CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 has been released by the Central Board of Secondary Education for the 2026-27 academic session. Carnatic Music at Class 12 is offered as three separate streams – Carnatic Music Vocal (Subject Code 031), Carnatic Melodic Instruments (Subject Code 032) and Carnatic Percussion Instruments (Subject Code 033). A student opts for any one stream. Every stream is a 100-mark course – 30 marks Theory (History and Theory of Indian Music, 2-hour written paper), 50 marks Practical and 20 marks Internal Assessment. Download the official CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus PDF and see the full stream-wise breakdown of ragas, talas and compositions below.
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 PDF
The complete official curriculum document (covering all three Carnatic Music streams for Class XI and XII) is as follows.
CBSE Senior Secondary Syllabus 2027 Carnatic Music View Download
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 – Marks Weightage (Component-wise)
Every Carnatic Music stream (Vocal 031, Melodic Instruments 032, Percussion Instruments 033) carries the same 100-mark assessment design – 30 marks Theory, 50 marks Practical and 20 marks Internal Assessment.
| Component | Description | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A – Theory | Written paper on History and Theory of Indian Music (2 hours) | 30 |
| B – Practical | Rendering of ragas, varnams, kritis/compositions, alapana, kalpana swaras / talas (external examiner) | 50 |
| C – Internal Assessment | Project File (5), Project Work (5) and Periodic Practical Tests (10) | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 – Topics Covered
Across the three streams, the Class 12 Carnatic Music syllabus covers the following ragas, talas, compositions and theory topics (the exact set of ragas and talas depends on the stream opted).
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 – Streams & Practicals
CBSE offers Carnatic Music in three streams, and a Class 12 student opts for only one of them. All three share the same 30 + 50 + 20 assessment design but differ in the prescribed ragas, talas and the nature of the practical examination, as shown below.
- One varnam in Atatala in two degrees of speed
- Alapana of the prescribed ragas
- Compositions – kritis, Padams, Javalis, Tillanas and Ragamalikas
- Niraval and kalpana swaras in Adi, Rupaka and Chapu talas
- One simple Pallavi (R.T.P) in Adi or Khanda Triputa tala with Trikalam
- Knowledge of tuning the tambura
- One varnam in Ata tala in two degrees of speed
- Brief outline alapana of the prescribed ragas
- Authentic compositions – Kirtanas, Kritis, Tillanas
- Kalpana Swaras in Adi, Rupaka and Chapu talas
- Presentation of a simple Pallavi in Adi or Khanda Triputa tala with Trikalam
- Ability to produce all gamakas of the chosen instrument
- Ability to construct Mohra and Korvai to Khanda jati Ataalam and Triputa tala
- Exhibition of accompanying ability (vocal & instrumental)
- Demonstration of the various types and usages of Gumki
- Ability to play Tani Avartanam in Misra and Khanda Chapu talas
- Reciting the sollukattu with tala and Konnakkol
- Tuning of the instrument
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 – Exam Pattern
The CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music assessment combines a written Theory paper with an externally examined Practical and school-based Internal Assessment. The scheme (common to all three streams) is as follows.
| Component | Mode | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory | Written paper – History and Theory of Indian Music (Lakshana Granthas, composers, musical forms, Manodharma Sangita, raga & tala definitions, notation) | 2 Hours | 30 |
| Practical | External examiner – ragas, varnam, alapana, compositions, niraval, kalpana swaras / talas & tani avartanam | 30–45 min per candidate | 50 |
| Internal Assessment | Project File (notation / instrument / artist), Project Work (live concert reports) and Periodic Practical Tests | Through the year | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 – Continue Your Preparation
Once you have reviewed the syllabus, practice with the CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Sample Paper and the full set of CBSE Class 12 Question Papers to prepare for your board exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 is the official curriculum released by CBSE for the 2026-27 academic session. It is offered in three streams – Vocal (031), Melodic Instruments (032) and Percussion Instruments (033) – each of 100 marks (30 Theory, 50 Practical, 20 Internal Assessment). A student opts for any one stream.
The subject codes are 031 for Carnatic Music Vocal, 032 for Carnatic Melodic Instruments and 033 for Carnatic Percussion Instruments.
Each Carnatic Music stream is of 100 marks – 30 marks Theory (a 2-hour written paper), 50 marks Practical (external examiner) and 20 marks Internal Assessment.
For Vocal (031), prescribed ragas include Pantuvarali, Todi, Nata, Goula, Sri, Saveri, Kedaragaula, Purvikalyani, Mohanam, Keeravani and Ritigoula, with talas such as Adi, Rupaka, Chapu and Khanda Triputa.
No. A CBSE Class 12 student opts for only one Carnatic Music stream – either Vocal, Melodic Instruments or Percussion Instruments – and is examined in Theory and Practical for that chosen stream.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2026-27 (All Subjects)
You study more subjects besides Carnatic Music in 12th class. The subject-wise syllabus for CBSE Class 12 students is as follows.
CBSE Syllabus 2026-27 (Class-wise)
The class-wise syllabus for CBSE board students is as follows.
CBSE Class 12 Carnatic Music Syllabus 2027 – An Overview
The important things to know about this curriculum are as follows.
| Aspects | Details |
|---|---|
| Education Board | CBSE |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Carnatic Music (Vocal 031, Melodic Instruments 032, Percussion Instruments 033) |
| Study Material Here | CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 Carnatic Music |
| All Curriculum for This Class | CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 |
| All Curriculum for This Board | CBSE Syllabus |
| Full Name of CBSE | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| NCERT Books | NCERT Books for Class 12 |
| NCERT Solutions | NCERT Solutions for Class 12 |
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