ISC 2025 Indian Music (Hindustani) Question Paper for Class 12

About this paper

This is ISC Class 12 Indian Music (Hindustani) Paper 1 (Theory), code 872A, from the 2025 board examination set by CISCE. It is marked out of 70 and runs for three hours, with fifteen extra minutes for reading. Candidates choose one of three sets — Instrumental, Vocal or Tabla — and answer all twelve questions in that elective. Each set has a 14-mark Section A, seven four-mark questions in Section B and four seven-mark questions in Section C, with internal choices in two Section B questions and one Section C question. A passage describes a musician born in a Bengali family in Varanasi and trained by Ustad Allauddin Khan. The Tabla set asks about theka, tihai, kayda and a Banaras family of tabla players. This copy is questions only.

Exam

ISC Class 12

Subject

Indian Music (Hindustani)

Year

2025

Paper code

872A

Maximum marks

70

Time allowed

3 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

12

Pages

12

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A

  14 marks

  Question 1 (14 marks) in the chosen elective — Instrumental, Vocal or Tabla: short blanks, four true-or-false statements and multiple choice

• Section B

  28 marks

  Questions 2–8, four marks each, in the chosen elective; internal choice in two questions

• Section C

  28 marks

  Questions 9–12, seven marks each, in the chosen elective; internal choice in one question

Topics covered

• Swara, vadi and shruti
• Sushir and ghan vadya
• Laya
• Naad
• Ragas Bihag, Kafi and Malkauns
• Thaat
• Chaartaal and layakari
• Maseetkhani gat and bada khayal
• Hindustani and Carnatic music
• Tabla: prana, kayda, rela and tihai

Questions from this paper

1. Briefly explain the difference between sushir vadya and ghan vadya, with an example of each.
2. What is laya? Briefly describe the three types of laya used in the Hindustani tradition.
3. What is naad? Explain three qualities of naad.
4. Explain shrutis and the placement of the seven swars among the shrutis.
5. Discuss the role of schools in preserving classical music and developing an appreciation of it among the present generation.
6. What is tihai? Briefly describe two types of tihai.