ISC Class 11 Syllabus 2028 Business Studies

ISC
INDIAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION

YEAR 2028

BUSINESS STUDIES
(857)

Developed by:
Research, Development and Curriculum Division (RDCD)
CISCE

January 2026
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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aspirations.

BUSINESS STUDIES (857)

Aims:
1. To develop an understanding of the fundamental reasons for the existence of business.
2. To appreciate the role of business in society and the economy.
3. To apply the knowledge and critical understanding of concepts to current issues and problems faced by a
business.
4. To compare and contrast the different forms of business ownership.
5. To analyse the nature of business risk and evaluate strategies to minimize its impact.
6. To develop skills of numeracy and literacy for sources of finance, its presentation and interpretation in
relation to a business organisation.
7. To introduce the concept of management, its functions, and principles.
8. To develop and assess marketing strategies and appreciate the need for consumer protection.
9. To understand the evolving modes of technology integrated with business.

CLASS XI
There will be two papers in the subject:
Paper I - Theory: 3 hours ……80 marks
Paper II- Project Work ……20 marks

PAPER I (THEORY) : 80 MARKS

S. NO. UNIT WEIGHTAGE

1. Business: Purpose and Classification 10 Marks

2. Forms and Types of Business Organisation 30 Marks

3. Contemporary and Evolving Modes of Business 15 Marks

4. Domestic Trade 10 Marks

5. Business Risks and Insurance 15 Marks

TOTAL 80 Marks

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1. Business: Purpose and Classification
Meaning and features of business; Objectives of business; Classification of business activities; Business Ethics
and Corporate Social Responsibility
(i) Meaning and features of business
(ii) Business objectives: Economic and social; Role of Profit in business (brief understanding).
(iii) Classification of business activities:
(a) Industry– types of industries on the basis of activity (primary secondary and tertiary) and on the basis
of size (micro, small, medium and large).
(b) Commerce– its nature and functions; importance of Commerce, trade (domestic and international)
and aids to trade (transportation, warehousing, banking, finance insurance, advertising).
Brief understanding of the above.
(iv) Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (meaning only)

2. Forms and Types of Business Organisations
(i) Forms of business organisations
Private sector, public sector, Public Private Partnership (PPPs) /Joint Sector (Meaning and ,features)
Comparative study between different forms of business organisations.
(ii) Types of Business Organisations under the Private Sector: Sole Proprietorship
Meaning, features, merits and demerits.
(iii) Partnership
Meaning, features, merits and demerits, registration, types of partners and types of partnership firms
(a) Meaning, features , merits and demerits of partnership.
(b) Registration of Partnership firms: Formation, meaning and contents of partnership deed; registration
process, consequences of non-registration.
(c) Types of partners (active, dormant, partner by estoppel, partner by holding out, minor partner) and
partnerships (General, particular and limited liability partnership).
(iv) Corporate Organisations
(a) Joint Stock Company – Meaning, features, merits and demerits.
(b) Types of companies – Public and private companies: Meaning and their comparative studies.
(c) Stages of formation of a company.
(d) Promotion - meaning, role and types of promoters.
(e) Incorporation of a company – Meaning and steps of incorporation (including filing of documents),
certificate of incorporation.
(f) Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association (excluding alterations) and distinction
between the two documents.
Meaning and contents of MOA and AOA. Distinction between the MOA and AOA.
(g) Commencement of business.
Steps, Certificate of Commencement.
(h) Prospectus and statement in lieu of prospectus – Meaning and contents only.
(i) Global enterprises – Meaning, characteristics, different types of global enterprises-meaning only.
(vi) Co-operative organisations
Meaning, features, merits and demerits
Multistate Cooperative Society (meaning only)

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3. Contemporary and Evolving Modes of Business
(i) e-Business.
Scope and benefits, Resources required for successful e-business implementation, online transactions,
payment mechanisms.
Emerging technology in e-business– Meaning of blockchain, its application in supply chain management
and cryto-assets (meaning only).
Security and safety of business transactions.
(ii) e-Commerce
Meaning of e-Commerce
Q- Commerce (Quick Commerce) and artificial intelligence - concept of quick commerce and the
integration of artificial intelligence, chatbots with customised consumer experience.
(iii) e-Banking
Online services – Transfer of funds through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), National Electronic
Funds Transfer (NEFT), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Digital Banking, UPI, E-wallet, Digital
Rupee- Meaning only.
Online payments, e-Banking – Meaning and features, advantages and disadvantages.
Mobile Banking – SMS alerts, transfer of funds, making payments - advantages and disadvantages.
Debit Cards vs Credit Cards, ATM (Automated Teller Machine) – Meaning; Debit card and credit card:
features and differences.
Demand draft– Meaning and Online issue of demand draft.

