclusion – 2 Marks

D. Viva – based on the project work 05 Marks

Prescribed Books:

1. Introducing Sociology, Class XI, Published by NCERT
2. Understanding Society, Class XI, Published by NCERT
3. Indian Society, Class XII, Published by NCERT
4. Social Change and Development in India, Class XII, published by NCERT

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SOCIOLOGY
QUESTION PAPER DESIGN
CLASS XII (2025-26)
Class XII (2026-27)

S. No. Competencies Total Weightage
Marks (%)
1 Knowledge & Understanding
Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling
facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers. Demonstrate 30 37.5%
understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing,
translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main
ideas
2 Application of Knowledge and Concepts
Solve problems to new situations by applying acquired
knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way.
Examine and break information into parts by identifying 32 40%
motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to
support generalizations

Present and defend opinions by making judgments about
information, validity of ideas, or quality of work based on a set
of criteria.
3 Formulate, Analyse , Evaluate & Create
Compile information together in a different way by combining 18 22.5%
elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions.
Total 80 100%

Note: Kindly refer to the guidelines on project work for class XI and XII given below: -

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Guidelines for Sociology Project Work:

One Project to be done throughout the session, as per the existing scheme.

1. Steps involved in the conduct of the project: Students may work upon the following lines as a
suggested flow chart:

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Choose a Title/Topic
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Hypothesis

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Content -Timeline, Mind maps, Pictures, etc.

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Organization

Present Material/Data

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Bibliography

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2. Expected Checklist for the Project Work:

 Introduction of topic/title
 Identifying the causes, events, consequences and/or remedies
 Various stakeholders and effect on each of them
 Advantages and disadvantages of situations or issues identified
 Short-term and long-term implications of strategies suggested during research
 Validity, reliability, appropriateness, and relevance of data used for research work
and for presentation in the project file
 Presentation and writing that is succinct and coherent in project file
 Citation of the materials referred to, in the file in footnotes, resources section,
bibliography etc.

3. Assessment of Project Work:

 Project Work has broadly the following phases: Synopsis/ Initiation, Data
Collection, Data Analysis and Interpretation, Conclusion.
 The aspects of the project work to be covered by students can be assessed
during the academic year.
 20 marks assigned for Project Work can be divided in the following manner:

4. Viva-Voce
 At the end, each learner will present the research work in the Project File to the
External and Internal examiner.
 The questions should be asked from the Research Work/ Project File of the learner.

 The Internal Examiner should ensure that the study submitted by the learner is
his/her own original work.
 In case of any doubt, authenticity should be checked and verified. *****

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PROJECT WORK: 20 MARKS

The teacher will assess the progress of the project work in the following manner:

Month Periodic Work Assessment Rubrics Marks

Instructions about Introduction, Statement of
Project Guidelines, Purpose/Need and objectives of
April -July Background reading the study, Hypothesis/Research
5
Discussions on Theme Question, Review of Literature,
and Selection of the Presentation of Evidence,
Final Topic, Initiation/ Methodology, Questionnaire,
Synopsis Data Collection.

Planning and Significance and relevance of the
organization: forming topic; challenges encountered while
August - an action plan, conducting the research.
October 6
feasibility, or baseline
study, Updating/
modifying the action
plan, Data Collection
Content/data analysis Content analysis and its relevance in
and interpretation. the current scenario.
November -
January Conclusion, Limitations, Conclusion, Limitations, Bibliography,
5
Suggestions, Annexures and Overall Presentation.
bibliography,
Annexures and overall
presentation of the
project.

Final Assessment and External/ Internal Viva based on the
January- VIVA by both Internal project
February and External 4
Examiners

TOTAL 20

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