ISC Class 12 History Syllabus

ISC Class 12 History Syllabus

The history syllabus is about knowing the importance of events and personalities. It helps candidates to understand the facts and evidence upon which the discussions and judgements are found during the particular period. It develops an understanding of the problems and the importance of proof with explanations. 

ISC Class 12 History Syllabus encourages a reduction of prejudices and creates awareness of the international approach to world history. It ensures and familiarises candidates with various forms of historical proof and gives an understanding of the issues involved in understanding different forms of source materials.

Students may access the latest ISC Class 12 History Syllabus on Extramarks, which will enable them to prepare for the upcoming academic year. In addition to History syllabus class 12, students may also access various study materials on Extramarks.

ISC Class 12 History Syllabus 2023-24 – Semester (1 & 2)

The 12th History Syllabus is represented in the table below:

Semester 1 Semester 2
Unit No. Name of Unit Unit No. Name of Unit
1. Towards Independence & Partition: the Last Phase (1935-1947). 7. World War – II
2. Establishment & development of Indian Democracy (1947 – 1984)

 

 8. De-Colonisation – in Asia (China)
3. Challenges to Indian Democracy(1964 – 1977) 9. Cold War 1945 -91 – Origin Course end and Impact
4. Changing Face of Indian Democracy (1977-1986) 10. Protest Movements
5. Indian Foreign Policy 11. Middle East: Israeli Palestine Conflict (1916-1993) 
6. Movements for Women’s Right

Students may click on the respective chapter under the ISC Class 12 History Syllabus to access the study material on Extramarks.

Given below is a brief of ISC Class 12 History Syllabus.

SECTION A: INDIAN HISTORY 

  1. Towards Independence and Partition: Phase (1935-1947).
  • Political developments
  • Working of provincial autonomy: Ministries & Congress.
  • National Movement activity during World War II
  • The INA & Subhash Chandra Bose. Shall discuss SC Bose’s role in the national Movement and his differences with Gandhi.
  • Transfer of powers (1945-1947): changed attitude of British Governments; Congress and League reaction; the Mountbatten Plan; partition and independence. 
  1. Establishment & development of Indian Democracy (1947 – 1984)
  • The refugee problem, river waters dispute and the transfer of assets.
  • Origin of the Kashmir problem.
  • The foundation of Indian Democracy: role of political parties, 
  • The dialectic reorganization of states.
  1. Challenges to Indian Democracy: (1964 – 1977)
  • The role of the Syndicate. 
    • The appointment of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 & Indira Gandhi in the year 1966 as prime minister.
    • Importance of election of 1967: the controversy in the Congress leading to its differences during 1969. 
  • Naxal Movement: Reasons for its rise; government directions towards it; causes for its rejection and impact in the 1970s. 
  • JP Movement (1974-75): Jai Prakash Narayan’s conflict with Mrs Gandhi 
  • Emergency (1975-76): reasons for conflict; main features of the rejection of democratic rights. A
  1. Changing face of the Indian Democracy:(1977– 1986) 
  • The Janata Government (1977 – 1979). Mending of Democracy and its formation, reasons for its downfall/programme and implementation.
  • Congress came to power: (1979 – 1986). 
    • (a) Punjab: separatist demands and the Center’s response.
    • (b) Demands in the North-East: 
      • Nagaland’s demand for autonomy and the Resolution: (1947-80)
      • Assam’s agitation against foreigners and the Center’s response (1947-85)
      • Mizoram Movement (1959-1986) to be touched upon.
  1. India’s Foreign Policy
  • Non-Aligned Movement in the Cold War to be discussed. 
  • Pakistan (1948-49, 1965, 1971)
  • Indo-Pak wars: their causes and consequences are done separately.
  • Sino-Indian War Background: the Republic of China, Initial relations with the Peoples’.
  • Tibet issue: Dalai Lama in India and Chinese had a takeover.
  • Border issues. Sino-Indian War (1962): immediate consequences and causes.
  1. Movements for Women’s Rights

The importance Towards Equality Report (1974) concerning women’s issues. Progress in the anti-dowry Movement and struggle against domestic violence in the 1970s and 1980s

