Students preparing for their board exams and competitive exams like JEE Main, NEET, and CUET UG, CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus for 2026–27 are very important. This syllabus is created to help students understand key concepts, solve numerical problems, and prepare for practical work effectively.
The CBSE Physics 2026- 27 syllabus is based on the latest NCERT curriculum and is prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It includes 9 units and 14 chapters, covering important topics such as Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics, and Semiconductor Electronics.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2026–27: Highlights
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Name | CBSE Class 12 Board Examination |
| Subject | Physics |
| Subject Code | 042 |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Academic Session | 2026–27 |
| Theory Marks | 70 |
| Practical Marks | 30 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Total Units | 9 |
| Total Chapters | 14 |
| Prescribed Book | NCERT Class 12 Physics Part I & II |
Download CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2026-27
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern 2026–27
The Physics exam is divided into two parts: Theory and Practical. To score well overall, students need to prepare properly for both.
Theory Examination
| Particular | Details |
| Theory Marks | 70 |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Question Types | MCQs, case-based questions, short answer questions, long answer questions |
| Internal Choice | Available in selected questions |
Practical Examination
| Particular | Marks |
| Practical Exam | 30 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Unit-wise Weightage 2026–27
The CBSE theory paper carries 70 marks. As per the course structure, some units are grouped together for marks distribution.
| Unit | Unit Name | Marks |
| Unit I | Electrostatics | 16* |
| Unit II | Current Electricity | |
| Unit III | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | 17* |
| Unit IV | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current | |
| Unit V | Electromagnetic Waves | 18* |
| Unit VI | Optics | |
| Unit VII | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 12* |
| Unit VIII | Atoms and Nuclei | |
| Unit IX | Electronic Devices | 7 |
| Total | Theory | 70 |
Note: The marks are grouped as follows:
- Units I and II = 16 marks
- Units III and IV = 17 marks
- Units V and VI = 18 marks
- Units VII and VIII = 12 marks
- Unit IX = 7 marks
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2026–27
The syllabus includes 9 units and 14 chapters. Students should study every chapter from the NCERT textbook and practice enough numericals to build confidence.
Unit I: Electrostatics
This unit explains the basics of electric charge, electric fields, electric potential, and capacitors.
Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields
Topics include:
- Electric charges
- Conservation of charge
- Coulomb’s law
- Superposition principle
- Electric field
- Electric field lines
- Electric dipole
- Torque on a dipole
- Electric flux
- Gauss’s theorem and its applications
Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Topics include:
- Electric potential
- Potential difference
- Equipotential surfaces
- Electric potential energy
- Conductors and insulators
- Dielectrics
- Capacitors
- Combination of capacitors
- Parallel plate capacitor
- Energy stored in a capacitor
Unit II: Current Electricity
This unit focuses on the flow of electric current and the working of electrical circuits.
Chapter 3: Current Electricity
Topics include:
- Electric current
- Drift velocity
- Mobility
- Ohm’s law
- V-I characteristics
- Electrical energy and power
- Resistivity and conductivity
- Temperature dependence of resistance
- EMF and potential difference
- Internal resistance of a cell
- Combination of cells
- Kirchhoff’s rules
- Wheatstone bridge
Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
This unit shows how electricity and magnetism are connected.
Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism
Topics include:
- Magnetic field
- Oersted’s experiment
- Biot-Savart law
- Ampere’s circuital law
- Force on a moving charge
- Lorentz force
- Force on a current-carrying conductor
- Torque on a current loop
- Moving coil galvanometer
- Conversion of galvanometer into ammeter and voltmeter
Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter
Topics include:
- Bar magnet
- Magnetic field lines
- Magnetic dipole
- Magnetic properties of materials
- Paramagnetic substances
- Diamagnetic substances
- Ferromagnetic substances
- Magnetisation
- Effect of temperature on magnetic materials
Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current
This unit explains how changing magnetic fields produce electricity and how alternating current behaves.
Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction
Topics include:
- Electromagnetic induction
- Faraday’s laws
- Induced EMF
- Lenz’s law
- Self-induction
- Mutual induction
Chapter 7: Alternating Current
Topics include:
- Alternating current
- Peak value
- RMS value
- Reactance
- Impedance
- LCR series circuit
- Resonance
- Power factor
- AC generator
- Transformer
Unit V: Electromagnetic Waves
This unit introduces electromagnetic waves and the different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves
Topics include:
- Displacement current
- Electromagnetic waves
- Characteristics of electromagnetic waves
- Transverse nature of electromagnetic waves
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Radio waves
- Microwaves
- Infrared rays
- Visible light
- Ultraviolet rays
- X-rays
- Gamma rays
- Applications of electromagnetic waves
Unit VI: Optics
Optics is one of the most important parts of the Class 12 Physics syllabus. It deals with light, image formation, and optical instruments.
Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Topics include:
- Reflection of light
- Spherical mirrors
- Mirror formula
- Refraction of light
- Total internal reflection
- Optical fibres
- Refraction at spherical surfaces
- Thin lens formula
- Lens maker’s formula
- Power of a lens
- Combination of lenses
- Refraction through a prism
- Microscopes
- Astronomical telescopes
Chapter 10: Wave Optics
Topics include:
- Wavefront
- Huygens’ principle
- Reflection and refraction using wave theory
- Interference of light
- Young’s double slit experiment
- Fringe width
- Coherent sources
- Diffraction
- Width of central maxima
Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
This unit explains how light and matter show both wave-like and particle-like behaviour.
Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
Topics include:
- Dual nature of radiation
- Photoelectric effect
- Hertz and Lenard’s observations
- Einstein’s photoelectric equation
- Particle nature of light
- Experimental study of photoelectric effect
- Matter waves
- de Broglie relation
Unit VIII: Atoms and Nuclei
This unit introduces atomic models, nuclear structure, and radioactivity.
Chapter 12: Atoms
Topics include:
- Alpha particle scattering experiment
- Rutherford’s atomic model
- Bohr model of hydrogen atom
- Radius of electron orbit
- Velocity of electron
- Energy of electron
- Hydrogen line spectrum
Chapter 13: Nuclei
Topics include:
- Composition of nucleus
- Size of nucleus
- Nuclear force
- Mass-energy relation
- Mass defect
- Binding energy
- Nuclear fission
- Nuclear fusion
Unit IX: Electronic Devices
This is the final unit of the syllabus and covers the basics of semiconductors and simple electronic circuits.
Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits
Topics include:
- Energy bands
- Conductors
- Semiconductors
- Insulators
- Intrinsic semiconductors
- Extrinsic semiconductors
- P-type semiconductor
- N-type semiconductor
- P-N junction diode
- I-V characteristics
- Forward bias
- Reverse bias
- Diode as a rectifier
CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical Syllabus 2026–27
The practical exam carries 30 marks. Students must complete experiments, activities, an investigatory project, and viva voce. The practical file should include:
- At least 8 experiments (4 from each section)
- 6 activities (3 from each section)
- 1 investigatory project report
CBSE Class 12th Practical Marks Distribution
| Component | Marks |
| Two Experiments (One from each section) | 14 |
| Practical Record | 5 |
| One Activity | 3 |
| Investigatory Project | 3 |
| Viva Voce | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
Important Physics Practical Experiments
Section A
Students may be asked to perform experiments such as:
- Determining resistivity using the V-I graph
- Finding resistance using a metre bridge
- Verifying the laws of combination of resistances
- Determining the resistance of a galvanometer
- Converting a galvanometer into a voltmeter or ammeter
- Finding the frequency of AC mains using a sonometer
Section B
Important experiments include:
- Finding the focal length of a concave mirror
- Determining the focal length of convex and concave lenses
- Determining the angle of minimum deviation using a prism
- Finding the refractive index of a glass slab
- Determining the refractive index of a liquid
- Plotting the I-V characteristics of a P-N junction diode
Suggested Investigatory Projects
Students can choose one project from the CBSE list. Some common and useful topics are:
- Study the factors affecting the internal resistance of a cell
- Investigate the variation in current through an LDR
- Determine the refractive index of liquids
- Study the working of a transformer
- Investigate the angle of deviation using a hollow prism
- Estimate charge using Coulomb’s law
- Study the self-inductance of a coil
- Study the Earth’s magnetic field using a compass
CBSE Class 12 Physics Question Paper Design
The Physics paper is designed to test not only memory, but also understanding, application, and analytical thinking.
| Competency | Approximate Weightage |
| Remembering and Understanding | 38% |
| Applying | 32% |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | 30% |
This means students should not rely only on rote learning. To score well, they should:
- Understand concepts clearly
- Practice numerical problems regularly
- Solve competency-based and case-based questions
- Revise NCERT examples and important derivations
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