CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24: Download Latest PDF

CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24

The Central Board of Secondary Education has officially released the CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24, now available for download at www.cbseacademic.nic.in. As a fundamental natural science, Biology provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the intricacies of life and the vital processes of living organisms. This updated syllabus for the 2023-24 academic year introduces students to contemporary concepts while emphasizing the core principles shared across animals, plants, and microorganisms, effectively bridging the gap between biology and other essential scientific disciplines.

Biology Class 12 Syllabus 2023-24

The Class 12 Biology curriculum is structured around a 100-mark assessment model, consisting of a 70-mark theory paper and a 30-mark practical examination. Mastery of this syllabus is vital not only for board examinations but also as a foundation for high-stakes competitive entrance exams, including NEET, AIIMS Nursing, various BSc Nursing programs, and veterinary entrance tests like the RPVT and UP Pre-Veterinary Test. Review the detailed syllabus below to strategically plan your academic path and secure a competitive edge.

CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24
Unit	Title	Marks
VI	Reproduction	16
VII	Genetics and Evolution	20
VIII	Biology and Human Welfare	12
IX	Biotechnology and its Applications	12
X	Ecology and Environment	10
Total		70

CBSE 12th Biology Syllabus 2023-24 (Chapter-Wise)

We have outlined the chapter-wise CBSE 12th Biology Syllabus 2023-24 below to assist with your exam preparation. Following this curriculum closely will help you grasp core concepts and maximize your score in board assessments. We recommend completing the study units well in advance to allow ample time for thorough revision. Explore the comprehensive CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2023-24 for Biology here.

Unit-VI Reproduction

Chapter 2: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants 

• Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes;
• Pollination - types, agencies, and examples;
• Outbreeding devices;
• Pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization;
• Post-fertilization events - development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed, and formation of fruit;
• Special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony;
• Significance of seed dispersal and fruit formation.

Chapter 3: Human Reproduction

• Male and female reproductive systems;
• Microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary;
• Gametogenesis -spermatogenesis, and oogenesis;
• Menstrual cycle;
• Fertilization, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation;
• Pregnancy and placenta formation (elementary idea); parturition (elementary idea); lactation (elementary idea).

Chapter 4: Reproductive Health 

• Need for reproductive health and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs);
• Birth control - need and methods, contraception, and medical termination of pregnancy (MTP);
• Amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies - IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (Elementary idea for general awareness)

Unit-VII Genetics and Evolution

Chapter 5: Principles of Inheritance and Variation

• Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy;
• Elementary idea of polygenic inheritance;
• Chromosome theory of inheritance; chromosomes and genes;
• Sex determination - in humans, birds, and honey bees;
• Linkage and crossing over; sex-linked inheritance - hemophilia, color blindness;
• Mendelian disorders in humans - thalassemia; chromosomal disorders in humans;
• Down's syndrome, Turner's, and Klinefelter's syndromes.

Chapter 6: Molecular Basis of Inheritance 

• Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material;
• Structure of DNA and RNA;
• DNA packaging;
• DNA replication;
• Central Dogma;
• Transcription,
• Genetic code,
• Translation;
• Gene expression and regulation - lac operon;
• Genome, Human, and rice genome projects;
• DNA fingerprinting.

Chapter 7: Evolution

• Origin of life; biological evolution and evidence for biological evolution (paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology, and molecular evidence);
• Darwin's contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution;
• Mechanism of evolution - variation (mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples, types of natural selection;
• Gene flow and genetic drift;
• Hardy - Weinberg's principle;
• Adaptive radiation;
• Human evolution.

Unit-VIII Biology and Human Welfare

Chapter 8: Human Health and Diseases

• Pathogens;
• Parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm) and their control;
• Basic concepts of immunology - vaccines; cancer, HIV, and AIDS;
• Adolescence - drug and alcohol abuse.

Chapter 10: Microbes in Human Welfare 

• Microbes in food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation, and microbes as bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers.
• Antibiotics; production and judicious use.