SECTION B: WORLD HISTORY

  1. World War II
  • Factors leading to the War
  • Anglo-French appeasement policies. 
  • The course of the War
  • Causes for the Axis power’s defeat.
  1. De-colonisation – in Africa (Ghana & Kenya) & Asia (China)
  • China: the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949 and the civil War 
  • Ghana: Democracy, dictatorship and military government (1957-69). 
  • Kenya: conflict and independence (1947 – 1969)
  1. Cold War 1945-91 – its course, origin & causes.  
  • Origin of the Cold War & End of wartime unity; 
  • The Cold War Expands
  • Changes in Eastern Europe & Breakup of the USSR 
  1. Protest Movements Civil Rights Movement
  • Civil rights in the USA in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and Racial problems, Racial discrimination, campaign for rights (Dr. Martin Luther King’s role), change in the government’s attitude.
  • Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa (1948-1994)
  • 2nd Wave Feminist Movement in the USA (the early 1960s – early 1980’s)
  1. Middle East: Israeli-Palestine conflict during (1916-1993)
  • Post War differences in Palestine after World War I, till the formation of the state of Israel. Impact of World War I: the adverse promises made by the British to the Arabs and the Jews
  • The Arab: Israeli Wars from 1948 to Camp David Accord (1979). Events are covered briefly. 
  • Oslo Peace Accords (1993). 

ISC Class 12 History Syllabus Examination Pattern

The ISC Class 12 History syllabus has two papers.

Part-I: Theory 3 hours -( 80 marks)

Part-II: Project Work –(20 marks) 

Part I, the theory paper, is further divided into two.

Paper-I (20 marks) consists of mandatory short answer questions that test the entire syllabus’s understanding and knowledge.

Paper-II (60 marks) will be divided into two sections, Section A and Section B, each consisting of five questions. Each question shall carry 12 marks. Candidates are supposed to attempt two questions from each Section and one question from either Section A or B. A total of 5 questions are to be attempted from Part II. 

Under part II, candidates are supposed to undertake one project, which may be any one of the following: 

  1. A case study. 
  2. A field visit/ investigation. 
  3. Interview/oral evidence. 
  4. A local history. 
  5. Book review/ posters/ film review/ newspapers/ advertisements/ cartoons and art.

ISC Class 12 History Syllabus and study material 2023-2024

Extramarks gives the candidates an edge and help them gain confidence before preparing for exams. Students can click on the link below to refer to the revision Notes as per the ISC Class 12 History Syllabus.

In addition to revision notes, candidates can access the following by clicking on the respective links. 

ISC & ICSE Syllabus

ICSE Solutions

ICSE revision notes

ICSE sample question papers

ICSE important questions

ICSE question paper

ISC History Class 12 Syllabus

  • Class 12 History

Theory paper is 3 hours and 80 marks. The syllabus is divided into two sections: (A) Indian History (B) World History.

Section A: Indian History

1. Towards Independence and Partition: the Last Phase (1935-1947)

(i) Important political developments: growth of socialist ideas, trade union activities, Kisan Sabha movement; growth of communalism (Hindu & Muslim).

(ii) Working of provincial autonomy: Congress and other ministries.

(iii) National Movement during the Second World War: The outbreak of World War II and the resignation of the Congress ministries, Lahore Session of the Muslim League in 1940 and the deadlock up to the August Offer (1940). Failure of the Cripps Mission; Quit India resolution; arrest of Congress leaders; violent public reaction; Government repression of revolt of 1942.

(iv) Subhash Chandra Bose and the INA.

(v) Transfer of power (1945-1947): changed attitude of British Government; the Cabinet Mission Plan proposals; Congress and League reaction; Direct Action by League; communal riots; Attlee’s declaration of 1947; the Mountbatten Plan; partition and independence.

2. Establishment and development of Indian democracy (1947-1984)

The following should be discussed:

  • Origin of the Kashmir problem. The role of Sardar Patel in the reorganisation and integration of princely states with special reference to Junagarh and Hyderabad.
  • The foundation of Indian Democracy: significance of the first general election based on universal adult suffrage (1952): role of political parties, problems of preparation and their solutions, process, result and impact of the elections.
  • The linguistic reorganisation of states: movement for linguistic reorganisation with particular reference to Andhra, Bombay and Punjab; redrawing of the map of India on the basis of linguistic identity.

3. Challenges to Indian Democracy (1964-1977)

The following to be discussed:

  • The role of the Syndicate: (a) In the appointment of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and Indira Gandhi in 1966 as prime minister . (b) Importance of the election of 1967: the factionalism in the Congress (Syndicate vs. Indira Gandhi) leading to its split in 1969.
  • Naxal Movement: causes of its rise; areas where they operated (West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh) and the struggle carried out by peasants and students.; government measures against it; reasons for its decline in the 1970’s and its impact.
  • JP Movement (1974-75): Origin: Jai Prakash Narayan’s disputes with Mrs. Gandhi; main features of its course; leadership; measures to suppress it. Assessment of its significance and impact (positive and negative features).
  • Emergency (1975-76): reasons for imposition; main features of the suspension of democratic rights. Assessment of its impact (positive and negative aspects). Possible reasons for withdrawal.

