Indian Music (Carnatic) — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for Indian Music (Carnatic) — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Fundamental Technical Terms and Meanings
Chapter 2: Sa Re Ga Ma Notation and Musical Symbols
Chapter 3: Raga Classification and the 72 Melakarta Scheme
Chapter 4: Lakshanas of the Prescribed 24 Ragas
Chapter 5: Manodharma Sangita, Raga Alapana and Kalpana Svaras
Chapter 6: Dasavida Gamakas
Chapter 7: The Scheme of 35 Talas and Related Tala Concepts
Chapter 8: Musical Forms in Carnatic Music
Chapter 9: Composers, Theorists and History of Carnatic Music
Chapter 10: Classification and Structure of Carnatic Musical Instruments
Chapter 11: Musical Sound, Voice and Grahabhedam
Chapter 12: Practical Repertoire: Padas, Ragamalika, Tillanas, Javalis and Compositions
Chapter 13: Practical Raga Alapana
Chapter 14: Kalpana Swara, Notation, Raga Recognition and Tala Recognition
Chapter 15: Ear Tests, Sight Singing and Musical Dictation

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in Indian Music (Carnatic)?

The Indian Music (Carnatic) syllabus has 15 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which Indian Music (Carnatic) chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the Indian Music (Carnatic) syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official ICSE & ISC portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for Indian Music (Carnatic) faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Indian Music (Carnatic) — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Indian Music (Carnatic) study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.