CUET UG
CUET UG 2026 Registration Started: Dates, Exam Schedule & Paper Pattern
The registration process for CUET (UG) 2026 has officially begun on 3 January 2026. Interested candidates can apply through the official website cuet.nta.nic.in. The last date to submit the application form is 30 January 2026.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the CUET UG 2026 notification on January 3, 2026, announcing the commencement of registrations for undergraduate admissions in Central and Private Universities across India.
The CUET UG 2026 examination will be held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from 11 May to 31 May 2026. The results are expected to be declared in the last week of June 2026.
- Under CUET UG, candidates can choose a maximum of five subjects, which may include domain subjects from Science, Commerce, or Arts, along with one language subject and the General Test.
- The CUET question paper will be divided into three sections:
- Section I: Languages
- Section II: Domain Subjects
- Section III: General Test
- Each section will have a time limit of 60 minutes.
CUET UG 2026 Important Exam Dates (Official)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CUET UG 2026 Notification Release | January 3, 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | January 3, 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Application | January 30, 2026 (till 11:50 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | January 31, 2026 (till 11:50 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | February 2 – February 4, 2026 |
| CUET UG 2026 Examination Period | May 11 – May 31, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Expected in early May 2026 |
| CUET UG 2026 Result Declaration | Expected in the last week of June 2026 |
CUET Exam Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | Common University Entrance Test (CUET) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Mode of Exam | Hybrid (Computer Based + Pen & Paper) |
| Exam Dates | May 11 to May 31 2026 |
| Sections | 3 (Languages, Domain-Specific Subjects, General Test) |
| Subjects Offered (2024) | 63 (13 Languages in Section 1A, 20 Languages in Section 1B, 29 Domain Subjects, 1 General Test) |
| Question Type | Objective MCQs |
| No. of Questions | Languages/Domain: 50 (40 to attempt) General Test: 60 (50 to attempt) |
| Marking Scheme | +5 for correct, –1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
| Official Website | https://cuet.nta.nic.in/ |
CUET UG Registration Fees 2026
The CUET UG 2026 application fee must be paid online only.
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UPI, Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking
Category-wise Application Fees
| Category | Fee for up to 3 Subjects | Fee for Each Additional Subject |
|---|---|---|
| General Category | ₹1,000 | ₹400 |
| OBC / EWS | ₹900 | ₹375 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹800 | ₹350 |
| International Candidates | ₹4,500 | ₹1,800 |
How Many Candidates Register for CUET UG?
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CUET UG has witnessed a steady rise in registrations and has become one of the largest undergraduate entrance examinations in India within just four years.
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Since its introduction in 2022, the exam has consistently recorded high application numbers, highlighting strong trust among students and universities in a single, unified admission test.
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Registrations have remained stable in the range of 14–15 lakh candidates every year since inception.
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The number of candidates appearing for the exam has increased by 2025, indicating rising competition levels.
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With more than 282 participating universities, CUET UG registrations are expected to exceed 15 lakh candidates in the coming years.
CUET UG Registration Statistics (2022–2025)
| CUET UG Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared Candidates | Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14.0 lakh | 13.0 lakh | NTA Final Attendance Data |
| 2024 | 13.5 lakh | 11.1 lakh | NTA CUET UG 2024 Bulletin |
| 2023 | 15.0 lakh | 11.2 lakh | NTA Press Release & PIB Brief |
| 2022 | 14.9 lakh | 9.9 lakh | NTA CUET UG 2022 Post-Exam Report |
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements to appear for the CUET UG 2026 examination for undergraduate admissions.
CUET 2026 Eligibility: Academic Qualifications
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Candidates should have passed Class 12 or be appearing in Class 12 from a recognised board, irrespective of the stream.
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Minimum marks required in Class 12:
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General Category: At least 50%
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SC / ST Categories: Minimum 45%
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For BTech programmes:
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General Category: Minimum 45% aggregate
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Reserved Categories: Minimum 40% aggregate
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CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit
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There is no fixed age limit prescribed by CUET itself.
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Candidates must satisfy the age criteria (if any) specified by the individual universities they are applying to.
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Admission through CUET UG is subject to each university’s:
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Reservation and quota policies
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Category-wise relaxations
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Educational qualifications
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Subject combinations and programme preferences
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CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Nationality
To be eligible for CUET UG 2026, applicants must fall under one of the following categories:
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Indian citizens
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Citizens of Nepal or Bhutan
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Tibetan refugees who entered India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement
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Foreign nationals of Indian origin who have permanently migrated to India from:
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Pakistan
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Myanmar (Burma)
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Sri Lanka
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Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania
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Zambia, Malawi, Zaire
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Ethiopia
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Vietnam
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Courses Offered Through CUET UG
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CUET UG scores are used for admission to a wide range of undergraduate programmes in Central and Private Universities.
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Courses are primarily available across the Commerce, Arts & Humanities, and Science streams.
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Admission is granted based on subject-wise CUET performance and university-specific eligibility criteria.
