NCERT Biology Class 11 Syllabus

Biology is one of the most interesting subjects as it makes us delve deeper into flora and fauna. Chosen by a majority of MBBS aspirants, it opens up a plethora of career options for the students which they can explore to achieve career aspirations. Considered as one of the most tantalizing branches of Science, it is a discipline which elucidates one regarding various underlying principles that are vital in the functioning of plants and humans. If you are intrigued by the insights domian, here is a blog to help you with NCERT Biology class 11 syllabus!

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NCERT Biology Class 11 Syllabus

Name of the Unit	Name of the Chapter	Periods	Marks
Unit 1 – Diversity of Living Organisms	Chapter 1: The Living World Chapter 2: Biological Classification Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom Chapter 4: Animal Kingdom	27	12
Unit 2 – Structural Organization in Animals	Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants Chapter 6: Anatomy of Flowering Plants Chapter 7: Structural Organisation in Animals	27	12
Unit 3 – Cell: Structure and Function	Chapter 8: Cell: The Unit of Life Chapter 9: Biomolecules Chapter 10: Cell Cycle and Cell Division	26	12
Unit 4 – Plant Physiology	Chapter 13: Photosynthesis in Higher Plants Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants Chapter 15: Plant – Growth and Development	40	17
Unit 5 – Human Physiology	Chapter 17: Breathing and Exchange of Gases Chapter 18: Body Fluids and Circulation Chapter 19: Excretory Products and their Elimination Chapter 20: Locomotion and Movement Chapter 21: Neural Control and Coordination Chapter 22: Chemical Coordination and Integration	40	17

Unit 1: Diversity in Living World 

The main topics under this section of the NCERT biology class 11 syllabus are what is living?; need for classification; Three domains of life; taxonomy and systematics; binomial nomenclature; tools for taxonomy; salient features of five kingdoms and its classification; salient features and classification of Monera: Protista and Fungi into major groups; classification of plants into major groups like Algae. Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperm; a detailed description of the classification of animals into non-chordate up to phyla level and chordate up to class level etc. Chapters under this unit are-

Chapter 1: The Living World

• What is living?
• Biodiversity
• Need for classification
• Three domains of life; 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

• Salient features and classification of plants into major groups – Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, and Gymnospermae.
• Salient and distinguishing features and a few examples of each category

Chapter-4: Animal Kingdom

• Salient features and classification of animals, non-chordates up to phyla level and chordates up to class level 
• Salient features and distinguishing features of a few examples of each category
• No live animals or specimen should be displayed

Unit 2: Structural Organization in Animals and Plants 

You will get to study the following topics under the NCERT Biology class 11 syllabus- Anatomy and functions of different parts of flowering plants: Root, Stem, Leaf inflorescence; fruit, flower and seed Animal tissues;  Morphology; Morphology and modifications; Anatomy and Function of different systems (digestive, respiratory, nervous, circulatory, reproductive) of a cockroach etc.

Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants

• Morphology of inflorescence and flower
• Description of 01 family: Solanaceae or Liliaceae 
• To be dealt along with the relevant experiments of the Practical Syllabus

Chapter 6: Anatomy of Flowering Plants 

• Anatomy and functions of different tissues and tissue systems in dicots and monocots.
• Secondary growth.

Chapter 7: Structural Organisation in Animals

• Animal tissues
• Morphology
• functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, and reproductive) of an insect-cockroach

Unit 3: Cell Structure and Function

Cell Theory and cell as the basic unit of life; cell organelles-structure and function; the structure of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells; Plant cell and Animal Cell; Cell wall; Endomembrane system: Golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, vacuoles; Mitochondrial; Microbodies; Plastids; Cytoskeleton; Nucleus -Nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus; Biomolecules- structure and function of Proteins, Carbohydrates, lipid, Nucleic Acid; chemical constituents of Living Cells;  Enzymes- properties, types and Enzyme action; Cell Division: Cell cycle, Meiosis. Mitosis and their significance etc are the main topics you will learn through this unit of NCERT biology class 11 syllabus.

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, nucleic acids; Enzymes- types, properties, enzyme action.

Chapter-10: Cell Cycle and Cell Division

• Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance

Unit 4: Plant Physiology 

This unit aims to explain the below-mentioned concepts from the NCERT Biology class 11 syllabus- Plant-  water relation, water potential, osmosis, Imbibition, plasmolysis; Transpiration- Opening and Closing of Stomata, Uptake and translocation of Mineral nutrients- Transport of food, phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis, Diffusion of gases; Cell to cell transport- Diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; Transport in Plant: Movement of gases, water, and nutrients; Deficiency symptoms Nitrogen metabolism- Nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation; Mineral Nutrition: Essential minerals, micro and macronutrients, and their role. 

Chapter 11: Transport in Plants

• Movement of water, gases and nutrients; cell to cell transport, diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; plant-water relations, imbibition, water potential, osmosis, plasmolysis
• Long distance transport of water – Absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation; transpiration, opening and closing of stomata
• Uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients – Transport of food, phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis. 

Chapter 12: Mineral Nutrition

• Essential minerals, macro- and micronutrients and their role; deficiency symptoms; mineral toxicity
• Elementary idea of hydroponics as a method to study mineral nutrition; nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation. 

