ISC History Class 12 Syllabus 2025

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

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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).