The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the official syllabus for Class 12 Psychology (Subject Code 037) for the 2026-2027 academic session. The curriculum, updated as of June 15, 2026, is designed as a premier elective that moves beyond basic concepts to explore human behaviour, experience, and diversity in complex socio-cultural settings. Students and educators can now access the full syllabus and detailed blueprint online in PDF format.
The course aims to combine fundamental psychometric theories with practical applications. Over the academic year, students will be assessed through a 100-mark framework: a 70-mark theory paper (3-hour duration) and a 30-mark internal practical project. The syllabus covers topics such as differences in human intelligence, psychological health, stress management, and therapeutic clinical frameworks, helping students prepare for competitive post-secondary education while fostering empathy and emotional intelligence.
The theory paper is divided into seven units with specific mark allocations. Unit I (Variations in Psychological Attributes) carries 13 marks and covers individual differences, intelligence theories, emotional intelligence, and creativity. Unit II (Self and Personality) also carries 13 marks and includes self-concept, personality approaches, and assessment methods. Unit III (Meeting Life Challenges) is worth 9 marks and focuses on stress, coping techniques, and positive health. Unit IV (Psychological Disorders) carries 12 marks and addresses abnormality concepts, classification, and major disorders such as anxiety, depressive, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Unit V (Therapeutic Approaches) is allocated 9 marks and covers the nature and process of psychotherapy, therapeutic relationships, and types of therapies. Unit VI (Attitude and Social Cognition) carries 8 marks, while Unit VII (Social Influence and Group Processes) is worth 6 marks. The total marks for the theory paper sum to 70. The practical project component, worth 30 marks, will be conducted internally by schools.
Key topics within the units include psychometric theories of intelligence (including the Triarchic Theory and Theory of Multiple Intelligences), the General Adaptation Syndrome, stress and the immune system, and major psychological disorders such as obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, trauma-related disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The syllabus also covers personality assessment through self-report measures, projective techniques, and behavioural analysis.
Students and parents can download the free PDF of the complete syllabus from the CBSE official portal. The document includes unit-wise mark weightage, the internal laboratory practical framework, and the theory question paper design. Schools are expected to integrate the syllabus into their teaching plans for the 2026-27 session.
Source: EduSaint