Commerce Courses Offered Through CUET UG
| Course | Primary Eligibility / Focus Area |
|---|---|
| B.Com | Accounting, Business Studies, Economics |
| B.Com (Hons) | Advanced Commerce, Finance, Taxation |
| BBA | Management Concepts, Quantitative Aptitude |
| BMS | Business Management and Analytics |
| BFIA | Finance, Investment, Economics |
| BA (Hons) Economics | Economics with Mathematics |
Arts & Humanities Courses Offered Through CUET UG
| Course | Primary Eligibility / Focus Area |
|---|---|
| BA | Language + Relevant Domain Subject |
| BA (Hons) English | English Language and Literature |
| BA (Hons) History | History as a Domain Subject |
| BA (Hons) Political Science | Political Science Domain |
| BA (Hons) Psychology | Psychology Domain |
| BA (Hons) Sociology | Sociology Domain |
| BA (Hons) Geography | Geography Domain |
| BJMC | Language + General Test |
| BSW | Social Sciences + General Test |
Science Courses Offered Through CUET UG
| Course | Primary Eligibility / Focus Area |
|---|---|
| B.Sc | One or more Science Domain Subjects |
| B.Sc (Hons) Physics | Physics with Mathematics |
| B.Sc (Hons) Chemistry | Chemistry as Core Subject |
| B.Sc (Hons) Mathematics | Mathematics Domain |
| B.Sc (Hons) Biology | Biology / Life Sciences |
| B.Sc (Hons) Zoology | Biology with Zoology |
| B.Sc (Hons) Botany | Biology with Botany |
| B.Sc (Hons) Computer Science | Mathematics and Logical Skills |
| B.Sc (Hons) Statistics | Mathematics with Statistics |
| B.Sc Biotechnology | Biology and Chemistry |
| B.Sc Microbiology | Biology as Primary Domain |
CUET Previous Year Questions and Answer Key
CUET Previous Year Question Paper with Answer (2025 to 2021) PDF Download
CUET Syllabus
CUET Syllabus 2026
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The NTA releases a separate syllabus PDF each year for every test paper.
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Candidates can access the CUET UG 2026 syllabus on the official website: cuet.nta.nic.in.
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The syllabus covers 37 subjects, consistent with CUET UG 2025.
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Subjects such as Art Education and Teaching Aptitude have been removed.
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The General Test, renamed General Aptitude Test in 2024, now also includes:
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General Science
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Environmental Literacy
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CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026
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The CUET UG 2026 exam pattern remains unchanged from 2025, ensuring consistency and predictability.
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The exam evaluates:
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Subject-specific knowledge
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Language proficiency
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General aptitude
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The test is conducted in computer-based mode (CBT) with MCQ-type questions, ensuring uniform assessment for students from all education boards.
CUET UG 2026: Section-Wise Exam Structure
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The exam is divided into three sections:
Languages, Domain Subjects, and General Aptitude Test, identical to the 2025 structure. -
Each subject paper has a duration of 60 minutes.
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Admissions are based on section-wise scores, not overall marks; poor performance in any one section can impact course eligibility.
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Nearly 80–85% of the questions are directly based on Class 12 NCERT textbooks.
CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern Overview
| Section | Skill Assessed | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Duration | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: Languages | Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar | 50 | 40 | 60 minutes | +5 / −1 |
| Section II: Domain Subjects | Class 12 subject knowledge | 50 | 40 | 60 minutes | +5 / −1 |
| Section III: General Aptitude Test | Quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, general awareness | 60 | 50 | 60 minutes | +5 / −1 |
How to Prepare for CUET UG in 5 Months
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With only five months remaining, preparation should prioritise:
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Complete syllabus coverage
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Accuracy and revision
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Balanced focus on Domain, Language, and General Aptitude sections
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NCERT textbooks are the most important resource, outweighing reference books.
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During the final month, avoid new topics and focus solely on revision, formulas, and high-weightage areas.
CUET UG 2026: 5-Month Preparation Plan
| Month | Main Focus | Strategy | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Syllabus mapping & fundamentals | Cover 30–35% syllabus, read NCERT line-by-line, make short notes | Concept clarity |
| Month 2 | Syllabus completion | Reach 70–75% syllabus, practice 30–40 MCQs/day | Speed & accuracy |
| Month 3 | PYQs & full syllabus | Complete syllabus, solve 3–5 years’ PYQs | Pattern understanding |
| Month 4 | Mock tests | Attempt 2–3 mocks/week, analyse errors section-wise | Score improvement |
| Month 5 | Revision & fine-tuning | Multiple revision cycles, weak-area practice, light mocks | Peak performance |
CUET Passing Marks 2026 (Expected)
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NTA does not declare official passing marks for CUET UG.
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Each participating university sets its own minimum eligibility percentile and cutoff.
Expected Minimum Percentile for Eligibility
| Category | Expected Percentile | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 40–45 percentile | Basic eligibility for mid/low-tier universities |
| OBC-NCL | 35–40 percentile | ~5% relaxation from General |
| EWS | 35–40 percentile | Similar to OBC category |
| SC / ST | 30–35 percentile | Significant relaxation |
| PwD (All Categories) | 25–30 percentile | Varies by university |
CUET 2026 Expected Cut-off (Out of 250)
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Based on previous trends, the expected CUET 2026 cutoff for General category is 180–230 marks.
| Category | Expected Cutoff Range |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 180 – 230 |
| OBC-NCL | 150 – 200 |
| EWS | 150 – 200 |
| SC / ST | 120 – 170 |
Colleges Accepting CUET UG 2026
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CUET UG scores are accepted by Central, State, Deemed, and Private Universities, offering a wide range of academic and professional UG programmes.
Major Universities Accepting CUET UG Scores
| University Type | Institutions |
|---|---|
| Central Universities | Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Punjab |
| State Universities | Delhi Technological University (DTU), Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi, Dibrugarh University |
| Deemed Universities | Jamia Hamdard, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, GITAM (Deemed to be University) |
Final Preparation Tip
Don’t leave your CUET preparation to guesswork. Make CUET PYQs your daily practice companion. Combine them with revision, mock tests, and proper analysis to score like the toppers.
✅ Remember: Students who practice consistently with CUET previous year papers gain an edge in accuracy, speed, and confidence.
👉 [Start Practicing CUET PYQs on Reedor.com – Download Free PDFs Now]