4. Changing face of the Indian Democracy (1977-1986)

(i) The Janata Government (1977 – 1979).

Restoration of democracy: formation of party and government, its programme and implementation; reasons for its downfall.

(ii) Return of Congress to power (1979 – 1986).

Centre-State relations to be studied with reference to:

  • Punjab: separatist demands and the Centre’s response.
  • Demands in the North-East:
    • Assam’s agitation against foreigners and the Centre’s response (1947-85); main events to be done in detail.
    • Nagaland’s demand for autonomy and its resolution (1947-80); main events to be done briefly.
    • Mizoram Movement (1959-1986) to be touched upon.

5. India’s Foreign Policy

(i) Pakistan (1948-49, 1965, 1971)

Indo-Pak wars: causes, course and consequences of each to be done separately.

(ii) Sino-Indian War

Background: Initial relations with the Peoples’ Republic of China; disputes over (a) Tibet issue: Chinese takeover and asylum of the Dalai Lama in India; (b) Border issues. Sino-Indian War (1962): immediate causes and consequences.

6. Movements for Women’s Rights

A brief outline of the significance of the Towards Equality Report (1974) with regard to women’s issues.

Developments in the anti-dowry movement and struggle against domestic violence in the 1970s and 1980s.

Section B: World History

7. World War II

(i) Factors leading to the War: aggressive foreign policies of Germany, Italy and Japan.

(ii) Anglo-French appeasement policies.

(ii) Course of the War: Europe, Africa and Far East.

(iv) Reasons for the defeat of the Axis Powers.

8. De-colonisation: in Asia (China), Africa (Ghana & Kenya)

(i) China: civil war and the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949; Mao Tse Tung; agrarian and industrial policy; political and economic developments; contribution of Mao.

(ii) Ghana: democracy, dictatorship and military government (1957-69).

(iii) Kenya: conflict and independence (1947 – 1969).

9. Cold War 1945-91: origin, course, end and impact

(i) Origins of the Cold War: End of wartime unity; Yalta and Potsdam Conferences; Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan; Molotov Plan, COMECON and Cominform. The communist coup in Czechoslovakia (1948-49).

(ii) The Cold War expands: Berlin Blockade; NATO; division of Germany; “thaw” in the Cold War (1953-59) – how partial was it? Warsaw Pact; detente (1970s).

(i) Causes of the Cold War. End of wartime unity; Yalta and Potsdam Conference; rift widens – Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe (1945-1947).

(iii) Breakup of the USSR & changes in Eastern Europe – USSR, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia.

10. Protest Movements

Anti-Apartheid Movement and Feminist Movement.

(i) Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa (1948-1994): main features of Apartheid, opposition to Apartheid (Dr Nelson Mandela’s role), transition to black majority rule and the end of Apartheid.

(ii) Second Wave Feminist Movement in USA (early 1960s – early 1980’s): reasons for its origin (the impact of the Presidential Commission, Betty Friedan’s book and the Civil Rights Movement; Equal Pay Act of 1963 – its implications for American women, successive measures taken by Johnson (Civil Rights Act of 1964), role of National Organisation for Women (NOW) and its campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Socio-cultural impact of the Movement to be mentioned briefly.

11. Middle East: Israeli-Palestine conflict (1916-1993)

(i) Post War conflict in Palestine after World War I, till the formation of the state of Israel.

(ii) The Arab-Israeli Wars from 1948 to Camp David Accord (1979).

(iii) Oslo Peace Accords (1993).

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

 The ISC Class 12 History subject is vital.

  • To give a proper understanding of significant events and people in exact context and order from time to time.
  • To acquaint students with the facts and evidence used to support explanations & judgments about the period.
  • To have a better knowledge of the present problems & the importance of proofs for solutions.
  • Gather the ability and information, address topics from a historical perspective and assess evidence

Students may refer to ISC Class 12 History syllabus for more information on the content of Class 12 History.

Generally,whenever the boards of education are compared, the opinions differ individually. So, to answer whether ISC Class 12 History syllabus or CBSE would not be possible.