Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release soon the latest CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24. This latest CBSE Biology Syllabus 2023-24 Class 12 is beneficial for CBSE Board Exam 2024. All important topics related to CBSE Class 12th Biology Syllabus 2023-24 are discussed in this article. We also provide the direct link to download CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24 PDF.
Students of class 12 can download the new CBSE Biology Syllabus 2023-24 through the official website of CBSE at cbseacademic.nic.in or cbse.gov.in or the direct link is given below. After downloading this latest CBSE Class 12 Syllabus the student should go through all the topics thoroughly.
The current curriculum provides students with updated concepts along with extended exposure to contemporary areas of the subject. The course aims to emphasize the underlying principles that underlie the relationship of biology with animals, plants, and microorganisms, as well as other areas of knowledge.
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The format allows a simple, clear, sequential flow of concepts. It links the study of biology to real life through developments in the use of technology. It links discoveries and innovations in biology to everyday life such as the environment, industry, health, and agriculture. The updated curriculum also focuses on understanding and applying scientific principles, while ensuring that ample opportunities and scope are available within its framework to learn and appreciate basic concepts.
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It is expected that the students will get to know about the different branches of biology in a more relevant and systematic manner in the curriculum as they study its various units.
CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus 2023-24 (Theory)
This year also it is expected to remain the same syllabus. If there is any change in the syllabus then it will be updated in this blog post.
| Unit | Title | Marks |
| VI | Reproduction | 16 |
| VII | Genetics and Evolution | 20 |
| VIII | Biology and Human Welfare | 12 |
| IX | Biotechnology and its Application | 12 |
| X | Ecology and Environment | 10 |
| Total | 70 |
CBSE Class 12th Biology Syllabus 2023-24 Topic Details
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 bee; 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, ringworm) 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 Application
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: Organisms and Populations
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 Abiotic 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 Practical Evaluation Scheme 2023-24
The maximum marks for the Biology Practical exam are 30 Marks and the Time duration for CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical Exam 2022-23 is 3 hours.
| Evaluation Scheme | Marks |
| One Major Experiment 5 | 5 |
| One Minor Experiment 2 and 3 | 4 |
| Slide Preparation 1 and 4 | 5 |
| Spotting | 7 |
| Practical Record + Viva Voice Investigatory Project and its Project Record + Viva Voice | 4 + 5 |
| Total | 30 |
A. List of Experiments
- Prepare a temporary mount to observe pollen germination.
- Study the plant population density by the quadrat method.
- Study the plant population frequency by the quadrat method.
- Prepare a temporary mount of the onion root tip to study mitosis.
- Isolate DNA from available plant materials such as spinach, green pea seeds, papaya, etc.
B. Study and observe the following (Spotting):
- Flowers are adapted to pollination by different agencies (wind, insects, birds).
- Pollen germination on stigma through a permanent slide or scanning electron micrograph.
- Identification of stages of gamete development, i.e., T.S. of testis and T.S. of ovary through
permanent slides (from grasshopper/mice). - Meiosis in onion bud cells or grasshopper testis through permanent slides.
- T.S. of blastula through permanent slides (Mammalian).
- Mendelian inheritance uses seeds of different colors/sizes of any plant.
- 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. - Controlled pollination – emasculation, tagging, and bagging.
- 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.
- Models specimen showing symbolic association in root modules of leguminous plants, Cuscuta on the host, lichens.
- Flashcards models show examples of homologous and analogous organs.
Practical Examination for Visually Impaired Students of Classes XI and XII Evaluation Scheme
Time Duration = 2 Hours and Maximum Marks = 30
| Topic | Marks |
| Identification/Familiarity with the apparatus | 5 |
| Written test (Based on given/prescribed practicals) | 10 |
| Practical Records | 5 |
| Viva | 10 |
| Total | 30 |
CBSE Class 12 Biology Question Paper Design (Theory) 2023-24
| Competencies | % of Weightage |
| Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding | 50% |
| Application of Knowledge / Concepts | 30% |
| Analyze, Evaluate and Create | 20% |
Prescribed Books for CBSE Class 12 Biology Board Exam 2023-24
- Biology, Class-XII, Published by NCERT
- Other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (consider multimedia also)
- Biology Supplementary Material (Revised). Available on the official CBSE website.
CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus PDF
Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2023-24 All Subject
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