Unit-IX Biotechnology and its Applications

Chapter 11: Biotechnology - Principles and Processes 

• Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology).

Chapter 12: Biotechnology and its Applications 

• Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy;
• Genetically modified organisms - Bt crops;
• Transgenic animals;
• Biosafety issues, biopiracy, and patents.

Unit-X Ecology and Environment 

Chapter 13: Organisms and Populations 

• Population interactions - mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; population attributes - growth, birth rate, death rate, age distribution. (Topics excluded: Organism and its Environment, Major Abiotic Factors, Responses to Abioitic Factors, Adaptations)

Chapter 14: Ecosystem

• Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy (Topics excluded: Ecological Succession and Nutrient Cycles)

Chapter 15: Biodiversity and its Conservation 

• Biodiversity-Concept, patterns, importance;
• Loss of biodiversity;
• Biodiversity conservation;
• Hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, Sacred Groves, biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife, sanctuaries, and Ramsar sites.

CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24 for Practical

The practical examination is evaluated based on specific sections: one major experiment (5 marks), one minor experiment (4 marks), slide preparation (5 marks), spotting (7 marks), practical record and viva voce (4 marks), and an investigatory project record with viva (5 marks). These components total 30 marks. Refer to the table below for a detailed mark distribution.

Class 12th Biology Practical Evaluation Scheme
Particulars	Marks
One Major Experiment 5	5
One Minor Experiment 2 & 3	4
Slide Preparation 1& 4	5
Spotting	7
Practical Record + Viva Voce	4
Investigatory Project and its Project Record + Viva Voce	5
Total	30

A. List of Experiments 

1. Prepare a temporary mount to observe pollen germination.
2. Study the plant population density by quadrat method.
3. Study the plant population frequency by quadrat method.
4. Prepare a temporary mount of the onion root tip to study mitosis.
5. Isolate DNA from available plant materials such as spinach, green pea seeds, papaya, etc.

B. Study and observation (Spotting): 

1. Flowers are adapted to pollination by different agencies (wind, insects, birds).
2. Pollen germination on stigma through a permanent slide or scanning electron micrograph.
3. Identification of stages of gamete development, i.e., T.S. of testis and T.S. of ovary through permanent slides (from grasshopper/mice).
4. Meiosis in onion bud cells or grasshopper testis through permanent slides.
5. T.S. of blastula through permanent slides (Mammalian).
6. Mendelian inheritance uses seeds of different colors/sizes of any plant.
7. Prepared pedigree charts of any one of the genetic traits such as rolling of tongue, blood groups, ear lobes, widow's peak, and color blindness.
8. Controlled pollination - emasculation, tagging, and bagging.
9. Common disease-causing organisms like Ascaris, Entamoeba, Plasmodium, and any fungus-causing ringworm through permanent slides, models, or virtual images or specimens. Comment on symptoms of diseases that they cause.
10. Models specimen showing symbolic association in root modules of leguminous plants, Cuscuta on the host, lichens.
11. Flashcards models show examples of homologous and analogous organs.

Prescribed Books

1. Biology, Class-XII, Published by NCERT
2. Other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (consider multimedia also)
3. Biology Supplementary Material (Revised). Available on the CBSE website.

Important Areas to Focus

The current curriculum allocates 20 marks to the Genetics and Evolution unit, covering key topics such as Mendelian inheritance, chromosomal theory, DNA replication, transcription, translation, and gene flow. Reproduction carries a 16-mark weightage, focusing on human and reproductive health. Additionally, Biology in Human Welfare and Biotechnology each account for 12 marks, with the remaining 10 marks dedicated to Ecology and Environmental studies.

Special Advice for Students

As Manolis Votsis aptly stated, “Success is always a process, never an event.” Consistency is the cornerstone of academic achievement; therefore, create a structured daily study plan to cover the syllabus effectively. Utilize recommended textbooks and previous sample papers to practice. Once the initial study is complete, transition to a rigorous revision cycle, incorporating daily, weekly, and monthly reviews to ensure long-term retention. Stay disciplined, work hard, and aim for excellence in your exams.