ISC 2026 Indian Music (Hindustani) Question Paper for Class 12

About this paper

This is ISC Class 12 Indian Music (Hindustani) Paper 1 (Theory), code 872A, set by CISCE for 2026. It carries 70 marks, with three hours to write and fifteen minutes to read. The candidate answers one of three electives — Instrumental, Vocal or Tabla — each with twelve questions: fourteen one-mark parts in Section A, seven four-mark questions in Section B and four seven-mark questions in Section C. Internal choices are given in two Section B questions and one Section C question. The instrumental set compares Maseetkhani and Razakhani gat; the vocal set compares Dhrupad and Dhamar. A passage describes two Bharat Ratna musicians, a khayal singer and a sitarist. The Tabla elective covers theka, tihai, kayda and a labelled diagram of the tabla. This copy is questions only.

Exam

ISC Class 12

Subject

Indian Music (Hindustani)

Year

2026

Paper code

872A

Maximum marks

70

Time allowed

3 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

12

Pages

11

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A

  14 marks

  Question 1: 14 one-mark parts in the chosen elective — Instrumental, Vocal or Tabla — including true-or-false 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

• Qualities of naad
• Classification of instruments
• Sandhi Prakash ragas
• Maseetkhani and Razakhani gat
• Dhrupad and Dhamar
• Vadi swar and time theory
• Ragas Kafi, Bhairavi and Malkauns
• Ten thaats
• Ektaal and chartaal
• Tabla: tihai, kayda and lehra
• Music as therapy

Questions from this paper

1. Explain the difference between a Maseetkhani gat and a Razakhani gat.
2. Classify ghungroo, sitar, bansuri and tabla according to the categories of Indian instruments.
3. What is vadi swar? Explain its relation to the time of playing a raga.
4. What is a thaat? Write the names and swars of the ten thaats.
5. Discuss music as a therapy that heals a person physically as well as mentally.
6. Explain the difference between a damdar tihai and a bedam tihai.