CBSE Class 11 Political Science Syllabus 2026-27 - Updated Curriculum

CBSE Class 11 Political Science Syllabus 2026-27 Course structure

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

Marks Allotted

PART A – INDIAN CONSTITUTION AT WORK

1

Constitution: Why and How?

8

2

Rights in the Indian Constitution

3

Election and Representation

6

4

Executive

12

5

Legislature

6

Judiciary

7

Federalism

6

8

Local Governments

4

9

Constitution as a Living Document

4

10

The Philosophy of the Constitution

Total

40

PART B – POLITICAL THEORY

1

Political Theory: An Introduction

4

2

Freedom

12

3

Equality

4

Social Justice

6

5

Rights

4

6

Citizenship

8

7

Nationalism

8

Secularism

6

Total

40

TOTAL

80

CBSE Class 11 Political Science Syllabus 2026-27 Unit-wise syllabus

Chapter No. and Name

Learning Outcome with Specific Competencies

PART A: INDIA CONSTITUTION AT WORK

1- Constitution: Why and How?

a) Why do we need a Constitution?

 Constitution allows coordination and

assurance

 Specification of decision-making powers

 Limitations on the powers of government

 Aspirations and goals of a society

 Fundamental identity of a people

b) The authority of a Constitution

 Mode of promulgation

 The substantive provisions of the Constitution

 Balanced institutional design

c) How was the Indian Constitution made?

 Composition of the Constituent Assembly

 Procedures

 Inheritance of the nationalist movement

 Institutional arrangements

d) Provisions adapted from Constitutions of

different countries

Appreciate the need for a Constitution.

Understand the historical processes and the circumstances in which the Indian.

The Constitution was drafted.

Critically evaluate how constitutions govern the distribution of power in society.

Analyze how the provisions of the Constitution have worked in real political life.

2. Rights in the Indian Constitution

The importance of rights Bill of Rights

Fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution

Right to Equality

Right to Freedom

Right against Exploitation

Right to Freedom of Religion

Cultural and Educational Rights

Right to Constitutional Remedies

c) Directive principles of state policy: What do the directive principles contain?

d) Relationship between fundamental rights and directive principles

Analyse the working of the Constitution in real life

Learn to respect others, think critically, and make informed decisions

Identify violations of the rights to equality and freedom in the society around them

Justify the need for reasonable restrictions on the rights guaranteed.

Use freedom of expression to advocate for ensuring rights are given to people around them.

3. Election and Representation

Elections and democracy

Election system in India: First Past the Post System Proportional Representation

Why did India adopt the FPTP system?

Reservation of constituencies

Free and fair elections, universal franchise and right to contest, Independent Election Commission

f) Electoral Reforms

Identify different types and methods of election

Develop critical thinking about the role of various stakeholders in ensuring free and fair elections.

Demonstrate the innate role played by the Election Commission

Compare election systems of different countries of the world.

4. Executive

What is an executive?

What are the different types of executives?

Parliamentary executive in India

Power and position of President

Discretionary Powers of the President

d) Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

e) Permanent Executive: Bureaucracy

Recognize the meaning of Executive.

Compare and contrast the Parliamentary and Presidential Executive.

Analyse the composition and functioning of the executive.

Know the significance of the administrative machinery.

5.Legislature

a) Why do we need a parliament?

b) Why do we need two houses of parliament?

 Rajya Sabha

 Lok Sabha

c) What does the parliament do?

 Powers of Rajya Sabha

 Special Powers of Rajya Sabha

d) How does the parliament make laws?

e) How does the parliament control

the executive?

f) What do the committees of parliament do?

g) How does the parliament regulate itself?

Describe the law- making process in India.

 Differentiate between the powers and functions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

 Examine the parliamentary control over the Executive.

 Analyse the role of Parliamentary committees for the success of Indian democracy.

6. Judiciary

a) Why do we need an independent judiciary?

 Independence of Judiciary

 Appointment of Judges

 Removal of Judges

b) Structure of the Judiciary
c) Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

 Original Jurisdiction

 Writ Jurisdiction

 Appellate Jurisdiction

 Advisory Jurisdiction

 Judicial Activism

d) Judiciary and Rights

 Judiciary and Parliament

Identify the different aspects hich makes the Judiciary independent

 Compare and contrast the different jurisdictions

Analyse the reasons why the Judiciary has become proactive.

 Examine the reasons for the conflicts between the judiciary and parliament with respect to Constitutional Amendments.

7.Federalism

a) What is Federalism?

b) Federalism in the Indian Constitution

 Division of Powers

c) Federalism with a strong central

government

d) Conflicts in India’s federal system

Centre-State Relations

Demands for Autonomy

Role of Governors and President’s Rule

Demands for New States

Interstate Conflicts

e) Special provisions

Jammu and Kashmir

Explain the basic features of a federation.

Identify the different levels of the government & subjects on which the Union and state governments can make laws.

Discuss the various constitutional provisions that led to a strong Centre in India.