Chapter 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 in a plant cell
• Growth regulators – auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA; seed dormancy; vernalization; photoperiodism

Unit 5: Human Physiology

Prominent topics of the NCERT Biology class 11 syllabus of this chapter are Role fo  digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones; Absorption, digestion, peristalsis and assimilation of Proteins; Carbohydrates and Fats; Egestion; Nutritional and Digestive disorders- PEM, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, indigestion, diarrhoea; Digestion and Absorption- digestive gland and alimentary glands; Calorific value of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, the calorific value of proteins, fats, carbohydrates; Respiratory systems in humans; Mechanisms of breathing and its regulation in humans- Exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiratory; Disorders related to respirations- Asthma, Occupational, Emphysema, Respiratory disorders; Body Fluids etc.

Chapter-16: Digestion and Absorption

• Alimentary canal and digestive glands, role of digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones; 
• Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; calorific values of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; egestion; nutritional and digestive disorders – PEM, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea. 

Chapter-17: Breathing and Exchange of Gases 

• Respiratory organs in animals (recall only)
• Respiratory system in humans; mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans – exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration, respiratory volume; disorders related to respiration – asthma, emphysema, occupational respiratory disorders. 

Chapter-18: Body Fluids and Circulation

• Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood; composition of lymph and its function; human circulatory system – Structure of human heart and blood vessels;
• Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG; double circulation; regulation of cardiac activity; disorders of circulatory system
• Hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, heart failure. 

Chapter-19: Excretory Products and their Elimination 

• Modes of excretion – ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; human excretory system – structure and function
• Urine formation, osmoregulation; regulation of kidney function – renin – angiotensin, atrial natriuretic factor, ADH and diabetes insipidus; role of other organs in excretion; disorders – uremia, renal failure, renal calculi, nephritis
• Dialysis and artificial kidney, kidney transplant. 

Chapter-20: Locomotion and Movement 

• Types of movement – ciliary, flagellar, muscular; skeletal muscle, contractile proteins and muscle contraction; skeletal system and its functions; joints
• Disorders of muscular and skeletal systems – myasthenia gravis, tetany, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, osteoporosis, gout. 

Chapter-21: Neural Control and Coordination 

• Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humans – central nervous system; peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system
• Generation and conduction of nerve impulse; reflex action; sensory perception; sense organs
• Elementary structure and functions of eye and ear

Chapter-22: Chemical Coordination and Integration

• Endocrine glands and hormones; human endocrine system – hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads
• Mechanism of hormone action (elementary idea); the role of hormones as messengers and regulators, hypo – and hyperactivity and related disorders; dwarfism, acromegaly, cretinism, goiter, exophthalmic goiter, diabetes, Addison’s disease.

Deleted Sections of NCERT Biology Class 11 Syllabus

The following topics from the given chapters have been deleted for the academic session 2020-2021-

Chapter 1: The Living World

• Taxonomy and systematics;
• Tools for study of taxonomy-  museums,  zoological parks,  herbaria,  botanical gardens, keys for identification.

Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom

• Angiospermae; Angiosperms – classification up to class, characteristic features and examples.
• Under Unit-II Structural Organization in Animals and Plants

Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants

• Morphology and modifications: Morphology of different parts of flowering plants: root, stem, leaf, fruit and seed.
• Description of families: – Fabaceae

Chapter 6: Anatomy of Flowering Plants

Anatomy  and  functions  of different  tissues  and  tissue  systems  in  dicots  and monocots. Secondary growth.

Chapter 7: Structural Organisation in Animals

Morphology, Anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (cockroach), (a brief account only).

Chapter 11: Transport in Plants

• Movement   of  water,  gases  and  nutrients;  cell  to  cell  transport,  diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; plant-water relations, imbibition, water potential,  osmosis,  plasmolysis;
• Long distance  transport  of water – Absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation; transpiration, opening and closing of stomata; Uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients – Transport of food, phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis.

Chapter 12: Mineral Nutrition

Essential   minerals,   macro-   and   micronutrients   and   their   role;   deficiency symptoms;  mineral  toxicity;  elementary  idea  of  hydroponics  as  a  method  to study mineral nutrition; nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation.

Chapter 15: 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 in a plant cell;
• Seed dormancy; vernalisation; photoperiodism

Chapter 16: Digestion and Absorption

• Alimentary   canal   and   digestive   glands,   role   of   digestive   enzymes   and gastrointestinal  hormones; Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats
• Calorific values of proteins, carbohydrates and fats;   egestion;    nutritional    and   digestive    disorders    –   PEM,   indigestion, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea.

Chapter 20: Locomotion and Movement

• Types of movement – ciliary, flagellar, muscular;
•  Skeletal  system  and  its  functions;  joints;  disorders  of  muscular  and  skeletal systems – myasthenia gravis, tetany, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, osteoporosis, gout.

Chapter 21: Neural Control and Coordination

Reflex  action;  sensory  perception;  sense  organs;  elementary  structure  and functions of eye and ear

You might be interest in: Deleted Syllabus of Class 11

Reference Books for Biology Class 11 

Sometimes understanding concepts become difficult from the NCERT textbook and students are in need of extra study material. In such cases, candidates can seek help from reference books. Here is a list of the popular books that can help you in decoding complex topics of Biology: 

Books	Links
Trueman’s Elementary Biology vol. 1 by MP Tyagi and KN Bhatia	Click Here to Buy!
Modern ABCs Biology Part 1 and 2 class 11 by BB Arora and AK Sabharwal	Click Here to Buy!
Dinesh Companion Biology Class 11 by K Bhatti	Click Here to Buy!
Oswal Book Series	Click Here to Buy!
Pradeep for Biology	Click Here to Buy!

Check out this blog: Courses in Biology after 12th Except MBBS

We hope this blog on NCERT Biology class 11 syllabus has provided you with ample information to began your preparation. Want to know about which career path will be the best for you, reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu and they will clear all your career queries.