CBSE Class 9 Computer Applications Syllabus 2026-27 — Theory + Practical (50+50 Marks)

What's New in 2026-27?

• Equal weightage to Theory and Practical: The 50:50 split ensures students develop both conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills.
• Safe Internet and Cyber Ethics emphasis: Dedicated sections on safe browsing, digital citizenship, cyberbullying awareness, and responsible online behaviour.
• Multimedia and Animation basics: Introduction to multimedia concepts and basic animation using open-source tools.
• Data Operations: Basic data handling, sorting, filtering, and representation — preparing students for the data-driven world.
• Focus on open-source software: LibreOffice suite is the recommended platform for practical work, aligning with the government's open-source policy.

Syllabus Overview — Marks Distribution

Theory (50 Marks)

Unit	Topics	Marks
1	Computer Systems — Hardware, Software, Memory, I/O Devices	10
2	Memory and Storage — Primary, Secondary, Cache, Cloud Storage	8
3	Software — System, Application, Utility, Open Source	7
4	Computer Networks — LAN, WAN, MAN, Internet, Wi-Fi	10
5	Safe Internet Practices — Cyber Ethics, Digital Citizenship	8
6	Multimedia Basics — Text, Audio, Video, Animation concepts	7
Total Theory		50

Practical (50 Marks)

Unit	Topics	Marks
7	Document Processing — Creating, Formatting, Mail Merge	12
8	Spreadsheets — Formulas, Functions, Charts, Sorting, Filtering	12
9	Presentations — Slides, Transitions, Animations, Templates	10
10	Basic Data Operations — Data entry, Sorting, Filtering, Representation	8
11	Animation — Basic animation using open-source tools	8
Total Practical		50

Chapter-wise Syllabus

Unit 1: Computer Systems

Introduction to Computers: Definition, characteristics (speed, accuracy, storage, versatility, diligence). Generation of computers (1st to 5th). Types of computers (micro, mini, mainframe, supercomputer). Block diagram of a computer — Input, Processing (CPU), Output, Storage.

Hardware Components: CPU (ALU, CU, registers), Motherboard, RAM slots, expansion cards, ports (USB, HDMI, Ethernet). Input devices (keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, webcam, touchscreen, stylus). Output devices (monitor types — LCD/LED/OLED, printer types — inkjet/laser/dot matrix, speakers, projector).

Unit 2: Memory and Storage

Primary Memory: RAM (SRAM, DRAM), ROM (PROM, EPROM, EEPROM). Cache memory — L1, L2, L3. Difference between volatile and non-volatile memory.

Secondary Storage: Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD), USB flash drive, memory cards (SD, microSD). Optical storage (CD, DVD, Blu-ray). Cloud storage — Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox. Comparison of storage devices by speed, capacity, cost, and portability.

Units of Memory: Bit, Nibble, Byte, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB. Conversion between units.

Unit 3: Software

System Software: Operating System (functions — process management, memory management, file management, device management). Types of OS — single-user, multi-user, real-time. Examples: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS.

Application Software: Word processors, spreadsheets, presentations, browsers, media players, games. Custom vs packaged software.

Utility Software: Antivirus, disk defragmenter, file compression, backup tools.

Open Source Software: Definition, advantages, examples (Linux, LibreOffice, Firefox, GIMP, Audacity, Blender). Comparison with proprietary software. Licences — GPL, MIT, Apache.

Unit 4: Computer Networks

Network Basics: Definition, need for networking. Types — LAN, MAN, WAN, PAN. Network topologies — Star, Bus, Ring, Mesh, Tree. Advantages and disadvantages of each.

Internet: Definition, history, how the internet works (ISP, DNS, IP address). World Wide Web vs Internet. URL, Domain names, Web browsers. Email, search engines, social media.

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile data (3G, 4G, 5G). Hotspot, tethering. Network devices — modem, router, switch, hub, gateway.

Unit 5: Safe Internet Practices

Cyber Ethics: Responsible digital citizenship. Netiquette. Respecting intellectual property. Copyright, plagiarism, Creative Commons.

Cyber Safety: Strong passwords (best practices). Two-factor authentication. Phishing, spam, and how to identify them. Safe browsing practices. Privacy settings on social media.

Cyber Threats: Virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware, adware. Cyberbullying — identification and reporting. Identity theft. Online fraud and scams.

Legal Framework: IT Act 2000 (basic awareness). POCSO Act (online safety for minors). Reporting cybercrime — cybercrime.gov.in.

Unit 6: Multimedia Basics

Multimedia Components: Text, graphics/images, audio, video, animation. File formats — JPEG, PNG, GIF, MP3, WAV, MP4, AVI. Compression — lossy vs lossless.

Image Editing Basics: Introduction to GIMP/Paint. Cropping, resizing, colour adjustment, layers, filters.

Units 7-11: Practical Work

Document Processing (LibreOffice Writer): Creating and formatting documents. Fonts, paragraphs, headers/footers, page numbering. Tables, lists, images. Spell check, find and replace. Mail merge for batch letters.

Spreadsheets (LibreOffice Calc): Entering data, formatting cells. Formulas and functions — SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX, MIN, IF, VLOOKUP. Cell referencing (relative, absolute). Creating charts (bar, pie, line, column). Sorting and filtering data. Conditional formatting.

Presentations (LibreOffice Impress): Creating slides from scratch and templates. Adding text, images, shapes, tables. Slide transitions and animations. Master slides. Presenter notes. Saving and exporting (PDF, PPT).

Basic Data Operations: Entering data in spreadsheets. Sorting (ascending, descending, multi-level). Filtering (auto-filter, custom filter). Data representation through charts and graphs.

Animation: Basic concepts of frame-by-frame and tweened animation. Creating simple animations using open-source tools. GIF creation.

Exam Pattern 2026-27

Component	Question Types	Marks
Theory Exam	MCQ (20) + Short Answer (15) + Long Answer (15)	50
Practical Exam	Lab file (10) + Practical exam (30) + Viva (10)	50
Grand Total		100

Preparation Tips

1. Practise on the actual software: Install LibreOffice on your computer and practise document creation, spreadsheet formulas, and presentations. The practical exam (50 marks) requires hands-on skills.
2. Learn keyboard shortcuts: Knowing shortcuts (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+S, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+B, etc.) saves time in the practical exam and demonstrates proficiency.
3. Understand networking concepts visually: Draw topology diagrams, network architecture diagrams, and the block diagram of a computer. Visual learning helps with theory MCQs.
4. Memorise file formats and extensions: Know which format belongs to which category (image, audio, video, document) and the differences between lossy and lossless compression.
5. Study cyber safety with real examples: Understand phishing by looking at actual spam emails (with teacher guidance). Know the steps to report cybercrime. These topics are testing awareness, not memorisation.
6. Keep a neat practical file: The lab file carries 10 marks. Include screenshots, steps, and outputs for every practical exercise. Maintain it throughout the year.

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Prepared by Bright Tutorials, Nashik (Shop No. 53-57, Business Signature, Hariom Nagar, Nashik Road, Nashik 422101) | brighttutorials.in | This syllabus guide is based on the official CBSE curriculum for 2026-27. Students should refer to the latest CBSE circulars for any updates. For personal study use only.