CBSE Class 11 Biology Syllabus 2026-27

BIOLOGY Subject Code – 044 Class XI (2026-27)

The present curriculum provides the students with updated concepts along with an extended exposure to contemporary areas of the subject. The curriculum also aims at emphasizing the underlying principles that are common to animals, plants and microorganisms as well as highlighting the relationship of Biology with other areas of knowledge. The format allows a simple, clear, sequential flow of concepts. It links the discoveries and innovations in biology to everyday life such as environment, industry, health and agriculture. The Biology curriculum is expected to enable the students to:

<math>\bullet</math> develop capacities for observation, experimentation, documentation, and familiarity with quantitative reasoning and multi-disciplinary approaches.

<math>\bullet</math> engender sensitivity towards biological issues (environment, health) in their surroundings and be aware of how citizens can contribute to their local communities and to science.

• be aware of bioethical concerns that arise in biology today.

understand the integration of different fields of biology and highlight the interconnections between these fields.

be exposed to diverse careers in the life sciences.

This curriculum of Biology will help in achieving the following curricular goals and competencies delineated in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023:

CG-3 C-3.1 Explains the role of cellular components (nucleus,

Explores the structure and function of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, chloroplast, cell

the living world at the cellular level wall), including the semi permeability of cell membrane in making

cell the structural basis of living organisms and functional basis of

life processes C-3.2 Analyses similarities and differences in the life processes

involved in nutrition (photosynthesis in plants; absorption of nutrients

in fungi; digestion in animals), transport (transport of water in plants;

circulation in animals), exchange of materials (respiration and

excretion), and reproduction

C-3.3 Describes mechanisms of heredity (in terms of DNA, genes,

chromosomes) and variation (as changes in the sequence of DNA)

CG-4 C-4.1 Applies the knowledge of cellular diversity in organisms along

Explores interconnectedness with the ecological role organisms play (autotrophic/ heterotrophic

between organisms and their nutrition) to classify them into five-kingdoms

environment C-4.2 Illustrates different levels of organisations of living organisms

(from molecules to organisms)

C-4.3 Analyses different levels of biological organisation from

organisms to ecosystems and biomes along with interactions that

take place at each level

C-4.4 Analyses patterns of inheritance of traits in terms of Mendel's

laws and its consequences at a population level (using models

and/or simulations)

C-4.5 Analyses evidences of biological evolution demonstrating the

consequences of the process of natural selection in terms of

changes — in allele frequency in population, structure, and function

of organisms CG-5 C-5.3 Applies scientific principles to explain phenomena in other

Draws linkages between scientific subjects (sound pitch, octave, and amplitude in music; use of knowledge and knowledge across muscles in dance form and sports) other curricular areas CG-6 C-6.1 Knows and explains the significant contributions of India to all

Understands and appreciates the matters (concepts, explanations, methods) that are studied within

contribution of India through history the curriculum in an integrated manner and the present times to the overall field of Science, including the disciplines that constitute it CG-7 C-7.1 concepts that States represent the most current

Develops awareness of the most understanding of the matter being studied — ranging from mere

current discoveries, ideas, and familiarity to conceptual understanding of the matter as appropriate

frontiers in all areas of scientific to the developmental stage of the students knowledge in order to appreciate that C-7.2 States questions related to matters in the curriculum for which

Science is ever evolving, and that current scientific understanding is well-recognised to be inadequate

there are still many unanswered questions CG-8 C-8.1 Develops accurate and appropriate models (including

Explores the nature of Science by geometric, mathematical, graphical) to represent real-life events and

doing Science phenomena using scientific principles and use these models to

manipulate variables and predict results C-8.2 Designs and implements a plan for scientific inquiry

(formulates hypotheses, makes predictions, identifies variables,

accurately uses scientific instruments, represents data — primary

and secondary — in multiple modes, draws inferences based on

data and understanding of scientific concepts, theories, laws, and

principles, communicates findings using scientific terminology)

It is expected that the students would get an exposure to various branches of Biology in the curriculum in a more contextual and systematic manner as they study its various units.

(NCFSE-2023)

Attainment of the competencies shall be done through transaction of the curriculum using appropriate pedagogy; these shall be assessed through an integrated evaluation scheme.

COURSE STRUCTURE CLASS XI (2026-27) (THEORY)

Time: 03 Hours

Max. Marks: 70

Unit Title Marks 15 Ш Structural Organization in Plants and Animals 10

Ш Cell: Structure and Function 15

IV Plant Physiology 12

V Human Physiology 18 70

Unit-I Diversity of Living Organisms

Chapter-1: The Living World

Biodiversity; Need for classification; three domains of life; taxonomy and systematics; concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; binomial nomenclature

Chapter-2: Biological Classification

Five kingdom classification; Salient features and classification of Monera, Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens, Viruses and Viroids.

Chapter-3: Plant Kingdom

Classification of plants into major groups; Salient and distinguishing features and a few examples of Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Angiosperms.

Chapter-4: Animal Kingdom

Salient features and classification of animals, non-chordates up to phyla level and chordates upto class level (salient features and at a few examples of each category).

(No live animals or specimen should be displayed.)

Unit-II Structural Organization in Plants and Animals

Chapter-5: Morphology of Flowering Plants

Morphology of different parts of flowering plants: root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed. Description of family Solanaceae

Chapter-6: Anatomy of Flowering Plants

Anatomy and functions of tissue systems in dicots and monocots.

Chapter-7: Structural Organisation in Animals

Morphology, Anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of frog.

Unit-III Cell: Structure and Function

Chapter-8: Cell-The Unit of Life

Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life, structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Plant cell and animal cell; cell envelope; cell membrane, cell wall; cell organelles - structure and function; endomembrane system, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, microbodies; cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultrastructure and function); nucleus.

Chapter-9: Biomolecules

Chemical constituents of living cells: biomolecules, structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids; Enzyme - types, properties, enzyme action. (Topics excluded: Nature of Bond Linking Monomers in a Polymer, Dynamic State of Body Constituents Concept of Metabolism, Metabolic Basis of Living, The Living State)

Chapter-10: Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance

Unit-IV Plant Physiology

Chapter-11: Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Photosynthesis as a means of autotrophic nutrition; site of photosynthesis, pigments involved in photosynthesis (elementary idea); photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; chemiosmotic hypothesis; photorespiration; C3 and C4 pathways; factors affecting photosynthesis.

Chapter-12: Respiration in Plants

Exchange of gases; cellular respiration - glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); energy relations - number of ATP molecules generated; amphibolic pathways; respiratory quotient.

Chapter-13: Plant - Growth and Development

Seed germination; phases of plant growth and plant growth rate; conditions of growth; differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation; sequence of developmental processes