8. Local Governments

a) Why local governments?

b) Growth of Local Government in India

Local Governments in Independent India

c) 73rd and 74th amendments

d) 73rd Amendment

Three Tier Structure

Elections

Reservations

Transfer of Subjects

State Election Commissioners

State Finance Commission

e) 74th Amendment

 Implementation of 73rd and 74th Amendments

Understand the Panchayati Raj system of local government in India, its emergence and significance

Identify the objectives, functions and sources of income of rural and urban local government bodies

Justify the significance of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments

Acknowledge and examine the significance of decentralization

Introspect and realise the need to empower local government bodies

Constitution as a Living Document

a) Are constitutions static?

b) How to amend the constitution?

c) Why have there been so many

amendments?

Analyse the working of the Constitution.

Appreciate why the Constitution is called a Living Document

9. Contents of amendments made so far

Differing Interpretations

Amendments through Political Consensus

Controversial Amendments

e) Basic structure and evolution of

the constitution

f) Constitution as a Living Document

Contribution of the Judiciary

Maturity of the Political Leadership

Know the various amendments that have taken place and the controversies raised.

10. The Philosophy of the Constitution

a) What is meant by philosophy of the

constitution?

Constitution as Means of Democratic

Transformation

b) Why do we need to go back to the

Constituent Assembly?

c) What is the political philosophy of

our constitution?

Individual freedom

Social Justice

Respect for diversity and minority

rights

Secularism

Universal franchise

Federalism

National identity

d) Procedural Achievements

e) Criticisms

Limitations

Appreciate the philosophical vision of our Constitution.

Recognise the core features of the Indian Constitution.

Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the Constitution.

PART B-POLITICAL THEORY

1. Political Theory: An Introduction

What is politics?

What do we study in political theory?

Putting Political theory into practice

d) Why should we study political theory?

Define the term politics and identify various political principles.

Explain the innate ideas of various Political theories.

Appreciate the contribution of Political Thinkers (for example: Jean Jacques Rousseau).

2. Freedom

The Ideal of Freedom

The sources of constraints- Why do we need constraints?

The Harm Principle

Negative and Positive liberty

Appreciate the ideal of freedom.

Critically evaluate the dimensions of negative and positive liberty.

Demonstrate the spirit of inquiry

Explain the ideas introduced by J.S. Mill in the Harm Principle.

Assess the possible limitations on freedom resulting from the social and economic structures of society.

3. Equality

Why does equality matter?

● Equality of opportunities

● Natural and Social Inequalities

b) Three dimensions of equality

c) Feminism, Socialism

d) How can we promote equality?

Understand the moral and political ideals of equality.

Assess how equality is perceived through different ideologies

Recognize the means and methods to promote equality.

Evaluate the possible solutions to minimise inequality.

4. Social Justice

What is Justice?

● Equal Treatment for Equals

● Proportionate Justice

● Recognition of Special Needs

b) Just distribution

c) John Rawls’s Theory of Justice

d) Pursuing Social Justice

e) Free Markets versus State Intervention

Classify the different dimensions of justice.

Appreciate the measures taken by the government of India to secure social justice.

Enlist the basic minimum requirements of people for living a healthy and productive life.

State John Rawls’ theory of the veil of ignorance.

5.Rights

a) What are Rights?

b) Where do rights come from?

c) Legal rights and the state

d) Kinds of rights

e) Rights and responsibilities

Define rights

 Identify the need for rights and its importance to mankind.

 Why rights need to be sanctioned by law.

 Describe the features of different kinds of rights.

6.Citizenship

a) Introduction

b) Full and equal membership

c) Equal Rights

d) Citizen and Nation

e) Universal Citizenship

f) Global Citizenship

Explain the meaning of citizenship.

Contribute to meaningful discussion on ways of granting citizenship.

Discuss the probable solutions or alternatives to solve citizenship issues

Analyse the problems to be surmounted to strengthen links between the people and governments

7.Nationalism

a) Introducing Nationalism

b) Nations and Nationalism

Shared Beliefs and History

Shared National Identity

c) National self-determination

d) Nationalism and Pluralism

Understand the concepts of nation and nationalism

Assess the strengths and limitations of nationalism.

Identify and build an understanding of the factors related to the creation of collective identities

Examine the concept of national self-determination

Acknowledge the need to make nations more democratic and inclusive

8.Secularism

a) What is Secularism?

b) Inter-religious Domination

c) Intra-religious Domination

d) Secular State

The Western model of secularism

The Indian model of secularism

e) Criticisms of Indian secularism

Western Import and Minoritism

Interventionist

Vote Bank Politics

Define Secularism.

Differentiate between Inter-religious and Intra-Religious Domination.

Recognise the concept of a Secular State.

Compare Western and Indian Model of Secularism.

Make an appraisal of Indian Secularism.

S.No.

Important Topic Pages for Class 11 Political Science

1.

Class 11 Political Science A Closer Look The Ahoms

2.

Class 11 Political Science A Closer Look The Gonds

3.

Class 11 Political Science Child Labour in India

4.

Class 11 Political Science Citizenship

5.

Class 11 Political Science Cricket in India

S. No

Study Material links for Class 11 Political Science

1.

NCERT Books for Class 11 Political Science

2.

Important Questions for Class 11 Political Science

3.

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science

4.

Revision Notes for Class 11 Political Science