The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released sample papers for all subjects ahead of the 2026 board exams, including a comprehensive one for Class 12 Economics that aligns with the updated curriculum emphasising economic reforms, globalisation, sustainable development, and regional economic groupings. With the exams scheduled to commence on February 17, 2026, these resources are designed to acquaint students with the latest question patterns, marking schemes, and competency-based formats, incorporating multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answers, and analytical essays.
The economics paper, worth 80 marks, is divided into Part A (Introductory Macroeconomics) and Part B (Indian Economic Development), reflecting a balanced focus on theoretical concepts and real-world applications. CBSE's move to offer two board exams for Class 10 this year underscores its commitment to performance improvement, while Class 12 students are urged to leverage these papers for thorough preparation.
A key section in the sample paper draws from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, highlighting education's role in human potential and India's growth trajectory. Students are prompted to justify why "education is considered fundamental for achieving full human potential," encouraging arguments on skill development, innovation, and social equity.
Another question explores the importance of ramping up public expenditure in education to 6% of GDP, stressing its necessity for equitable access, infrastructure, and teacher training to combat the 3.22 crore out-of-school children identified in the 2017-18 NSSO survey. To address dropouts and boost the Gross Enrolment Ratio to 100% by 2030, initiatives like providing safe school infrastructure from pre-primary to Grade 12 and ensuring regularly trained teachers are emphasised, promoting discussions on policy implementation and barriers in rural versus urban settings.
The paper delves into historical economic policies, such as the 1956 Industrial Policy Resolution, asking students to comment on its classification of industries into public, private, and cooperative sectors to accelerate heavy industry growth and socialism. It also examines challenges in land ceiling legislation's implementation, like political resistance, loopholes, and uneven enforcement across states, requiring reasoned agreement or disagreement.
An optional question addresses globalisation's dual impacts—positive outcomes like FDI inflows and export growth versus negatives such as inequality and cultural homogenisation—while probing the 1991 reforms' triggers, including fiscal deficits, balance-of-payments crises, and inflation spikes that necessitated liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation (LPG).
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Further questions spotlight international economics, explaining the significance of groupings like G20, SAARC, and BRICS in fostering trade, policy coordination, and South-South cooperation for sustainable development. The concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is defined as designated areas with tax incentives and relaxed regulations to attract investment and boost exports. Additionally, students must justify how railways transformed India's economy by integrating markets, spurring agricultural commercialisation, and facilitating resource mobility during colonial times, linking infrastructure to broader developmental shifts. These topics not only test factual recall but also analytical skills, preparing students for nuanced exam responses.
Overall, the CBSE Class 12 Economics sample paper for 2026 serves as a vital tool for self-assessment, with CBSE recommending its integration into revision routines alongside the syllabus. By practising these questions, students can enhance time management, clarity in expression, and application of concepts like sustainable development goals (SDGs) and economic interdependence. As the board emphasises inclusivity and competency, early familiarity with such formats—available on cbseacademic.nic.in—can significantly boost confidence and scores, aligning preparation with the evolving demands of a globalised economy.
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