The Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE ) conducted the Class 12 Economics exam on March 18, 2026 . The examination ran for three hours, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students received an additional 15 minutes for paper reading and planning.
Exam Structure and Analysis
The Economics question paper carried a total of 80 marks. It was divided into two parts: Part A (Introductory Macroeconomics) and Part B (Indian Economic Development). Each part was worth 40 marks.
A significant feature of the 2026 paper was the increased number of competency-based questions. These questions accounted for 50% of the paper. They included multiple-choice questions (MCQs), case studies, and source-based integrated questions.
The paper contained 34 questions in total. Question formats ranged from objective to long-answer types.
Question Breakdown
The paper included:
- 20 MCQs, each worth 1 mark.
- 4 very short-answer questions, each worth 3 marks.
- 6 short-answer questions, each worth 4 marks.
- 4 long-answer questions, each worth 6 marks.
Answer Key and Performance Evaluation
An unofficial CBSE Class 12 Economics Answer Key 2026 will be available after the exam concludes at 1:30 PM. Subject experts will update the key with correct answers for objective and short-answer questions.
This answer key helps students evaluate their potential performance. However, it is for reference only. Official scores will be released in the final results.
Passing Criteria
To pass the Economics subject, students need a minimum of 27 marks in theory. They also require 7 marks in their project work. The overall passing score is 33 out of 100 marks.
For information on other subjects, students can refer to the CBSE 12th 2026 English Answer Key .