Class 11 and 12 Sociology Syllabus (2025-26)

SOCIOLOGY

Classes XI & XII (2025-2026)

Subject Code: 039

Academic Session 2025-26

Rationale & Learning Objectives

Sociology studies society. The syllabus helps learners reflect on everyday life and develop a constructive attitude towards society in change. It equips learners with concepts and theoretical skills to understand dynamics of human behavior in all its complexities. The plural legacy of Sociology enables both a bird's eye view and a worm's eye view of society, connecting local realities with macro global processes.

Key Objectives

• Relate classroom teaching to outside environment.
• Introduce basic concepts of Sociology to observe and interpret social life.
• Understand complexity of social processes.
• Appreciate diversity in Indian Society and the world at large.
• Build capacity to understand and analyze changes in contemporary Indian society.

CLASS XI – SOCIOLOGY

Theory: 80 | Project: 20

📚 A. INTRODUCING SOCIOLOGY (44 Marks)

Unit 1: Sociology, Society and its Relationship with other Social Sciences10 Marks

• Introducing Society & Sociology
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Individuals and collectivities
  • Pluralities and Inequalities
  • Emergence, Nature and Scope of Sociology
  • Relationship with History, Economics, Political Science, Anthropology, Psychology

Unit 2: Terms, Concepts and their use in Sociology10 Marks

• Basic Concepts in Sociology
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Social Groups and Society
  • Social Stratification
  • Status and Role
  • Society & Social Control

Unit 3: Understanding Social Institutions12 Marks

• Social Institutions
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Family, Marriage and Kinship
  • Work & Economic Life
  • Political Institutions
  • Religion as a Social Institution
  • Education as a Social Institution

Unit 4: Culture and Socialization12 Marks

• Culture & Socialization
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Defining Culture
  • Dimensions of Culture
  • Socialization & Agencies of Socialisation

🌍 B. UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY (36 Marks)

Unit 7: Social Change and Social Order in Rural and Urban Society12 Marks

• Social Change & Social Order
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Social Change: Types, Causes and Consequences
  • Domination, Authority and Law
  • Contestation, Crime and Violence
  • Village, Town and City
  • Social Order in Rural and Urban Areas

Unit 9: Introducing Western Sociologists12 Marks

• Western Sociological Thinkers
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Karl Marx: Class Conflict
  • Emile Durkheim: Division of Labour
  • Max Weber: Interpretive Sociology, Ideal Type & Bureaucracy

Unit 10: Indian Sociologists12 Marks

• Indian Sociological Thinkers
  📖 Key Topics:

  • G.S. Ghurye: Caste and Race
  • D.P. Mukherjee: Tradition and Change
  • A.R. Desai: State
  • M.N. Srinivas: Village Studies

Note: Gender as an organizing principle is fundamental across all chapters. Child-centric approach connecting lived reality with social structures.

CLASS XII – SOCIOLOGY

Theory: 80 | Project: 20

🇮🇳 A. INDIAN SOCIETY (40 Marks)

Unit 1: Introducing Indian SocietyNon-evaluative

• Colonialism, Nationalism, Class and Community
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Colonial impact on Indian society
  • Nationalism and social reform
  • Class and community dynamics

Unit 2: The Demographic Structure of Indian Society10 Marks

• Demography in India
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Theories and concepts in demography
  • Rural-Urban Linkages
  • Population Policy in India

Unit 3: Social Institutions: Continuity and Change10 Marks

• Institutions in India
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Caste and the Caste System
  • Tribal Communities
  • Family and Kinship

Unit 5: Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion10 Marks

• Inequality and Exclusion
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Social Inequality and Social Exclusion
  • Caste, Tribe, OBCs
  • Adivasi Struggles
  • Women's Equality Movements
  • Struggles of the Differently Abled

Unit 6: The Challenges of Cultural Diversity10 Marks

• Cultural Diversity in India
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Cultural communities and nation state
  • Regionalism
  • Communalism, Secularism
  • State and Civil Society

🔄 B. SOCIAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA (40 Marks)

Unit 8: Structural Change5 Marks

• Colonialism, Industrialization, Urbanization
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Understanding Colonialism
  • Industrialization impact
  • Urbanization processes

Unit 9: Cultural Change5 Marks

• Social Reform & Cultural Transformation
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Social Reform Movements
  • Sanskritisation, Westernisation, Modernization, Secularization

Unit 11: Change and Development in Rural Society10 Marks

• Rural Transformation
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Agrarian Structure: Caste & Class
  • Land Reforms, Green Revolution
  • Globalization and Rural Society

Unit 12: Change and Development in Industrial Society10 Marks

• Industrial Transformation
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Planned Industrialization to Liberalization
  • Work Processes, Strikes, Unions

Unit 15: Social Movements10 Marks

• Collective Action & Social Change
  📖 Key Topics:

  • Concept of Social Movements
  • Environmental, Class-Based, Caste-Based Movements
  • Tribal Movements, Women's Movements

Note: Project Work is compulsory for all students. Unit 7 provides project guidelines.

Question Paper Design (Classes XI & XII)

📖 Knowledge & Understanding

Recalling facts, terms, concepts. Demonstrating understanding by organizing, comparing, interpreting.

30 Marks (37.5%)

⚙️ Application of Knowledge

Applying knowledge to new situations. Examining, breaking information into parts, making inferences.

32 Marks (40%)

📝 Analyse, Evaluate & Create

Compiling information, combining elements, proposing alternative solutions.

18 Marks (22.5%)

Project Work (20 Marks)

📋 Project Components

• Introduction – 2 Marks
• Statement of Purpose – 2 Marks
• Research Question – 2 Marks
• Methodology – 3 Marks
• Data Analysis – 4 Marks
• Conclusion – 2 Marks
• Subtotal: 15 Marks
• Viva Voce – 5 Marks
• Total: 20 Marks

📅 Assessment Timeline

• April-July: Synopsis, topic selection – 5 Marks
• August-October: Data collection – 6 Marks
• November-January: Analysis & writing – 5 Marks
• January-February: Final Assessment & Viva – 4 Marks

✅ Expected Checklist

• Introduction of topic/title
• Stakeholders analysis
• Advantages/disadvantages
• Short-term & long-term implications
• Proper citations & bibliography

Guidelines: Project must be handwritten, original work. Use primary sources (interviews, photographs) and secondary sources with authentication. Viva based on project work only.

Prescribed Textbooks (NCERT)

• Class XI: Introducing Sociology, Understanding Society
• Class XII: Indian Society, Social Change and Development in India
• Textbooks available in Hindi medium as well
• NCERT Official: https://ncert.nic.in/

Sociology Curriculum 2025-26 | CBSE Subject Code 039 | Complete syllabus with Units, Chapters & Project Guidelines