4. Domestic Trade
(i) Wholesale trade
Meaning and features of wholesale trade and services of wholesaler to retailer, customer and producer.
(ii) Retail trade
Retail trade – meaning and features of retail trade.
Distinction between wholesale and retail trade.
Types of retail trade – Itinerant and small-scale fixed shops: departmental stores, chain stores and dark
stores.
Concept of digital retailing. Omnichannel retailing.
Meaning and features only.

5. Business Risks and Insurance
(i) Risks in business – insurable and non-insurable (meaning and features only).
(ii) Insurance
Meaning and features of insurance.
(iii) Principles of insurance.
Fundamental principles to be explained: utmost good faith; insurable interest; indemnity; contribution;
doctrine of subrogation; causa proxima. Mitigation of loss.
(iv) Concept of re-insurance and double insurance.
(v) Concept of assurance; Comparison between assurance and insurance
(vi) Types of insurance: Types of insurance – life, health, fire, marine, motor, social and fidelity insurance
(Meaning only)

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PAPER II (PROJECT WORK) : 20 Marks
Candidates will be expected to have completed two projects from any topic covered in Theory. The project
should preferably be hand written and a hard copy should be submitted by the candidates.
Mark allocation for each Project [10 marks]:
Overall format 1 mark
Content 4 marks
Findings 2 marks
Viva-voce based on the Project 3 marks

A list of suggested Projects is given below:
1. Select a daily-use consumer product. Trace its origin right from the primary industry through the secondary
and tertiary industries. Draw a flow chart to include all the business activities in its path from the producer to
the consumer.
2. Assume you are starting a partnership firm with your friend/friends. Develop a business plan covering the
following aspects:
− Formation of this partnership firm – rules and steps that would be followed including the partnership deed
− Choice of types of partners involved and your justification for the same.
3. A System for Tracking Food Origins: Develop a blockchain-based system to trace the journey of food
products from farm to consumer, recording details like origin, processing, and transportation. This can help
ensure food safety and authenticity. For example, tracking the origin and processing of organic vegetables.
4. Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing: Build a blockchain system to track the sourcing of raw materials, ensuring
they come from ethical and sustainable sources. This could be applied to industries like fashion or electronics
to provide consumers with verifiable sustainability information.
5. Identity two Public Private Partnership projects.
Find out:
− The equity participation of both the partners.
− Objectives of the partnership
− Strengths both partners bring into the venture.
6. Select one consumer cooperative and one housing cooperative.
For each of the cooperatives:
− State the objectives.
− The organisational structure.
− Details of surplus distribution and the form of government support.
7. Document and analyse the Corporate Social Responsibility activities of a pharmaceutical company and a five-
star hotel.
Comment on the changing role assumed by Corporates towards business ethics and social responsibility in
the last two decades.
8. Contact an insurance agent and collect information about 5 different types of life insurance policies provided
by different companies. Include information as per details given below for every insurance plan and make a
comparative analysis.
− Premium of insurance
− Terms of inclusions and exclusions of each policy

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− Term of the policy
− Withdrawal of money from the insurance scheme (surrender / foreclosure)
− Advantages/disadvantages of the plan
9. Visit a company that is involved in e-business (which offers online services) or a consultancy, which helps in
developing websites for such companies.
Study different aspects they keep in mind while preparing business plans for e-business. Include information
regarding the payment mechanisms, security and safety of business transactions. The risks involved in e-
business should also be covered. Also include the steps they follow while implementing the plan and starting
the business.
10. Select a global enterprise, study its expansion strategy, focusing on its entry into emerging markets, adaptation
to local regulations, and the role of technology in driving international growth and customer engagement.

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